Ezra 1:5 & 6:
“Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.”
Let’s try to get into the minds of this displaced group. Starting before the exile.
So. God has chosen your race, out of all the nations on the earth, to make His Presence known and display His glory to the whole world. This is not because you are a mighty nation or better than others. No, it’s because it is His choice.
Unlike those of us under the New Covenant, God’s Spirit did not dwell within the very being of His people. Aside from some recorded instances when the Spirit of the LORD came upon someone, He chose to manifest His Glory in the Tabernacle and then the Temple. So with this awesome responsibility of His Presence and power among you – before the eyes of all – you are to keep your part of His Covenant with you. Especially, having no other gods before Him.
However, if you’re from the older generation, that is not what you experienced while still in Jerusalem. The priests, whose job is to serve the community, don’t even know how to blush. Everyone clings to deceit. And Jeremiah, a prophet telling the Truth, is weeping that pride will cause the LORD’s flock to be taken captive.
But wait. Was this the heart condition of every one of God’s people in Judah?
What I love about God is the reckless Hope He always gives. He makes sure to mention those who do not shift their confidence to idols:
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Living in Him is the only way to live.
Nevertheless, the majority of your people are grievously sinning. And you see in your lifetime what Jeremiah predicted:
“Their land will be laid waste,
An object of lasting scorn;
All who pass by will be appalled
And will shake their heads.”
(Jer. 18:16)
Jerusalem beseiged. Temple and city destroyed. Many Jews exiled.
So what about daily life in your new foreign land? You are allowed to live communally and preserve many customs. In fact, Jeremiah even wrote a letter to our exiles, passing on to them that their Word from God was to build houses, settle down, plant gardens, marry & have families, and seek the prosperity of the city in which they now lived. In fact, it is in this context of encouraging the deported ones that the famous Jeremiah verse was written:
“This is what the LORD says:
‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.'” (Jer. 29:10-14a NIV)
Isn’t He good? Even after everything, He is making sure His children know His love and hope and His desire to be the only One to whom they bow.
But even with this permission to settle down and preserve some customs, it is difficult in a decadent, ungodly society to stay true to the heart of God. Just ask Daniel.
So here you are. If you were young-ish when the deportation began, you are now at least 75 years old. In fact, Daniel himself was over 80 years old when he was thrown into the lions’ den. (That’s different than all those pictures in kids’ books, huh?) Many of your older family members and maybe even some of your peers have died.
Then you hear the news in 539 BC: Babylon has fallen to the Persians.
Next thing you know: The new king, King Cyrus, is proclaiming you can return home!
But…where is home?
Home for your children is this foreign land. They’ve heard stories of Jerusalem, but have never lived there. Your grandchildren probably know even less and have heard fewer stories. Even thinking about making a long, 4 month journey could sound daunting.
I think this is where we should remember how God always preserves a remnant of faithfulness among His people. Likely many were satisfied with their comfortable situation in a foreign land. But there were others who listened to the Prophets. Who learned to become Scribes to keep the Law accurate. Who still observed the Sabbath and circumcision.
And who, most of all, desired to once again worship Covenant Yahweh as He designed: with sacrifices in the Temple.
And it was likely some from that group, “everyone whose heart God had moved,” who began to pack their bags, say their goodbyes, and start the journey Home.