Ezra 6: Faithful to the Faithless
Post 6 of 10 | Exploring Ezra: Return, Rebuild, Restore
God is faithful even in our fickleness.
The Israelites repeatedly demonstrate their unfaithfulness, and God repeatedly proves Himself faithful. That is the heartbeat of Ezra 6. The decree is found, the temple is finished, and the people worship — but underneath the history is a portrait of a God who carries His people from beginning to end.
God does not lie (Numbers 23:19). Whatever He has said, He will do. Isaiah 46:3-4 says it tenderly — from birth He has upheld us, and even to old age He carries us. Think about it. An infant is utterly helpless, carried everywhere it goes. And there often comes a day in old age when a person must be carried again. From the womb to the grave, God carries us. Look back on your own life. Can you see it? I can.
In Ezra 6:1-12 the Lord’s hand is carrying the entire situation. Darius searches the archives and finds the original decree of Cyrus — the very king God had named through Isaiah nearly 150 years before he was born. Not only does Darius confirm the decree, he funds it. As God once provided Himself a lamb for Abraham, He now provides the resources and the animals for sacrifice. He provides protection against those who would interfere (Ezra 6:6-7). He gives above and beyond what was asked (v.11). Truly, God is faithful, and we can rely upon everything He says.
Where do we find His promises? In His Word.
God sent Haggai and Zechariah to deliver His messages, and verse 14 reiterates their impact — the people prospered through the prophesying. The Word of God always carries exhortation, edification, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). But the Word requires a response, and that response is determined by the impact the Word has on you. Are you convicted or condemned?
We discovered the root source of condemnation in our study: Satan, the accuser of the brethren. He opposes all righteousness and seeks to destroy. The best way to destroy you is to convince you to succumb to the guilt — to believe the lie that you, or what you have done, is unforgivable. That is condemnation. Condemnation draws you further from God, and pride keeps you from humbling yourself before Him.
But conviction cuts to the heart. When Peter preached at Pentecost, filled with the Spirit, his words cut the listeners to the heart and they asked what they must do (Acts 2:36-42). There is sorrow in conviction, but it leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10). Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
Note this carefully. When Satan finally departed from Jesus after the temptation, Scripture says he left “until an opportune time.” Satan is always looking for the opportune time — a moment when you are weak and vulnerable. Give him no place. Stand on the Word of God.
Is God solely concerned about the building? No. The fractured temple reflected a fractured relationship, and restoration had to address both. As the physical structure rose, God was rebuilding something far more important — their broken fellowship with Him. The temple was never the end. It was the means for relationship with a holy God. God does not need a house. He desires a people who worship Him from their hearts. God seeks relationship, not real estate.
So when the Lord brought them through, they worshipped. The temple was dedicated with joy, and they kept the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread with gladness, for the Lord had made them joyful (Ezra 6:16-22). They went from dedicating the temple to dedicating themselves.
When the Lord brings you through the trial — the delay, the opposition, the season of drift — what is your response? These men teach us to return in worship. Not the worship of mere song and sacrifice, but the worship of a life laid down. Present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Great is His faithfulness. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
God is faithful even in our fickleness. He carried them. He carries us still.
Exploring Ezra: Return, Rebuild, Restore is a ten-lesson printed study guide through all ten chapters of the book of Ezra with free teaching notes for leaders to help facilitate the study. Available now at preparedheart.org.