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Cheering you on,

Kat Lee

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PART 1, DAY 2: 

2 CHRONICLES 36:22-23; EZRA 6:1-5 AND 14-15

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 “Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.’”

EZRA 6:1-5 AND 14-15

Then Darius the king made a decree, and the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon, was searched. 2 A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; with its height sixty cubits,[a] and its width sixty cubits; 4 with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. 5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.

14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

This week's commentary is by Ali Shaw.

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER ENJOYS LEGO SETS. It’s really incredible how a detailed final model is built from tiny, individual squares. During the process, units are put together into oddly shaped chunks. Without patience and master plans at hand, it’s hard to see how these seemingly random pieces could come together in just the right way, in the right order, to make a “masterpiece.”

Today’s reading builds on yesterday’s; we’re given more pieces to the background story of the Book of Esther. We begin to see a design built by the hand of Providence. Only God could have set the historical timeline and orchestrated the details and events so perfectly to accomplish His will in saving His people. The prophecies of Isaiah 45:1 and Jeremiah 29:10 are fulfilled. Cyrus the Great, already King of Persia for 20 years, defeated the Babylonians in 539 B.C. and inherited the exiled Jews. During “the first year of Cyrus” in 538 B.C. (2 Chronicles 36:22), he decreed that they could return home to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple. His decree came at the end of the prophesied 70 year captivity, which had begun during the first of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasions around 608/605 B.C. and lasted until the decree in 538 B.C.*

The Persian Empire operated differently from the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires that had ruled before. Rather than uprooting conquered peoples and incorporating them into their kingdoms, they let captives remain home to serve under local governors to prevent revolts. God used this important “Lego piece” detail in a providential way to get His people home.

God also used the Persians’ religion to accomplish His will. One might believe Cyrus’ heart was softened toward God since he dismissed the Jews to build a temple. But interestingly, the term “God of heaven” does not point to Cyrus’ belief in God, but showed the nature of Zoroastrianism, the monotheistic yet inclusive faith he practiced. In another twist, temples weren’t important to Zoroastrian faith! These details are more building blocks of God’s plan.

Many Jews returned home to rebuild the temple but the work was later halted by their enemies and an order from King Artaxerxes. (See Ezra 4) Our sovereign God stepped in and put the pieces together when King Darius I searched and found instructions and the decree and ordered for them to be enforced. All of this assures us that only God manages the timeline and details of history and His hand of Providence is mighty in caring for all of His children!

*Allowing for differences in ancient and modern calendars, the exile lasted 70 years.

KEY VERSE

Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has the LORD God of heaven given me; and he has charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (2 Chronicles 36:23a) 

REFLECT :

Use this handy link to Bible Gateway to easily look up verses in the Reflect section.

• Sovereignty refers to God’s position; it is part of His nature. Providence is God’s sovereignty in action. Using what you’ve learned today, take notes on the passages with this in mind.
• On God’s sovereignty, see: Prov 21:1, Jeremiah 18:1-8, Daniel 4:35, and Isaiah 46:9-11.
• Read Isaiah 45:1-7. What does this tell us about God? About Cyrus? About mankind?
• How have you seen Providence in your own life?
• Spend time in awe-filled worship, praising God for His sovereignty and providence.

RESPOND :

Ask any questions you may have in the Hello Mornings Community.