The Return

Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011Scripture quotations taken from the

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission

Isaiah 45:13Isaiah 45:13I will raise I will raise up Cyrus in my up Cyrus in my

righteousness: I will make righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but set my exiles free, but

not for a price or reward, not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty." says the Lord Almighty."

A 150 year old promise A 150 year old promise

Jeremiah 29:10Jeremiah 29:10This is This is what the Lord says: what the Lord says:

"When seventy years are "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I completed for Babylon, I

will come to you and will come to you and fulfill my gracious fulfill my gracious

promise to bring you back promise to bring you back to this place. to this place.

A 150 year old promise A 150 year old promise

Jeremiah 29:10Jeremiah 29:10This is This is what the Lord says: what the Lord says:

"When seventy years are "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I completed for Babylon, I

will come to you and will come to you and fulfill my gracious fulfill my gracious

promise to bring you back promise to bring you back to this place. to this place.

God is bigger God is bigger

BIG message of the exile

Ezra 1:1Ezra 1:1In the first year In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of order to fulfill the word of

the Lord spoken by the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of the heart of Cyrus king of

Persia to make a Persia to make a proclamation throughout proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in his realm and to put it in

writing.writing.

God is bigger God is bigger

BIG message of the exile

God is sovereign God is sovereign

God can use anyoneGod can use anyoneGod can turn anything aroundGod can turn anything around

Ezra 1:5Ezra 1:5Then the family Then the family heads of Judah and heads of Judah and

Benjamin, and the priests Benjamin, and the priests and Levites--everyone and Levites--everyone whose heart God had whose heart God had

moved--prepared to go moved--prepared to go up and build the house of up and build the house of

the Lord in Jerusalem. the Lord in Jerusalem.

Called to be pilgrims not settlersCalled to be pilgrims not settlers

1. “I’m too settled!”

Ezra 3:4Ezra 3:4Then in Then in accordance with what is accordance with what is written, they celebrated written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Tabernacles

with the required number with the required number of burnt offerings of burnt offerings

prescribed for each day. prescribed for each day.

Called to be pilgrims not settlersCalled to be pilgrims not settlers

1. “I’m too settled!”

Hebrews 11:8-9Hebrews 11:8-9By By faith Abraham, when faith Abraham, when

called to go to a place he called to go to a place he would later receive as his would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and inheritance, obeyed and

went, even though he did went, even though he did not know where he was not know where he was going. By faith he made going. By faith he made

his home in the promised his home in the promised land like a stranger in a land like a stranger in a

foreign country; he lived foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and in tents, as did Isaac and

Jacob, who were heirs Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same with him of the same

promise. promise.

Called to be pilgrims not settlersCalled to be pilgrims not settlers

1. “I’m too settled!”

Made for another worldMade for another world

Ezra 2:1Ezra 2:1Now these are Now these are the people of the the people of the

province who came up province who came up from the captivity of the from the captivity of the

exiles, whom exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Nebuchadnezzar king of

Babylon had taken Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they captive to Babylon (they

returned to Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his and Judah, each to his

own town, own town,

2. “I’m setting out!”

Ezra 2:64-67Ezra 2:64-67The whole The whole company numbered company numbered

42,360, besides their 42,360, besides their 7,337 menservants and 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they maidservants; and they

also had 200 men and also had 200 men and women singers. They women singers. They

had 736 horses, 245 had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and mules, 435 camels and

6,720 donkeys. 6,720 donkeys.

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

2. “I’m setting out!”

Ezra 3:3Ezra 3:3Despite their Despite their fear of the peoples fear of the peoples

around them, they built around them, they built the altar on its foundation the altar on its foundation

and sacrificed burnt and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, offerings on it to the Lord,

both the morning and both the morning and evening sacrifices. evening sacrifices.

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

2. “I’m setting out!”

- fear - fear

Ezra 3:10-11Ezra 3:10-11When the When the builders laid the builders laid the

foundation of the temple foundation of the temple of the Lord, the of the Lord, the

priests ...with trumpets, priests ...with trumpets, and the Levites with and the Levites with cymbals, took their cymbals, took their places to praise the places to praise the

Lord, ... With praise and Lord, ... With praise and thanksgiving they sang to thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: "He is good; his the Lord: "He is good; his

love to Israel endures love to Israel endures forever." And all the forever." And all the people gave a great people gave a great

shout of praise to the shout of praise to the Lord, because the Lord, because the

foundation of the house foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. of the Lord was laid.

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

- it was hard

- took a long time

- required a lot of effort

2. “I’m setting out!”

- fear - fear

THE GOD MOMENTS!THE GOD MOMENTS!

Ezra 4:1-2Ezra 4:1-2When the When the enemies of ... "Let us help enemies of ... "Let us help

you build because, like you build because, like you, we seek your God you, we seek your God

and have been sacrificing and have been sacrificing to him since the time of to him since the time of

Esarhaddon king of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us Assyria, who brought us

here." here."

Ezra 4:4Ezra 4:4Then the Then the peoples around them set peoples around them set

out to discourage the out to discourage the people of Judah and make people of Judah and make

them afraid to go on them afraid to go on building. building.

3. “I’m stopping!”

Discouragement & fear Discouragement & fear

Ezra 4:24Ezra 4:24Thus the work Thus the work on the house of God in on the house of God in

Jerusalem came to a Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second standstill until the second

year of the reign of year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. Darius king of Persia.

Two prophets: Haggai & ZechariahTwo prophets: Haggai & Zechariah

3. “I’m stopping!”

Ezra 6:8Ezra 6:8 Moreover, I Moreover, I hereby decree what you hereby decree what you

are to do for these elders are to do for these elders of the Jews in the of the Jews in the

construction of this house construction of this house of God: The expenses of of God: The expenses of

these men are to be fully these men are to be fully paid out of the royal paid out of the royal

treasury, from the treasury, from the revenues of Trans-revenues of Trans-

Euphrates, so that the Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. work will not stop.

Two prophets: Haggai & ZechariahTwo prophets: Haggai & Zechariah

3. “I’m stopping!”

- work carries on

- paid for by the King’s treasury

- work carries on

- paid for by the King’s treasury

Ezra 6:14Ezra 6:14So the elders So the elders of the Jews continued to of the Jews continued to build and prosper under build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the preaching of Haggai

the prophet and the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant Zechariah, a descendant

of Iddo. They finished of Iddo. They finished building the temple building the temple

according to the according to the command of the God of command of the God of

Israel and the decrees of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Cyrus, Darius and

Artaxerxes, kings of Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. Persia.

They prospered under the word of God

They prospered under the word of God