We sandwich Ezra in between the book of Numbers this week. Ezra is about the prophetic fulfilment of the return of Israel to Jerusalem as they build on the promises of God.
Ezra 1: The Proclamation of Cyrus
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel---he is the God who is in Jerusalem.
4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."
5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.
6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.
7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers,
10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels;
11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2: The Exiles Return
1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.
2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172.
4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372.
5 The sons of Arah, 775.
6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812.
7 The sons of Elam, 1,254.
8 The sons of Zattu, 945.
9 The sons of Zaccai, 760.
10 The sons of Bani, 642.
11 The sons of Bebai, 623.
12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222.
13 The sons of Adonikam, 666.
14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056.
15 The sons of Adin, 454.
16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.
17 The sons of Bezai, 323.
18 The sons of Jorah, 112.
19 The sons of Hashum, 223.
20 The sons of Gibbar, 95.
21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123.
22 The men of Netophah, 56.
23 The men of Anathoth, 128.
24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42.
25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621.
27 The men of Michmas, 122.
28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223.
29 The sons of Nebo, 52.
30 The sons of Magbish, 156.
31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254.
32 The sons of Harim, 320.
33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725.
34 The sons of Jericho, 345.
35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.
37 The sons of Immer, 1,052.
38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247.
39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.
40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.
41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.
42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,
46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan,
47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,
48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,
49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,
50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,
51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,
54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
55 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,
56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.
59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:
60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.
61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.
64 The whole assembly together was 42,360,
65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers.
66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245,
67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.
69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests' garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
Things to think about…
1. It’s interesting to read that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem, Ez 1:1,2. Well before Cyrus was on the scene, Isaiah calls Cyrus His servant, Isa 44:28, 45:1. Yet Cyrus was a pagan Persian. God often uses worldly kings to achieve His purposes for His people. I take great comfort in this. Cyrus was fulfilling what was prophesied by Jeremiah, that God’s people would return after 70 years and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Pray for the re-building of the church in Australia, especially our city of Ipswich.
2. The people who didn’t go back to Jerusalem were encouraged to contribute and give to the people who did go back to Jerusalem, Ez 1:3,4. This was similar to what happened when the Egyptians gave to the Israelites who left to go to. There was still a large community of Jews living in modern day Iraq (where Babylon was) up until the early 1950’s when they resettled back into Israel after it was declared a state in 1948.
3. Look at all these names and numbers in Ezra 2. There are about 50 000 males listed here – so there would have been 3 to 4 times this number in total returning to Jerusalem. That only leaves around 200 000 at the most. This is about one tenth of those who established themselves in the land initially. We know after the Romans wiped out Jerusalem in AD70 very few remained in Israel. 1 Million were slaughtered in AD70 and around 90 000 were taken captive to Rome. In 1948 the Jewish population in Israel was 806, 000. Today (as at the 25th April 2023) there are 9.7 million Jews in Israel. The Lord is indeed continuing to build this nation.
4. Jewish folk keep very good records. Those who returned in 536BC from Babylon had to be listed according to their lineage and hence their tribe. Only the Levites could minister at the temple. Some could not be registered because the records of their genealogies were not intact. The priest had to consult the Urim and Thummim to discern the Lord’s will regarding these men, Ez 2:63. The Jewish rabbis still require strict recording standards to be kept if one is to marry as a Jew in Israel today.
5. There was a descent amount of capital and resources to start the temple rebuilding program for those that returned. In Ez 2:69, it is recorded that 61,000 darics of gold was donated. This is equivalent to around $40 Million in today’s coin. A good-sized building fund. Pray CBC gets blessed in a similar way when our church is rebuilt after some of the land is resumed for the widening of the Warrego Highway.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon:-“Behold the Nazarite” – Num 6:1-21
a. Jay shared a bit about his weirdness on Sunday with his sucrose intolerance. We are all weird/different to others in some way. What is weird/different about you?
b. The Nazarite vow could be taken by a male or a female, what are some of the things that were required of them? What was the purpose of the Nazarite and their vow?
c. As Christians we stand out more and more in our society due to our values and belief system. What are the ways that we stand out as modern day Nazarites. Samson was a Nazarite and he fell to worldly passions and it cost him dearly. What does it cost the Christian when we fall morally or get dragged back into the world?
d. Pray for our witness with our friends, workmates, family and neighbours who are outside of Christ. Would they come to a Community Day – June 24th Saturday @ Church.
Prayer Points
1. Continue to pray and Andy in Ipswich hospital and for Sally as she continues to battle Alzheimer’s. Give thanks for a loving husband and example of Christ – Richard.
2. The two young people that broke into our church early Friday morning. It was the same ones that broke in 10 weeks ago. A police report with video evidence has been submitted.
3. That those who are new to the church are encouraged and settle in well into the church.
4. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you saved.
5. Pray for Kids@church and our Youth group.
6. Pray for Chuwar Youth and Jarrod’s ministry. Pray as he meets with youth at Westside, this week as well as the growing young adults ministry.
7. How you can serve in ministry this year.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Leaders meeting on Saturday thankyou to all those involved – Especially Shaun and Erika Newberry for their amazing hospitality.
2. Young adult’s ministry is growing – keep praying as Jarrod develops this ministry.
3. Kids@Church and Youth ministries are a great blessing. Pray for Rosie and Jarrod as they start out for term 2.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Mother’s Day High Tea. Sat 13th May 10am Church. Speaker and pampering, 13th May RSVP Suzanne 1/5/2023. Ph:- 0418 889 683.
2. Church information session 28th May after the morning service.
3. Remember to check your duty rosters for term 2.
4. Community Day Saturday 24th June at Church. More details to follow.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for May...
Q. 8. Who are they? A. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Bible References – Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
