Ezra 1 - Introduction

After the dark period of exile due to sin and rebellion against God, the Book of Ezra is about the chance for RENEWAL for the people of Israel.   A chance to Return to the Promised Land, to Rebuild the Temple and Wall, to Restart, Rededicate, Repent, etc - essentially, a chance to be Restored.

Ezra 1:1 shows that in God's great mercy and love, renewal and restoration was all part of His Plan as prophesied in Jeremiah 29:10-11 "This is what the LORD says: 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good 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.'"  How beautiful! Our God is a gracious God!

In chp 1, we see God moving the hearts of Cyrus King of Persia, of those to return from exile, and of the neighbors, to bring about His Plans.  Even the Temple treasures that were plundered are returned.  And this was all prophesied hundreds of years earlier through Isaiah:  "This is what the LORD says—...I am the LORD, ...who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’... who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,”and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’ (Isaiah 44:24a,26b,28)

What encouragement it is to know that when I have fallen, I can find renewal; and God will be at work through the rebuilding and restoration process, according to His great Love, Mercy, and Grace.