Ezra 1:10

kephor, 'large cup or bowl,' probably for the wine drunk before the Lord; where Scripture speaks of blood, it uses a different word. 1 Chr. 28:17; Ezra 1:10; Ezra 8:27.

There had been three deportations. The last of the three did the most damage: the temple was burnt, and very large numbers of people were led captive. But the 70 years of captivity count from the first deportation — the one we would call relatively unimportant. Why was this first one the important one in God's eyes? Well, it's because of the vessels. Nebuchadnezzar had taken the vessels of the Temple, took them to Babylon, and even put them into the house of his idols. Such a thing had never happened before. True, some kings had taken silver from the treasure and even from the wings of the doors of the temple (Ahas and Hezekiah) to appease the king of Assyria. But the holy vessels had never been touched.

Without vessels, it was impossible to bring sacrifices as prescribed. No vessels, no worship! This is the tragedy. Does it not remind us of a sad fact? Wide parts of Christendom have lost the very idea of worship, and especially of worship together. Concerts, performances, and all kinds of things have replaced meetings for worship. Do you know a place where you can meet with Christians in full liberty of collective worship to the Father and the Son? This is the one thing the Father 'seeks': worshippers.

Verse 5 of the first chapter shows that there was a real work of God in the souls of many, including leaders both civil and religious. This work led them to seize at once the opportunity given them: to return to the land of their fathers and re-establish the worship of God by rebuilding His house. In the providence of God, Cyrus actively promoted this. Besides the valuable vessels given by Jews who did not join the journey to Jerusalem, he restored all the holy vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had placed in the house of his gods. God's work in the souls of His people was matched by His providential work in the world around them.

Then Cyrus restored the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and put into the house of his gods (Daniel 1:2). His grandson, Belshazzar, defiled them at his shameless feast (Dan. 5:2). That same night Belshazzar was killed and Babylon fell. No doubt Cyrus had these vessels collected and carefully guarded... In all there were 5,400 vessels of gold and silver, handed over to Zerubbabel to take back to Jerusalem. It all shows that God had not forgotten His people. When His appointed time came, He showed His power on their behalf.

The holy vessels were counted and restored, as far as was fitting, for Jehovah's house in Jerusalem. The ark, the centre, the highest in value, the nearest to the glory, was not there. Sadly, the glory itself had gone away. But in the day that the salvation of Israel comes out of Zion, the glory will return, never to leave again.