It was in the providence of God that those who returned with Ezra had had special seasons of seeking the Lord. The experiences through which they had just passed, on their journey from Babylon, unprotected as they had been by any human power, had taught them rich spiritual lessons. Many had grown strong in faith; and as these mingled with the discouraged and the indifferent in Jerusalem, their influence was a powerful factor in the reform soon afterward instituted.

Det var en Guds styrelse, at de mennesker, der vendte hjem sammen med Ezra, forinden havde holdt en speciel indvielsesgudstjeneste, hvor de søgte Gud. De havde høstet rige åndelige erfaringer på deres nyligt afsluttede rejse fra Babylon, på hvilken de ikke blev beskyttet af mennesker, men af Gud. Mange havde udviklet en stærk tro, og da de kom i berøring med de modløse og ligegyldige borgere i Jerusalem, øvede de en indflydelse, som fik en vældig betydning for den reform, som kort efter fandt sted.