Cyrus’ decree was for all his subjects, including those from Isreal (the
Northern Kingdom) who survived the Assyrian captivity. But Ezra 1:5 tells that
only those leaders from the household of Judah and Benjamin, the
priests, and the Levites responded. Again it was God who had moved the hearts
of these people to respond to the call. As for those people among those who had
responded Cyrus urged them to be encouraging those who had set their hearts to
return to rebuild the temple. Ezra 1:6 they heeded Cyrus' words, and they
encouraged those who had responded by contributing “…articles of silver, with
gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given
as a freewill offering.” We are accumst9med to a similar situation that
happened to the people of God during the time of the exodus of God’s people
from Egypt. When their forefathers left Egypt, they had lots of contributions
of silver, gold, and jewelry from their neighbors. Lessons to be learned
here: firstly, when God calls us to a mission, He will ensure our provision.
Secondly, for those of us who may not be called to the mission, we
can certainly generously support and finance those who are sent
out.
When
Nebuchadnezzar raided Jerusalem, he seized articles from the house of the LORD there and brought
them back, and put them in the house of his gods. In Ezra 1:7, Cyrus had
the treasurer Mithredath, brought those articles out to be counted before
Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Ezra 1:8-10 then enumerated the
articles. They comprised “30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes,
29 duplicates; 30 gold bowls, 410 silver
bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles.” We are
told in verse 11 that “All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400.”
All these were brought back to Jerusalem from Babylon by Sheshbazzar and those
exiles returning to rebuild the temple.
The
life of the people of God evolved around the worship of the LORD. Hence the
temple was central to their lives. Thus rebuilding the temple was to be the
first agenda for the returnees. because the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar had
left the temple in ruin. For us believers today, our lives must also
revolve around worship. This being true, each one of us must ask: How is the
altar of my life? Is it intact? If not, what are the things that are causing my
worship to be in this state? Will I pay the price to rebuild it? There is no
cost too big to have our worship with God restored. Make sure to do anything
and everything needed to rebuild it. We need it more than anything in life.
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