MPC 5th March 2006.March 5 - Ezra 1, 2 - "Homeward Bound"
Garnet Swann MPC 5th March 2006.
The most obvious statement I'm going to make all morning is this - "Being a Christian doesn't keep you from troubles". If that is what you think - I want to remove that misunderstanding for you. See, we observe it all the time - Christians can have lots of troubles. People here at MPC - regularly have to confront some sort of crisis.
Cancer, depression, business failure, marriage failure, death of a spouse, death of children, loneliness, children who rebel, sudden disability, untreatable sickness, failure in study, harassment in the workplace, simply not coping with life. It's all here.
As you get to know people at MPC, you'd be surprised, or maybe not surprised, at the hard, hurtful, wear-you-down troubles that people face.
But what I want us to think about is - how do we react when crisis hits? What do we do when hard times roll in? Well, if we're human - we don't like it, we try to avoid it. And actually... we can be left feeling very confused. We get blindsided by some tragedy and we then ask the question - why me? This wasn't my plan for life. I didn't do anything to bring this on. So why, God? In the midst of crisis, we can be left very confused - about 'why?'
Well, we're looking at the book of Ezra - and we start at Ezra - chapter 1, verse 1 - and we need to realise, that the people of Israel, the Jewish nation - are in the midst of their own crisis.
See, it doesn't say there, v1 - "at the time of a king of Israel." It should say that if things were going well. But no, it says - "in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia."
See - the Jewish nation were the people of God. They were chosen by God to have His blessing. They were chosen to have a land to enjoy and be prosperous. Of all the nations, God said, you belong to me, and I belong to you. And I will bless you.
But then crisis hits. They're defeated by another nation. Their capital city, Jerusalem is demolished. Their temple is plundered. They're taken captive. They're made exiles in a foreign land. And the one who rules over them is a foreign king, Cyrus, king of Persia. They've lost everything. All hope is gone. This is their crisis.
One of the prophets of the time - Ezekiel - was given a vision by God - of what a hopeless situation they were in. Ezekiel's vision was a valley of bones. And God said,
These bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off."
The other day I went and visited the church up the road. And I got to say - it was pretty dead. What I mean is I visited the cemetery around the church! And you walk amongst the grave sites - it's so desolate and quiet. There's no life. Only bones there.
For the people of Israel - they are like bones. As good as dead. They're abandoned. They're without hope. God promised prosperity and success, but now they have nothing.
Now, in this crisis - they can ask the question - Why? Why has this happened to us? But in fact they know the answer to the question of why?
This disaster has come up them because they failed God, and God's judged them. God told them - if you want to enjoy this land forever- don't fall for those foreign gods - worship me and worship me only. If you don't, punishment will come.
There is no great unfathomable 'why' to their crisis. They failed God. And God's judged them.
See - these first few words of verse 1 tells us something very important about God... He doesn't tolerate rivals. The Jewish people thought they could have the god of various nations and also have the God of Israel. Bit-a-this, bit-a-that. Opposite the Latechurch stall on Friday at the Kelvin Grove campus was a table for the Bahhai faith - which is a bit-a-this, bit-a-that religion. All of the religions are good - so we'll combine them into one and say it all works together. But God doesn't accept that. He's insulted by it. He warned the people of Israel - that allegiance should go to Him and Him Only. So now judgement has come.
But as we read on in chapter 1 and 2 of chapter 2 of Ezra, we learn some other things about God as well.
And the first thing we learn is that God is a God who kept his promises.
He kept his promise by bringing judgement upon them.
But what do we see there in v1-3:
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation.
And what is that proclamation? - v3:
Anyone of his people among you-may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
God spoke through lots of prophets. Here we're told of the prophet Jeremiah. And Jeremiah said, Jer 20:13-14:
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Through this man Jeremiah - God said their time in exile wouldn't last. God said that their time in a foreign land wouldn't go on forever. And now he does it. God kept his promise. He brings them back to the land.
You know - this is what God's like - He says he'll do it, and he does it. It's a lock. If he says it, there is no chance it's not going to happen.
Not like us, mind you. Our promises tend to be very flimsy, feeble things. I remember making a bet with my wife about what would be the sex of our first child. I promised that if it was a boy - I would pay for a back massage for her. Kirsty promised that if it was a girl she would buy me a book I wanted. We had a boy and you know what - Kirsty still bought me that book and she's still waiting for that massage. That's terrible isn't it! Only when I talk about it does she remember that I broke my promise. So I'd better stop mentioning it!
But God said it and he does it. Everytime. Always. Beyond the exile in a foreign land, God is bringing his people home.
Well, the next thing we learn about God is that he directed people to action so that his word would be fulfilled.
It says in v1,
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing...
Just by looking at the history books - it tells us that Cyrus made a decision to let various captured people go home. There is a Persian artifact know as the Cyrus Cylinder - it records Cyrus's desire to let people go back to their homeland. See, the people of Israel weren't the only ones to be in captivity.
But this piece of history - this moment in time - studied by historians. Shown by archeology. This ancient Persian king - who rose out of the middle east - is directed by God - so that His plans can come about for Israel.
What a powerful picture of God we're getting here. God moves this king, like a player would move a piece on a chessboard.
I actually think - God is shown to be even more powerful - not so much by moving this king to action - but have a look at v5 - God moved the heart of the Israelites themselves to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. God moves the heart of Cyrus. And God moves the heard to the Israelite people. I think that's pretty amazing
See, put - up your hand - anyone like moving? Anyone get excited by packing boxes and unpacking them? No one likes moving, do they? I imagine it would've been hard for the Israelites. They've been in this foreign land for over 50 years. It's not their own land, but gee, after a while you start to get comfortable. You've found a good school for the kids. You're nice and close to shops. You've just finished the renovation out the back. Who wants to relocate when you're so settled? But God who moved Cyrus to action, moves these people to action as well.
Well, there's nothing particularly spectacular looking in what God has done here. There's no miracles and fireworks. There's nothing that looks supernatural. When you think of spectacular acts done by God, probably Ezra chapter 1 is not going to come immediately to mind! But God's word is always fulfilled by God's power. And in this case, God's power is at work to move these people to action.
Well the third thing we learn is that in fulfilling His word - God is restoring Israel.
See, the writer of Ezra, in chapters 1 and 2 is at pains to make out that though the people were in exile, he's reversing things, he's restoring things. Though Israel looked utterly dead, a pile of dry bones. He can give life again.
Have a look there in v9-10. We're given a list of gold and silver pots and pans. For us - we think - yeah big deal. But the writer wants us to know - that the furniture taken from the temple is going back.
And in chapter 2 - we're given another list, this time is a list of people. We struggle to read it. Very obscure for us. All these numbers and funny names. But the writer wants us to know that the people who were taken out of the land - are the same ones that are going back.
See, the first verse of chapter 2 we're told that they go to their own towns. And the last verse of chapter 2 - says it again - Israelites settled in their own towns. See, this is not some new people. We're purposely being told the Israelites who were taken out of the land - these are the ones who are returning again.
Have you ever seen that story line in a TV show - where someone is minding a pet goldfish. The goldfish dies. So instead of owning up and saying I killed your fish - they try to replace the fish with another one that looks the same. Maybe you've done it yourself!
So that's exactly what's not happening here. God didn't kill off all the people - but hey presto! - here's some others that can take their place. No - God took the people of Israel to exile. But he protected that same people in exile. And he's now bringing them back again.
God is working to restore Israel.
When we look over the history of how God deals with his people - God seems to be in the business of rescuing them. He makes it his habit. He rescued them from Egypt to bring them to their land. He is now rescuing them from exile - to bring them back to the land. There's actually lots of links going on here between those two rescues in fact.
We're told in Ezra chapter 1 - on their departure from captivity, their neighbours - amazingly - just give up their valuables. Here take everything that's precious to me. Take it; it's yours! And that's exactly what happened at the time of their rescue from Egypt.
God is bringing salvation again.
But this does raise the issue for us. When they were first rescued from Egypt, the people were fresh and keen for God. The land lay before them. God said - take this land its yours - but you've got to worship me - don't get mixed up with the other nations and follow after their gods. But they did follow after their neighbors' gods. They forgot about where their allegiance should lie! And so God judged them and took them into exile.
And so now that God is rescuing them again - will they learn their lesson this time? Will their hearts be devoted to God this time? Will this be the time when they stick with God and keep themselves pure and follow him with all their heart.
The sad truth of the matter is - they won't. Their second chance is ruined. We will see this by time we get to the end of Ezra.
But let me go back where I started this morning. We'll all face a crisis at some point. Christian people with face troubles - physical or financial or relational. And in that crisis - we will ask why? Why is this happening to me? Why me? Most of the time where not going to get an answer to our why? And you might think - if in my crisis - there is no answer to my 'why?' - my hopelessness and lostness is even greater.
But in times of crisis - there is something we can know. There is something that's so important to remember. And that is - God keeps his promises. God is powerful to keep his promises. And God is in the business of salvation.
You know - in Ezekiel 37 where God gives this vision of bones - a picture of utter despair. There's also hope. In the vision God comes along and breathes his Spirit into those bones. And so having God's Spirit - his people are restored and can live.
And for all those that have put their trust in Jesus and follow him - we have that Spirit. God lives within us and transforms our hearts. Those exiles experienced salvation from God. But how much more so for us. For them it was a salvation that did not last. For us, it is a salvation that lasts forever.
We'll have times of crisis. We'll have times when we'll be heart broken. But in that darkness - remember - God's still totally committed to us. He's saved us. He's transformed us. He loves us.
I was talking to one of the older members of our church - and she was telling me a bit about her own health difficulties and the death of her husband. By no means easy things to cope with. But she went on to say - with a glint in her eye - God has been faithful to her. Through it all, she knew God's presence. She knew God's love. Through it all, she knew that she's precious to her Heavenly Father and He would do what's best.
What a thing to realize - that even in crisis times - God love us. God will not let us go.
Here is Ezra 1 and 2 - God shows himself to be someone who saves. Things look so black - but God's faithfulness to his word comes through. His power comes through. His initiative to restore comes through. How much more so for us! Jesus came. We've been given the Spirit. And he has restored us - to live for and to belong to God forever.