Commentary - Ezra 1:1-4

Bird's-eye view

The book of Ezra opens not with a whimper, but with a thunderclap of divine sovereignty. After seventy years of exile, just as the prophet Jeremiah had foretold, God moves upon the heart of the most powerful man in the world to accomplish His redemptive purposes. This is not merely a story of political policy change; it is the story of God keeping His covenant promises. The central theme is restoration, and true restoration always begins with the restoration of right worship. God is rebuilding His house, and He is doing it by stirring up the spirit of a pagan king, calling His people out of their comfortable captivity, and causing the wealth of the nations to flow toward Jerusalem. This chapter sets the stage for the entire narrative of return and rebuilding, demonstrating that God's plan is never thwarted by empires, time, or the faithlessness of His people.

The decree of Cyrus is a pivotal moment in redemptive history. It is a second exodus, but with a significant twist. Instead of plundering their captors on the way out, the returning exiles are to be supplied and funded by them. This is a foretaste of the gospel's advance, where the nations themselves are brought into the project of building God's house. The foundation is being laid, not just for a physical temple, but for the community of faith from which the Messiah would eventually come.

Outline

Context In Ezra

Ezra begins where 2 Chronicles ends, providing the historical and theological sequel to the judgment of exile. The seventy years of captivity, prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 25:11-12; 29:10), are now complete. The Babylonian empire has fallen to the Medo-Persians in 539 B.C., and Cyrus the Great is the new emperor on the world stage. His policy of allowing captive peoples to return to their homelands and worship their own gods was a shrewd political move, but the biblical author makes it clear that this policy was, in reality, the outworking of Yahweh's sovereign decree. This opening chapter establishes the foundational truth for the rest of Ezra and Nehemiah: God is the one rebuilding His people, and He will use whomever He pleases to do it.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

Ezra 1:1

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to complete the word of Yahweh from the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he had a proclamation pass throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:"

The book opens by immediately grounding this historical event in God's eternal plan. The timing is precise: "the first year of Cyrus" (538 B.C.). History has a timeline, and God is the master of it. But the reason for this event is not found in the political savvy of Cyrus, but rather "in order to complete the word of Yahweh from the mouth of Jeremiah." God speaks, and history conforms. His prophecies are not hopeful guesses; they are fixed points around which empires rise and fall. The seventy years are up, and God is now acting to fulfill His promise.

And how does He act? "Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus." Here is the doctrine of divine providence in its most raw and potent form. The most powerful man on earth is but a chess piece in the hand of the Almighty. God does not simply react to Cyrus's good intentions; He originates them. He "stirs up" his spirit. The Hebrew word is 'ur, meaning to awaken or incite. God is the great inciter, the prime mover. Cyrus may have thought this policy was his own brilliant idea for securing his empire, but the Spirit of God was working behind the scenes, moving him to do the very thing God had ordained centuries before. The proclamation that follows, both spoken and written for permanence, is the direct result of God's work in a pagan heart.

Ezra 1:2

"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.’"

The proclamation itself is stunning. A pagan emperor begins by giving glory to the God of a captive people. "Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth." This is a remarkable confession. Cyrus acknowledges that his vast empire is not the result of his own military genius, but is a gift from Yahweh. Does Cyrus have a full-orbed, saving knowledge of God? The text doesn't require us to believe that. God can put His truth in anyone's mouth, from Balaam's donkey to a Persian king. What matters is that God is being glorified, and His authority is being declared from the highest echelons of human power.

Furthermore, Cyrus understands he has a specific divine vocation. "He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem." The conqueror of the world is now tasked as a general contractor for the Lord. This is a profound reversal. The goal of his reign, from God's perspective, was not the glory of Persia but the rebuilding of the temple in an obscure province. This is a picture of how God views all human authority. Every president, king, and prime minister is appointed by God for His purposes, and their ultimate success is measured by how they serve the interests of His kingdom and His house, which is the Church.

Ezra 1:3

"Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem."

The decree now turns from confession to commission. The call goes out to "all His people." This is a call to leave the relative comfort and familiarity of Babylon and embark on a difficult journey to rebuild from ruins. It is a test of faith. Who truly belongs to Yahweh? The one who answers the call. The king gives his blessing: "may his God be with him!" This is more than a polite wish; it is a recognition that this endeavor requires divine aid. The task is clear: "Let him go up... and rebuild the house of Yahweh."

The central focus is the restoration of worship. A people are not truly a people without the presence of their God, and the temple was the symbol of that presence. Rebuilding the temple was the first step to rebuilding their identity as the covenant people of God. The verse ends by reinforcing who this God is: "the God of Israel," their covenant-keeping God, and the one who is specifically "the God who is in Jerusalem." He is not an abstract deity, but a God who has chosen to place His name in a particular city, among a particular people.

Ezra 1:4

"So everyone who remains, at whatever place he may sojourn, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’"

This final verse is a marvel of God's provision. Not only are the Jews permitted to leave, they are to be funded by their pagan neighbors. Those who are not going themselves, the "men of that place," are commanded to support the returning exiles. This is a reverse of the original exodus, where the Israelites plundered the Egyptians. Here, the Gentiles are willingly, by royal command, contributing to the work of God. They are to provide "silver and gold, with goods and cattle." This is the wealth of the nations flowing to Zion, a fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah (Is. 60:5-6).

This support is described as a "freewill offering for the house of God." Though commanded by the king, it is to be given in the spirit of willing generosity. This demonstrates a profound gospel principle: when God's kingdom advances, it has a powerful effect even on the unbelieving world, causing them to contribute to a work they do not fully understand. All of this wealth, all of this support, has one destination: "the house of God which is in Jerusalem." All resources find their highest purpose when they are consecrated to the worship and glory of the living God.

Application

The opening of Ezra is not just ancient history; it is a pattern for the Christian life. First, we must recognize the absolute sovereignty of God over all things. Our political leaders, our cultural trends, and our personal circumstances are all being directed by God to fulfill His good purposes. He can stir the spirit of anyone, from a king to a coworker, to accomplish His will. There is no reason for fear or despair, because our God reigns.

Second, we are a people who have been called out of exile. Like the Jews in Babylon, we are called to leave the world's ways of thinking and living and to set our faces toward the New Jerusalem. This is a call to action, a call to "go up" and participate in the great project of our time: building the house of God, the Church of Jesus Christ. This is done through worship, fellowship, evangelism, and discipleship.

Finally, we should expect God to provide for His work in surprising ways. He moved the hearts of the Persians to fund the rebuilding of His temple, and He can move the hearts of anyone today to provide for the needs of His church. The wealth of the nations belongs to our God, and as the gospel advances, we will see more and more of that wealth consecrated to His service. Our task is to be faithful to the call, trusting that the God who stirred the spirit of Cyrus is the same God who is with us today.