I am currently studying the post – exilic books of the bible which include 1Chronicles, 2Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. For the next 2 weeks, I am reading Ezra. The major theme of Ezra is rebuilding the home place of Jerusalem.
I discovered the King of Persia, Cyrus, was the handpicked deliverer to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus had just overthrown Babylonia, where the Jews were in exile, and in his first year as ruler he demanded the exiles to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of God.
When reading in Jeremiah 29:10-14, we know they were in exile for 70 years. I can’t imagine what that deserted place looked like when Cyrus and his people initially stepped foot on Jerusalem. Talk about a ghost town. My human nature would not know where to begin with such rubbish and disaster that I would be discouraged. I often feel disheartened with big tasks, and sometimes I even feel dismayed with a simplistic duty, such as, tackling the mountain of laundry that has been neglected for the last few days. However, Cyrus acknowledged the Lords calling and got down to business. I don’t think procrastination was in the dictionary back in those biblical days.
He acted at once.
He sought the Lord with his whole heart.
It is apparent to me Cyrus had a deep rooted faith. He might not have been able to visualize the outcome of the rebuilding of the temple, but that did not discourage him from moving forward in his calling from the Lord.
For a man with a deep rooted faith, every experience holds a new promise, every encounter carries a new insight, and every event brings a new message. He faces the world with eyes full of expectation. ~ Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer
May I look at every new experience, encounter, and insight He puts in front of me with eyes full of expectation. There is a reason why God placed each situation in front of me. May I have the deep rooted faith that Cyrus instilled during his journey back home to Jerusalem.
Are you facing the world with eyes full of expectation?
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Thank you for this today!
Hey Jill enjoyed reading your post. Benji preached through all of Ezra and Nehemiah before he left. You can go on the CBC website and still listen to them. It was a great series. Especially if there is a section of Ezra or Nehemiah you want to meditate on. Blessings to you and your family.