Ezra 1:1-11
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:
2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
" 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' "
5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. 7 Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god. [a] 8 Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9 This was the inventory:
gold dishes 30
silver dishes 1,000
silver pans [b] 29
10 gold bowls 30
matching silver bowls 410
other articles 1,000
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
一、中心內容：
1) Message:
內容：
a) Content:
1>上帝為了應驗祂藉著先知耶利米所預言的，
2>塞魯士頒佈詔令，允許並協助以色列百姓回國，重建聖殿、
3>以色列百姓心受激動，預備好回歸故里。（v5）
4>鄰居波斯人心受激勵，提供財務、奉獻禮物，
5>塞魯士皇帝把以前尼布甲尼撒王從耶路撒冷掠奪的器皿歸回。（
1) In order to fulfill the prophesy of Jeremiah, God moved the heart of Cyrus, King of Persia (v.1)
2) Cyrus made a proclamation in his realm, to assist Israelites to return to Jerusalem, to build a temple, and to worship God. (v. 2-4)
3) Everyone whose hearts had been moved by God returned to Jerusalem (v. 6)
4) Neighbors provided articles of silver and gold, goods and livestock, and valuable gifts, to accomplish God’s plan. (v. 6)
5) King Cyrus returned all articles that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away. (v. 7-11)
主題：
b) Theme:
1>激動（感動）人心的上帝。
2>掌管歷史的上帝。
1) A God who moves hearts of men.
2) A God who rules over history
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？
2) Who are God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
1>信實（應驗預言）的上帝。（v1）
2>激動（感動）人心的上帝。（v1、v5-6）
3>掌管歷史的上帝。（v2、v7）
4>與他子民同在的上帝。（v3）
5>配得敬拜尊崇的上帝。（v3）
1) A faithful God (v. 1)
2) God who moves hearts of men. (v. 1, v. 5-6)
3) God who rules over history. (v. 2, v. 7)
4) God who dwells with his people. (v. 3)
5) God worthy of worship. (v. 3)
三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？
What is God teaching me? (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)
1>掌管歷史的真神
波斯皇帝塞魯士登基的第一年，
波斯軍隊在主前五三九年十月攻下巴比倫，
他是以色列民族遭外族統治的年代，最善待以色列民族的統治者。
塞魯士王的出現，不僅應驗先知以賽亞的預言，
根據這一章經文的描述，更清楚的顯示出：整個人類歷，
反省：我堅持「人定勝天」呢？還是相信「人類歷史、國度政權、
1) True God who rules over history.
King Cyrus of Persia was in his first year of appointment. In order to fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy, God moved Cyrus to make a written proclamation to be sent to every corner of his realm. (v. 1a) The army of Persia conquered Babylon in 539BC. In 538BC, Cyrus was officially appointed king and took over the Babylonian king’s reign, thereby reigning over the region of Palestine. He ruled over Persia from 559BC to 530BC. He was the most benevolent foreign king of Israel. Even the prophet Isaiah called him a servant of God. He considered his appointment as being part of the will of God, and furthermore, a king anointed by God. (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1)
The appearance of Cyrus not only fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, but also that of Jeremiah. Because Jeremiah had also made the same prophecy, when Israelites were slaves for 70 years in Babylon, God was going to destroy Babylon. (Jeremiah 25:12-14)
According the scriptural descriptions, it is further apparent that the entire human history is in fact dictated by God.
Reflection: Do I insist that one decides one’s own fate? Or, do I believe that the human history, rise and fall of kingdoms and the goodness of life all lies in God?
2>神紀念祂的話語
波斯皇帝塞魯士登基的第一年，
上帝曾經藉著先知耶利米預言：以色列民族將被異族（巴比倫）
證明：上帝是信實、可靠的真神，祂的話語一句都不會落空。
反省：我如何看待聖經？上帝永恆不變的話語？
2) God remembers his words
The Persian King Cyrus was appointed for his first year. God moved Cyrus to make a written proclamation, sent to his entire realm, in order to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah (v. 1a) God once made a prophecy through Jeremiah: Israelites would be ruled by a foreign country (Babylon), and serve as slaves for seventy years. Once the seventy years were served, God moved the heart of Cyrus, the Persian king, to make a written proclamation inviting Israelites to return to their homeland. Then, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem peacefully!
This occurrence proves God’s faithfulness and reliability. His words never fail.
Reflection: How do I view the Bible? Do I see it as never changing words or merely as a collection of human wisdom? Do I doubt it or somewhat accept it?
3>神激動君王的心
這 是波斯皇帝塞魯士的命令：上主─
上帝不僅紀念祂的話語，同時也激動人的心。首先，激動君王的心。
我們應該了解，當時塞魯士王，雖然還不認識上帝。但是，
反省：我的心是否曾經被上帝激動（被聖靈感動）過？要是有的話，
3) God moving the heart of the king
Such is the proclamation of Cyrus, King of Persia: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Anyone of his people among you—may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.' "
Not only does God remember his words, he moves the hearts of men. Firstly, he moved the king’s heart. Because the king was in a position of influence, the Lord was able to use this to fulfill his words. As written in the scripture: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1)
We should understand that, even though Cyrus did not know the Lord, he was still moved by the hands of God. In particular, he submitted to God’s will and recalled the Israelites back to their home town.
Reflection: Has my heart been moved by God, by the Holy Spirit? If yes, do I usually submit to obedience with a joyful heart? Or, do I walk my own way and dampen the Holy Spirit’s calling?
4>神激動人們的心
於是，猶大和便雅憫的族長、祭司和利未人，
上帝不僅紀念祂的話語，同時也激動人的心。其次，激動人們的心。
但是當上帝的靈啟動（激動人心）之後，包括：
除此之外，更奇妙的是：連所有鄰居（波斯人）的心，
此 情此景，有點類似當時「以色列百姓出埃及」的情境。
得不讓他們大肆收刮；然而此時，波斯人（鄰居）卻是甘心樂意，
奉獻禮物，協助以色列百姓返回故里、重建聖殿、敬拜上帝。
總而言之，上帝真是奇妙無比，聖靈的工作一旦啟動，
反省：我對上帝認識有多深？是否相信祂的全能？
4) God moves the hearts of men.
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. (v. 5-6)
Not only does God remember his own words, he also moves the hearts of men. We should realize that, being exiled for 70 years, the Israelites have already taken root in a foreign land. Not everyone would be willing to return to their homeland all in a sudden because they’d have to face a long travel and a change of environment.
However, when the spirit of God moves people’s hearts, everyone including the leaders of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, moved by God, were ready to return to Jerusalem to reconstruct the temple of God.
Moreover, more miraculously, the neighbors (Persians) were also moved by God. They were willing to help the Israelites. That is, they contributed articles of silver and God, goods, livestock, and other gifts. Many were also willing to make offerings to the temple.
This occurrence resembles the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. When their ancestors were leaving Egypt, they took silver and gold, jewelry and clothes from Egypt. Whatever they wanted, the Egyptians gave them. (Exodus 12:35-36) The only difference is that the Egyptians were rather passive. To have the Israelites leave more abruptly, they couldn’t help but have them harvest abundantly. Contrastingly, the Persians were more benevolent, and actively supportive.
Offering gifts and assisting the Israelites to return to their homeland, to rebuild the temple and worship God.
God is wonderfully miraculous. The work of the Holy Spirit surpasses any limitations. Whatever is impossible with man is not with God. All things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27) He moved the heart of the king, the hearts of Israelites, and hearts of neighbors and accomplished what he said he would.
Reflection: How deeply do I know God? Do I believe he is almighty? Do I give my whole life unto him?
5>見證上帝的看顧
塞 魯士皇帝把以前尼布甲尼撒王從耶路撒冷掠奪來放在自己神廟中的杯
七十年前，當巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒，攻破耶路撒冷城、
後來，上帝激動波斯王塞魯士的心，不僅允許以色列百姓歸回故里，
此外，先前尼布甲尼撒王所擄走這些器皿，
反省：我是否經驗到，上帝在每一件事上，都在掌權，
5) Attesting God’s sovereignty
King Cyrus returned all the articles that the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple of the Lord, to the Israelites. He had Mithredath the treasurer, return the articles to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 This was the inventory:
gold dishes 30
silver dishes 1,000
silver pans [b] 29
10 gold bowls 30
matching silver bowls 410
other articles 1,000
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. (v. 7-11)
Seventy years ago, when Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jerusalem, the temple was also destroyed. He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. (2 Chronicles 36:18-19) Most of the articles were made of gold. (1 Kings, 7:48-50)
When God moved the heart of Cyrus, not only did he allow the Israelites to return home, he also returned all the articles that were taken away. Every gold and silver item attested of God’s sovereignty.
Furthermore, when Nebuchadnezzar took away the articles, he placed them in his own temples. This action represents the defeat of the Israelites’ God in face of foreign gods. It is an act of humiliation to God. However, the restoration of these items represents the restoration of God’s glory.
Reflection: Have I experienced God’s authority over everything?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用
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