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Ezra returns to Jerusalem

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[Ezra 8 : 31]

On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem.

The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.

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The kingdom of Judah, destroyed by Babylon, began to be restored according to

God's promise.

The first group of people who returned from captivity to Babylon restored the temple.

One of those representatives was ‘Zerubbabel’.

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What was needed for the kingdom of Judah after the temple was completed was to restore

the Word of God. For this, God chose and used a man named'Ezra'.

Ezra is the 16th generation of Aaron,

the first priest, and a family member of the priest. Ezra was a priest and a scholar of the law.

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Ezra worked under King'Artaxerxes' in the kingdom of Persia.

King Artaxerxes had great confidence in Ezra. King Artaxerxes gave Ezra a great gift.

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The king's decree allowed Ezra to lead his people back to Judah.

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings. Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and

Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.” [Eara 7:12-13]

God showed favor to Ezra and the Israelites through King Artaxerxes.

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Ezra had those who would return with him gather by the Ahava River.

They were priests, descendants of David, and people of each tribe.

Ezra, looking at the gathered, found out that none of them were Levites to work in the temple.

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Ezra also decided to take the Levites and those who would work in the temple.

God helped Ezra to do what he did. So eighteen Levites went together.

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Ezra declared a fast to all the people gathered there.

They fasted because they wanted them to behumble before God.

They asked God to allow them to return safely with all their possessions with their children.

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There was one important reason Ezra prayed for their own safety even while fasting.

Ezra once said to the king, "God helps anyone who obeys God."

But Ezra did not ask the king to help them.

Because it was embarrassing as if they were saying that God wasn't helping them.

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If Ezra had asked the king for an army for their own safety that had to go a long way,

the king would have been willing to help. However, Ezra decided to travel by relying

on only God. They believed that if they prayed to God, God would allow them to go

safely without the help of the king.

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Those of the people who could not go with Ezra asked him to bring gold, silver,

and vessels to the temple of God. Ezra, who received them,

shared them with the priests and Levites to carry them to Jerusalem.

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When they were all ready, the people of Judah set out for the Jerusalem of their dreams.

The journey to Jerusalem is long, and unexpected difficulties can arise.

There may be a hindrance from nations that regard God's people as enemies.

Or you risk confronting a thief trying to take things away.

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But God has kept them safe and protected from all these dangers.

They reached Jerusalem safely without the protection of King Artaxerxes' army.

God answered the prayers that the people fasted and offered at Ahava River.

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On the third day of their arrival in Jerusalem, they handed over the gold, silver,

and vessels they brought to God to be offered to the priest “Meremoth.”

They checked both the numbers and the weight to see if there was any shortage of

what they had decided to give to God. And they recorded the total weight on the spot.

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Those who returned to Jerusalem from captivity offered sacrifices in the temple of God.

They offered twelve bulls, ninety-six male rams, and seventy-seven lambs for burnt

offerings for all Israel.They also offered twelve male goats as a sin offering to cleanse

their sins. Ezra's return to Jerusalem is called the "second captivity."

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The promise of God to restore Israel again came true. God responded to the prayers of

Ezra and the people and kept Judah back safely.

We have seen how accurately God's Word is fulfilled through the second captivity.

We, who believe in Jesus and become children of God, must have faith to believe that

God's words recorded in the Bible will come true.

All of the words recorded in the Bible that will come true will come true.

The promise that Jesus will come back to this earth will be fulfilled without any deviation.

We must be people who strive to live according to the word of God in order to be people

who can meet the day Jesus comes with joy.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)