The Return

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lors put it into the mind of king Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout the entire Kingdom and 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 has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah, whoever is among His people, may His God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, whereever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, and livestock, along with a free will offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.' Ezra 1:1-4

A period of discipline had come to an end. God's people had been taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar 70 years previous and now they were given freedom to return, to build God's house.

God had put it on Cyrus' heart to rebuild His temple. I am sure that God's people were keen and ready to return and also wondering as to how this might come to pass.

In the world today there are millions of refugees and the average time they will spend in a foreign land is 20 years. The Israelites had spent 70 years, a lifetime, in captivity. Some would die in ababylon, others born there would not know their homeland but would have to rely on stories told by the older members of the community.

Have you been held captive by circumstance, by sin, by forces beyond your control? Prepare to rebuild God's temple within. Prepare Him a place to dwell and expect Him to come.

We no longer need to offer sacrifices of animals at a set place, we offer a sacrifice of praise right where we are. Yet if you are a refugee and longing for home seek the Lord and trust Him for a plan. Amen!