Hymn 225, “God Is Working His Purpose Out”, portrays the messengers God uses to work out history for his people in the prophecies. We find that Ezra is not happy with what he has learned in the world’s universities and is looking 
“To the Name That Brings Salvation”, Hymn 646.

On Thursday, Ezra devoted himself to the teaching of the law of God, having asked to be taught: 
“Saviour, Teach Me”, Hymn 193. He then longed for so many things as he prepared his heart to be in full harmony with God – 
Hymn 323, “O for a Heart to Praise My God!” I am sure that at the end of this week’s study, Ezra would have gratefully joined us in singing 
Hymn 86, “How Great Thou Art”.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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1. First return of the exiles. Imagine a prophecy so precise as the one predicting that for 70 years, God’s people would live in desolation, and then they would be released. Now it was almost time for that promise to be fulfilled. Why was Daniel upset?  Should he have been? Do you and I ever feel distraught by the way the Second Coming seems to be delayed and Jesus still hasn’t come? No longer under the rule of Babylon, the Israelite people were now under the command of the Persian empire led by Cyrus as its king. What was the promise to God’s people by Cyrus as recorded in Ezra 1? Besides proclaiming their freedom to return to Jerusalem, what did Cyrus do to make the move even more rewarding and joyful? God hasn’t given us an exact date of the Second Coming of Jesus.  But do you think that the exact fulfillment of God’s promise to release His people after 70 years in Babylon should bring us comfort at this time?
2. Kings and events.  What was the first work to be done when God’s people arrived in Jerusalem? Be sure to look closely at the notes for Monday’s lesson. The list showing the Persian kings while God’s temple was being rebuilt is given by our lesson authors in chronological order. The narrative of how this all took place as given in Ezra 4, 5, and 6 is not in chronological order. Aren’t you thankful for the chronological list? How do you suggest keeping from drowning in this sea of dated perplexity? 
3. The second return. Ezra emerges as a leader in the restoration process. What would a resume for Ezra look like if he were applying for a position of some kind today? What do you learn about Ezra’s integrity and leadership in the first ten verses of Ezra 7? Imagine yourself on a committee for the Israelites trying to choose a stalwart and helpful leader and someone (or several people). Of course you would recommend Ezra? Why? How would you feel about working with Ezra in a busy time that could have been hectic but was not? Could we use people with Ezra’s qualities in the church today? 
4. King Artaxerxes. Even though most of the Jews stayed behind in Persia, some of them were eager to live in Jerusalem and do everything they could to make the city beautiful. How did King Artaxerxes contribute to the restoration project? Why do you think Artaxerxes put Ezra in charge of making sure that the inhabitants of the restored Jerusalem obeyed the laws of their God as well as the rules and regulation of the country? As much as he respected and honored God as the leader of the people moving into Jerusalem, why do you think Artaxerxes apparently did not even seriously consider being a follower of the most high God? Our lesson contains this note: “The Lord can use even unconverted people to do His will on earth.” Artaxerxes was one of those people. 

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The first group of returnees received the task of rebuilding the temple of God. We will study about the opposition to the building of the temple in a later lesson. Now, we will discuss the succession of Persian kings during the temple’s prolonged construction and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It is important to know the history behind the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah, as it provides a deeper insight into their messages.

Read Ezra 4:1-7. Who were the different kings mentioned during whose reign the opposition to the building of the temple occurred?

Prophecy to rebuild

Here is the list of Persian kings, in their chronological order, who are connected with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. It begins with Cyrus, who established the Persian Empire and conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.:

• Cyrus II “the Great” (559–530 B.C.)
• Cambyses II (530–522 B.C.)
• Darius I (522–486 B.C.)
• Xerxes I (485–465 B.C). (Also known from the book of Esther as Ahasuerus.)
• Artaxerxes I (465-424 B.C).

As we study these books, it’s very important to know that the appearance of these kings is not mentioned in Ezra in chronological order. For example, Ezra 4:6-24 is inserted before chapter 5, which continues the story of the opposition to the building of the temple. Consequently, the letters involving Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) and Artaxerxes I described in Ezra chapter 4 occurred after the events recorded in chapters 5 and 6, dealing with Darius I. This sequence can seem perplexing to readers, and it may account for some of the confusion that people have had over the centuries regarding the books. As we go through the quarter, knowing the order of events will help us better understand the messages of Ezra and Nehemiah.

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Read Jeremiah 25:11-12 and Jeremiah 29:10 and Daniel 9:1-2. When did the first return of the exiles happen? What prophecy was the return fulfilling?

The Lord influenced Cyrus to allow the first return, in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy. Jeremiah had written that the land of Judah would lie desolate for 70 years under Babylon (this happened, from 606/605 B.C. to 537/536 B.C.), but then God would open the doors for the captives’ return. As Daniel studied the writings of Jeremiah, he realized that the time had come for that promised return.

Cyrus and Daniel

In Daniel 9, Daniel is distraught because the 70 years were nearly up with no apparent change, and the new Persian empire had now risen to power. He mourned and turned to God, pleading for mercy and the fulfillment of His promises. In the same chapter (Dan. 9:24-27), God assured Daniel that He watches over everything and has a future planned, with a Deliverer who will die for the people to atone for their sins, bring righteousness, and fulfill the sacrificial system. In effect, God was saying, “Daniel, don’t worry. Since the true Deliverer (Jesus) will surely come, I will also send a deliver for you now”. Shortly afterward, God moved Cyrus, the king of Persia, to give the command to release the captives. God is always true to His promises (See Daniel 10 for how God intervened in order to secure the prosperity of His people in their homeland.)

Ezra 1 records King Cyrus’s proclamation that the nation of Israel was free to return to Jerusalem and to build the house of the Lord. The command was given sometime between the years 539–537 B.C. Not only does Cyrus let them go, but he also makes sure that they return with gifts and offerings, including the original vessels from the temple, which had been stolen by Nebuchadnezzar. This event reminds us of the Israelites leaving Egypt many years before, when God also moved the hearts of the people to present them with parting gifts. This first group to return to Judah was composed of about 50,000 people, which most likely included women and children from other territories.

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Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Jer. 25:11-12; Dan. 9:1-2; Ezra 4:1-7; Isa. 55:8-9; Ezra 7:1-28.

Memory Text: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah”. (Ezra 1:2, NKJV).

In the writings of Jeremiah, God had promised that His people would return home after 70 years of Babylonian exile. King Cyrus was God’s instrument to allow this return to happen. Anointed by God (Isa. 45:1), Cyrus issued a decree about 538 B.C., freeing up God’s people to return to their country and to rebuild the temple.

It was God (not Cyrus) who spoke regarding Jerusalem: “ ‘Let it be rebuilt’, and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid’ ” (Isa. 44:28, NIV). God was the guarantor that Jerusalem would be rebuilt, and He stirred the heart of Cyrus to grant permission to build the temple.

It is always encouraging, too, to see God’s people respond positively to the Lord’s actions: “Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites — everyone whose heart God had moved — prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:5, NIV).

Here we see an example of people responding positively to God’s mighty and gracious acts. Our best performance comes from a realization of who God is and what He has done, and from knowing how He lovingly intervenes on behalf of His people.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 5.

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