First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
Sunday Worship, January 25, 2026

      • Psalm 119ESV

  • A Little bit of History

    The Three Returns from Exile (Graphic)
    The Persian Empire (Map)
    Cyrus the Great (559-530)
    Founded the Persian Empire
    Overthrew the Median Empire
    Conquered Babylon
    Return of Religious Artifacts and People’s

    Cyrus Cylinder

    “I returned to these sacred cities . . . the sanctuaries of which have been in ruins for a long time the images of which (used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I (also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them) their habitations . . .”
    “May all the gods whom I have resettled in their sacred cities ask daily Bel and Nebo for a long life for me . . .; to Marduk, my lord, may they say this: “Cyrus, the king who worships you, and Cambyses, his son . . .”

    Cyrus dies in 530, Cambyses rules until around 522 and leaves chaos.

    Darius I takes control in 521 and restored stability by 520.

    In 520 Haggai and Zechariah begin to prophesy and the events of Ezra 5-6 take place.

    Darius I reigns until 486

    There is a 56-57 year gap between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7

    Xerxes I reigned until 465 This is the King (Ahasuerus) that Queen Esther marries.

    Artexerxes reign began in 464 and in his seventh year the events of Ezra 7 begin.

    Why is all of this important.
    Let’s move to our Bibles to find out.

    Sovereign God and Mortal Decree

    Ezra 1:1–4 ESV
    1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

    The Prophecy of Jeremiah (and Isaiah)

    Ezra 1:1 ESV
    1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
    Who spoke first?
    Reign of Cyrus (559-530)
    Prophetic ministry of Isaiah (740-700)
    Prophetic ministry of Jeremiah (626-580)

    The calling of Cyrus

    Isaiah 44:28 ESV
    28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”
    Isaiah 45:1–13 ESV
    1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2 “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. 8 “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it. 9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? 10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’ ” 11 Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? 12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. 13 I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the Lord of hosts.

    Promised destruction of Babylon

    Jeremiah 25:11–12 ESV
    11 This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste.

    Promised return of the Jews

    Jeremiah 29:10–14 ESV
    10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

    King’s of the Medes is a reference to Cyrus and those who would follow.

    Jeremiah 51:10–12 ESV
    10 The Lord has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. 11 “Sharpen the arrows! Take up the shields! The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance for his temple. 12 “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the Lord has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
    Prophecy points to the supremacy of God.

    The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia

    Ezra 1:1 ESV
    1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

    Cyrus commanded exactly what the Lord intended

    Ezra 1:2–4 ESV
    2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

    The Lord stirred up the hearts of His people

    Ezra 1:5 ESV
    5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.

    The Lord provided the means

    Ezra 1:6–11 ESV
    6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

    God Returned his People as He promised!

    Ezra 2:64–70 ESV
    64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720. 68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. 70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.

    Are we aware of the promises and the call of God on His church.

    Repent

    Acts 2:38 ESV
    38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Witness

    Acts 1:8 ESV
    8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

    Trust the Father

    Romans 8:15 ESV
    15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

    Live in the New

    2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
    17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

    Practice Unity

    Ephesians 4:3 ESV
    3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

    Use your Gifts

    1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
    7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    Do His Works

    1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
    58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

    Make Disciples

    Matthew 28:19–20 ESV
    19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    How long do we have to do this?

    James 5:8 ESV
    8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
    Revelation 22:12 ESV
    12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
    Revelation 22:20 ESV
    20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
    So we are called to action, to be on mission, living a life of kingdom purpose because He is coming, and He is with us.
    Matthew 28:20 ESV
    20And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

      • Ezra 1:1–4ESV

      • Ezra 1:1ESV

      • Isaiah 44:28ESV

      • Isaiah 45:1–13ESV

      • Jeremiah 25:11–12ESV

      • Jeremiah 29:10–14ESV

      • Jeremiah 51:10–12ESV

      • Ezra 1:1ESV

      • Ezra 1:2–4ESV

      • Ezra 1:5ESV

      • Ezra 1:6–11ESV

      • Ezra 2:64–70ESV

      • Acts 2:38ESV

      • Acts 1:8ESV

      • Romans 8:15ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:17ESV

      • Ephesians 4:3ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:7ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 15:58ESV

      • Matthew 28:19–20ESV

      • James 5:8ESV

      • Revelation 22:12ESV

      • Revelation 22:20ESV

      • Matthew 28:20ESV

First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
fbchoquiam@outlook.com
3605324887
http://fbchoquiam.com
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