Today’s Chapters: II Chronicles 36-Ezra 4
Pete’s Thoughts:
II Chronicles 36
The last chapter of II Chronicles has the people of Judah being killed or led off into captivity. The encouraging fact about the captivity is that Jeremiah had already proclaimed that it would only be for 70 years so the land could keep the Sabbaths that the nation never observed. The end of the book sets the foundation for the book of Ezra to open. Cyrus has just be told by God to build a temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1
It is important to be reminded that when God promises, He always fulfills. He promised the captivity would only be for 70 years. What do we find occurring at the end of those 70 years? God stirring the heart of Cyrus to send the Jews back to Jerusalem to build a temple and worship the Lord.
Ezra 2
This was a large group that was heading back to Israel, as you can read in this chapter. Just shy of 50,000 people were returning. This was no small band of refugees trying to ilk out an existence by sheer luck. These were the people of God freely returning from their captivity.
Ezra 3
What a wonder it must have been to see the temple being rebuilt after 70 years of desolation. It must have brought tears to the people’s eyes to hear the praises of God being sung once more by grateful hearts.
Ezra 4
When ever we attempt to make great strides for God, there will always be opposition. It is the way in which we respond to this opposition that defines our character.
