The Second Temple in Jerusalem completed in 516 BC Image may be copyright
The Joy of the Returning Exiles & Rebuilding the Temple
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:1-2).
The Cyrus Cylinder containing Cyrus' decree allowing the Jews to return The British Museum, London
In 538 BC King Cyrus of Babylon issued a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild the Temple. The first group of some fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua, the High Priest. To begin with there was opposition from local officials which delayed the building work until 520 BC, when work restarted under the leadership of Haggai and Zechariah. The Temple was completed in 516 BC in the sixth year of King Darius.
Nehemiah Rebuilds The Walls of Jerusalem
In about 445 BC Nehemiah, who was serving as a cup-bearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes, obtained permission to visit Jerusalem to survey the city with a view to rebuilding the city walls the Babylonians had broken down (Nehemiah 2: 1-9). When he arrived in Jerusalem, he was filled with sorrow at the sorry state of things.
He also discovered the enemy was determined to try to prevent him rebuilding the walls and tried to prevent the work going ahead using various ploys. These included -
• Mocking the efforts to rebuild by ridiculing the height of the walls (Nehemiah 4:3)
• Threats to attack him personally (v8) (Nehemiah 4:8)
• Trying to lure Nehemiah to go to the plain of Ono for a meeting as a distraction from the work (Nehemiah 6:1-2)
• Spreading rumours that Nehemiah was plotting against the Persian King (Nehemiah 6:5-9)
Nehemiah's Response to Enemy Attacks
Nehemiah's response was to
• Pray asking God to deal with the enemy,
• Refuse to be intimidated by threats,
• Concentrate on the work and refuse to be distracted.
Ezra Reminds the People of God's Law
The people all gathered together at the Water Gate and told Ezra, the teacher of the Law, to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”
Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Psalm 126: A Psalm Celebrating The Joyful Return To Jerusalem
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.