From Captivity To Liberty

Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his own city. Ezra 2:1 (NKJV)

The people had been carried away into captivity because they had gotten carried away in forsaking the Lord to worship false gods and idols. By forsaking Him and turning to idolatry, in their sin they became like the other nations.

Babylon speaks of being captive to the world system, also called the Babylonian system. This system is against God and His kingdom, or against the way God sees and does things.

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible Classic edition, AMPC)

When the Israelites repented and cried out to God, they went up out of captivity. Captivity brings you down, out, and away from God. But, when we cry out to God, He brings us up and out of bondage into liberty.

That which carries us away from God can be reversed to bring us back to Him- out of captivity and into restoration. By worshiping the true God instead of false gods and by repenting of their sins, the Israelites were permitted to return to their land. They came back to Jerusalem. God will bring us back to the place we belong. God has a place and plan for us.

Jerusalem speaks of a place of peace, prosperity, safety, and wholeness. Judah, which means praise, speaks of a place of praise. God will restore our praise, peace, prosperity, health, wealth, and anything that has been lost. It just takes us, the people of praise, giving God praise to activate it. Our captivity will be turned into liberty.