The Book of Ezra
Chapter 1
1. In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:2. "Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3. Any of those among you who are of his people-may their God be with them!-are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel-he is the God who is in Jerusalem; 4. and let all survivors in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem."
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verses 1 to 4)
Oh God this is what I call super "Good News" after such a long time of exile for the second time of their lives after that of Egypt, now came the day when they were given the opportunity of not only giving worship to You as the acknowledged God, but also the permission to build You a temple where they could offer You sacrifices of worship and free-will offerings as before. Amen
This is indeed a moment of celebration. If you have been experiencing a terminal illness, today maybe the day of your deliverance. Believe that this is the day for God can choose any day. He is the God of time and space. He has no form of conditioning. Therefore I pray that you join me in this song of deliverance as if You have been delivered. Sing this song as an act of faith and leave the rest to God. He can work miracles even today.
Song Come on and Celebrate
5. The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites-everyone whose spirit God had stirred-got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verse 5)
Oh God during our times You are still stirring the hearts of many to stand up and venture from their comfort zones in order to proclaim Your name and bring revival to a Church that needs a boost of energy to renew the faith. I thank You oh God for stirring up such people Amen.
6. All their neighbors aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered. 7. King Cyrus himself brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father without having to fight or even bargain, when the time was right according to the Master Plan of our salvation, You permitted the temple to be furnished. Moreover, goods that had been stolen as spoils of war were also returned with the least effort from its owner. Oh God, You are our fortress, You fight the battles of life on our behalf, without our even having to notice what is going on in the background praise be to Your Holy Name forever and ever Amen.
8. King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithreelath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 6. And this was the inventory: gold basins, thirty silver basins, one thousand knives, twenty-nine; 10. gold bowls, thirty other silver bowls, four hundred ten; other vessels, one thousand; 11. the total of the gold and silver vessels was five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verses 8 to 11)
Oh God my Father, You are so great and mighty! You did it again! As in the case of Your people when they were in exile in Egypt, You brought them out with Your mighty hand, and the Egyptians showered them with gifts of gold and if I recall well even of silver. And now many years after the book of Ezra refers to the second exile where again You remained faithful to us and the following items were given back to Your people. Oh God if You showed such mercy after two great episodes of great crisis as a result of our sins,You will surely keep on having mercy on us and helping us in our needs both as individuals and even as a world population Amen. If You had mercy on a golden bowl that was returned to its place, You will surely have mercy on us and we will be reunited together one day in Your presence in Heaven Amen. As in the case of the bowls, they did nothing for their salvation but was present until the appointed time, on the other hand we are to keep on living our daily lives and keep on believing in You Amen.
Oh God my Father I would also like to end this first chapter of the book of Ezra with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father, I am also like the golden bowl which ended up in the hands of Your enemies as spoils of war, especially during moments when I agree to participate in my sins and end up in the hands of my greatest enemy the evil one. However today You have encouraged me by Your loving mercy and as You had mercy on this bowl, that without having done nothing, worried or felt stress You will one day calmly and peacefully also return me and others Your cutlery to Your presence Amen.
5. The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites-everyone whose spirit God had stirred-got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verse 5)
Oh God during our times You are still stirring the hearts of many to stand up and venture from their comfort zones in order to proclaim Your name and bring revival to a Church that needs a boost of energy to renew the faith. I thank You oh God for stirring up such people Amen.
6. All their neighbors aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered. 7. King Cyrus himself brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father without having to fight or even bargain, when the time was right according to the Master Plan of our salvation, You permitted the temple to be furnished. Moreover, goods that had been stolen as spoils of war were also returned with the least effort from its owner. Oh God, You are our fortress, You fight the battles of life on our behalf, without our even having to notice what is going on in the background praise be to Your Holy Name forever and ever Amen.
8. King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithreelath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 6. And this was the inventory: gold basins, thirty silver basins, one thousand knives, twenty-nine; 10. gold bowls, thirty other silver bowls, four hundred ten; other vessels, one thousand; 11. the total of the gold and silver vessels was five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 1 verses 8 to 11)
Oh God my Father, You are so great and mighty! You did it again! As in the case of Your people when they were in exile in Egypt, You brought them out with Your mighty hand, and the Egyptians showered them with gifts of gold and if I recall well even of silver. And now many years after the book of Ezra refers to the second exile where again You remained faithful to us and the following items were given back to Your people. Oh God if You showed such mercy after two great episodes of great crisis as a result of our sins,You will surely keep on having mercy on us and helping us in our needs both as individuals and even as a world population Amen. If You had mercy on a golden bowl that was returned to its place, You will surely have mercy on us and we will be reunited together one day in Your presence in Heaven Amen. As in the case of the bowls, they did nothing for their salvation but was present until the appointed time, on the other hand we are to keep on living our daily lives and keep on believing in You Amen.
Oh God my Father I would also like to end this first chapter of the book of Ezra with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father, I am also like the golden bowl which ended up in the hands of Your enemies as spoils of war, especially during moments when I agree to participate in my sins and end up in the hands of my greatest enemy the evil one. However today You have encouraged me by Your loving mercy and as You had mercy on this bowl, that without having done nothing, worried or felt stress You will one day calmly and peacefully also return me and others Your cutlery to Your presence Amen.
