Bible Reading Reflection from Ezra 1-10

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟙:𝟙

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing,"

God is sovereign even over non-believers, over kings and rulers, over even wicked and corrupt people. And He will use them for the good of His people. Remember Romans 8:28👍

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟚:𝟞𝟚

"These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood."

Those whose names are not found are excluded. No compromise. No pressure.

They are small in number. They could have compromised the registration and welcomed everyone who wanted to settle along with them. More people are better in this situation. However, they stick to the book.

There will be also a book of life opening on the last day. Whosoever name is missing shall be excluded from the splendour of heaven, and shall be cast into the lake of fire!

And there will be no compromise! To the book!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟛:𝟙𝟚

"Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,"

What a mixture of emotions! Some wept uncontrollably while others shouted in joy. I remember when we came to [my] village for a Christmas, one lady saw us and was sobbing uncontrollably. Christmas is a time when loved and dear ones come together, in her case, her loved and dear ones had a tragic death just before Christmas.

Well, in this case, it is not because these people who wept were missing their friends, but because the new temple was not as glorious as the old temple where God's glory dwelt. At best the new temple was just a replica. And of course, they knew it was their sins that had led them to this situation.

Sin brings only tears!

In this case, it was a mixture of tears again. Tears of repentance and tears of joy in seeing the restoration even if it was not like before!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟜:𝟛

"But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, ‘You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’"

No common platform with non-Christians in Christian things.

Would you seek help from Muslims to build your Church? Maybe they too will require your help to build their Mosque. However, if it's a common thing like helping build homes, that's understandable.

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟝:𝟚

"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them."

They were stopped by the enemies from rebuilding the house of God. Anyway, they started the work again with the support of godly leaders. Indeed, who is a man to stop the work of God?

And their philosophy of rebuilding is expressed in v11. Their life is in God. And indeed, God protected them, as is seen in v5. That the officials decided to play fair and neutral!

For better understanding, read here👇

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟞:𝟙𝟜

"And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia."

After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews were progressing their work of rebuilding. The enemies were jealous of them. The enemies opposed and employed a lot of tactics to halt their work. The Jews weren't able to continue. That's what we see in chapter 4:1-5.

[Then, chapter 4:6-23 is a story of later years when the local officials plus the king stopped their work. It's kept here to give an account that there had always been jealousy and opposition towards the Jews by the enemies: The enemies were jealous. They poisoned the mind of local officials and the king. And the king stopped them].

Then chapter 5 resumes the present story which is left off in chapter 4:5. While the people were afraid to rebuild due to the opposition, and because they had started to lose their devotion to building, the prophets encouraged them. The local officials investigated (the complaints of the enemies and the response of the Jews) and reported to the king for further verdicts.

In chapter 6, we see the king's response. The king not only validated the response of the Jews and their work of rebuilding, but also asked the officials to help them, and even warned against any opposition concerning the Jews.

Indeed, who can stop the work of God? What a victory! With God in God's way is victory!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"For Ezra had set his heart 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 the law of the LORD and 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖 it, and 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 His statutes and ordinances in Israel. King's Decree on Behalf of Ezra."

In chapter 4 we see King Artaxerxes stopping the works until further decree. In this chapter 7, the king has commissioned the work with a lot of resources and power!

With this occasion, this verse 10 is fitting. Notice the three verbs, and the order of those action words: To study, to practice, to teach.

Before teaching others, he must learn first. So, he studied. Studying is not enough; he must practice what he learned. No wonder he was very brave in the later part of the story because he knew what he was doing!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, ‘The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.’"

This is Ezra’s faith in God. It's risky speaking humanly. They are a company of women, children, and other weak people too, but centuries ago, the Israelites went out of Egypt like that.

However, Nehemiah's situation was different. He was accompanied by the king's army (Neh. 2:9). BTW, when Paul realized he would be assassinated by the Jews, he let the news be reported to the captain. And he was escorted safely. We must be wise in our decision-making!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟡:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"Shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this."

Ezra humbles himself before the Lord in confession in contrite spirit. No complaints, no excuses, no debates.

He affirms God ought to punish them, to be angry with them, and whatever He does is righteous!

 

𝔼ℤℝ𝔸 𝟙𝟘:𝟜𝟜

"All these had married foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children."

The book of Ezra ended with a note of displeasure about the sins of Israel— their intermarriage.

Husband and Wife influence each other. And if they want to be devoted to God, they must marry someone who is also devoted to God. Or at least someone who worships Yahweh! It's wrong for a Christian to marry a non-Christian, like the sin of Israel’s intermarriage.

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Chronicles 23-36

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟞

"Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD'S people."

The people of Yahweh must live differently from others. They must live to please God and obey Him cheerfully. They must realize that they aren't God themselves but mere humans therefore they should submit to God and trust Him!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟜:𝟚𝟚

“Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, ‘May the LORD see and avenge!’”

What a tragedy! Joash began well and ended badly. May this be a lesson for those who started well to continue till the end.

Hmm! @_________ and @_________ who started well in updating must also continue. You want to be like Joash? 😬

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟝:𝟡

“Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD has much more to give you than this."”

A great passage to remember when you have spent a lot of time, money, or effort on a wrong thing. You don't need to think of those, for God has more than you have spent!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟠

"They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God.’"

We need some brave people like these guys who would confront the mightiest man of their land. Courage comes from strong conviction. And conviction comes from character. They knew the word of God, believed, obeyed, and prevailed upon Uzziah!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟟:𝟞

"So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God."

The history of Israelites written in the Bible reveals that God cares about how one lives his life, individually and collectively. The one who obeys God gets favor from the Lord, and the one who disobeys God gets hardship.

No neutral life, either a life lived for God or lived against God. If you aren't sure, it's the latter, because that's the default status of every man.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟡

"For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the LORD."

God shall not be mocked. When He is disobeyed, God shall humble him. God raised up kings, especially for the Israelites and Judeans so that the kings will show their reverence for God in an exemplary manner for the people to follow God.

Unfortunately, many kings were arrogant and ruled [lorded] over them.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊:𝟛𝟘

"Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped."

We do need to restore the love for Psalms. To memorize, to meditate upon it, to sing, to recite, and even to have a Bible study on it. Martin Luther studied Psalm before he instigated Reformation. Hezekiah's Reformation included the Psalms of David and Asaph!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟘:𝟟

"Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see."

Hezekiah’s Reformation or Revival. What a great message! Ought we not say this to the people of our time as well? The religion of our time is shallow, superficial, and found lacking.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟙:𝟚𝟙, 𝟙

"Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered."

This chapter begins and ends with words of commendation. The people repented and the kingdom prospered!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟚:𝟟-𝟠

"Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."

Leaders ought to lead like this. A good leader is one who points to God for strength and hope, of course, without abdicating his responsibility.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."

The story of Manasseh is a fascinating one. A son of a good, righteous king, turning out to be the most wicked king and reigning for a long, long time, and receiving repentance from God in his last days.

If Manasseh was granted repentance, anyone could be granted, keep praying for loved ones who are living in darkness and sin!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟜:𝟙𝟡

"When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes."

The word of God should pierce our hearts, whenever it is preached. Sometimes conviction, sometimes comfort. Confrontation and Exhortation!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟝:𝟚𝟝

"Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations."

The tragic death of Josiah was mourned and lamented by all, even by the prophet Jeremiah. But God let this happen for good! How was this good? It's not clear to us except that it's God who gives life and takes life. We aren't in control.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟛𝟞:𝟚𝟚

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia--in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah--the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying"

God does work sovereignly over everything. He stirred up the heart of kings. He let the donkey speak. And He even let the dried bones live.

That's why we can pray knowing who God is and what He does!

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Chronicles 10-22

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟠

"But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him."

People have this foolish tendency to ignore the advice of old people saying “it's outdated” and to listen to young people saying “they know the times better.” There's hardly any wisdom in inexperienced young people. "Wisdom comes with age" is still true! Be careful to weigh young people’s opinions against older people!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters)."

Like father, like son. Stupid. Trusting in alliances, not in God!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟜

"He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD."

Humans are sinners by birth, therefore everything they do will be sinful. Those whose aim is to seek God will overcome sin. Know God, know His words to overcome evil, sin, temptation, and the schemes of the deceitful world.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟟

"Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain."

The men of Judah were only 4 lakhs but they slew 5 lakhs people of Israel. They won miraculously. And what a bloodbath among God's people!

Now, if underground factions kill one another, remember, it's not unprecedented!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟚

"Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You."  So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled."

The fact that prayer is important and God is a lover of prayer and is an answering God is recorded even in this short account of King Asa's reign.

#Pray. #Prayer. #God.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟞

"He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah, and Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed it and burned it at the brook Kidron."

Not even her mother was spared. That's what people with strong determination do. Some did it for their selfish gain. Others like Asa did it for the truth, for the restoration of godliness in his kingdom, to bring back the worship of Yahweh!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟡

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

God looks out for those who would depend on God entirely. Not a half obedience. Not a half commitment. Not a semi-dependency. But like the three friends of Daniel, those who would even go to the furnace!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟛-𝟝

"The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David's earlier days and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor."

Again and again, the history of Israelites shows us obedience to the word of God brings peace and prosperity.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟟

“The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.’ But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say so.’”

We need some people around us to tell us "Let not you say such." It's not "Don't say" in a commanding way, but in a persuasive form, requesting from equal to equal or to superior. I myself have benefitted from people who have already cautioned me!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟙𝟡:𝟞-𝟟

“He said to the judges, ‘Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.’”

This is what's expected of a leader. This is what we must exhort the leader. This is what we must pray for them. That they will have the fear of God. They may not be Christians, but they must fear God.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟚

"O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

Hopefully, we have prayed like this, many times. Of course, not the physical war like this scale, but life is full of desperate moments!

This is realizing God is God and we aren't.

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟙:𝟚𝟘

"He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one's regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."

What a sad ending. Lost everything, even his health and honor in death! Even Jehu tried to give a fitting burial for the wicked Jezebel. But nobody wept for him. He wasn't liked by anyone!

 

𝟚 ℂℍℝ𝕆ℕ𝕀ℂ𝕃𝔼𝕊 𝟚𝟚:𝟜

"He did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction."

If you have friends, counselors, partners, who aren't righteous, you too will not be far from their lifestyle. Don't fool yourself by saying, "I can protect myself from their influence." Flee like Lot and his daughters from such company.