Sun.’s Devo - Finishing the Temple

Read: Ezra 4:24-6:22; 1 Corinthians 3:5-23; Psalm 29:1-11; Proverbs 20:26-27 The work on the Temple had stopped for years. During the second year of Darius’ reign the prophets of Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem and they told them that God was with them and to start building the Temple again. The governor of the province, Tattenai came to Jerusalem to ask them who gave them permission to rebuild the Temple and restore worship. They responded that they were servants of God who had told Cyrus to decree that it should be rebuilt. He had returned the gold and silver cups which Babylon had taken from the first Temple. They were given them to bring back to the new Temple. The governor asked the king to search his archives and see if this was indeed true. King Darius read the letter and had his men look in the archives for the decree. They found it and it gave the dimensions of the Temple to be rebuilt, its three layers and how the expenses were to be paid out of the royal treasury. Darius instructed Tattenai to stay away from they construction and let them rebuild. He was also to help the elders of the Jesus rebuild it by paying for the construction costs from the taxes collected. They were also to provide all the animals they needed for sacrificing and to ask them to pray for the welfare of the king and his sons. If anyone disobeyed his request would be impaled on a beam and their house reduce to a pile of rubble. The Jews were very encouraged by this and continued building until it was finished in time to celebrate Passover. There was great joy in the land. In Corinth, the people had been arguing over which teacher they sat under and baptized them. Paul told them it didn’t matter who their leader was because they were all subject to Jesus. He was the one they should put their hope in and exalt. All of God’s servants do their part in the kingdom. Jesus has to be the foundation of every work or it will not last. Any work founded on a man will fall. Lord, may your rebuild your Temple on the earth and in our own hearts. Jesus, we follow you.

Sat.’s Devo -Rebuilding the Temple

Read: Ezra 3:1-4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4; Psalm 28:1-9; Proverbs 20:24-25 The Jews who resettled in Israel met to discuss their mission of rebuilding the Temple. The priests Jeshua and Zerubbabel wanted to rebuild the altar even though they were afraid of the people in the region who were not Jews. They did rebuild it and began sacrificing the daily offerings and celebration the feasts as Moses had prescribed. The first feast was the Feast of Tabernacle which was so applicable since they were rebuilding the tabernacle of the Lord. They had logs floated down from Tyre to build the Temple just as David had done. They hired stone masons from Tyre and Sidon just as David had. They began construction around the Feast of Passover and all the priests helped in the project. It was supervised by Jeshua and his family. When they had built the foundation they sounded the trumpets just as David had done. They praised the Lord and sang, “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” The people rejoiced and the sound of praise could be heard over the sound of crying of the people who remembered the first Temple. This was nothing compared to its greatness. The enemies of Israel tried to join them so they could stop their work but were not allowed to help. Instead the did everything they knew to frustrate their building. They continued their badgering through the reign of Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, and finally Artexerxes. During the latter reign, the enemies led by Bishlam. Mithredath, and Tabeel sent a letter to Araxerxes in their language. It implored him to look into the history of Jerusalem and see that it has bee a city of much rebellion and trouble. If it continued to be rebuilt, the people would rebel against the king and he would lose his power over that region of the world. So Artaxerxes agree and sent a letter back telling them to stop the work. So the work was stopped for a time. In Corinthians, Paul explained the difference between the world’s way of thinking and the spirit’s way of thinking. The world will never be able to comprehend the way of the Lord because they have not been given eyes to see into that realm. But we as Christians have. Our way looks foolish to them because they cannot comprehend it. We have been given the mind of Christ so we can think like God thinks if we tune in to the Spirit. In Corinthians, they were living like the world and being jealous of one another and quarreling among themselves. He told them that this was not how people filled with the Spirit of God act. Lord, may we be filled with your Spirit and not be afraid to stand up for You. May we live in harmony and not be jealous or envious. May we walk in the mind of Christ.

Fri.’s Devo - God Always Fulfills His Word

Read: Ezra 1:1-2:70; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 20:22-23 God put it on Cyrus’s heart to build a Temple to God. This had been prophesied by Jeremiah. In Cyrus’s proclamation he told any Jew that he had permission to go back and rebuild the Temple. Their neighbors should give them silver and gold and supplies for their journey. Sounds just like what happened when they left Egypt. King Cyrus took things out of his treasury that had been taken from the Temple 70 years ago and gave it to them to replace in the new Temple. There were 5,400 articles in all. A list was given of all the people who chose to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. You will recognize Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, Mordecai and maybe others. Some of the people could not be found in the registry of the priests and were held for further proof. A total of 42,360 people returned with their servants and singers. They brought horses, mules, camels and donkey. They brought gifts of 61,000 gold coins, 62,50 pounds of silver and 100 robes for the priests. The people settled in villages near Jerusalem or in their own towns throughout Israel. I wonder is they knew what a great deal this was. God was fulfilling his word. In Romans, Paul explains that the cross is foolishness to those who are destined for destruction, but the power of God to those who are the children of God. Isaiah said that God would destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. God made is so that the world would never know him through their own wisdom. The way of the cross is offensive to the Jews and foolishness to the world. But to those who are called by God to be saved, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. God uses simple people in his Kingdom to confound the wise of the world. God made Jesus to be wisdom and made us righteous, through Christ. Our boast can only be in the Lord. Lord, thank you for your power and strength. We wait on you to handle all our matters.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Fall of Jerusalem

Read: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21 Whenever a king came to the throne who wanted to return the nation to the Lord, they began with Passover. Passover stood for salvation from sin. Since the Temple had been profaned, the priests who stayed true to the Lord had carried the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders to the place of worship. Now, Josiah told them to bring it permanently into the Holy of Holies. The priests no longer needed to have other jobs to provide for their families but could now do their priestly duties full time. The priests were assigned their own distict to help the families bring their offerings to the Lord and sacrifice their lambs on Passover. The king and his officials gave their animals then the Levite leaders gave theirs. They began sacrificing all the offerings and brought the lambs out for their people in their district to eat. At the end of the day, the Levites and priests ate their lambs. In all, they sacrificed 41,400 animals that day. The blood of the lambs was sprinkled on the altar to atone for their sins. There was music and praise and worship. There had never been a Passover like the one Josiah had. They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Unleavened Bread stood for the sanctification process we go through once we are saved. The great Passover celebration took place in Josiah’s 18th reign. When we experience a great high in our walk with the Lord, Satan always comes to take away our progress. He came to Josiah in the form of King Neco of Egypt. He marched toward Judah and Josiah thought he was coming for them so he marched his army out to meet him. King Neco sent a message telling him that he was not coming for him but he was going to fight another nation. God had told him to hurry and fight this other nation. Josiah refused to believe him even though he was telling the truth and Josiah engaged him in battle in the valley of Megiddo. This will be where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought. Josiah was badly wounded and went home to die. The people of the land made his son Jehoahaz the king. He was 23 and only reigned three months. He was taken prisoner by Neco and ordered Judah to pay him in silver and gold as tribute. Neco installed Eliakim, Jehoahaz’s brother as the king and took Jehoahaz back to Egypt. Jehoakim was evil and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and captured Jerusalem and took Jehoakim to Babylon. So one of Josiah’s sons was captive in Egypt and the other in Babylon. They also took some of the treasures from the Temple of God to Babylon. Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin became king of Judah. He only reigned 3 months and 10 days and he did evil. Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon with his father and other treausures from the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar installed Jedikiah, Jehoiakim’s brother as king. He reigned 11 years but was evil and stubborn. He refused to listen to Jeremiah, the prophet and so did the people. The priests and the people also became more and more unfaithful. God turned Judah over to the king of Babylon who killed their young men and had no pity on the people. They profaned the holy vessels from the Temple and used them in their pagan worship. They took many people as exiles to Babylon. At last, the land enjoyed its Sabbath rests. Jeremiah had prophesied all this. In the first year that king Cyrus of Persia came to power, the Lord put in his heart to build a Temple in Jerusalem to God. He put it in writing and sent it throughout his kingdom. Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth reminding them of who they were in Christ and all the things that were theirs because of Jesus. He encouraged them to live in harmony with one onshore and be united in purpose. I pray this same thing for the Body of Christ in the world. Thank you that you always do what you say you will do.

Wed.’s Devo - Josiah’s Reform

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:14-34:33; Romans 16:10-27; Psalms 26:1-12; Proverbs 20:19 Manasseh began cleansing the land when he repented. He took out the idol from the Temple and rebuilt the altar to the Lord and sacrificed on it. He took away all the altars he had built in Jerusalem and cast them out of the city. The people continued to sacrifice on the high places to other gods. When Manasseh died, his son Amon became king. He was evil and sacrificed to all the carved images which his father had made. He continued in sin until his servants killed him in his own home. The people of the land rose up and killed all his assassins and made his son Josiah the king. Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He followed after David and did what was right. At the age of 16, he began to seek the Lord. At 20, he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem of all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles and carved idols and images. He had the altar of Baal demolished and the incense altars taken down. He scattered the dust of the images over the graves of those who worshipped them. At 26, Josiah appointed Shaphan, Maaseiah, and Joah to repair the house of the Lord who was his god. They took the tithe money and began reconstructing the Temple and getting it back into working condition. While they were repairing the Temple, they found a copy of the law. When Josiah heard the words of the law he rent his clothes because Judah had been guilty of so much sin. Josiah realized that they had made God very angry by the way they had lived. He asked his men to go and pray for the land and to go to Hilkiah the prophetess and see if she had a word for them. She told them to tell Josiah that God was angry because Judah had forsaken him. Because Josiah’s heart was tender, he would not live to see the disaster that would fall on Judah and Jerusalem. Josiah made a covenant with the Lord to serve him with all he heart, soul and deeds. He made all who were present join him. He took away all the abominations from the country and made all serve the Lord. They stayed true to the Lord as long as Josiah lived. In Romans, Paul continues his list of the men and women he served along side of, praising them for their lives. Then he gives us a warning to stay away from people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things not in the heart of God. They are serving themselves and not God, so they use smooth convincing words to deceive the innocent people. All glory to you, Lord because it is you who make us strong. You are the only wise God and you will soon crush Satan under you feet.

Tues.’s Devo - The All-Powerful God

Read: 2 Chronicles 32: 1-33:13; Romans 15:23-16:9; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 20:16-18 King Sennacherib of Assyria came to invade Judah. They conquered the towns on the way to Jerusalem. Hezekiah fortified Jerusalem preparing the wall and building another wall around it. He cut off the flow of water so the Assyrian army would have no water for their horses and themselves. Hezekiah encouraged his men that their army might be large, but they were mere humans. When the Assyrians got there they used intimidation and mockery. They taunted that no other nation was able to stand against them ever, so why would they think they could defeat them. They taunted God as if he was a mere statue made of wood. King Hezekiah cried out to the Lord in prayer and God sent an angel who destroyed the whole Assyrian army. Sennacherib went home disgraced and was killed by his own sons in temple to his god. God showed himself strong for Hezekiah. His fame caused him to became proud. Hezekiah became deathly ill and cried out again to the Lord. God healed him but he did not respond appropriately to the kindness of the Lord. He died 15 years later and his son Manasseh became king. He was only 12 and must have had terrible advisors. He rebuilt all the high places that his father had torn down. He reinstitute the worship of Baal and Asherah. He totally abandoned the Lord and was more evil than any king before him. God sent many prophets to warn him to repent but he refused to turn. Finally God sent the Assyrian army. They put a ring through his nose and bound him in chains and led him to Bablyon. There he repented and God brought him back to Jerusalem. In Romans, Paul is not afraid to talk about money. He tells the Roman church that they need to pay for his journey there. Then he talks about the believers at the church at Macedonia and Achaia. They are very poor but they took up an offering for the church at Jerusalem because they felt they owed them a debt for sending them Paul with the Good News. Paul asks for prayer for safety for himself because of the enemies of the truth in Judah. He also wants prayer that the church in Jerusalem would accept the gift he was bringing them from the other churches. He was sending a group ahead of himself and he names them by name and tells them about each of them so they will honor them and see them as a treasure. Lord, thank you that you sent the Good News to us and you see us as a treasure. Thank you that we don’t have to worry about the enemies we face because your army can defeat them with one angel.

Mon.’s Devo - Return to the Lord

Read: 2 Chronicles 30:1-1:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Provers 20:13-15 King Hezekiah sent word through all Israel and Judah inviting everyone to come to the Temple to celebrate Passover. Since the Temple had not been in operation for years the priests had had to find other employment to put food on their tables. They also had to go through the process of being sanctified to serve in the Temple which would take some time so Hezekiah put off the celebration of Passover one month. Many priests took part in the purification process and were able to serve. The people also had to get themselves pure. In his invitation, Hezekiah implored the people to return to the Lord and worship him. Many people laughed at the invitation, but many humbled themselves and came. When they came to Jerusalem, they removed all the pagan altars from Jerusalem which were on every street corner and took away all the incense altars and threw them in the Kidron Valley. Many of the people came with lambs but they hadn’t purified themselves. Hezekiah prayed form them to be pardoned and let them eat anyway. The Lord heard his prayer and healed the people so they were clean. They had a joyous celebration and the Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted for seven days so they all stayed and worshiped, sang and ate together. The king gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7000 sheep and goats for offerings so everyone had something to give. The officials gave 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. It was a huge party. When it was over, the people who attended went to other towns and cut down their Asherah poles and removed the pagan shrines and altars. Hezekiah organized the priests so they could take their turns in seeing in the Temple. The people responded by giving so many offerings to the Temple that the priests were able to be eat and have much left over. Hezekiah ordered a storeroom to be opened in the Temple to put the extra tithes the people brought so the priests would always be taken care of. Hezekiah sought the Lord with all his heart so he was very successful. In Romans, Paul gave them instructions to love one another and to get along with peace. He prayed for patience and encouragement to help them live together in harmony and to live a life of praise and one that gave glory to God. Lord, may we live in love and may our lives give you glory. May our nation return to the Lord as Hezekiah’s did.