Why does this chapter use so much language and mention so many names? If you knew that God was remembering these people, would you look at them with envy? One day, when you come before God, and He says, Your name is not on my book, what would you feel? Our deeds are not being remembered by God. We must begin to value the fact that our names are remembered by God.

Thinking Points:

• In this chapter, so many people and clans are recorded. Is God remembering these people?

• What kind of people are remembered by God?

• How do you value your name being remembered by God?

Value Whether Your Name Is Remembered by God

In this chapter, you must know one thing: God calls you by your name. Of course, in the Bible, it is not possible to write all the names of these forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty people, so they are recorded by clan and lineage. That is to say, the name of each person who returned was recorded on the register. In fact, these people's names being recorded on human registers is one thing, but being recorded on God's register is another. What does it mean to be recorded on God's register? It means that God remembers these people.

When we read these names, we do not know who these people are, and they seem to have nothing to do with us. But for the person whose name is recorded, it is very important. If in the future we are in heaven, and your name is recorded in the Book of Life, it will be crucial for you. This passage in the Bible gives us a clear idea: those who return to build the temple are all remembered by God. That is why the Bible spends so much time recording these people and these clans. If it were possible to record all of them, God would gladly list their names one by one. Although it may be boring to read, it is important to those whose names are recorded.

Suppose you are studying in school, like when I was studying at Beihang University, my name was often posted on the bulletin board, sometimes as a Three Goods student, sometimes as an outstanding student cadre. Whether my name was on the bulletin board was not important or concerning to the other 5,000 students in the school; but for me, I cared very much about whether my name appeared there.

For example, at my son's school, they give awards to the most outstanding students every year. There are so many parents in the audience who do not care whether other people's children win awards; but when my son's name is called, and he goes on stage to receive the award, I care very much as a parent in the audience! Therefore, when God records the names of so many people in the Bible, it is not for you to care about who they are, but for those who are recorded to care, because God remembers everyone who offers themselves to Him.

The theme of Ezra Chapter 2 is God remembers everyone who builds the temple. Do not think that you are insignificant, and do not think that it is nothing special to put a dollar in the offering box. You should know that your name will be remembered by God because of this. God is the God who owns the universe, and there are many galaxies in the universe. But on a small Earth in a small solar system, there was once you, very insignificant, and even decades later your descendants will not know that you ever existed. But God will not forget you. God will record your name in the register because you once participated in building His glorious church.

Only Christians Who Can Fight Count

The first person recorded in the Bible is Abraham, and then his nephew Lot followed him out of Haran. Then family after family, genealogy after genealogy, was recorded until Jacob. When Jacob went down to Egypt from the land of Canaan, there were seventy people in all, and they were all recorded. Later, when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the number of people was also recorded in this way. When I first read Numbers Chapter 1, I did not understand what it was about. What does it matter to me how many people are in each tribe? Later, I learned that what is recorded in Numbers tells us that only those who can take up a sword to fight count; others do not. So I encourage everyone, whether it is ten thousand, twenty thousand, or thirty thousand people, you must be counted in that number!

In Ezra, the author is still very clear about God's will, that is: what counts and what does not count; which people count and which do not. How is one counted? First, Christians who take up the sword to fight spiritual battles count; second, in Ezra Chapter 2, those who build the temple will definitely be counted. Although the temple that Zerubbabel returned to build was much more shabby than the temple built by Solomon, God sent the prophet Haggai to declare to Zerubbabel: do not look down on this temple because it is shabby; I will remember this temple and remember everyone who participates in building the temple!

Those Who Build the Temple Can Share God's Glory

From another perspective, many people here have travelled over 1,300 kilometers on foot with their families to return to Jerusalem to build the temple, and these people are paying the price. What about their property in the Persian Empire before that? I think, probably sell if they can, and give up if they can't. God will surely remember those who pay the price! If a person covets a comfortable life and lives in the Persian Empire, he will think that building the temple in Israel is none of his business. And the Israelites in the Persian Empire—the Gibeonites who carried water and chopped wood for the temple, just like when Solomon built the temple, also rushed back to Jerusalem to build the temple. These people all have a mentality of treating the building of God's glorious temple as an extremely glorious thing.

I think the reason why they could still have this mentality after being exiled to Babylon for decades is because they still maintained a life of worshipping God. They began to have a deep reflection in their hearts: the reason why they were exiled and became slaves was because their ancestors worshipped idols and sinned against God. The person who took the lead in repentance was Jehoiachin. After Jehoiachin repented, he ate with the King of Babylon until he was old; later, his descendants were raised up and led the way back to Israel to build the temple.

Here we must understand that even if one is exiled, if a person has a repentant heart, God will not despise it; if a person has a heart to build the temple, God will surely share a part of this glory with him. Building the temple is not about hard labor, but about sharing God's glory! God encouraged their hearts in this way, so they made a choice to put down these worldly things and return to the land of Israel to build God's glorious temple.

Today, when you come to church to pray after work, that is building the temple! God is pleased that our brothers and sisters have such aspirations. When we are willing to pay the price, God remembers us and is willing to share His glory with us. In fact, God also has a desire: that the temple He is building in heaven also has a share for you—each of us is like a gemstone stacked together, united with each other, to build God's temple. This is beyond our comprehension, but I know that God wants you and me to become that one gemstone.

Do Not Disobey God's Call

Perhaps some people do not want to build God's temple; they just like to do their own things. In 1917, when World War I ended, Britain was the victor, and it issued a decree allowing Jews to return to Israel to build a nation. However, the Jews at that time had acquired many properties all over the world, especially in Europe, in very wealthy countries, living very comfortable lives, and they were unwilling to return. At that time, God spoke through many prophets, prophesying to them: the time for God to rebuild Jerusalem and restore the nation of Israel is near! But the Jews still did not want to return because they felt that Europe was very good and very rich. As a result, God raised up a Hitler who killed six million Jews at once!

So, don't think that building the temple has nothing to do with you. If the Spirit of God moves you again and again, calling you to build the temple, but you are not moved, then there is trouble. In World War II, Jews were not taken in by any country. A boatload of refugees looked terrifying and miserable. The ship sailed over but was not allowed to dock, and they were thrown around the world. Why is this? Because they disobeyed God's call and rejected the mission God gave them. Today, Christians are also called to build God's glorious church, but many people reject it and are unwilling to pay the price. Don't think you will gain anything; what you will gain is calamity.

I don't know what happened to those who are not recorded here, especially those who love a comfortable life and enjoy wealth and glory in the Persian Empire. They rejected the moving of God's Spirit and refused to go to the desolate land of Canaan in Israel to build the temple. God is wonderful. It doesn't matter if you don't build the temple; God will surely find someone who will! So in 1917, there was a very smart Jew, a wealthy businessman, who bought this land of Palestine, which is one-third of today's nation of Israel, at a dirt-cheap price. After he bought it, God did wonderful things!