Wed.’s Devo - God’s Story

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:8-14; Proverbs 20:22-24 King Cyrus was the king of Persia and pretty much ruled the world and all the kingdoms. Jeremiah had prophesied that God would cause those in captivity to return (Jeremiah 33) and it was now time for this to happen. Cyrus, a pagan king proclaimed that God had given him all the kingdoms of the earth and appointed him to build a Temple at Jerusalem for Him. Any of his people were invited to return to rebuild this Temple. He encouraged people who knew them to contribute to the rebuilding of the Temple. God stirred the hearts of Jews everywhere to return to their homeland and rebuild and settle in Jerusalem. King Cyrus took all the vessels that his predessessors had stolen from the original temple. They took these with them. A list was made of all who returned and who the leaders were. Nehemiah and Mordecai were mentioned with the leaders. A total of 49,897 people returned with many animals. They also were given an abundance of gold and silver and robes for the priests. The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Temple servants and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem and the rest went back to their inheritance where they had come from. Paul’s letter in Corinthians is like music to my ears. In this world where it looks like the world’s wisdom and inventions are about to take over the world it is nice to know that God calls their wisdom foolishness. They call our faith foolishness. We have the wisdom of God, the mind of Christ and the Word of God. We are the kings and priests and rulers of the world and when we realize it, we will overcome. We need a renewing of our minds. Lord, help us to see through your eyes and not the rhetoric of the world. Let us hear your narrative and walk in it.