Ezra1:1 says, Now 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, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, This was after the Babylonnians had been defeated in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy. These had been very bleak years for the people of Israel under the harsh rule of Nebuchadnezzar. They had no king and no Temple and if they sang hymns of praise they were mocked. Still, as Matthew Henry points out, they had prophets. We today sometimes face ridicule for worshipping God and in some places in the world it is unlawful to worship God at all. Now, this time was coming to an end. We are told that the Spirit of the Lord stirred up Cyrus, the king of Persia, even though Cyrus did not really believe in God. God can and does work through those who do not even believe in Him.
Verse two adds, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. We were told that Cyrus made a proclamation, and here we are told what it was. Cyrus said that the Lord of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the earth which would acknowledge God's sovereignty. This occurred in his first year of reigning over Babylon, and not his first year ruling Persia. Cyrus said that God had charged him with building Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. We do not need to question how God accomplishes His work, but we only need faith that He will.
Verse three continues, Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Cyrus asked who there was among them who was willing to do what their God was commanding. We as God's people need to go where God sends us when He sends us. Cyrus said that those whom God called should go to Jerusalem and build His house there. Hopefully, when God's work needs to be done, He will not have to use non-believers to get Christians to moving to do His work.
Verse four states, And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Cyrus did not leave those who were not going out of the work. They were to supply silver and gold, beasts and goods and freewill offerings to help those who did go. We may not all be able to go to where God's work needs to be done, but we can all help support those who do. Some will be able to help more than others, but we can all do something under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Verse five adds, Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. Those that God called, the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and all that God's Spirit moved, left for Jerusalem to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem. Once God calls us, we need to move as the Holy Spirit directs us.
Verse six adds, And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. Those who didn't go willingly gave to help those who did. God never forces us to give to support His work, but if we cannot go, I believe He expects us to willingly give to support those who do.
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