Ezra 2:1-58 Exiles who returned with Zerubbabel

 Good morning and a merry Christmas eve eve to you all. God is good all the time, all the time, God is good.

The following exiles were from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and is made up of men who were leaders.  This same list is in Nehemiah 7:7.  These are the families and citizens of cities.  Verse 36 begins listing priest, Levites, and other Temple servants.  To save time and space I'll let you view these on your own with no other commentary.

Ezra 2: 

The List of the Exiles Who Returned

2 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town, 2 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):

The list of the men of the people of Israel:

3 the descendants of Parosh	2,172
4 of Shephatiah	372
5 of Arah	775
6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)	2,812
7 of Elam	1,254
8 of Zattu	945
9 of Zakkai	760
10 of Bani	642
11 of Bebai	623
12 of Azgad	1,222
13 of Adonikam	666
14 of Bigvai	2,056
15 of Adin	454
16 of Ater (through Hezekiah)	98
17 of Bezai	323
18 of Jorah	112
19 of Hashum	223
20 of Gibbar	95

21 the men of Bethlehem	123
22 of Netophah	56
23 of Anathoth	128
24 of Azmaveth	42
25 of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth	743
26 of Ramah and Geba	621
27 of Mikmash	122
28 of Bethel and Ai	223
29 of Nebo	52
30 of Magbish	156
31 of the other Elam	1,254
32 of Harim	320
33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono	725
34 of Jericho	345
35 of Senaah	3,630

36 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua)	973
37 of Immer	1,052
38 of Pashhur	1,247
39 of Harim	1,017

40 The Levites:

the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah)

74

41 The musicians:

the descendants of Asaph

128

42 The gatekeepers of the temple:

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai	139

43 The temple servants:

the descendants of

Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,

45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,

46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,

47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,

48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,

49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,

50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,

51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of

Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,

56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

57 Shephatiah, Hattil,

Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami

58 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon I'll begin next on Ezra 2:59 after Christmas.  Merry Christmas and don't forget Jesus in the holiday festivities. Love you all. In Christ's Love and Grace Johnny

Ezra 1:8-9 Returning Temple Items to Jerusalem

 Good morning all. Wow! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Tis the season to remember why we celebrate this time of year!  JESUS CHRIST!

Let us see what King Cyrus is doing now.  V 8: 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

So who is Sheshbazzar? It is thought that Sheshbazzar is the Babylonian name for Zerubbabel, one of the Jewish leaders during the first return.

  So Mithredath is the treasurer and he is to count all the items to be returned. Here they are:  9 This was the inventory:

gold basins - 30; silver basins - 1,000; silver incense burners - 29; (v10) gold bowls - 30; silver bowls - 410; other items - 1,000

  In todays market value I cannot even imagine how many millions of dollars was returned to the temple.  Plus, they were given even more items of value that were not counted by the treasurer. The Tabernacle of Moses' items would be valued at 13 million today, just think about the Temples value.  If you add these up you come up with 2499, however in verse 11 it states that in all there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver.

11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to  Jerusalem.

  These items were returned to the Temple of God, and no other hand caused it to happen except God's hand.  Cyrus, as mentioned before, was not a believer in the Jewish God, but was a   follower of Zoroaster, a monotheistic prophet.  God made all this come to be. 

  Think about our lives.  Sometimes we are discouraged or think God has forgotten about us.  BUT, we must never give up hope because God is ahead of us, in control, and the turning point may be just ahead.

  Thank you for reading with me today. Love y'all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Can God stir us? Ezra 1:5-7

 Greetings and Merry Christmas to y'all!!!  This time of year you will hear it in the church, on t.v. and the radio about the birth of Jesus.  You know, it just does not change. Angel came to Mary, a virgin, told her she would be with child. Joseph, the future husband was visited by an angel and told it would be okay.  They went to Bethlehem and a baby was born.  They named him Jesus.  In a nut shell!  Well, I know you can get a more indepth version but I want to return to Ezra.

  Ezra 1: 5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.  

 Cyrus ruled over what had been Assyria and Babylon. Assyria deported the Israelites from the north kingdom (Israel) and Babylon took Israelites captive from Judah.  King Cyrus was not a Jew, he was a follower of Zoroaster, a monotheistic prophet.  However, he was a tolerant ruler who allowed his subjects to practice their own religions.

  So, remember, God stirred Cyrus' heart first, now he is moving the leaders, priests, and heads of families and Levites to go and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  If you don't think God can change the heart of man, just read deeper in the Bible and you will see how he saved the Israelites numerous times. 

6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

  The journey back to Jerusalem was about a 4 day journey. Many took their wealth with them to be instrumental in building the temple.  However, there were some Israelites who had acquired wealth during the time of captivity and did not want to lose their "material or personal possessions", therefore remained behind. Don't we do this today, material possessions more important than anything else, including God?

  7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

  King Nebuchadnezzar raided the Temple and took many valuable furnishing with him.  Most of the items were made of solid gold.  Cyrus, being a tolerant and supporting king returned these items to the Jews for the temple they planned to rebuild.

  What do you see here we don't today?  First, tolerance - by a non-believing King; second - wanting the people to be able to worship as they did before; and third - returning what had been stolen by a previous king.

  Tolerance, freedom of worship, and returning to God what is rightfully his.  Today, in my opinion, it seems tolerance only if you agree; freedom of worship is here but with criticism and strife; and people returning to God what is rightfully his - our prayer time, study the Bible, and spreading the word.  Just my thoughts.

   Tomorrow we will see how much was truly taken from the Temple by King Nebuchadnezzar.

  Thank you for reading with me today. Love y'all and early Merry Christmas.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Ezra 1:1-4 Do you know Ezra?

 Well Good Morning.  On the way back from the gym (yes, gym) I listened to a story by a man who struggled with his relationship with God.  It felt like me, then upon returning home I prayed and God laid on my heart the book of Ezra.  Why?  I don't know, but that is what I'll study these next few weeks.

  Who was Ezra?  A priest, a scribe, and a great leader. The name Ezra means "help".  Ezra was one who believed God's word and then obeyed it.  We will learn more about Ezra as we go along.

  Just a preface on this book straight from my life application Bible.  After 70 years in exile, the captives from Judah were allowed to return to their homeland.  Nearly 50,000 people made this journey. Upon arrival they began to rebuild the Temple, but became discouraged by opposition.  After encouragement from Haggai and Zechariah, they returned to the task and completed the Temple.  The message of the prophets still speaks to us today, encouraging us to continue building up God's church.

Ezra 1: 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

NOTE:  Cyrus was not a servant of Yahweh, but he was used by God to return the Jews to their homeland.  When Cyrus conquered a land he was merciful to the inhabitants. Now he is giving an order to fulfill the words of the prophet Jeremiah.

2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:  “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. 4 And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”

  Okay, the first line, remember, Cyrus is not a believer and he says: the God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and appointed me to build a temple.  Where: In Judah at Jerusalem.  This allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland after 70 years in exile.  Cyrus gave them protection, money, and the temple items Nebuchadnezzar had taken.

  His proclamation provided several things.  First the Jews can work together to rebuild the Temple, some man the supply lines, some leading and others providing support.  

Each person is asked to serve in some capacity, no matter how large or small a task, to work as team members and let the LORD get the credit, not individuals.

   This is what we are asked to do in our local assemblies:  be a team member, worry not about getting credit, just do what God has asked you to do.  But most of all, enjoy being in service to God and being a child of the LIVING GOD!!!!

  More tomorrow.  Love y'all! Thank you for reading.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny