The First Return of the Exiles
Read Jeremiah 25:11, 12 and 29:10 and Daniel 9:1, 2. When did the
first return of the exiles happen? What prophecy was the return
fulfilling?
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The Lord influenced Cyrus to allow the first return, in fulfillment
of Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy. Jeremiah had written that the land
of Judah would lie desolate for 70 years under Babylon (this hap-
pened from 606/605 b.c. to 537/536 b.c.), but then God would open
the doors for the captives’ return. As Daniel studied the writings of
Jeremiah, he realized that the time had come for that promised return.
In Daniel 9, Daniel is distraught because the 70 years were nearly
up with no apparent change, and the new Persian Empire had now
risen to power. He mourned and turned to God, pleading for mercy
and the fulfillment of His promises. In the same chapter (Dan. 9:24–
27), God assured Daniel that He watches over everything and has a
future planned, with a Deliverer who will die for the people to atone
for their sins, bring righteousness, and fulfill the sacrificial system. In
effect, God was saying, “Daniel, don’t worry. Since the true Deliverer
[Jesus] will surely come, I also will send a deliverer for you now.”
Shortly afterward, God moved Cyrus, the king of Persia, to give the
command to release the captives. God is always true to His promises
(See Daniel 10 for how God intervened in order to secure the prosper-
ity of His people in their homeland.)
Ezra 1 records King Cyrus’s proclamation that the nation of Israel
was free to return to Jerusalem and to build the house of the Lord. The
command was given sometime between the years 539 and 537 b.c. Not
only does Cyrus let them go, but he also makes sure that they return
with gifts and offerings, including the original vessels from the temple,
which had been stolen by Nebuchadnezzar. This event reminds us of
the Israelites leaving Egypt many years before, when God also moved
the hearts of the people to present them with parting gifts. This first
group to return to Judah was composed of about 50,000 people, which
most likely included women and children from other territories.
What other historical prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as
promised in the Word, and how can we draw comfort from them
that God knows the future and that we can trust His promises
to us?
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