Reading: Ezra 1-2
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (He is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:3-4).
That saith of Cyrus, He is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid (Is. 44:28). In fulfillment of God’s Word delivered through His faithful prophet, Isaiah, Cyrus, king of Persia, had seized control of the Babylonian Empire and issued a proclamation allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel .
When Cyrus began conquering the nations, the God of Israel was undoubtedly far from his mind. He did not know the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and he had no way of knowing that the One True God was uplifting him and making his victories possible. Yet just because he didn’t realize that God was responsible in no way changed the fact that He was. The Lord is not just the God of Israel; He is the Lord of the entire world. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein (Ps. 24:1). In accordance with His perfect plan, God can and will work through anyone, anytime, regardless of their status as a follower of God.
Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem (1:5). In marked contrast to Cyrus, however, the Israelites whose spirit God had raised knew precisely what was happening, and why. They had remained faithful to the Lord their God and were eager to see His prophecies fulfilled. The number of this faithful remnant was small.
The majority of the new generation had settled into a life of relative prosperity and freedom in Babylon, but those who felt God's stirring in their hearts and answered His call were richly blessed. On this journey, there was neither a pillar of fire by night nor a cloud by day, and no manna fell from Heaven to provide them with sustenance. Even so, there is not one recorded complaint among them. Unlike their ancestors, who had continually murmured against God as they traversed the wilderness (Num. 14:1-4,22-23,27), these men and their families understood that they had been granted the extraordinary privilege of being of service to God, and they were at peace.
Cyrus was a rich and powerful king, and the Lord powerfully used him, but the returning children of Israel received the greatest blessing. As they actively and knowingly prepared to do His will, they felt the full measure of the Lord’s love. God works today in the unlikeliest of people, often without being recognized or acknowledged. Through them, He brings about great things, but if they are unaware that He is the driving force behind their accomplishments, they cannot experience the boundless joy of being a servant of God.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17).
Thought For Today In the end, those that reject God’s love will get their wish. They will be apart from Him forever.
Word Studies: 1:6 strengthened their hands = gave them assistance; 2:43 Nethinims = Temple servants; 2:63 Tirshatha = Governor
Christ Portrayed:By Sheshbazzar , another name for Zerubbabel, the prince (governor) of Judah (Ezra 1:8). Christ is both The Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) and the Lion of the tribe of Juda (Judah) (Rev. 5:5).
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Government Officials: Rep.Lucy McBeth (CA) • Country: Palau (21,108) North Pacific Ocean • Major Languages: Palauan, Filipino, English • Religious Freedom • 41.6% Roman Catholic; 23.3% Protestant; 8.8% Modekngei (Indigenous to Palau); 5.3% Seventh-Day Adventist; 0.9% Jehovah's Witness; 0.6% Mormon; 3.1% Other; 16.4% Unspecified/None • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that people will come to a knowledge of the Lord God (I Kings 18:36-37).
Optional Readings:II Corinthians 3.