7/3/2011 6:41:22 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: The release of the captives
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ezra 1:1-4
Message of the verses: “1 ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: 2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ’The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 ’Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 ’Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’”
Today’s SD begins the wonderful book of Ezra, and it seems that I say that about all of the books of the Bible that I have studied. Ezra continues in the books of the Bible that are called historical books which begin in Genesis and goes through the book of Ester, and then the poetry section begins with the book of Job.
The key theme in the book of Ezra according to Dr. Warren Wiersbe is “restoring the spiritual heart of the nation,” and the key verse is Ezra 7:10.” “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” There are two main points in the outline of this book and several sub-points under these main points. “The Nation is Restored,” and “The People are Rededicated” are the two main points according to Dr. Wiersbe. “Be Heroic” is the title of Wiersbe’s book on Haggai Zechariah, and Ezra, but the rest of this book will have to remain until, God willing, I get to those books.
Ezra and Nehemiah along with Haggai and Zechariah were all written during this same time period of the Jews returning to Israel. The first thing that they were to do was rebuild the temple in order to restore the Mosaic worship. While they were in Babylon they built synagogues in order to worship the Lord and there are still synagogues around the world to this day.
In the book of Isaiah chapter 44:28 it says, “It is I who says of Cyrus, ’He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ’She will be built,’ And of the temple, ’Your foundation will be laid.’” This was long before Cyrus was ever born and long before the Persian Empire was a power in the world, but God said that Cyrus would let the Jews return to their homeland and this proves that God is faithful to His Word. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 the following concerning the Word of God, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
This first chapter in Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary is entitled “The Providence of God,” and it covers the first three chapters of Ezra. God’s providence is a very large topic and part of it can be seen in this section of Ezra, for it surely was the providence of God to have Cyrus allow the children of Israel to leave Babylon and to receive gifts from the people of this empire along with the gifts of the Jews who decided not to return to Israel in order that the temple could be rebuilt. Haggai 2:8 reads as follows, “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts.” God owns it all and that can be seen from this passage and other similar passages.
God is also in control of the nations and I want to look at just one section of verses to confer that this statement is true although there are many more that could be looked at. “28 ¶ "All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 "Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 "The king reflected and said, ’Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 "While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ’King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. 33 "Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
“34 ¶ "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ’What have You done?’
Spiritual meaning for my life today: This passage from the book of Daniel has brought comfort to me especially during the last presidential election that was in our country. Yes God is in control of all things and causes them to work together for good to those of us who are believers.
God keeps His Word is another comfort to me especially concerning the hope that all of His believers have and that is the upcoming rapture of the Church.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Continue to learn contentment although it is surely hard at times.
7/3/2011 7:35:15 AM
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