Celebrating with Joy

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson                                        

Lesson: Ezra 6:13-22                                                                                                 
Golden Text: “And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy” (Ezra 6:16)

I.  INTRODUCTION.  In this week’s lesson we see God’s hand at work in unfolding His divine plan for mankind.  Through the prophets, God had given His prophecy that the children of Israel would go into captivity for seventy years because of their sin (see Jeremiah 25:4-11).  In our lesson we see God having moved on the hearts of pagan rulers as well as His own people to get them out of captivity and back to the Promised Land.  Once back home, the Israelites were to rebuild the temple and re-establish the prescribed worship at Jerusalem.  Out of the chaos of defeat and captivity, God was restoring worship and great joy to His people.

II. THE TEMPLE FINISHED (Ezra 6:13-15).  Background for the Lesson: During the reign of the Persian King Cyrus the foundation of the temple was laid (about 536 B.C.), but work stopped on the temple until the second year of King Darius which was about 520 B.C. about 16 years later.  There was both outside and inside opposition that caused this delay.  The opposition from outside came from Judah’s enemies who’s request to help in the building project was denied (see Ezra 4:1-5).  The delay in completing the temple also had opposition from within Israel as the people put their own interests first and became lax in finishing the work (see Haggai 1:2-11).  Because of this, the Lord sent a famine throughout Judah draining the people of their resources.  When the building project was resumed some sixteen years after the foundation was finished (see Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:12-15), the Persian officials placed in Israel wanted to know who gave the returning captives the authority to rebuild the temple.  They sent to King Darius and asked him to investigate this (see Ezra 5:3-17) and when he did he found the decree that King Cyrus had made authorizing the rebuilding project along with the specific instructions for rebuilding the temple (see Ezra 6:1-5).  Then King Darius issued his own decree commanding his officials in Israel to stop hindering the work (see Ezra 6:6-7).  In addition he also ordered them to use tax money for building supplies as well as for sacrifices (see Ezra 6:8-10).  Darius even issued a decree of capital punishment for anyone who changed his decree and hindered the work (see Ezra 6:11-12).

A. Cooperation by the Persian officials (Ezra 8:13).  This verse says “Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.”  After receiving the decree from King Darius, the Persian officials described as “Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions” carried out Darius’ orders as quick as possible.  The phrase “governor on this side the river” means that Tatnai was the lead Persian official in Judah, west of the Euphrates River.  These officials were directed by the King to allow the project to continue without delay.  No matter how they felt about the Jews, they had no choice but to obey.  Besides, “the law of the Medes and Persians” referred to in verse 8 (not a part of our text), was known for not being able to be changed, therefore the decree that Cyrus made years earlier allowing the rebuilding of the temple was still in effect and was now being obeyed.

B. Other encouragements to rebuild the temple (Ezra 6:14-15).
1. (vs. 14).  Here we are told “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.”  Now with the support of the Persian officials, the Jewish elders continued to build.The phrase “and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo” means that the people were encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.After being encouraged, they “builded, and finished” the temple primarily“according to the commandment of the God of Israel.”Although we are told that the people also completed the temple“according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia,” it was by the power of God that those kings issued their decrees to get the temple completed. Although men ruled, God overruled to bring about His will.
2. (vs. 15).  In this verse Ezra writes “And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.”  The month “Adar” was the twelfth month on the Hebrew religious calendar.  It coincides with our mid-February to mid-March.  “The sixth year of the reign of Darius the king” was about 516 B.C.  This was twenty years after they began the construction on the temple, and almost seventy years after the first temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. 
III. THE TEMPLE DEDICATED (Ezra 6:16-18)
A.  The joyous celebration (Ezra 6:16-17). 
1. (vs. 16).  This verse says “And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.”  The phrase “the children of Israel” is the name applied to the twelve tribes of Israel.  Even though most of the returning captives were from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, worship was restored on behalf of all the tribes.  There was no longer a Northern Kingdom and a Southern Kingdom that had once divided the nation for so long.  The groups that made up “the children of Israel” were the “priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity” or the rest of those who returned from the captivity.  The priests and Levites served the Lord constantly in worship activities.  The rest of the people were the worshippers.  These groups were the only ones authorized to rebuild the temple (see Ezra 1:3), and they were the only ones involved in dedicating it.  None of the surrounding peoples who were brought in after the Assyrian invasion were allowed to take part (see Ezra 4:1-3; II Kings 17:26-34).  Ezra went on to write that the returning captives “kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.”  They dedicated the second temple with great joy.  The older men who wept when the foundation was laid were now dead, and the younger generation celebrated the finished temple with pure joy.  The worship that identified Israel as God’s people could now be restored completely.
2. (vs. 17).  Here Ezra continues to write that the people “offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.”   At the dedication of the temple, they offered as sacrifices to God “an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs.”  The priests also offered “for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats.”  The “sin offering” of “twelve he goats” was given for the whole nation which is the meaning of “according to the number of the tribes of Israel.”  All twelve tribes were represented by the twelve goats even though all twelve tribes were not present.  The sin offering was probably included because it was Israel’s sin that led to the destruction of the first temple and the end of worship during the seventy years of captivity.  The sin offering demonstrated the people’s recommitment to God and godly worship.It may appear that the number of animals offered at the dedication of this second temple was quite large, but the number was small compared to what Solomon offered at the dedication of the first temple.  He offered more than 200 times as many cattle and sheep (see I King 8:63).  This smaller number of animals offered at this dedication was probably because the people didn’t have many resources at this time. 
B. The assignments of priests and Levites (Ezra 6:18).  This verse says “And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.”   Now that the temple was restored, the leaders, Jeshua and Zerubbabel “set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses” to carry on the service of the Lord “as it is written in the book of Moses.”  King David had set up the system of divisions and courses, or times to serve, for the priests and Levites after the ark was brought to Jerusalem (see I Chronicles chapters 23 and 24).  This was a structure of responsibilities and duties for the priests and Levites.  However, Ezra’s emphasis was not on David’s instructions, but “as it is written in the book of Moses.”  Moses was the one who gave the original instructions for priestly and Levitical duties (see Exodus 29; Leviticus 8; Numbers 3 and Numbers 8:5-26).  “The book of Moses” probably refers to the Book of Leviticus.  These returning captives and their leaders knew that it was necessary to be obedient to the directions in the Mosaic Law.  They realized that what had happened to their forefathers who took the Law lightly could also happen to them.
IV. THE PASSOVER OBSERVED (Ezra 6:19-22)
A. Preparation by the priests and Levites (Ezra 6:19-20). 
1. (vs. 19).  Here Ezra writes “And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.”  After the returning captives dedicated the rebuilt temple during the twelfth month of Adar, they “kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.” The first month on the Hebrew religious calendar was Abib or Nisan.  It correlates with our mid-March through mid-April.  The Feast of Passover, according to the Law was to be followed directly by the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the fifteenth day of Nisan and lasted seven days.  These two feasts were often celebrated as one.  Note: God instituted the Feast of Passover while Israel was in bondage in Egypt (see Exodus 12:1-11).  After a series of plagues failed to convince Pharaoh to free the Hebrews, God said that He would send the destroying angel to kill the firstborn in every household.  However, the angel would “pass over” every home that had blood from an unblemished male lamb placed on the top and doorframes of the homes (see Exodus 12:12-30).  In New Testament times, Passover became a pilgrim festival.  Large numbers of Jews gathered in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration.  Jesus was crucified during one of these Passover celebrations and instituted the Lord’s Supper while He ate the Passover meal with His disciples on the eve of His death (see Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:1-20).  Like the blood which saved the Hebrew people from destruction in Egypt, Jesus’ blood as the ultimate and final Passover sacrifice, redeems us from the power of sin and death (see I Corinthians 5:6-7; I Peter 1:18-19).
2. (vs. 20).  This verse continues to say “For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.”   These returning captives were able to celebrate the Passover at the proper time because “the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure.”  In order to perform their duties, the priests and Levites had to be purified or cleansed from ceremonial uncleanness (see Exodus 29:4; Numbers 8:5-8).  The purification of the priests and Levites was so important that during King Hezekiah’s reign, the Passover was put off until the second month because they had not been properly cleansed (see II Chronicles 30:1-3).  One of the duties of the Levites after they went through the ceremonial cleansing was that they “killed the Passover.”  This refers to the Passover lamb that was killed.  The Levites killed lambs for “all the children of the captivity” which refers to all the returning exiles.  The Levites also killed lambs for their brothers here referred to as “their brethren the priests.”  Finally, the Levites offered lambs “for themselves.”  Therefore, everyone was covered by the sacrifices.  Note:  At the very first Passover in Egypt, each family had to kill a lamb and place its blood over the doorposts to insure their deliverance from death.   The family then ate the meat (see Exodus 12:1-10).  The head of each household was responsible for killing the lamb.  At the Passover that was celebrated under Hezekiah one month later than the Law directed, the Levites killed the animals because many heads of families had not cleansed or sanctified themselves (see II Chronicles 30:15-19).  Also at the Passover celebrated by King Josiah it appears that the Levites killed the animals as a normal part of their duties (see II Chronicles 35:1-6, 10-11).  Since the priests and Levites were purified, the Levites killed and skinned the animals and the priests sprinkled the blood.  Therefore there was no chance of an unclean person offering the sacrifice.  
B. The celebration by the people (Ezra 6:21-22). 
1. (vs. 21).  Here Ezra continued to write “And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat.”  We are told that everyone who returned to Israel from captivity “did eat” the Passover meal.  Ezra also says that they were joined by “such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel.”  These persons may have been Gentiles who had settled in the land and had taken on the Jewish faith by turning to the God of Israel.  However, it is more likely that Ezra was referring to Jews who were already living in the land and had taken on the heathen practices of their Gentile neighbors. However, now they had separated themselves, or turned away, from those heathen practices such as idol worship, in order to “seek the Lord God of Israel.”  Thus the Passover celebration brought about the reuniting of Israelites from the various tribes.
2. (vs. 22).  Our final verse says that everyone mentioned in the previous verse “kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”  As noted earlier, the day after Passover was the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasted seven days.  Ezra writes that the people “kept (or observed) the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy.”  They all shared in both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread joyfully (see Exodus 12:14-20).  They were especially joyful that God had “turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”  Even though they were allowed to return home to rebuild their temple, the Jews were still under Persian control.  However, the Lord had moved on King Darius I (see Ezra 6:1-12) to show favor to the returning exiles, and he also gave them all that was needed to finish the temple.  This is what is meant by the phrase “to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God.”     
                      
V. Conclusion.  There’s not much joy in going through the motions of what we might call worship.  If joyful worship is to be restored, it must begin with the restoration of God’s people to a right relationship and fellowship with Him.  This involves the confessing and forsaking of sins.  It also means we have to seek Him in order to know the true worship of owning Him as our Creator and Sustainer.  We must seek Him because He is the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, the supreme Judge of all the earth.  We must seek Him because He alone is worthy of praise and obedience.  We must also leave the joy and blessings up to Him since He knows us and how best to manage our lives.