The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ezra 1:1-3,
"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them."'"
The end of 2 Chronicles provides us with a brief account of the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. Judah had turned from God and as a result, faced his judgment. That judgment was fulfilled in the form of the destruction of Jerusalem with a remnant of Jews being carried off to Babylon as captives.
The book of Ezra provides us the account of the return of the remnant of Jews in Babylon to Jerusalem that, as the passage notes, was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah had warned Judah prior to her destruction and devastation that God's judgment was coming. He further prophesied the Lord would bring about the return to Jerusalem of a remnant after a captivity of seventy years.
In Jeremiah 25:10-14 we read, "This is what the Lord says: 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"
"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them."'"
The end of 2 Chronicles provides us with a brief account of the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. Judah had turned from God and as a result, faced his judgment. That judgment was fulfilled in the form of the destruction of Jerusalem with a remnant of Jews being carried off to Babylon as captives.
The book of Ezra provides us the account of the return of the remnant of Jews in Babylon to Jerusalem that, as the passage notes, was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah had warned Judah prior to her destruction and devastation that God's judgment was coming. He further prophesied the Lord would bring about the return to Jerusalem of a remnant after a captivity of seventy years.
In Jeremiah 25:10-14 we read, "This is what the Lord says: 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"
Why did the Lord provide Judah with a prophesy about a return following the seventy years captivity? There were several, I am sure. One being to provide a people doomed by him hope and the prospect of a future as they faced his judgment.
However, I am convinced another important reason was to provide Israel certainty that he, the Lord, was both responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem as well as the return from captivity. It is my perspective the Lord provided this certainty so they would understand that the Lord had plans and intentions for his people. His people were not simply the victims of the push and pull of powerful world powers, but that Israel figured very prominently in God's plans. God intended to use the nation of Israel to carry out his redemption of mankind.
God would bring his Son into the world through the human agency of Israel. Additionally, he provided his communication to the world of his offer of redemption through the Scriptures he had provided Israel.
Israel needed the certainty the Lord was working through them, and when he had to bring about a course correction to the nation, he wanted them to know that he was the One who brought it about. He was preparing the world for the coming of his Son as its Savior through Israel.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment