196. RESTORATION UNDER CYRUS

"Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary"

Judah was in captivity in Babylon. Throughout the years of the exile, the faithful ones were convinced of their return and restoration because, of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. The prophet Jeremiah, under the inspiration of God, proclaimed the fall of Babylon and the return of Israel to their land, after their spending a period of seventy years in cap­tivity.

Daniel, a man of prayer, having witnessed the fall of Babylon, and realising what the word of God had to say regarding the return of his peo­ple and the restoration once this period had expired, prayed to Yahweh to "cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate" (Daniel 9:2, 17).

At the time appointed the city of Babylon was captured by the Medes and Persians. Several decrees were later issued allowing the Jews to return to their land and rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem.

Ezra 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

THE DECREE OF CYRUS. Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23.

Two hundred years before the event, the prophet Isaiah spoke of one, Cyrus, as Yahweh's shepherd, His anointed, who would subdue nations and perform His pleasure "even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the Temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (Isaiah 44:28-45:4).

As was predicted in this remarkable prophecy Cyrus (king of Persia) and Darius (King of Media) came against the mighty city of Babylon and overthrew it. Cyrus reigned in association with Darius for two years, at which time Darius died. Cyrus then reigned alone over Babylon and im­mediately instituted a policy of religious tolerance. He invited those peo­ple who had been taken captive by Babylon to return to their respective countries if they desired to do so. He showed special favour to the Jewish people.

THE RESTORATION BEGINS. Ezra 3.

Excitement filled the hearts of many and they encouraged one another "to go up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:5). About 50,000 people returned in the first return of the exiles to com­mence the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 2:64-65). Zerubbabel was ap­pointed the governor and Joshua the high priest (Ezra 3:2) and then the following work was undertaken: The "altar of the God of Israel" was built and the appropriate sacrifices made (3:1-6) during the seventh month of the first year. This was the mouth of the Feast of Tabernacles which celebrated deliverance from Egypt. What extra significance lay in their recent deliverance from Babylonian exile as they joyously celebrated this Feast?

• Money was used to obtain materials and labour for the laying of the foundation of the Temple (3:6-7).

• Work on the foundations commenced in the second month of the se­cond year (vv.8-9).

When the foundations of the Temple were laid a special service of thanksgiving was held. Joshua the High Priest wearing his resplendent robes of office with the priests and Levites likewise dressed in their ap­parel, together with the musicians and singers sang praises to Yahweh through the glorious Psalms of David (Ezra 3:10). The hills around about Jerusalem echoed to the shouts of joy from the people. But many of the old priests and Levites and chief men who still remembered the glorious Temple of Solomon before it was destroyed over 70 years earlier wept loudly because this new temple could not be compared in glory and magnificence to that of Solomon's (vv. 12-13). Later the prophet Zechariah rebuked those who made such comparisons, "despising the day of small things" (4:10). A faithful remnant will be blessed by God but often discouraged by the faint heartedness and limited vision of many others.

TROUBLED BY ADVERSARIES — THE WORK CEASES. Ezra 4.

The Gentile people of the land desired to help build the Temple (4:2). "Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do . . ." However, their worship was a mixture of a little truth with much error, and Joshua and Zerubbabel knew that if these people joined the rebuilding team it would certainly lead to the truth being weakened.

Their reply was, "Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Yahweh God of Israel, as King Cyrus the King of Persia hath commanded us" (4:3).

This reply caused trouble and opposition to the building project, and eventually brought the work to a halt. These "trouble-makers" discouraged the people and tried to divide them; they even wrote letters full of accusations to Ahasuerus (v.6), the son of Cyrus, but this failed to stop the work. However, later, another letter was sent, this time to Artaxerxes (v.7), a heathen priest who had taken the Persian throne. And so proclamation was made calling for an end to the building (4:17-22). The adversaries, upon receiving the replies, eagerly hastened to the building site and forced them to cease the work.

THE WARNING OF THE PROPHETS—THE WORK RECOMMENCED. Ezra 5.

The people were discouraged, and soon growing apathetic towards the work, turned to their own interests. It was in this depressing situation that the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, appealed to the people. They had occupied themselves with their own personal pursuits and interests. So, too, might we fail if we become engrossed in the material possessions this world has to offer, and say within our hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming" (Matthew 24:48).

Haggai exhorted the people to consider their ways, and declared that their agricultural calamities were the direct result of spiritual apathy. But if they changed their ways, he assured them that blessings would take the place of cursings (Haggai 1:7-11; 2:15-19). So through the vigorous ex­hortations of the prophets the people were aroused to action.

Despite the renewed hostilities on the part of Tatnai, the governor and Shethar-boznai, the work progressed: "The eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease" (5:5).

The adversaries asked the question, "Who hath commanded you to build this house?" (v.9). The Jews replied that they did so by the decree of Cyrus, and they ignored the decree of Artaxerxes which forbad them.

Tatnai, Shethar-boznai and his companions took up the matter and wrote to Darius II. They implied that there was rebellion in the Jews' haste. Doubting that Cyrus had even made a decree at all they suggested that Darius search out the matter (5:6-17).

THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE. Ezra 6.

By the grace of God the record of the decree had been preserved and was found by Darius (w.1-6). He replied to Tatnai and Shethar-boznai's letter saying, "let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place . . . that they be not hindered". He made a decree that all the ex­penses for the Temple should be provided from the Samaritans, that they should supply their sacrifices daily, and he threatened to destroy those who would alter his decree or destroy the Temple (w.6-12). We can im­agine how shocked and embarassed the cowardly Samaritans looked as they hurriedly set to and helped the Jews.

The work of the rebuilding of the Temple proceeded, and was finally completed after four years of activity (4:24 c.f. 6:15).

There is a lesson in this account. When the Jews neglected God's house they suffered, but when they took up the work and overcame the obstacles they were blessed beyond their expectations. The same is true today, for Yahweh has not changed. If we "draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh unto us." He is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (James 4:8; Ephesians 3:20).

THE TEMPLE OF THE FUTURE AGE.

The Lord Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God. The centre of this kingdom will be the wonderful Tem­ple located at Jerusalem. The magnificence of this Temple is outlined in detail in Ezekiel chapters 40-48. Haggai describes the glory of Messiah's Temple saying, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says Yahweh of hosts. The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former" (Hag. 2:8-9 RSV). There are a number of references to this Temple in the Bible where it is shown to be "an house of prayer for all nations". See Zechariah 14:16; Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7; 2:1-5; Psalm 122.

LESSON FOR US:

Yahweh told Isaiah two hundred years before the event took place that Cyrus was to perform the task of causing the Jews to return to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in Babylon. At the "appointed time" the city of Babylon was captured and decrees were issued allowing the cap­tives to return to their land. Truly, "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will . . ." (Daniel 4:17). We, as young people anxiously awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, must consider the political events taking place in the world today so that we can discern the "signs of the times". We must remember that God is guiding the destiny of the nations, making ready for the final act which will usher in that time when God's Kingdom will be established upon this earth, and when that glorious Temple will be built in Jerusalem.

On the day the foundations were laid the old men who remembered the glorious Temple of Solomon wept when they compared this new Temple with the old. The prophet Zechariah later rebuked those who made these comparisons with the words "who hath despised the day of small things!" (Zechariah 4:10). We can fall into a similar error if we attempt to measure the work of the Truth by human standards.

However, if we devote our time and dedicate our service to Christ, the blessings of the Father will abound, and we will not be like those old men who "despised the day of small things".

The Temple built under the leadership of Zerubbabel was a shadow of a greater and more glorious Temple to be built by Christ in the near future. However, today we can become a Temple (a place for God to dwell) if we cleanse our hearts by overcoming the evil desires of the flesh, and building into our lives the qualities and characteristics God desires of us. "Ye are the Temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:16).

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Prophets after the Exile" (J. Carter).

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vol. 7, Nos. 1, 2.

"Consider Your Ways" (H.P. Mansfield).

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. (a) What did God say to the prophet Isaiah about Cyrus?
   (b) How was this prophecy fulfilled?

2. Describe why the work of rebuilding the Temple ceased.

3. What were the main points of the letter written by Darius II to Tatnai and his companions?

4. Why did Joshua and Zerubbabel refuse to let the Samaritans help them rebuild the Temple?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the work of Haggai and Zechariah in the restoration of the Temple. What lessons can we learn from their work?

2. Describe the incidents leading up to the rebuilding of the Temple and why the work was stopped and then recommenced.