The Call to Rebuild

MEMORY SELECTION: “Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” —Zechariah 8:3

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Haggai 1:1-9; Zechariah 8:14-17

AT THE fall of Babylon, under the conquering armies of Persia, the children of Israel were given permission to return to their homeland after a period of seventy years’ captivity.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up 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 his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”—Ezra 1:1-4

Although we have no record of the immediate reaction that was awakened among the Jews, we may surmise that it was one of enthusiasm. On the part of many, however, this probably gave way to anxiety about returning to a land which had lain desolate for so many years. Jerusalem was a destroyed city with no Temple, no walls, and few homes. After so long a time, the older Jews no doubt felt reluctant to go back to a new life of hardship. On the other hand, the younger Jews felt no longing for the homeland of their fathers. They had not been badly treated in Babylon, and that was the only life they had known.

Note the words of the Prophet Jeremiah in connection with the life they enjoyed in Babylon. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”—Jer. 29:4-7

From Jeremiah’s prophecy we learn that the children of Israel were not treated as slaves. They had been free to live in their own houses and could direct the affairs of their daily living with considerable liberty.

The Jews were but a minority group in Babylon, and those whose spirits were aroused responded to the call to return to the land of their fathers.

“Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.”—Ezra 1:5,6

The first group returned under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, a prince of Judah (Ezra 5:14). Among them were families of both Judah and Benjamin. They took back with them some of the gold and silver vessels that belonged to the Temple in Jerusalem. They attempted to rebuild the Temple but met with little success. Later, a second and larger group under Zerubbabel’s leadership returned, but it was a considerable time before any serious rebuilding took place.

Although God had been good to his people, they gave more attention to the construction of their own homes than they did to the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem. As a result, they were to learn many more experiences at the hand of God, who had led them as a nation.

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