Thus says Cyrus king of Persia. All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him and let him go up!
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
We read in the aforementioned scripture that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. God is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him. The heart of the king is in His hands and He does whatsoever He pleases for He the Lord is Sovereign.
The temple at Jerusalem was in ruins. Time and time again, God's people had returned to serving their idols. God had said that if they continued in their ways, He will remove their beautiful temple, and make it a byword to all who pass by, and send them into captivity, because they had forsaken the true and living God, to bow down to a piece of wood and stone that have no breath in them. In His mercy, He also promised that He will remember His people, and bring His people back to their land. And that they shall fear Him and serve Him. And in the years to come, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus came to the Jews and to a temple that was rebuilt.
The nations of Persia, Media and Babylon were not God-fearing nations, but even within them, God was still moving by His Spirit on the hearts of men to accomplish His purposes, and He is still doing so today. God delivers and God restores. When the set time has come to fulfill His word in your life, His church, the nation—He will do it. The truth is, all things are in God's hand and there is nothing He cannot do. When this truth takes root inside our hearts, faith will rise and the chains of doubt will be broken forever. God desires that His ways be known upon the earth.
Let Your glory come to Your temple, Lord God! We are Your temple. Let Your word heal and restore. Walk about Your temple; repair broken lives and deliver those who seek Your deliverance. Bring to pass the word You have spoken, and Your determined end; for we wait upon You, and long for Your glory to fill our lives, and the knowledge of Your glory the earth.
There are many forces striving against Your church and Your kingdom, but we know their striving is in vain. We believe on Your name. We are Your instruments of grace. Let Your glory shine through us. You work and no man can stop Your hand. You desire souls for Your kingdom.
Fulfill Your word. Strengthen our hearts so that we do not faint. Evil prowls on every side, but Your light conquers the darkness.
Reveal Your arm in the midst of the nations. Let the heavens and the earth declare Your glory and Your praise! In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
For Bible Study & Devotion:
The Book of Ezra
The Book of Nehemiah
The Lord bless you and fill you with the knowledge of His will. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
