God is in charge and does what He says!

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Liz Nixon answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I love that the Bible has so many repetitions of ideas, images and events. In Ezra, the exiles are given silver and gold, livestock and goods to help them return and start afresh, which is reminiscent of the Israelites back in Exodus. They left their life of slavery in Egypt, laden down with gifts from the Egyptian people and headed to the land God had promised them and into covenant relationship with Him. I’m sure the exiles would have had this firmly in their minds as they left Persia and made their way back to Jerusalem, full of hope for a fresh start with God in His land.

I really appreciate the effort they made to enable worship to happen by rebuilding the altar first. This was essential for their sacrifices and worship of God and shows that worship was a priority to them. After the altar was rebuilt and worship was happening regularly, then they started the work of rebuilding the temple.

It’s also touching to see that once the temple was complete, they wanted to bring back worship in line with how King David had prescribed it, even using his famous refrain of “He is good; His love to Israel endures for ever”. It seems that the people had high hopes for their return to Jerusalem, their rebuilding of the altar and temple and their new routine of worship and sacrifice, back in the land of their God. However, it did not bring about the heart change and devotion to God that they wanted. This points to a time coming where men would be given new hearts and a new temple would arise, one which would not be made of brick and mortar but one with Jesus as the Cornerstone. Men would not need to worship God in a specific place, but anywhere they wanted in spirit and truth. A new kind of altar and temple and worship was needed – and it was coming in Jesus!

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God keeps His word and does what He says. He announced in Jeremiah that He would bring His people back into the land, and this book sees this happen.

It also shows me that God can move the heart of anyone. In Ezra, we see him moving the heart of Persian Kings, which enabled His plan of returning His people to His land.

We also see the tribes and clans who returned from exile to Jerusalem named in lists in chapter 2. God chooses to take up space in His word to honour the people who made the journey back and so the least we can do is read them, rather than skip over them!

What am I going to do differently as a result?

Aim to make worship of God a priority in my life.

Who am I going to share this with?

My family.