7/19/26 - DISCIPLINE DONE & A REMNANT RETURNS / Ezra 1

My father's plan and discipline. >> My [singing and music] father has a plan for me. His plan [singing and music] is good and it is right. His plan was [singing] conceived when he first thought [music] of me. Way [singing] back in eternity. I am [music and singing] secure in my father's love. >> [music] >> He ever watches over me. He's teaching me >> [singing] >> his way. I will [music] walk with him each day. Till my [singing] days here are over. But [music] sometimes [singing] I don't follow his way. >> [music] >> And discipline my father must bring. >> [singing] >> His [music] rod of reproof causes [singing] much pain. [music] But no needless tears his child [singing and music] brings. His purposes are kind. His wisdom [music] so high. How >> [singing] >> could I ever [music] find fault? My father [singing] [music] knows every deed measured below. >> [singing] >> I >> [music] >> will be more like Jesus. But to conform [singing and music] me to the image of his son will only be done >> [singing and music] >> in glory. My father has a plan for me. >> [music] >> His plan [singing] is good and it is right. This plan was [singing] conceived [music] when it first dawned on me way [singing] back in eternity. >> [music] >> His purposes [singing] are grand, His wisdom's [music] all right. How [singing] could I ever find [music] fault? My Father [music] knows that with each measured [singing] blow, my life will be more like [singing and music] Jesus. My life will be [music] more like Jesus, >> [singing] >> my Lord. >> [music] >> Amen. Good evening. Shall we look to the Lord? Our God and our Father, we thank Thee once again for this opportunity to open Your word. Thank You for all You're doing in our lives and the love that You have for us, that You're involved in every detail of our lives. So, guide us tonight, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. So, looking tonight in the book of Ezra, but just to make a few comments before we get there. So, Ezra deals with recovery. So, God is a God of recovery. Hallelujah. And God is going to take the people from Babylon, where they're in captivity for 70 years, back to Jerusalem. And so, this is going home, really. And we all need to be prepared for going home. First off, it's a wonderful to have a home to go back to, and it may be in disarray, as Jerusalem was, but God still has a plan for us. So, Joshua was the leader after Moses. And Joshua brought them into the land of Canaan. And they were called by God to drive out the Canaanites. However, we read in Judges chapter 2, Judges follows Joshua, it says in verse 2, "And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land. You shall throw down their altars, but you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this?" It's a question that God asked him, "Why have you done this?" Well, what would be the answer is to why for a believer today, "Why have you joined with the world at their altars, valuing the things that they value instead of standing strong for me?" How would a professing believer answer that? Now, remember when I say professing believer, it doesn't mean that they're truly saved, just means they profess to be. Now, I'm going to go down in Judges 2 to verse 10. Joshua has died. And also all that generation were gathered under their fathers. Now, listen to this. And there arose another generation after them which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. This is a powerful statement, and it is quite sorrowful. Don't we have this going on today? We have a generation that's rising up that does not know the Lord nor the works which God has done in the Bible, whether it's for Israel or through the miracles of the Lord Jesus. They just don't know the word of God. Why is that? They were never taught by their parents. I wonder how many of you tonight had believing parents that taught you, that took you to church and taught you the word of God. See, the word of God is the foundation for the soul. And without the word of God, it's God's word. Without that, then we're left to what? Our own thoughts, our own inventions, going our own way. And the Bible says Isaiah 53, all we like sheep have gone astray. We've each turned to our own way. So, we're because we're sinners and proud, we all think that we have a better idea. No, God's idea is always best, so we need the word of God. So, I'm glad that we have the word of God open tonight. So, we we go from Judges and then we go into the books of First Samuel, Second Samuel. We find that the king began, Saul began to reign, and then after him David, and then you go into First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles. That gives the history of the time of Israel with the kings. But for that 490 years from the time of King Saul to Zedekiah, the last king, Israel had not kept the 7-year Sabbath. We talked about that last week if you were with us. So, that was 490 years. Every 7 years they were supposed to let the land rest. So, that's 70 sabbatical years that they had not let the land rest. So, God says, "I'm going to let the land rest. I'm going to send you into captivity. You've joined with the Canaanites and you have refused to honor me by letting the land rest. So, now that brings us to Ezra chapter 1. That there they've been in captivity for 70 years and you can read about that in the book of Daniel for instance. Oh, I should say that there's three books that deal with this time that we're in right now. Ezra and after after Ezra is Nehemiah and during the time of Ezra is Esther. So, those three books are historical books that go together go together covering this time. And then in the last three books of the Old Testament, there's Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. All of those three prophets deal with this same period here. So, the period that we're in now uh beginning with that 70 years when Nebuchadnezzar took uh uh Jerusalem captive, uh the times of the Gentiles. That's an expression in Luke 21:24. That means that uh Israel had forfeited their opportunity and privilege to rule uh for Jehovah God over all the nations of the world. His throne was uh within the Holy of Holies. They refused to honor him. So, now God has passed over the rule to Gentile nations, meaning that Israel will be subject to Gentile nations. Now, we already saw Babylon was the first one, and you can read about this in Daniel. The next one is the Medes and Persians, which Cyrus was a Persian king. After them come the Greeks and then the Romans, and that takes us, of course, to the time of the Lord Jesus. So, Israel was always under Gentile dominion, and in fact, it it's a a Gentile king that allows them to go back uh to Jerusalem. And that's what we're going to read about in Ezra 1. Now, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled. Now, God had already prophesied to the people through Jeremiah while before they went into captivity that he was going to keep them captive for 70 years. You find that in Jeremiah 25 uh 11 and in Jeremiah 29 also. So, they knew the time of their captivity. They were going to be away from home 70 years. Now, perhaps you're away from home now. How long are you going to be away from home? Well, maybe you know, may maybe you're not sure. But, the point is you have a home that God takes you away from. Why? Just like with Israel, he's teaching them something. It it's called discipline. And discipline is significant. In fact, I'm going to read a verse in Hebrews chapter 12 that's very important regarding discipline and it ties in with what we see in Ezra chapter 1. It says in verse 11, Hebrews 12:11, "Now no chastening or disciplining for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous." Well, we can understand that. "Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them, listen, which are exercised thereby." Discipline is to stir up, to exercise the soul, the heart of men to turn back to the Lord, to see the error of our ways and to come back to the Lord. Because God is not against us. It's just like he likens it in in Hebrews 12 to a father disciplining his children with the purpose of teaching and training them. Well, that's what God's involved in, whether it's with Israel or with believers today. And so in chapter 1 of Ezra, once again, verse 1, it says that that this was to fulfill what was spoken by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia." Now, I just want to see say this, that it's so wonderful that the time was ordained of God and that 70 years and now it's finishing. So, the world is is acting on God's timepiece. God is the one that is ordering the affairs of the world. And a believer knows that and is secure in that truth. They're not Things are not just helter-skelter and and the nations in war and this and that going on. No, God is in control and he has plans and purposes. And so here he is, he's keeping track of his people, the nation Israel. Today he's keeping track of the church and Israel, too, because he's still protecting them. That's another story in and of itself but he's watching over them. He's going to restore the nation of Israel just like he's restoring them back to the land here. And so this is incredible. So here God stirs up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and he put it also in writing saying, "Listen to this. Thus says Cyrus Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven." Now that's Jehovah Elohim. Jehovah is singular. Elohim is plural. So this is the Trinity. Jehovah the Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. So it's significant to remember it was Cyrus that God prophesied in the book of Isaiah a almost 200 years earlier that by name Cyrus was going to be the one that would rebuild Jerusalem. Now this is a 100 years before Jerusalem was ever destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and almost 200 years before Cyrus. That's why I say God's in control. The nations of the world, the whole world. And and if it's a nation then let's bring it on down to you and I. God knows when every sparrow falls to the ground and dies. So God has a plan for your life just as he has for the governments of this world and the world at large. And what's God's plan for this world? To bring Christ in. Hallelujah. What's God's plan for your life? To bring Christ into your life. You say, "Well I'm already a Christian." Praise the Lord. He wants Christ to possess more and more of your life. Just like when the Israel went into Canaan, they had to possess the land. Every place that the sole of their foot walked, God would give it to them. Well, there's much in our hearts that still need needs to be possessed for the Lord, and God's dealing with us. So, things don't ever think that things are just out of control. Don't look at the human side of it, the secondary causes. Say, "Well, it's this person or that person." No, God is over all. He works all things together for good. Them that love him called according to his purpose. And discipline is accomplished and its work is done in those who are exercised by it. So, just always look to the Lord and not to secondary causes. Oh, and one other thing I was thinking, you know, how did Cyrus see the book of Isaiah? Because it seems like he did see it because he says, "The Lord God has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me to build the house of God in Jerusalem." Why would he say that if he hadn't seen the prophet Isaiah? Daniel, this great man Daniel was still alive. We read in in Daniel chapter 10 verse 1 that that he's there until the third year of Cyrus, maybe longer. So, no doubt Daniel opened the word of God to Cyrus to show him his name and God moved Cyrus through the word of God. Now, I don't know that, but it's certainly a possibility. Oh, and I wanted to mention that Ezra doesn't come into the book of Ezra until chapter 7, some 67 years after Zerubbabel comes. Now, who's Zerubbabel? Well, we read about him in chapter 2 verse 2. He is the leader. He and a priest named Joshua are the leaders that bring the people back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel is in Matthew 1. He's in the line of Christ. He should have ruled as king, but because Israel's in in captivity, there there were no kings. And so, he was a great man in and of himself. So, 67 years later, Ezra will come and his job is to beautify the temple and you'll find that when we get to chapter 7. Or if you if you read chapter 7, not that we're going to get to it. And so, Nehemiah then is 82 years after this. So, just to kind of put it in a context of these people coming back, rebuilding the city and the temple, really the temple and the city and the timeline with Ezra and Nehemiah. Now, who came back with Zerubbabel and Jeshua? I want to read verse 3 of of Ezra chapter 1. Who is there among you of all these people? His God be with him. This is Cyrus speaking. And let him go to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel. He is the God, which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of this place help with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, with the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. So, the invitation went out to a million people, that probably about that number that were captive there in Babylon. And he says, "Whoever wants to go can go. And if you don't go, then you need to help those with silver and gold and with other items, those that will go back." And so, going on in verse 5, then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin. Now, just a just a quick note. These are the southern two tribes. If you look at the history of Israel, the northern 10 tribes have already gone into captivity into Assyria about 100 years before Uh, the southern two tribes, uh, Judah and then Benjamin along with them went into captivity into Babylon. So, then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites with all them. Now, listen, whose spirit God had raised to go to build the house of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem. This is God's desire to build his house, to build his church. The Lord Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." And of course, today, uh, he's laid the foundation. No other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 3 tells us. But, he has workers, men, believing men, that are working within his church today to build it up. Why are they doing that? Because the spirit of God has raised them up. See, that's what we have in verse five. The spirit of God raised them up to build the house of the Lord. Listen, this is so wonderful. If you're a believer today, God wants by his spirit to stir you up to want to build up his church. What a privilege, what an honor. You say, "Well, how can I do that?" Because God has gifted you. If you're a believer, you have gifts that Those gifts are to be used for the edification, for the building up of Christ's church, the people of God. Don't say that you can't do it. Uh, or you can say you can't do it, but don't not do it because you can't do it, but because the spirit of God within you will accomplish everything by God's grace. And then we find in Ezra chapter two, uh, chapter two, going over to verse 64, that the whole number of those that came back, that were stirred up and came back, uh, to Jerusalem was just under 50,000 people. Now, there might be a million people there, uh, but, uh, only 50,000 would return, would listen to the call of God and return. Isn't that true? It doesn't matter what time period you live in, there's always a small number, a remnant of believers that will do most of the work of the Lord, whose hearts are really stirred up for the Lord. Listen, that should be you. That should be me. Our hearts should be exercised to live for Christ. And if we're in discipline as Israel was, that discipline's effectiveness shows up when we determine and purpose to live more wholeheartedly for the Lord Jesus because we're exercised by that discipline, that training that God has given us. And so we might wonder, well, why didn't others go back? And they could have had some legitimate reasons. They could have been old, right? I mean, this is 70 years they've been there. Others could have been born in Babylon, certainly were. They didn't might not even have known Hebrew. They They spoke the language of Babylon. This was their home as far as they were concerned. Now, what's interesting is Daniel, that when a decree was made that no one could pray to any God but the king, Daniel went into his house with his windows open toward Jerusalem, bowed and prayed to God three times a day and gave thanks unto him. So he always remembered Jerusalem. You know, we looked at last week at Psalm 137 and it's such a beautiful psalm but but it it it gives us the exercise of that remnant that was in Babylon. That remnant that always had their hearts set upon Jerusalem. I'm just going to read that. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. They remembered their home. Oh my friend, whatever you're going through, the home, your home is the most precious thing. Your family is the most precious thing. Uh God wants to restore you to your home just like he wanted to bring bring Israel back to their home. You say, "Well, my home is in disarray. It's it's it's been destroyed." Well, listen, so had Jerusalem and they're going back to rebuild. Never count God short. God can do what man cannot do. You know, he said to Jer- God said to Jeremiah, "Is there anything too hard for me?" Believe in the Lord and trust in him. So, it says, "When we remembered Zion, we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof." So, a time of sorrow and sadness because they were thinking of their home. Thinking of what they lost and you know, many times it's been said, you don't appreciate what you have until you lose it. You know, this is the beauty of those that are have a a real heart for the Lord. They'll never forget. Never forget what God has given. So, whatever God has given you, never forget it. Never treat it lightly. It's a gift from him by grace. So, so what about others that didn't go back? You know, we mentioned that you know, some were old, some were born there. You know, what about the danger of the trip? It was a 4-month trip. We find that in Ezra when he comes in chapter 7. It was 900 miles and it was a lot of danger. There was danger of bandits. We find that in chapter 7 when Ezra comes. I mean, this was a arduous a trip. And so, maybe because of the danger, people didn't want to go. And you know, how come some people don't travel today and carry the gospel to places? Well, danger is one reason. I might catch some disease. You know, I might get hurt. I don't know what the future holds. Listen, my friend. Let God work in your heart. Let him open your heart to the gospel to get it to souls. And you don't have to go to a foreign country. It might just be on your own block. And and that might seem dangerous to you, but listen, just obey the Lord, whatever he puts on your heart. They could have also thought of what a tough job it was after you get there 4 months later because they have to rebuild the temple in the city. And by the way, that was the first thing that they did. They rebuilt the temple. I'm going to read that in verse in chapter 3 verse 2. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priest and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren and builded the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings thereon as it was written in the law of Moses the man of God. They went back to the instructions of the word of God and the first thing they did and there was enemies all around. The whole city's destroyed. There was no walls and the first thing they did was honor God by building an altar, a place of approach. And you need a place of approach. It might be at your bunk, it might be in your, you know, a closet prayer so to speak, but wherever it is, you need to get before the Lord and lift up the name of Jesus as you pour out your heart to God. That was the first thing that they did. They established a place of approach, an altar. So So I'd just like to turn to the book of Jeremiah chapter 29 because we're talking about the discipline of the Lord and the Lord taking uh uh Israel back home. And uh he told them that they were to seek This is uh Jeremiah 29 verse 7. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captives. And pray unto the Lord for it. You remember the Lord Jesus said pray for your enemies? Uh to love your enemies? This is what they were to do. They were to have a real concern for those that had taken them captive. Well, why? Because these are the the people of God, the witnesses of Jehovah. They're going into a foreign land that doesn't know God. Of course, they're to carry the message of of Jehovah with them. I'm going to go to Jeremiah 29:5. He says, "Build ye houses and dwell therein. Plant gardens, eat the fruit of them. Take you wives, beget sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons, give your daughters to husbands." Now, of course, that was to be Jewish wives and husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters. Now, listen, here's the what we want to end with, "that ye may increase there and not be diminished." God wanted Israel in the place of this captivity to increase. Now, he was talking about numbers. But this is the whole thing about discipline. God wants us to increase, not diminish. When you're in a time of discipline, it's because God wants to build you up, bring you closer to himself. And so, that is a rich, rich blessing to always keep in mind, like we saw in the book of Hebrews 12 chapter, that that discipline is for those that are exercised thereby. It's profitable for those that are exercised thereby. So, may we be exercised by the discipline that God has us in or maybe bringing us into. Amen. Let's pray. Our God and our Father, want to thank you so for this time. Guide them in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.