Wed.’s Devo - Cyrus’ Decree -

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23

One of the first things Cyrus did the year he became the king of Persia was to make a proclamation that God had charged him to rebuild the temple to him in Jerusalem. He asked for any volunteers of the Israelites who wanted to go do this. 

Cyrus brought out all the things that had been taken from Solomon’s temple and put them in Mithrdath’s care. It was over 6,000 gold and silver vessels. They would all be taken with the volunteers to put in the new temple. 

Fifty thousand Israelites responded and went. Of them were Levites, temple servants, sons of Solomon’s servants, heads of families, and some whose genealogy couldn’t be proved. Their families had not been recorded in the genealogies so they were excluded from being priests until they could get a priest to consult with the Urim and Thummim. 

They settled in their own towns in Israel. It had bee 70 years since Israel had gone into captivity and now the words of the prophets were coming to pass.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he begins by saying that the cross of Christ has no affect to the unbeliever but it is the power of God to save the believer. He contrasts what the world thinks is wisdom and what God thinks is wise. Jesus was a stumbling block to the ones who thought they were wise. Those people required proof, but Paul preached that Christ crucified. It sounded foolish and weak to the unbeliever, but was actually wise and stronger than anything they had to offer. 

Paul pointed out that most of those in the church were not what the world would call wise, prosperous or of nobility, but God chose them to shame the ones who were wise, prosperous and of nobility. 

Paul was an example of the weakness of God. He walked in humility and fear but could demonstrate God’s power which was much more powerful than the wisdom of man. 

If we know Christ then his wisdom is in us and we do not need to ever be intimidated by the world. We have the power of God, the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the written promises of God. 

Lord, may we walk in humble confidence knowing that no one can stand against You and You are in us. Our confidence and our hope is in you alone. May we walk in your wisdom and grace and may our lives be a living testimony of who you are.