God Commissions King Cyrus to Build the Temple
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 1-11. The Book of Ezra starts in the first year of the reign of Cyrus king of Persia. Also known as, Cyrus the Great, he reigned as king of Persia for thirty years, from 559BC to 530BC. Fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy, (Jeremiah 25, 29) God stirred the heart of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation saying that God charged him to build a Temple of God at Jerusalem, in Judah.
King Cyrus asks for men of God to go to Jerusalem and build the Temple of God. Cyrus also requests that people of the surrounding area who encounter the Israelites as they travel would contribute gold, silver, supplies, beasts, and offerings. These provisions would help them travel to Jerusalem and build the house of God.
God stirred the hearts of the priests, Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to build the temple. All their neighbors contributed silver, gold, and various valuable items. Even King Cyrus brought from his treasury the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had looted from Jerusalem and placed his pagan temple. He understood that these vessels rightfully belonged in the house of the LORD.
Cyrus instructed Mithredath, who was the treasurer of Persia, to count the valuables, record them, and present them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah leading the exiles in their return. The total number of gold and silver pieces Sheshbazzar brought with them from Babylon to Jerusalem numbered 5,400. God called the exiles to go to Jerusalem to build His temple, He planned to provide everything they needed to complete the task.
Daily Bible Reading:
Ezra 1:1-11
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all [them] whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;
8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.
11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
Things to think about:
- Has God ever asked you to do a work for Him?
- How did God provide for you?
- What can we learn from this lesson in the book of Ezra?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You, as we study the book of Ezra, we see Your hand at work right from the start. You stirred the hearts of Your people to build the Temple of God. We also see Your provision for them. We thank You that You are our provider, giving us the means to do whatever work You call us to. Help us to be obedient to Your will for our lives. We love you LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection
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Featured Book: Have you read:
The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection
by Deborah H. Bateman
About the Book:
The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. After seventy years of Babylonian captivity God commissions King Cyrus to write a decree allowing the Jewish people to return home for the purpose of building the second temple at Jerusalem.
God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.
Each lesson consists of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection is a great Bible study for personal or group Bible study.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC
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Have a blessed day,
Deborah
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