Day 134: Ezra 7, 8, 9 and 10

Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today (Ezra 9:7).

As Ezra made his journey to Jerusalem, he no doubt reflected on what had caused Judah’s destruction and delivered them into exile. From the beginning, the men of Israel had been warned to not intermarry with foreign women who would lead them astray after their gods, and from the beginning they had ignored this advice. Here we have another example of how disobeying the first commandment led to ruin for the people of Israel. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Then he arrived in his homeland and discovered that the returning exiles were engaged in the same practices. It must have struck him as inconceivable.

But in retrospect, as we look over the biblical accounts, it is clear that there were times that men of Israel married foreign women without reverting to the worship of foreign gods. Jesus’ genealogy includes at the very least Ruth (a Moabite) and Rahab (a Canaanite). Though technically personae non gratae, these women hold positions of honor in Jewish tradition.

We look to these stories of inclusiveness, and to God’s promise that all peoples of the earth might be blessed through Abraham’s seed, as clear signs that God loves all people – not just a select few.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Are there people you’ve considered unclean whom God considers clean? …people outside your circle that God would invite you to embrace?

Day 133: Ezra 4, 5 and 6

Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God (Ezra 6:7).

When the returning exiles set about their work to rebuild the temple (as was ordered by King Cyrus), they encountered opposition from their neighbors. After the death of Cyrus, those neighbors sent complaints to the new king who ordered work on the temple to stop because of Judah’s history as a trouble maker.

Then Haggai and Zechariah (two prophets we’ll be hearing from in coming months) encouraged the people of Jerusalem to get back to work. Another complaint was made to the king (still another king by this time) and further investigation uncovered the original documents signed by Cyrus that ordered the people to rebuild the temple, and even guaranteed that the government would cover the construction costs!

At this point, King Darius ordered that the Jews be left alone and that there be no additional opposition to their building project. Furthermore, if anyone did oppose them, they would be executed and their home turned into a pile of rubble. Needless to say, construction continued without further interference and with the full support of the king. The project was completed, and the people celebrated as their enemies looked on in disbelief.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Your enemy does not want you to accomplish anything great in your life. But keep in mind, God has plans for you. What difference does it make to have the support of the king?

Day 132: Ezra 1, 2 and 3

All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold (Ezra 1:6).

Ezra records for us the return from exile – I know; it seems like we just got here! These are newer writings than those found in Deuteronomy. Remember Ezra and Nehemiah – the one book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Scriptures) deals with events in the sixth and fifth centuries BC. The exiles returned to Jerusalem in 536 BC and the temple was completed in 516 BC. Ezra wrote of things that happened before he was born, and Nehemiah didn’t arrive in Jerusalem until around 445 BC to rebuild the walls. The Deuteronomic History (Joshua through 2 Kings) was compiled for an audience that had just been exiled to Babylon. These writings are for their grandchildren who are once again settled in Jerusalem.

When we read the account of Moses on the Plains of Moab, giving his farewell address just before the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land, we asked the question: How would a Jewish expatriate, waiting for the expedition back to Jerusalem, read the story of Moses and the Exodus?

Here we are again. Would the people of Judah receiving gifts from their neighbors see the connection with the Exodus story? The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold (Exodus 12:35). Just as the Israelis plundered the Egyptians, now it seems their postexilic return to Jerusalem was financed by Persia.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Consider the riches and strength God has at his disposal. Do you ever wonder if he has the resources to get you where you need to go?

Day 134: Ezra 7, 8, 9 and 10

Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. (Ezra 9:7)

As Ezra made his journey to Jerusalem, he no doubt reflected on what had caused Judah’s destruction and delivered them into exile. From the beginning the men of Israel had been warned to not intermarry with foreign women who would lead them astray after their gods, and from the beginning they had ignored this advice. Here we have another example of how disobeying the 1^st Commandment led to ruin for the people of Israel. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Then he arrived in his homeland and discovered that the returning exiles were engaged in the same practices. It must have struck him as inconceivable.

But in retrospect, as we look over the biblical accounts, it is clear that there were times that men of Israel married foreign women without reverting to the worship of foreign gods. Jesus’ genealogy includes Ruth (a Moabite) and Rahab (a Canaanite). Though technically personae non gratae, these women hold positions of honor in Jewish tradition.

We look to these stories of inclusiveness, and to God’s promise that all peoples of the earth might be blessed through Abraham’s seed, as clear signs that God loves all people – not just a select few.

Are there people outside your circle whom God would invite you to embrace?

Day 133: Ezra 4, 5 and 6

Do not interfere with this work on the temple of God. (Ezra 6:7)

When the returning exiles set about their work to rebuild the temple (as was ordered by King Cyrus), they encountered opposition from their neighbors. After Cyrus’s death, those neighbors sent complaints to the new king who ordered work on the temple to stop because of Judah's history as a trouble maker.

Then Haggai and Zechariah (two prophets we'll be hearing from in coming months) encouraged the people of Jerusalem to get back to work. Another complaint was made to the king (still another king by this time) and further investigation uncovered the original documents signed by Cyrus that ordered the people to rebuild the temple, and even guaranteed that the government would cover the construction costs!

At this point, King Darius ordered that the Jews be left alone and that there was to be no more opposition to their building project. Furthermore, if anyone did oppose them, they would be executed and their home turned into a pile of rubble. Needless to say, construction continued without further interference and with the full support of the king. The project was completed, and the people celebrated as their enemies looked on in disbelief.

Doesn't it make a difference to have the support of the King?

Day 132: Ezra 1, 2 and 3

All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold. (Ezra 1:6)

Ezra records for us the return from exile (I know – it seems like we just got here!). These are newer writings than those found in Deuteronomy; remember that these texts reached their finished form probably in the late sixth century BC. The Deuteronomic History (Joshua through 2 Kings) was compiled for an audience that had just been exiled to Babylon. These writings are for their children and grandchildren who have just come home from exile.

When we read the account of Moses on the Plains of Moab, giving his farewell address just before the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land, we asked the question: How would a Jewish expatriate, waiting for the expedition back to Jerusalem, read the story of Moses and the Exodus?

Here we are again. Would the people of Judah receiving gifts from their neighbors see the connection with the Exodus story? The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold (Exodus 12:35). Just as the Israelis plundered the Egyptians, now it seems their postexilic return to Jerusalem was financed by Persia.

Do you ever wonder if God has the resources to get you where you need to go?

Day 134: Ezra 7, 8, 9 and 10

Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hands of foreign kings, as it is today. (Ezra 9:7)

As Ezra made his journey to Jerusalem, he no doubt reflected on what had caused Judah's destruction and delivered them into exile. From the beginning, the men of Israel had been warned not to intermarry with foreign women who would lead them astray after their gods, and from the beginning they had ignored this advice. Here we have another example of how disobeying the 1st Commandment led to ruin for the people of Israel. You shall have no other gods beside me (Exodus 20:3). Then he arrived in his homeland and discovered that the returning exiles were engaged in the same practices. It must have struck him as inconceivable.

But in retrospect, as we look over the biblical accounts, it is clear there were times that men of Israel married foreign women without reverting to the worship of foreign gods. Jesus' genealogy includes Ruth (a Moabite) and Rahab (a Canaanite). Though technically personae non gratae, these women hold positions of honor in Jewish tradition.

We look to these stories of inclusiveness, and to God's promise that all peoples of the earth might be blessed through Abraham's seed, as clear signs that God loves all people - not just a select few.

Are there people outside your circle whom God would invite you to embrace?

Day 133: Ezra 4, 5 and 6

Do not interfere with this work on the temple of God. (Ezra 6:7)

When the returning exiles set about their work to rebuild the temple (as was ordered by King Cyrus), they encountered opposition from their neighbors. After Cyrus's death, those neighbors sent complaints to the new king who ordered work on the temple to stop because of Judah's history as a trouble maker.

Then Haggai and Zechariah (two prophets we'll be hearing from in coming months) encouraged the people of Jerusalem to get back to work. Another complaint was made to the king (still another king by this time) and further investigation uncovered the original documents signed by Cyrus that ordered the people to rebuild the temple, and even guaranteed that the government would cover the construction costs!

At this point King Darius ordered that the Jews be left alone and that there was to be no more opposition to their building project. Furthermore, if anyone did oppose them, they would be executed and their home turned into a pile of rubble. Needless to say, construction continued without further interference and with the full support of the king. The project was completed, and the people celebrated as their enemies looked on in disbelief.

Doesn't it make a difference to have the support of the king?

Day 132: Ezra 1, 2 and 3

All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold. (Ezra 1:6)

Ezra records for us the return from Babylonian exile (I know - it seems like we just got here!). 1 Chronicles through Nehemiah are newer writings than those we've read over the past few months; remember that these texts reached their finished form probably in the late sixth century BC. The Deuteronomic History (Joshua through 2 Kings) was compiled for an audience that had just been exiled to Babylon. These writings are for their children and grandchildren who have just come home from exile.

When we read the account of Moses on the Plains of Moab, giving his farewell address just before the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land, we asked the question: How would a Jewish expatriate, waiting for the expedition back to Jerusalem, read the story of Moses and the Exodus?

Here we are again. Would the people of Judah receiving gifts from their neighbors see the connection with the Exodus story? The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold (Exodus 12:35). Just as the Israelis plundered the Egyptians, now it seems their postexilic return to Jerusalem was financed by Persia.

Do you ever wonder if God has the resources to get you where you need to go?

Day 134: Ezra 4 - 6

Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews. (Ezra 5:1)

When the returning exiles set about their work to rebuild the temple (as was ordered by King Cyrus), they encountered opposition from their neighbors. Those neighbors sent complaints to the king (Cyrus was dead by now), who ordered work on the temple to stop because of Judah's history as a trouble maker.

Then Haggai and Zechariah (two prophets we'll be hearing from in a about five months) encouraged the people of Jerusalem to get back to work. Another complaint was made to the king (still another king by this time) and further investigation uncovered the documents signed by Cyrus that ordered the people to rebuild the temple, and even guaranteed that the government would pay the construction costs!

At this point, construction continued with the full support of the king, the project was completed, and the people celebrated as their enemies looked on in disbelief.

Doesn't it make a difference to have the support of the King?

Day 133: Ezra 1 - 3

And the sound was heard far away. (Ezra 3:13)

Here we have the account of an exiled people returning home. One of the first things they did was work on rebuilding their spiritual center. There was a lot of crying going on when they laid the foundation for the temple. Those who could remember Solomon's Temple were crying tears of sadness over the fact that Solomon's Temple had been destroyed, not to mention that their new temple just wasn't as big and glorious as the old one. The young people were crying too - tears of joy. They had heard stories of Jerusalem, and now they had returned and were setting about the rebuilding of their heritage.

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Have you ever returned home after being away a really long time?