DEVOTIONAL 7
EZRA 1:5-2:70
5 Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 6 All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. 7 Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods; 8 and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 Now this was their number: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates; 10 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles. 11 All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Several years ago I meet a man who made a real impression on my life. His name was Dr. E. Harold Henderson. He was possibly one of the best theologians and preachers I had ever heard. His ability to communicate the Scripture and relate it to everyday life was uncanny. Once when talking to him he told me make sure and watch everything around you. Because in doing so you will always find an illustration for you next sermon. Over the years I have attempted to take that advice and have always found it true.
God does the very same thing here in this passage. He uses the mythology of the Babylonian/Persian people to illustrate what I call the second Exodus. When you carefully read Ezra 1:5-2:70 you get the same feel as you do when you read Exodus chapters 1-19, except on a smaller scale. Think about it! In the book of Exodus you have a king (Pharaoh) who has his heart hardened by God and then later hardens his own heart regarding the will of God. In Ezra you have God opening up the heart of a pagan king to do His will. In Exodus you have the people exiting the land of Egypt with the riches of the Egyptians. Egypt was defeated and not one sword was raised to bring them to this demise, it was a total work of God. Here we have somewhat the same thing going on.
In verse 7 it notes that, “…King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;” When the Babylonians raided and destroyed Jerusalem along with the Temple, they brought all the treasures of the Judean kingdom with them. One of the most valuable treasures that the pagan nations loved to have was the treasures from the temple of the nation they had defeated. Babylon was no different. When they brought them back to their capital the temple artifacts would go into the temple of the god the king worshipped. This was their way of saying that the gods of Babylon, in particular the god the king worshipped, was stronger and greater than the gods of the defeated nation. When Nebuchadnezzar does this he was stating that his god was greater and mightier than Yahwah. In Galatians 6:7 Paul notes, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” It is as true here as anywhere else, God was not to be mocked. Rather than doing what He did to Egypt, here God places another nation with another king over Babylon and simply changes the heart of the king regarding His people and Him being worshiped.
In doing so He uses the mythology of the people to illustrate the defeat of Babylon in light of Greatness. The two people who are mentioned in verse 8 are Mithredath and Sheshbazzar. Both men are officials in Babylon in one capacity or another. Many scholars believe that Sheshbazzar is Zerubabbel’s Persian name since it notes that he is, “…the prince of Judah”. This is very specific. Sheshbazzar is never seen in action after this point. However we do see Zerubabbel later and in chapter 5:16 Sheshbazzar is identified as the one who was the governor when the Temple foundation was laid yet chapter 3:8 says that Zerubbabel was the governor when it happened. Is this a contradiction? Not if Sheshbazzar is Zerubbabel’s official Persian name. The name Mithredath means “one dedicated to the god Mithrus” who was the pagan Sun god for the Babylonians. Sheshbazzar is a name honoring the Babylonian pagan god who in mythology defeats the Sun god. In a way God uses this storyline and His people to show how He has defeated the gods of the Babylonians.
To show this is true God claims back two things that belong to Him. First, through the degree of Cyrus He claims His people back to Himself for His service…the rebuilding of the Temple. Second, through Sheshbazzar He reclaims the Temple utensils. In both situations they belong to Him and by receiving them back He now claims victory over the gods of Assyria/Babylon/Persia.
So what are some things we can take with us from this passage? First, God can use anything in any culture in order to relay His message. While I believe we have to be very careful with this thought, it should not frighten us when He does. C.S. Lewis was a genius at doing this in many of his writings especially in the Chronicles of Narnia. Two hundred years ago God used a new form of technology which we consider unusual if it is not in a church building today. At the time that technology caused all kinds of problems and arguments. That technology is called the piano. Today the argument rises against Contemporary Christian music. Second, God will take what belongs to Him. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 3:21-23, “21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” Here the apostle is making an argument as to why the local body of Christ should not be divided over personality issues. Why? Because, we belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. There is no schisms regarding the person and work of God. In the same way we should view each other as belonging to God through Christ and rejoice in that fact. WE BELONG TO GOD. The apostle Paul also states in Romans 8:9, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” So how do we belong to God? How do we get the Spirit of Christ? That is very important because just as He gather His people Israel out of Babylon so one day He will gather His people before the world ends. Again Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” My question is do you belong to Him? If not just simply repent, or turn from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ placing your total trust in Him as Savior based on His work on the cross and in His bodily resurrection. Romans 10:9-13 says, “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, ‘WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.’ 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”
As always your comments are welcomed.
God Bless You,
Steven
Next time Ezra 1:5-11, SEEING THE GOOD HAND OF GOD AT WORK THROUGH WHAT’S MISSING
Unless otherwise noted all verses quoted are from the New American Standard Version.
