June 11, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezra? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezra 5 (NIV)
Tattenai’s Letter to Darius
1 Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.......Continue Reading
Ezra 5
Ezra 5, good thing that the Persian national archives are also well kept!
Ezra and the elders counter that Cyrus commissioned the temple construction. Not reading forward, I know how this pans out for the enemies of Israel.
In the house of God, we need to know the records too. This is about a government’s records, I am talking about God’s record to us, the Scriptures. Not that I am someone of perfect conformity, as I am certainly not. But studies like this are nourishing to the soul, like a fresh loaf of bread, which the Word of God is!
Visited a Methodist service today, as a gift, was given a warm loaf of homemade bread as a token of fellowship. Much appreciated!
In Russian culture, it is practiced to offer guests one of two loaves, one black, the other white, that they may have a choice.
Praise God, as all mankind has choice, free will. Though this reasoning is somewhat “off the beaten path” of Ezra 5, it is in keeping with our relationship to Scrpture, whether to read it, in part, whole or not, and to the bad guys too. They would have been best to read all the government archives, and Moses and the prophets too. They “searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17. Peace to all, Gordy
How fitting it is for us to give our side of the story when addressed/attacked from others and not hesitate to turn to the relative authority with the ability to defend our case and resolve the matter. It probably became evident quite early in human history how important record keeping was to resolve conflicts…especially about legal issues and property rights.
Ezra 5
Ezra 6
Ezra 5
Although we should not be depending on man or government to walk in righteousness, it is good that the authorities acknowledged and obeyed and even defended the agreements that had been made.
When we read chapters in the Bible about all the different records taken of lineages, procedures, counts, and directions and wonder why God would think it important to have them this is a good example of why.
It is important to keep records to do things properly. Clearly it is important to God and so as a result should be important to us as well.
In chapter 5 starts off with Zerubbabel continuing to build the temple. The people of Israel are helping to build it also along with Jeshua the main priest. Also the two prophets that lived during this time. They were Haggai and Zechariah who worked along side the others. They all knew that God wanted them to rebuild the temple and had His blessing. It doesn`t mean that there wouldn`t be adversaries but God would help them through it. A letter was sent to Darius 1. In it as it was translated to him he saw that Cyrus had made a decree for Israel to be helped and to build the temple. As we see in chapter 6. This was good to read how the prophets and priests worked together along side the rest of the people to accomplish the task of building the temple. This is a good example to us as Christians to work together for the cause of Christ which is to tell people about Christ on how to get saved and follow Him. Christ Jesus wants us to be unified together in Him for we are His church. Ephesians 5; 1,2,15,16 [ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.] [ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.] Philippians 2; [ Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.] Have a blessed day in Christ.