The exile in Babylon came as a shock to many in Judah, the smaller southern division of the once-great united kingdom of Israel. They became captives in a distant foreign land. Left behind was a homeland decimated by a merciless enemy, with Jerusalem and its temple reduced to smouldering ruins. Had God not covenanted that Abraham would be the father of a great nation dwelling in the promised land of Canaan? Had He revoked His covenant and forsaken them completely?
The exile was the outcome of divine discipline. The nation had persistently sinned and stubbornly refused to repent. God’s patience had been exhausted: “And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy” (2Ch 36:15-16).1 There can hardly be sadder words than these: “no remedy.”
After 70 years had passed (2Ch 36:21; Jer 29:10), King Cyrus issued a decree permitting Jews to return to their land and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. They became the vanguard of a restoration movement that saw four significant revivals. These would be the last revivals recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures.
These four spiritual movements cover a timespan of approximately 100 years. Periods of dormancy came in between, particularly when the temple reconstruction ceased for 15 years. However, God used different men to stir up the people and bring them back to Himself: a man from the kingly line, two prophets, a priest and a civil servant. The principles of priority, persistence, purity and protection are illustrated by their respective stories.
Zerubbabel – Rebuilding the House of God (Commencement)
It was God who was moving behind the scenes: “The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom … All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem” (2Ch 36:22-23; Ezr 1:1-4).
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the grandson of King Jehoiachin, a company of Jews numbering almost 50,000 were permitted to return to Jerusalem. They carried back temple vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered in his conquest. Once the exiles arrived back in their homeland, they gathered “as one man” in Jerusalem; their priority was to rebuild the altar and the foundation of the temple. They were once again putting God first. They offered sacrifices and kept the Feast of Tabernacles, accompanied by singing, “praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel” (Ezr 3:11).
Not unexpectedly, their adversaries soon tried to hinder the building project by using guile – “Let us build with you” (4:2). When this ecumenical call was rejected, the enemy became more forceful and insistent until a royal decree was issued forbidding any further building. For 15 years the building site lay idle. The first revival had faded.
Haggai and Zechariah – Rebuilding the House of God (Completion)
The two prophets arose to give timely encouragement to recommence building. They led by example and helped with the physical work. As with any godly initiative, opposition was never far away. Tatnai, the Persian governor, and his associates began questioning the legitimacy of the builders. It is comforting to read, “But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease” (Ezr 5:5). A search of the historical archives produced a document that confirmed the original decree of King Cyrus. And so, by a new royal edict from King Darius, the building continued with further encouragement from the prophets. Persistence paid off and, finally, the temple was completed, 20 years after it had begun. By contrast, the first temple built by Solomon had taken just over seven years to construct.
Ezra – Reviving the Hearts of God’s People
While the physical building of the house was important, God was interested in spiritual revival touching the hearts of those who would frequent the house. There is little value in a sanctified building if it is not indwelt by a sanctified people.
Some 58 years after the completion of the second temple, Ezra appeared on the scene. He was described as “a ready scribe in the law of Moses” and one who had “prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezr 7:6,10). The princes reported to him that the people had intermarried with those of idolatrous nations around them. Separation and moral purity were non-existent. Shocked by this news, he could only resort to anguished prayer and confession, calling out to God for “a little reviving” (9:8). True progress could not be made if disobedience to God’s Word was tolerated. Dealing with the critical situation was painful, but even this necessary step found resistance from within (10:15).
Nehemiah – Reconstructing the Walls and Gates of Jerusalem
Finally, 14 years later, another need came to the fore. A report about Jerusalem came through to Nehemiah working in the palace at Shushan: “The remnant … are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire” (Neh 1:3). After a heartfelt prayer of confession from the lips of Nehemiah, the Lord opened the way for him to gain royal approval for a trip to Jerusalem. Following his arrival, he made a careful inspection of the perimeter wall of the city during the night, confirming all that he had been told. The collective response from his countrymen was, “Let us rise up and build” (2:18). Walls are necessary for protection against the inroads of anyone or anything that would compromise the inhabitants within. Gates are also required, allowing the entrance of those who would be a blessing to the inhabitants.
All four revivals were short-lived. The nation slipped back into an outward form of religion that lacked inward reality. How like us, when our resolve weakens and our enthusiasm fades. In the final book of the OT, the prophet Malachi described the nation’s backslidden state but also identified a godly remnant who continued to fear the Lord (Mal 3:16-17). May the Lord keep us steadfast and faithful in our devotion to Him.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
