Matthew Henry Commentary Ezra 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ezra 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Ezra 1
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is 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 Jehovah, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever is left, 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, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem." — Ezra 1:1-4 (ASV)
The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by his influence on human spirits; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it.
It was during the captivity of the Jews that God principally employed them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him. Cyrus took it for granted that those among the Jews who were able would offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He also intended for them to be supplied from his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.
"Then rose up the heads of fathers` [houses] of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods; even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, a thousand platters of silver, nine and twenty knives, thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when they of the captivity were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem." — Ezra 1:5-11 (ASV)
The same God who raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews also raised up their spirits to accept it. For some, the temptation was to stay in Babylon; but some did not fear to return, and they were those whose spirits God raised by His Spirit and grace. Whatever good we do is owed to the grace of God.
Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and its affairs; if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whoever is willing, by repentance and faith, to return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Many who hear this joyful sound choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins, and will not venture into a holy life; but some break through all discouragements, whatever it costs them. They are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh, whom He has made willing. In this way, the heavenly Canaan will be filled, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel offer will not have been made in vain.
The bringing back of the Jews from captivity represents the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ.
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