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Ezra 1 · Grade 4

God Stirs a King's Heart

Name Date

Read and Think

Babylon had burned Jerusalem and its temple. About seventy years later, Ezra's story begins. Now Persia ruled in place of Babylon. In the first year of Cyrus, Yahweh stirred up the king's spirit so that the word spoken by Jeremiah might be fulfilled.

Cyrus wrote that the God of heaven had told him to build Him a house in Jerusalem. Any of God's people could go up to build. Those who stayed should help them. They could give silver, gold, goods, and animals. They could also give gifts for God's house.

The heads of families, the priests, and the Levites rose up, everyone whose spirit God had stirred. Cyrus gave back the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken. There were more than five thousand things of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah, took them back to Jerusalem.

Show What You Know

  1. Whose word was fulfilled when Cyrus acted?

  2. What title did Cyrus give to Yahweh?

  3. Who rose up to go?

  4. About how many vessels were returned?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GodsilverPersiavesselsCyrus
  1. Now ruled in place of Babylon.
  2. wrote that the God of heaven had told him to build Him a house in Jerusalem.
  3. They could give , gold, goods, and animals.
  4. The heads of families, the priests, and the Levites rose up, everyone whose spirit had stirred.
  5. Cyrus gave back the that Nebuchadnezzar had taken.

Think About It

  1. God used a powerful king to keep His promise to His people. How does that help you trust God with things that seem too big for you?

  2. The people went because God stirred their spirit. What is something God might be stirring you to do?

Memory Verse

“Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Ezra 1:2 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping Your promises. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How is this return like the way Israel left Egypt?
  • How did God work through people who did not know Him?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.