Rescue in the Ruins - Ezra 1:1-11

the Monday Main Line?

Even in the ruin of exile, God reigns over all and is unshakable committed to his plans and promises. He saves his people with great power and abundant generosity and he sends his people to be builders for his Kingdom

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Earlier this week, I re-watched Saving Private Ryan. You might assume, since the film bears his name, that Private Ryan is the main character. But really, the story centres on Captain John Miller and his squad, who go through trials and ultimately sacrifice everything to save Ryan.

It’s easy to make the same mistake when reading the book of Ezra. The book is named after Ezra, but he doesn’t even appear until halfway through. Perhaps then the key figure is Cyrus, the mighty king of Persia. Or maybe the 40,000 Israelites who return from exile? No. Just like in Saving Private Ryan, the true central figure isn’t the one you might expect. The main character in Ezra’s story is God himself.

An Appearance of Ruin

Ezra opens not in Jerusalem but in Persia. God’s people are in exile—far from the land God promised, far from his blessing, far from the temple where his presence symbolically dwelled. Jerusalem has been destroyed, the temple ransacked, and the sacred items carried away to Babylonian temples. For decades, Israel lived with the haunting question: “Has God abandoned us?”

It’s not hard to see echoes of that question in our own day. Many churches in Scotland are in decline. Congregations shrink, buildings close, and the future feels uncertain. We might wonder: “Is there any hope for vibrant, growing churches in our land?”

Ezra’s story reminds us that God’s faithfulness never fails. What looked like the end was only the stage being set for God’s power to be displayed.

A King Who Reigns

Ezra 1 introduces Cyrus, ruler of the Persian Empire. He seems like the most powerful man on earth, yet we’re told that “the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1). The decree Cyrus issues is astonishing: the Jews may return home, rebuild the temple, and even receive silver, gold, and livestock from their neighbours to support the project.

Does this remind you of anything? It’s a deliberate echo of the Exodus. Just as God once turned Pharaoh’s heart to release his people and provided through the Egyptians’ wealth, now he moves Cyrus to send Israel home, funded by the nations around them. The message is unmistakable: earthly kings may sit on thrones, but God is the true King who reigns over history.

That truth ought to steady us today. When the task of gospel work feels overwhelming—whether revitalising declining churches or planting new ones—we remember that the Lord is the one who moves hearts, opens doors, and provides resources.

A People Who Go

Cyrus’s decree left a choice: would anyone actually return? After decades in exile, many Jews had built new lives in Babylon. Going back meant leaving comfort, security, and familiarity behind.

And yet, we read: “Everyone whose heart God had moved prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:5). Over 40,000 people went. Not because of their own determination, but because God stirred their hearts.

That same question comes to us today: will we “go” for God? Going might not mean moving countries—it might mean stepping out of our comfort zones, serving in church, sharing the gospel, or investing in the next generation of disciples. Left to ourselves, we might shy away. But God is still in the business of moving hearts.

A Picture of Christ

As encouraging as Ezra is, the story ends with a sense of incompleteness. The temple is rebuilt, the law reinstated, the walls restored—but the people’s hearts remain unchanged. The book leaves us longing for something greater.

That “something” is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus came not only to restore a temple but to make a way for God to dwell with his people forever. In him, forgiveness is complete, new hearts are given, and the promises of God find their “Yes.”

Ezra points us forward to Jesus—and to the ongoing story of God building his church today. The main character is still the same: not us, not church leaders, not political rulers, but the Lord himself. He moves hearts, provides resources, and advances his kingdom.

Here in Moray, our vision is to see three vibrant, all-age churches of 100 disciples each. It’s a big goal, and humanly speaking it feels daunting. But just as God moved Cyrus, stirred Israel, and fulfilled his promises in Christ, so he can move us today. Our task is simple but weighty: to pray, to serve, to give, and to go—trusting that God is faithful and still the main character in the story.

Talk Headings (Ezra 1:1-11)

1. An Appearance of Ruin

2. A King who Reigns

3. A People who Go

4. A Picture of Christ

You can watch the whole sermon below, read the full text, download the service sheet (with outline).