Return from Exile
Ezra 1:1-5
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 also to put it in writing:
“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. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
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.
Summer is coming. Have you planned any trips yet? Around this time of year, my wife and I usually start planning where we’re going to go for our summer vacation. We’ve got to plan where to go. See who we’re going to stay with. Buy snacks for the road. Important stuff.
As you plan your summer, it’s time to start planning your return to church.
The Israelites were in exile for 70 years. Because of their idolatry, God allowed Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy the temple and carry them away. But after 70 years, Cyrus king of Persia allowed them to go home.
And many went. Not because they had to. Ezra tells us it was “everyone whose heart God had moved” (Ezra 1:5). They didn’t haphazardly just tear up their roots. They “prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.”
How did God move them to return? He spoke to them through prophets like Ezekiel, “16 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ 17 Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again’” (Ezekiel 11:16,17), and Jeremiah, “11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. … 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile’” (Jeremiah 29:11,14). Though they indeed could continue to worship God in exile, God showed his desire was to return them to their land.
How did God move them to return? He showed his power as King of kings by moving King Cyrus to allow them to go back. It was ultimately God's decision, not Cyrus’ to end their exile. God even moved King Cyrus to provide what the returning people needed to rebuild.
How does God move you to return? He is allowing COVID cases to slowly decline. Active cases in Collin County are less than 800 for the second day in a row. More and more people are reaching immunity.
How does God move you to return? He offers you a place to worship with a whole family of believers. Here we receiving healing and forgiveness for our sins in Jesus’ name. Here we encourage one another to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
How does God move you to return? He calls you through your fellow members of Christ’s body. This is a call to return.
Just like the Israelites returning from Babylon, plan your return. What does planning your return from exile look like?
If you haven’t been back yet, that means looking at what you need to do to get yourself comfortable coming back. Does it mean getting the vaccine? If not, does it mean attending the Saturday service where masks are required and attendance is lower? Take concrete steps. Set a date. Circle it on your calendar. As much as you will celebrate coming back, we will rejoice to see you.
If you’ve been a few times, but haven’t made regular attendance part of your schedule, that means asking yourself, “Why?” Do you also need to prepare yourself to be more comfortable? Have you simply fallen out of the habit? Habits take work. Has something taken worship’s place? Again, take concrete steps.
Even if you’ve come nearly every single Sunday since May 10, you also have work to do. We’ve been in a holding pattern for more than a year. As summer approaches, now’s the time to make the transition from maintaining to rebuilding.
Right now, the council is working on Ministry Plan 2021-22. Whoever you are, give us your input. When it comes out, read it. Ask yourself, “How can I help my family?”
Call those you haven’t seen in a while. I’m not asking you to throw darts at the directory. Get in touch with the people you know but haven’t seen. Encourage them all the more as we see the day of our Lord approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
I’m not expecting an explosion of worshipers this Sunday. I’d be naïve to think summer travel won’t have an effect. In the end, the amount of worshipers isn’t the goal anyway. What matters is that you return to your family, that we may join together, receiving from God his wonderful promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation in Jesus’ name.
“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 4:1).