Study the Word

Guest (Male): The critical nature of vision in leadership. That's next on Study the Word with Pastor Thom Keller. Stay with us. Leadership in the thinking of most people involves merely supervision, but the most important element in leadership is vision. An effective leader, it's been said, must see what others don't and challenge them to follow until they do.

Great to have you along for Study the Word. We'll be joined by Pastor Thom Keller in a second. As we continue in the Old Testament book of Ezra, we'll glean some insights on vision. Where does it come from? What does it look like? How is it transmitted? We'll get some answers to those questions and more. But first, an illustration along with some review from Ezra Chapter 1. Here's Thom.

Thom Keller: A man was walking home alone one foggy night when behind him he hears this bump, bump, bump. Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he sees the image of an upright burial vault charging its way down the middle of the street toward him. Bump, bump, bump. Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him, faster and faster. Bump, bump, bump.

He runs to his door, fumbles with the keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door. However, the casket crashes through the door, with the lid of the casket clapping. Clappity-bump, clappity-bump, clappity-bump. On his heels, the terrified man rushes upstairs to his bathroom. He locks himself in. His heart is pounding, his head is reeling, his breath is coming in sobbing gasps.

With a loud crash, it breaks down the bathroom door. Bumping and clapping, it moves closer and closer toward him. The man screams and reaches for something, anything he can find. All he finds is a bottle of cough syrup. Desperately, he throws the cough syrup at the casket and the coughing stops. No? All right, that goes away. That goes in the bad bin.

I can't even make a connection to where we're teaching today. It just fit the season. We're in Ezra Chapter 1. Let's pick up Ezra 1:1. "In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy by stirring the heart of Cyrus to send this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom." This is what the proclamation said. "This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me'—he learned this from Daniel, I believe—'he has appointed me to build him a temple at Jerusalem in the land of Judah.'"

So, as a quick review, remember after King Solomon, the nation of Israel divided into two: the northern tribes and the southern tribes. The Kingdom of Israel in the north, the Kingdom of Judah in the south. The north were 10 tribes, the south were two tribes, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem was in the south. I always remember that by Judah and Jerusalem beginning with J's. That's how I keep that straight in my mind.

Assyria carried the north away about 200 years before this. Two hundred years before this, the Assyrians conquered the northern 10 tribes and dispersed them among the Assyrian Empire. Later, the Babylonians, when they came to power, had defeated the Assyrians and in that conquest, they then came into Judah and they captured Judah and they carried them away and dispersed them among the nations. That was Babylon, which happened 70 years before Ezra writing this today.

Now 70 years later, they've been in captivity for 70 years. Now we come to this chapter in Ezra. In the process of Babylon conquering Jerusalem, they utterly destroyed the temple. They completely destroyed the temple of Solomon's temple. There were actually three temples. The second temple, which Ezra's going to be a part of, that Zerubbabel's going to be a part of building, was not nearly as glorious as Solomon's temple. It was the second temple.

There was then a third temple because the second temple was replaced by Herod's temple, which King Herod built around the time of Christ and completed it. I think it was 70 years to even build that temple. This is the temple that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed when Babylon conquered Jerusalem and Judah. They tore it completely to the ground. The reason this is so significant is that the temple for the Jews was not just a place that they took great pride in this beautiful building with all the gold.

In fact, when it was conquered, it's said that there was so much gold in the temple that when the temple was destroyed, the gold market dropped. It was either by a third or a half. The price of gold per value in the world dropped by a third or a half. That's how much gold flooded the market when the temple was destroyed. So it wasn't just this place of incredible beauty. It was the only place where the Jews could sacrifice animals. Without the temple, they could not sacrifice animals to make atonement for their sins.

This was a huge deal, as it is today. The Jews have no temple today. They are not allowed to sacrifice animals anywhere except that temple on that spot on the Temple Mount. That's why it's such a big deal. So they've come up with other ways of making that right with God, but the law clearly says it's to be by sacrifices for the Jews. While the people were in exile in Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah during those 70 years wrote a letter telling them what to do while they were in Babylon and what was going to happen to them in the future.

Jeremiah 29 says this: "Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests and prophets and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar." This was during the 70 years before Ezra. "This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials and other officials of Judah and all the craftsmen and artisans had been deported from Jerusalem." As we said, they were dispersed.

Verse 4 says, "This is what the Lord"—this is what Jeremiah wrote—"This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: Build homes and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply. Do not dwindle away. And work for the peace and the prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."

This is God's genius. "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: Do not let your prophets and fortune tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them, says the Lord. This is what the Lord says: You will be in Babylon for 70 years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised. I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised and bring you home again."

We're going to read about that today, the beginning of that. "For I know the plans I have for you," this famous line, "For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you, says the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again into your own land."

This promise by God through the Prophet Jeremiah is at the very center of King Cyrus's decree this morning, sending the Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. But keep in mind that the book of Ezra deals with two distinct and different returns. The book of Ezra gets divided into two, and this would even be worth making a note in your Bible possibly. The first six chapters, Chapter 1 to 6, deals with Zerubbabel coming back and rebuilding the temple.

After that period, after Chapter 6, between Chapters 6 and 7, there's a period of about 60 years where nothing happens. At the end of that 60 years, Chapters 7 to 10, Ezra now shows up, goes back to Jerusalem. As Zerubbabel rebuilt the physical temple, now Ezra's going to go back 60 years later and he's going to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people. He goes back to rebuild the hearts of the people, whereas Zerubbabel goes back.

As you read Ezra, keep in mind that Ezra wasn't even born for Chapters 1 through 6. He wrote it. He wrote the tradition of what was said, what happened. It was only within 60 years. But Ezra wasn't even born yet when Chapters 1 through 6 were played out. In between this 60-year period, in between Zerubbabel and Ezra, in this 60-year period is when Queen Esther lived and ruled as Queen of Persia in Susa.

After we're done studying Ezra and we get the background and the context of what happened with Cyrus and the King of Persia and what that economy and world looked like, we're next after Ezra going to go into the book of Esther. With this background, I think Esther's going to make a lot more sense. It's going to be a great study. Then after that occurs, the timeline would really be Zerubbabel goes back and rebuilds the temple. There's Esther in the middle of that 60 years.

Sixty years after Zerubbabel, Ezra goes back and rebuilds the hearts of the people, and then 16 years after that, Nehemiah goes back and he rebuilds the wall. So the way to remember this is Ezra—the book of Ezra—is about rebuilding the temple. The temple came first, the wall came second. Your logic would tell you it's the opposite, but it's not. They built the temple first and then 16 years after Ezra, Nehemiah, Ezra comes there, Nehemiah shows up.

So in 536 BC, Zerubbabel goes back. Add 60 years to that, Ezra goes back. Add 13 years to that, Nehemiah goes back. The word Ezra is Aramaic for the Hebrew word "ezer," and many of you are familiar with that word. The Hebrew word "ezer" literally means "Yahweh helps," and it's the same word that's found in Genesis where God describes the role of the wife in the marriage relationship. The Bible says that the wife Eve was his "ezer," his helpmeet. It actually means completing in you what you can't complete yourself.

Yahweh helps. It's the same phrase that is used many times in the Old Testament to describe God's role in our lives, that God helps. He is our "ezer." For all of you who are wives, that's God's role for you, to help in us, in men, finish, complete what we can't do ourselves. You are our completer. So, Yahweh helps. Cyrus sends out this decree. Let's read verses 2 to 4.

"This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He's appointed me to build him a temple in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you. Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold.'"

Now note, it doesn't say let their Jewish neighbors. It says let their neighbors contribute toward this expense by giving them silver and gold. Does that remind you of something else in the Old Testament? Remember when the children of Israel left Egypt? It said that God gave favor with the Egyptians and they loaded them up with silver and gold as they left. It's very similar. The Bible says that when a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Here we find the neighbors loading them up with silver and gold. Let their neighbors contribute toward their expense by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the temple of God in Jerusalem. Now bear in mind in verse 2, the Hebrew word that's used here for God is "Jehovah." That's the word Cyrus uses. He doesn't just use a generic word "God." He uses the specific name of the Jewish God, which is the Jewish name for the one true God.

It's the famous tetragrammaton, which is four letters: J-H-V-H or Y-H-W-H, which cannot be pronounced. It's spelled that way by the Jews purposely because they believe that the name of God is so holy it should not be pronounced. It's too holy even to name. So it's the unpronounceable name of God. So although King Cyrus knew enough to use the name Jehovah, King Cyrus himself was polytheistic. He believed in many gods. He worshipped many gods.

We find this written on—this is the famous Cyrus Cylinder. Cyrus on here quotes this. It says, Cyrus speaking: "May all the gods whom I have resettled in their sacred cities ask daily Bel and Nebo for a long life for me, and Marduk my Lord." Another god. Cyrus, the king who worships you and canvases his son. So he talks about Marduk there. In verse 3, he says, "All of you who are his people may return to Jerusalem."

Note in verse 3 that Cyrus says all of you who are his people *may* return to Jerusalem. So when you read this account, don't think that Cyrus commanded them all to go back. He did not. He made it voluntary. Now this is really going to be significant as we get into some further chapters, that this was voluntary. I'm not going to give you the point yet, but it's very significant that it was voluntary. It was not under compulsion. Anyone who wanted to could return.

Now in Ezra 1:4, it says, "And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem." Freewill offerings, it says. Freewill offerings. This request, and even the way Cyrus phrased it, would have immediately connected a devout Jew with the original request by King David, requesting that freewill offerings be given toward the building of the original temple.

Remember, David did not build the temple. He wanted to, but God said, "You're not the one to build it. You're a man that has shed much blood. Instead, your son Solomon will build the temple." But David put away a vast hoard of materials and money, gold and silver, to contribute toward the building. That's why in 1 Chronicles 29, as David is laying all this plan out for his son Solomon, David says: "And now because of my devotion to the temple of my God, I'm giving all my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction."

This is in addition to the building materials I've already collected for this holy temple. He goes on and then he invites the people to participate. In verse 6 he says: "Then the leaders of the fathers' houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains"—again, this is back when Solomon is just going to become appointed king—"Then the leaders of the fathers' houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly."

Verse 9: "Then the people rejoiced for they had offered willingly because they had a loyal heart and they had offered willingly to the Lord. And King David also rejoiced greatly." So when Cyrus said, "Give of your offerings willingly, your willing offerings," they would have connected with that original temple being built. Going on to verse 5, it says: "Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and the Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the Lord. And their neighbors assisted by giving them vessels of silver and gold, supplies for the journey and livestock. They gave them many choice gifts in addition to all the freewill offerings."

Notice it says "Then God stirred their hearts." Who? The hearts of the priests, the Levites and the leaders. Now there is a very important truth that is revealed here that deals with this idea, the concept of vision. The power of vision. The Bible says "where there is no vision the people perish." Helen Keller, the blind woman, was once asked, "Can you imagine anything worse than being born blind?" She said, "Yes, being born with my eyesight but having no vision."

If you're old enough to understand that, you realize that to live a life of no vision, no purpose, is a meaningless life. So let me make some practical applications from Ezra regarding vision. Number one: God starts the process by giving his vision to one person. But vision has no force, no power, unless it spreads from the visionary to those who have not yet caught the vision.

Remember verse 1. It says, "In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled Jeremiah's prophecy by stirring the heart of Cyrus." How'd he do it? By calling a committee together? No. By stirring the heart of Cyrus. God gave the vision to one man and the vision spread. The second point is this: it's connected to the first. Vision is not the result of consensus, but rather true vision will result in consensus.

Verse 5 says, "Then God stirred the hearts of the priests, the Levites and the leaders to return and rebuild." This vision given by God to one man, Cyrus, resulted in consensus. The leaders said yes. This is God. It was confirmed in their hearts. God gave it to one man, then it was confirmed. Note here that the vision continued to spread from the visionary, Cyrus, to those without the vision.

It isn't that the Jews didn't have the vision to go back; it's just that they would have deemed this to have been an impossibility. Cyrus, the most powerful ruler that the world had ever known, how could they possibly think of going back and rebuilding the temple? It wasn't even within the realm of possibility for them. Then note in verse 6, it says, "and their neighbors assisted them." The idea is they, the neighbors too, caught this vision from God, starting by Cyrus, going to the leaders, going to the Jews, and then even spreading to the neighbors, giving favor to load them up with silver and gold.

There are seven points in vision that we see here. Number one: the purpose of vision is to create a preferable future. This new homeless coalition that's in Lebanon is a perfect example. That's a vision of a preferable future, a Lebanon where people are not sleeping on the streets or under bridges or in cars, a place where they can be treated with dignity when they don't have a place to stay. That's a vision, and a vision of God is always for a preferable future.

Number 2: the absolute goal of vision for ministry is to glorify God. The absolute goal of all vision is to glorify God. When my wife and I were involved in the disaster relief auction—we were coordinators for a number of years, Church of the Brethren—and that's where people come together over two days in September and they raise a couple hundred thousand dollars. I think we were up to four or six hundred thousand and now over a million dollars.

When my wife and I were put in charge of that, we said they had a monetary goal every year, and I said, "You know what? Let's change this. Let's make the primary goal to bring honor and glory to God. Let's make that our goal. Let the money be secondary. If our purpose, our heart is to honor God, he'll take care of the rest of this." So when people come up to us and they report—reporters would come up, newspaper reporters, TV, they come up and say, "What's your goal this year?" I knew what they wanted to hear.

We said, "Our goal is to bring honor and glory to God." They'd get this little smirk. "But is there a monetary figure that goes with that?" "Yes, it's secondary, though. Our primary goal is to bring honor and glory to God." The absolute goal of vision for ministry is always to glorify God.

Guest (Male): Pastor Thom Keller concluding our time together on Study the Word with the critical truth that we often lose sight of: our service is to be to the glory of God. You've been listening to Study the Word and we're going through Ezra at the present time. You can hear this message again by going online to ccleb.com. Again, we're at ccleb.com. There are many other messages for your growth and edification there too, or call and request a CD copy at 717-507-7862. That's 717-507-7862.

Here in the month of November, we're pleased to offer you a book by D.L. Moody we think you'll benefit from. It's called Your Victory in Jesus. If you're a Christian, you have victory, and that victory was secured by Christ at the cross. But the question that remains is: are you living in victory? Join D.L. Moody as he explores true victory and start to experience the overcoming life ruled by Christ instead of fear.

For a gift of any amount, we'll send this your way with our thanks. So call today, 717-507-7862, or you can write to Study the Word, 740 Willow Street, Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17046. You're invited to worship with us here at Calvary Chapel Lebanon, where Thom serves as pastor. Visit ccleb.com for our service times and see what's coming up at the church there too. When you get a chance, download our free Android app. Search Calvary Chapel Lebanon in the Google Play Store. Thanks for studying the Word with Pastor Thom Keller.