Devotions

Build This House of God

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The opposition of the returning exiles has challenged them and they provide a short history and progress update to the present King Darius. Darius investigates and finds the decree from Cyrus. Darius understands what is happening and confirms the decree of Cyrus. But he doesn’t stop there. Darius also commands the governor of the region to “let them build” and to provide everything they need and to do it in a way that they will pray for the kings long life. Oh, and Darius establishes a penalty for anyone interfering with their work or harming the temple, and it is the death penalty. The descendants of Judah, the returned exiles, rejoice and sing as the temple is dedicated. 

Build This House of God

Ezra 5:13–17
Because they have some opposition, the leaders in Jerusalem are rehearsing their history and the decree of Cyrus for them to, in Ezra 5:13 “build this house of God”. They include a progress report saying in Ezra 5:16 “Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem. And from that time until now it is being built, but not yet finished”. Then, without saying that the work had stopped, they ask the new king Darius how he wants them to proceed.

Let The House Be Built

Ezra 6:1–5
Darius finds the record of the decree by Cyrus so responds positively in Ezra 6:3 “let the house be built” even though it is some fifteen years later. They are now re-commissioned for this work in its entirety as it had been written by Cyrus. 

The Full Expense Will Be Paid

Ezra 6:6–12
Darius responds by going even farther than Cyrus had by telling the local governor, in Ezra 6:6-7 “keep far away from there. 7 Leave this work of the house of God alone” and let them build. And that would have been enough, but Darius also says to the regional governor, in Ezra 6:8-9 “The full expense will be paid to these men from the riches of the king from the taxes of the province Beyond the River, without delay. 9 Whatever may be needed … let it be given to them day by day with no negligence”.

Then Darius did two more things:

  • In Ezra 6:10 he said “that they may offer incense offerings to the God of heaven”, which is to say to the governor, make sure you treat them in such a good manner that they will be thankful for me, Darius, as their King and will pray God’s blessing for me.
  • In Ezra 6:11-12 Darius sets a penalty for anyone that opposes this work or sets their hand against God’s house. The temple in Jerusalem is under the Kings protection with the penalty of death.

This House Was Completed

Ezra 6:13–18
The opposition disappeared in Ezra 6:14-15 “the Jews were building and prospering … They finished building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia … this house was completed”. And in

Ezra 6:16 (LEB) And the ⌊Israelites⌋, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Ezra 6:18 (LEB) Then they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their sections for the work of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

 

Give Thanks to Yahweh For He is Good

Psalm 118:1–29
It is thought that this Psalm was sung at the laying of the foundation in Ezra 3 and at the dedication of the Temple “the words mentioned in Ezra are the first and last sentences of this Psalm, and we therefore conclude that the people chanted the whole of this sublime song; and, moreover, that the use of this composition on such occasions was ordained by David, whom we conceive to be its author”.1

Yahweh is Righteous

Psalm 129:1–8
In this Psalm, God is our deliverer “Whereas most nations tend to look back on what they have achieved, Israel reflects here on what she has survived. It could be a disheartening exercise, for Zion still has its ill-wishers. But the singers take courage from the past, facing God with gratitude and their enemies with defiance.”2

Praise Yah

Psalm 148:1–6
The exile had provided seventy years Sabbath rest for the land of Judah. God Cares about all of his creation, even the ground we walk on. From the highest beings in heaven to the lowest in earth and even the mountains and trees praise the Lord “Starting with the angelic host, and descending through the skies to the varied forms and creatures of earth, then summoning the family of man and finally the chosen people, the call to praise unites the whole creation. If any notion of a colourless or cloistered regime were associated with the name of God, this glimpse of his tireless creativity would be enough to dispel it.”3

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ezra 5:13-17
  • Ezra 6:1-18
  • Psalm 118:1-29
  • Psalm 129:1-8
  • Psalm 148:1-14

References

  • 1. Spurgeon, Charles H. Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David. London: London Metropolitan Tabernacle, 1885. Book. 30 March 2018. .
  • 2. Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 480). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 3. Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 524). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Devotions

I Have Returned to Zion

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The people had been scattered, the land at rest for seventy years. Now, God says, “I have returned” and as they were blown away by the wind, they will return. This happened in Zechariah’s day and this is also a word for our day as the descendants of Israel return home. The people are told to be strong, just as in the exodus, Joshua was told to be strong when he entered the land. God is with them and their work will prosper. They all work together even though they still have opposition.

If you read more, you will find those who fasted mourning were those that “refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from listening”. God reminds them, the fasts are in Isaiah 58: 3-5 “to release the bonds of injustice, to untie the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free” and here in Zechariah 8:19 for “jubilation and joy and merry festivals”.

Did You Really Fast For Me

Zechariah 7:1–7
The exiles had returned, the altar had been built and now in Zechariah 7:1-3 these people of the land come asking if they should continue to mourn in the fifth month and adds “as I have done for these many years”. By this, he is saying how pious he has been or how hard it has been or maybe to gain favor with the prophet Zechariah. These were “Jews who have risen to positions of leadership in Babylon, or possibly Persian leaders who have become proselytes, have been questioning the need, now that the temple is almost rebuilt, to keep the fasts which commemorated the fall of Jerusalem.”1

So when God responds, he asks who they were fasting for? In Zechariah 7:4-7 he mentions not only the fast of the fifth month but also the fast of the seventh month and then goes on to remind them of the words of the prophets, like these in

Isaiah 58:5-6 Is the fast I choose like this, a day for humankind to humiliate himself? To bow his head like a reed, and make his bed on sackcloth and ashes; you call this a fast and a day of pleasure to Yahweh? 6 Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice, to untie the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and tear every yoke to pieces?

I Scattered Them With A Wind

Zechariah 7:8–14
Zechariah 7:8 continues the response to those questioning the fast in the fifth month. In Zechariah 7:9-12 he says it isn’t the fast that matters, it isn’t about mourning the destruction of the temple or of Jerusalem. God is asking them to “Judge with trustworthy justice, and show steadfast love and compassion to one another. 10 You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the needy. You must not devise evil in your heart against one another. Then he says, in Zechariah 7:12-14 they would not listen, they hardened their hearts so, “I scattered them with a wind among all the nations that they had not known; the land was made desolate behind them”.

In our day, the land where Israel now is, was swamp and desolate until it again became a nation. Now the land is prospering. 

The Holy Mountain

Zechariah 8:1–8
Now the Lord says in

Zechariah 8:2–3 (LEB) “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘⌊I am exceedingly jealous for Zion⌋; I am jealous for it with great wrath.’ 3 Thus says Yahweh: ‘I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be called the faithful city, and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called the holy mountain.’

This has always been, and will always be God’s desire, that He abides with his people in Jerusalem. There were many that returned in Zachariah’s day and was also prophetic for our day as many are beginning what they call Aliyah.

Zechariah 8:7–8 (LEB) Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Look! I am going to save my people from the land of the east, and from the land of the west, 8 and I will bring them and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will be their God in faithfulness and in righteousness.’

“The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God (Zec 8:8), here foretold, must, therefore, be still future (Is 11:11, 12; Ez 37:21; Is 11:11, 12, Am 9:14, 15; also Zec 13:9; Je 30:22).”2 

Let Your Hands be Strong

Zechariah 8:9–15
The Lord says in Zechariah 8:9 “let your hands be strong” because this is not just a spiritual work in the heavens and it is more than just the words spoken, it is hands-on natural building of families, communities, and economy and a nation. Jerusalem had been desolate, in Zechariah 8:10 “no wages … no safety … each person against one another”.

Zechariah 8:11–12 (LEB) But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares Yahweh of hosts. 12 ‘For there will be a sowing of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the soil will give its produce, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.

Now, there is God’s blessing, everything will produce, everything will flourish so set your hands to work!

These Are The Things That You Must Do

Zechariah 8:16–23
Here is what God requires, Zechariah 8:16-17 “speak truth … practice trustworthy judgement … do not devise evil” which is very much like what we heard in Zechariah 1:9-10 where they asked about the fast for mourning. Here in Zechariah 8:19 the fasts are for “jubilation and joy and merry festivals”. Then in Zechariah 8:20-23 he describes the homecoming ‘In those days ten men from the nations of every language will take hold of the hem of a Judean man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!” ’.

Today, Operation Exodus is helping Jews return home and taking groups of people from all nations to Israel to inquire of God.

Now The Prophets Prophesied

Ezra 5:1–6
As we go back to Ezra, we find construction moves forward, in

Ezra 5:2 (LEB) Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak set out and began to build the house of God that is in Jerusalem. And with them the prophets of God were helping them.

We have Zerubbabel representing the government, Jeshua representing the priesthood, Haggai and Zechariah the prophets all working together as it says in Ezra 5:1 “in the name of the God of Israel who was over them”. And now, when they are challenged, they just keep working. 

We Are Servants of The God of Heaven and Earth

Ezra 5:7–12
Those that challenged the work sent a letter to Darius the king and included the statement from the leaders of Israel which would have been inflammatory to any king. It said, in

Ezra 5:11b “We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are building the house that was built formerly many years ago, which a great king of Israel had built and finished.”

No king wants to hear that his subjects serve another king.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Zechariah 7:1-14
  • Zechariah 8:1-23
  • Ezra 5:1-12

References

  • 1. Baldwin, J. G. (1972). Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 28, p. 153). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 725). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Devotions

Grace Grace To It

by  • 

Zechariah sees into heaven and is at the throne of God. Joshua is dressed in filthy rags and Satan stands as his accuser, the angels are at work though, and dress him and prepare him to stand in his position as a priest. But that isn’t one of our points now, Grace, Grace is the message. It isn’t our strength, it is the power of God by His Spirit that every mountain must move. Zechariah sees more, the two anointed ones, the Church and Government that stand together before God and are to maintain order in the world. Then in Zechariah 6:9–15 we see Joshua shown as King and Priest, the position reserved for Jesus Christ.

Yahweh Rebukes You O Satan!

Zechariah 3:1–10
Joshua is before the Lord and Satan was there to accuse him. As a man, he is unclean but God is cleansing him to stand in his office of priest. There is just one requirement in,

Zechariah 3:7 (LEB) “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my requirements, then you will judge my house, and you will also guard my courtyards, and I will give to you passageways among these that are standing here.”

And if Joshua will do this, he will have a place in God’s house, in the courtyards which represent the people, the Gentiles and a place in the courts of heaven. But even more important, than his personal position is Zechariah 3:8 “the men are a sign” and God wants them to be seen by the world so through them the world would be waiting for the Messiah, the Branch. 

Only By My Spirit

Zechariah 4:1–7
In the vision in Zechariah 4:1-3 the lampstand, the lamps, the olive trees are seen. But Zechariah doesn’t understand what it means. In Zechariah 4:6-7 the angel explains that whatever obstacle faces Zerubbabel, it will be removed by the spirit of the Lord and not by his strength. This is where we get the saying, “Speak to the mountain”. We invoke the authority God delegates to us by the words we speak. 

These Are The Two Anointed Ones

Zechariah 4:8–14
The Church and Government are the two that are to maintain order in the earth, “‘the two anointed ones’ (Zec 4:14) are the twofold supports of the Church, the civil power (answering to Zerubbabel) and the ecclesiastical (answering to Joshua, the high priest)”1 and here in Zechariah 4:14 “These are the two anointed ones standing by the Lord of the whole earth”.

This Is The Curse

Zechariah 5:1–4
In Zechariah 5:1 he sees a flying scroll. It is the punishment decreed by God against all who lie and steal. It is open for all to see. It is flying over the whole earth to enter their houses and destroy them. The governments of men ought to uphold righteousness but I think we know that justice is only an aspiration in most places in the world. Did you ever wonder why the thief and liar come to nothing?

This is Wickedness!

Zechariah 5:5–11
The angel speaking in the vision tells Zechariah to look at what is happening. He sees, in Zechariah 6:6-8 “a basket going out … their iniquity throughout all the earth” and inside was “a woman” described as “Wickedness!”. Then in Zachariah 6:11 he is told they are going “to build for it a house in the land of Shinar” which is “Babylonia (Ge 10:10), the capital of the God-opposed world kingdoms, and so representing, in general, the seat of irreligion”.2 This wickedness is leaving Jerusalem, Judah, but not the earth. It will have its place in Babylon.

The Four Winds of the Heavens

Zechariah 6:1–8
These chariots with horses are going, in Zechariah 6:7 to “patrol the earth”. Each went in its own direction, “after presenting themselves to the Lord” in Zechariah 6:5. And the ones to the north it says in Zechariah 6:8 “have set my spirit at rest in the north country”. 

He Will Build The Temple of Yahweh

Zechariah 6:9–15
The Lord sent Zechariah to make a collection and to make a crown for Joshua and to pronounce the work he will do to “build the temple of Yahweh” but then in Zechariah 6:13 it says “he will sit and rule on his throne”. “It was a thing before unknown in the Levitical priesthood that the same person should wear at once the crown of a king and that of a high priest (Ps 110:4; Heb 5:10). Messiah shall be revealed fully in this twofold dignity when He shall “restore the kingdom to Israel”.3

Jesus, the Messiah, is the King and Priest.

Revelation 19:16 (LEB) And he has a name written on his outer garment and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Did You Really Fast For Me

I Scattered Them With A Wind

Zechariah 7:8–14

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Zechariah 3:1-10
  • Zechariah 4:1-14
  • Zechariah 5:1-11
  • Zechariah 6:1-15
  • Zechariah 7:1-14

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 721). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 722). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 723). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Devotions

I Will Fill This House With Glory

by  • 

The work on the temple had stopped. The people were going about their lives. The opposition was still there. Then the word of the Lord comes to stir them to work. God confirms that he is with them. He explains the drought that resulted from them stopping work on the temple. And, he reminds them that the earth is his and he will now bless their work. Then the Lord goes one step farther and says he will make Zerubbabel a signet ring and will bring down nations, kingdoms, and armies. This was his plan for them, that they be a signpost for every nation that the Lord is God of the earth and the heavens.

The Latter Glory Will Be Greater

Haggai 2:6–14
God has been stirring them up to do the work of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. Now in Haggai 2:9 he says “the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former”. They had come from exile, servants in another land and when they came home they faced opposition. Then the biggest problem of all, apathy. They weren’t progressing, they had been there working but were not prospering. Now God reminds them who created this planet, in Haggai 2:6-8 he also reminds them that it is all his and he is sending it their way, “the treasures of all nations will come”.

From This Day Forward I Will Bless You

Haggai 2:15–19
Yes, in Haggai 2:16-17 their work came to nothing. They had arrived with a blessing from Cyrus, with timbers from Cyrus, with money to buy materials from their neighbors in Babylon. How did they miss their opportunity? How did they get caught in the routine of life and lose their zeal for God? But now, in Haggai 2:18-19 “from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month … I will bless you”.

I Will Make You A Signet Ring

Haggai 2:20–23
A second-time on the same day, the Lord came to Haggai. It wasn’t enough that he was going to bless the people. Before he said in Haggai 2:6-7 “I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations …”. He said again in Haggai 2:21-22 “I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the military strength of the kingdoms of the nations”. Nations will change, kingdoms will fall, armies will destroy each other. And in Haggai 2:23 he says to Zerubbabel, “I will make you a signet ring”. This represents not only a great honor but real delegation of authority. For example, “A Pharaoh’s ring carried the highest authority in Egypt and empowered subordinates to act for the king; in their positions of authority, they literally were the king”.1

Return To Me

Zechariah 1:1–6

I Am Very Jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion!

Zechariah 1:7–17

Four Skilled Craftsmen

Zechariah 1:18–21

Jerusalem Shall be Inhabited

Zechariah 2:1–5

Flee From the Land of the North

Zechariah 2:6–13

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Haggai 2:6-23
  • Zechariah 1:1-21
  • Zechariah 2:1-13

References

  • 1. Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (p. 79). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
Devotions

Consider Your Ways

by  • 

The exiles that had returned were faced with local officials that were in control of the region, they were all still under Persian rule. These, the enemies of the exiles were contending for power over this “Province beyond the river” which was far enough away for the King to know what was really happening. It was also part of the empire so there was concern about any suggestion of rebellion and the suggestion was “this city from ancient days revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition has been made in it”. For fifteen years, the work was stopped. Then the Lord began to speak through Haggai, “Consider your ways”. The people had let their priorities slip and Haggai stirs them up to do the work of building God’s house. Are you doing the work?

They Wrote An Accusation

Ezra 4:6–11
Not everyone that offers to work with you really wants to help your cause. These people who had been living in the land were mostly exiles from other places. It was right for these leaders to decline their help. Here in Ezra 4:6-10 the administrators that had been responsible to the King and everyone that had any position in the land gathered together to oppose the work of these returned exiles. It didn’t matter to them that Cyrus had sent them home or that Cyrus had agreed to pay for their building work. This group knew the system of government and used it against the remnant, the ones that were doing God’s will and had given themselves to rebuild the temple, Jerusalem, and Judah.

The Province Beyond The River

Ezra 4:12–16
The following passage is a parenthesis in the narrative. Ezra—in an attempt to illustrate some of the measures used by the enemies of the Jews—references events that took place between 50 and 80 years after the events of vv. 1–5.

Josephus believes that this Artaxerxes, who forbade that the temple might be reconstructed in Jerusalem after receiving the letter from the Samaritans, was Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who took power after his father had reigned for thirty years and ruled the kingdom for eight years. Then the magi reigned one year after him, until Darius, son of Hystaspis, succeeded.1

Mighty Kings Have Ruled Over Jerusalem

Ezra 4:17–22
In his response, the King finds records showing that Israel has had their own kings who have received “tribute, duty, and tax” and that there has been rebellion. He instructs his servants, his administrators to stop this work.

19 And I issued a decree, and they searched and found that this city from ancient days revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition has been made in it.

20 Mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem, governing all the province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, duty, and tax has been given.

They Stopped Them by Force and Power

Ezra 4:23–24
This is a simple statement but with big impact, in

Ezra 4:24 (LEB) Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Because of “the opposition Zerubbabel faced which resulted in about a 15-year pause in the work to rebuild the temple”.2

The exiles that returned “were unable to finish the work that they were doing under the rulers Zerubbabel and Jeshua before forty-six years had passed, on account of the resistance of the neighboring nations”.3

This history and the challenges faced in rebuilding the temple were well known to the Jewish people in

John 2:20 (LEB) Then the Jews said, “This temple has been under construction forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”

Consider Your Ways

Haggai 1:1–7
We jump to Haggai because he prophecies in the middle of the account that Ezra gives. Dates are recorded based on Darius because “Babylon having been overthrown by the Persian Cyrus. The Jews having no king of their own, dated by the reign of the world kings to whom they were subject”4

It has been some fifteen years since the work stopped and Haggai rehearses what people are saying, in Haggai 1:2 “The time has not come to rebuild the temple of Yahweh”. Then in

Haggai 1:4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your houses that have been paneled while this house is desolate?”

They are struggling but it hasn’t occurred to them that they have the wrong priorities. First, we love God, then our neighbor as ourselves.

Haggai 1:6 You have sown much but have harvested little. You have eaten without being satisfied; you have drunk without being satiated; you have worn clothes without being warm; the one who earns wages puts it in a pouch with holes.’

It isn’t that they don’t have anything. In Haggai 1:4 “They are living in houses that have been paneled”, they aren’t living under the stars, and they aren’t living in tents, just barely protected from the elements. They are living in nice homes, just not with all of the abundances God wants them to have.

Twice the Lord says through Haggai, “Consider your ways”.

I Am With You Declares Yahweh

Haggai 1:8–15
“Go up to the mountains and bring wood” in Haggai 1:8. They may have said, we don’t have what we need to build the temple. And now they are right. They had been sent with abundance and with provision from Cyrus, what happened to all of that? Somehow, they had not honored God and he sees that his “house is desolate and you are running each to your own house!” in Haggai 1:9. Then in Haggai 1:10-11 the Lord said “I have called for a drought” and then repeats “I have called for a drought”.

In Haggai 1:12-13 the leaders and the people heard the message, there is a drought because of your inactivity. But the Lord said, “I am with you”. Haggai had come to them on the first day of the sixth month. Now, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in Haggai 1:14 -15 “Yahweh stirred up the spirit … And they came and did the work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God”.

Take Courage – Do The Work

Haggai 2:1–5
Nearly a full month later, in Haggai 2:1 “In the seventh month and the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying,” in Haggai 2:2-3 “does it seem like nothing to you?” sometimes we get discouraged, it seems like we are working hard and not making much progress but here comes the word of the prophet which is edification, exhortation, and comfort. God’s promise of blessing comes in Haggai 2:4-5 “but now take courage … take courage … do the work, because I am with you”.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ezra 4:6-24
  • Haggai 1:1-15
  • Haggai 2:1-5

References

  • 1. Conti, M., & Pilara, G. (Eds.). (2008). 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (p. 312). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 4:24). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 3. Conti, M., & Pilara, G. (Eds.). (2008). 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (p. 313). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 4. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 712). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Devotions

We Were Like Dreamers

by  • 

The exiles are home and the people settled in their home cities, well at least in the right place. Jerusalem’s walls are down, the temple destroyed, and the Assyrians had relocated people to their land. But they were home. They hired the craftsmen to lay the foundation of the temple as their first task. And as they began this work the priests and the levites gathered all the people and they praised God and gave thanks and the people shouted for joy or some wept for the pain of their loss of the temple and seventy years. Included today is Psalm 92 for the Sabbath to commemorate the seventy years Sabbath rest for the land and Psalm 126 for thanksgiving, turning tears to of joy. 

The Builders Laid The Foundation

Ezra 3:8–13
The priests began their work, yes, in Ezra 3:10 “the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh. But this wasn’t the most important thing. The priests, trumpets, Levites, cymbals “positioned to praise Yahweh”. Then in Ezra 3:11 “they sang responsively … and all the people responded with a great shout of joyful acclaim in praise to Yahweh”. They were back in their land. They were back in their covenant. They were back in their relationship with God and each other.

It Is Good To Give Thanks To Yahweh

Psalm 92:1–15
The exile for seventy years was to give the land Sabbath rest because the people were doing evil in the sight of the Lord. Now, they remember the Lord and his goodness.

God gave us the earth to enjoy, and all the fullness. And he gave it to us for joy, that we can flourish, to prosper in old age.

It is good for us to get alone with Him and enjoy the world He gave us. 

We Were Like Dreamers

Psalm 126:1–6
This Psalm begins with “When Yahweh restored”. It isn’t our strength or ability that deliver and restore, that would be pride and self interest. But when Yahweh restored, there was laughter and rejoicing and the nations said, “Yahweh has done great things for these people”. 

It Is For Us

Ezra 4:1–5
In Ezra 4:1-2 “The enemies of Judah and Benjamin … approached … and they said to them, Let us build with you.” These were not sons of Israel and they were not servants of God “The mention of the king of Assyria who brought us here42 provides a pointer to the story of 2 Kings 17:24ff., and another angle on the speakers and their religion”.1

But in Ezra 4:3-4 The priests and family heads said no, keeping the lineage of the sons of Israel pure. Since the people of the land had been discouraged. in Ezra 4:5 these enemies, “bribed officials against them to frustrate their plan all the days of Cyrus”.

It is interesting to see how God provided for his people to go home, but it was a simple task to get re-established. The exiles that returned had to take and hold their ground even though they had been authorized by the king, the legal government of the day.

Today, Operation Exodus is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Psalm 92:1-15
  • Psalm 126:1-6
  • Ezra 3:8-13
  • Ezra 4:1-5

References

  • 1. Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 55). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.