Ezra: The Lord Helpsናሙና

It’s 539 BC. Cyrus has just become king of Persia (v. 1), the world superpower of the day. The Persian Empire rules over God’s people, Judah, who have been in exile for nearly 70 years now. They were taken captive by the Babylonians, unceremoniously dragged out of Jerusalem, and forcibly relocated in Babylon. Since then the Persians have taken control of the Babylonian Empire. 

But now something is about to change. The Lord is moving the heart of King Cyrus (v. 1). That in itself is an arresting start. Cyrus is not a believer; he is personally nowhere with God. And geographically Cyrus is in Babylon, nowhere near Jerusalem. This shouts loud and clear, ‘The Lord is supremely powerful over all.'

It is the Lord who reigns, not Cyrus. The Lord reigns all over the whole world, calling the shots and changing hearts – even of those who do not acknowledge Him as God; even of the most powerful man on the planet. How encouraging is that?! As the first chapter unfolds, we’ll see that the Lord is also moving to bring about a reformation among His people. 

This sensational beginning shouldn’t be a surprise though. It’s exactly what the Lord said would happen (v. 1). The events of the book of Ezra are a fulfillment of the Lord’s Word written in the book of Jeremiah: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.’ (Jer. 29:10). 

God said those words at a low point in Judah’s history: as His people were being carted off to Babylon and into exile. Now, against all the apparent odds, that promise – to take his people out of exile and back home to Jerusalem after 70 years – is being fulfilled. 

So accurate is the biblical prophecy that through another prophet, Isaiah, the Lord said that this return would come about through Cyrus. This was years before Cyrus existed! Now that is precisely what is happening (v. 1). 

The fulfillment of prophecy is such an encouragement for us who, too, are not home. We are foreigners and exiles in this world (1 Pet. 2:11). Following Jesus is tough. At times we’re sure to question whether God will keep His promises, specifically to keep His church. Yet, through Jesus Christ, the Lord today is bringing us out of exile and back into a relationship with Him.

Reflection

When you are tempted to question whether the Lord keeps His promises to keep His people, how does this verse encourage you to continue trusting Him? When you look around at the world and wonder who is in control, what does this verse tell you?