God’s Remnant Rebuilds

MEMORY VERSE: “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” —Nehemiah 4:6

EZRA 1:1-4; NEHEMIAH 4:15-20; 6:15, 16

JEREMIAH had foretold that Israel’s captivity in Babylon was to last for seventy years. (Jer. 25:12,13) When this period ended the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue a proclamation granting permission to all the Israelites who so desired to return to the land of Judah. The territory of Babylon was now in the hands of the Medo-Persian Empire.

The Israelites as a people had evidently deported themselves well in Babylon, and there was no disposition on the part of their captors to hurry them out of the country and back to their own land. According to the decree issued by Cyrus, those who had a desire to return were free to do so, and Cyrus, directed that those who remained should give financial help to those who returned, and to aid them also with goods and beasts. Besides this assistance to individuals, there was to be a free will offering for the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Cyrus commissioned those who would return to build the temple. This commission was needed, not to encourage the returning Israelites in this undertaking, but to prove to the sojourners in Palestine that the Israelites had the necessary authority from the king of the empire to do the work. Attempts were made to hinder the work of rebuilding the temple, but the decree of Cyrus was located, and orders were given that the work should go forward.—Ezra 6:1-11

There was much enthusiasm among the Israelites who returned in the realization that their temple was to be rebuilt. They proceeded with the work at once, and completed the foundations before their enemies in the land forced them to stop. They rejoiced greatly when the foundations were completed. We read, “They sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”—Ezra 3:11

The stoppage of the work of building was temporary, and when the temple was finally completed there was again great rejoicing. In connection with the dedication of the new temple there was the offering of sacrifice, and a commemoration of the passover.

The decree issued by Cyrus applied only to ending the captivity in Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. It made no provision for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and this gave the enemies of the Israelites an opportunity to interfere. It was then that Nehemiah stepped into the scene. Nehemiah was the cup-bearer for King Artaxerxes, of the Medo-Persian Empire, the capital city of which, at that time, was Shushan, in Persia.

This was quite a distance from Jerusalem, but Nehemiah learned of the situation there through Israelites who visited him in Shushan. He then determined to request the king to send him to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. The king co-operated, and arranged that he receive assistance from “the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come unto Judah.”—Neh. 2:1-8

Soon after Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem, the work of rebuilding the walls got under way. But the enemies of Israel continued their opposition, so it was arranged that “they which builded on the wall, and they that bear burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.”

The builders were assigned to different Locations on the wall, but a trumpeter stood by Nehemiah. If it became necessary, because of attack, he was to blow the trumpet, and the instructions were, “In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.”

God did fight for his people. The enemies were held at bay, and in due course the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Again there was great rejoicing, for now the people had this further evidence of God’s favor.

QUESTIONS

What decree concerning the Israelites did Cyrus issue?

Who opposed the rebuilding of the temple, and how was this opposition overcome?

By whom, and to whom was given authority to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem?

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