Graham continued his Ezra series this morning. This is part 6.

Ezra part 6 [ 31:43 ] Play in Popup | Download

Ezra 5:1- 6:2

Remembering, Searching the Records

Intro

We remember every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. We search our conscience. Today I am going to talk about the searches that were made thousands of years ago in the libraries of city of Babylon and the mountain fortress of Ecbatana and I am going to suggest it speaks to us about the searches we make in our memories.


1) God’s Word is proclaimed and they remember

Why did they start building again? Because of the preaching and prophesying of the Haggai and Zechariah which caused them to remember! The book of Haggai reveals that this preaching went on from August to December.

More on the subject of the power of the word of God next time.

Exodus 3:15 God also said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob- has sent me to you.’ This is my name for ever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

Numbers 15:39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them

Deuteronomy 5:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Deuteronomy 7:18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.

Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 8:18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,

Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

Zechariah 10:9 Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.

Luke 24:6-9 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.

2) Building resumes because they remembered

They start to build and they are asked who authorised them. Why could they not have given this reply earlier? Probably because they had forgotten. It was the preaching and prophesying of the Haggai and Zechariah which caused them to remember!

What do we remember when we are asked about our faith? Always have a reply ready. Yet don’t worry what you will say when taken before rulers and those in authority for the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

The Address of Q. Sept. Tertullian (AD 193-211), To Scapula Tertullus, Proconsul of Africa. (Translated by Sir David Dalrymple 1790)

Of a truth, we Christians do not mightily fear or dread aught which we undergo from those who know us not; forasmuch as when we became of this sect, we thereby bound ourselves to let out our very lives in the warfare belonging to it. We look not only for the reward which God proffers, but we also fear his threatenings against those who live after another way. Furthermore, we strive against your utmost cruelty, crowding uncalled before you, and happier on being found guilty than when we are dismissed; and, therefore, have we sent unto you this little book, not that we fear aught for ourselves or our well-wishers, but that we fear for you and for all our foes.

This is the rule of our faith, that we love those who hate us, and that we beseech God to bless those who afflict us; and herein lies that goodness which is peculiar to us. All men love those who love them, Christians alone those who hate them. We, who bewail your want to knowledge, who mourn over the wanderings of mankind, who foresee what will befall, and see daily its tokens, we must needs break forth, and, after this way, put in writing the things of which ye will not give us leave to speak before you.

3) A Search was made in the remembrances
Last time I spoke about 5:15. I said, “Search for a record – of what? Guilt, failure, sin.” The enemies did not ask for a search of ‘permission to build’, or the declaration of the emperor that the city was to be restored. When you search the record of your memory, look for better things than your past wrongs and failures.

In 5:15 the enemies asked for a search of the records for a recording or remembrance of guilt and failure. This time the people of faith ask for a search to be made for a record of better things. Search for a record of the call to mission and service.

Psalm 103:11-13 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

See chapter 5 verse 17
Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

A search was made. Read it carefully, it is not only in the library at Babylon but it included the library of Babylon in the mountain fortress of far off Ecbatana (modern Hamadan of northern Iran) in the land of the Medes, on the Khorasan Highway hundreds of miles away. This is a detail that speaks to me of the mercy of God in this situation – remember 5:5 “But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.”

See Ezra 6:12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

Be a person who remembers. Remembers what God has done for you, what he has called you to. Be a person that helps others remember the claims of God upon their lives.

What do you remember now? What do you need to remember? What do you need to choose to not remember?