The Book of Ezra
Chapter
2
1. Now these were the people of the province who came from those captive exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, all to their own towns. 2. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the Israelite people: 3. the descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. 5. Of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 2 verses 1 to 5)
Oh God, my Father I thank You for keeping Your Word throughout the years and to this day. As You kept Your promise with the chosen people of Israel You will keep Your promise with us. I pray that You have mercy on us and welcome us with outstretched arms when we also enter the promised land that is our heavenly home Amen. May we all be worthy to enter according to Your mercy and love and not according to our acts which are not always according to Your will. Amen.
6. Of Pahath-moab, namely the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
(The Book of Ezra Chapter 2 verse 6)
Oh God my Father even though all the people were given the opportunity to return back to Jerusalem and start a new life in Your presence, not all accepted the offer as referred to in the long list of verses following which lead us to the end of this chapter. Even though we are called to be saved not all of us accept You and Your Salvation. Amen.
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. 8. King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9. 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 2 verses 7 to 11)
Oh God, my Father all praise and worship be given to You! You did it again! You stripped the riches of Babylon and restored what was of Your people back to its place in the temple. Moreover, You also restored those of the exiles who wanted to return back home to Jerusalem. However what is more extraordinary is that You make slaves or servants of powerful people such as King Cyrus, who became so humble as to personally bring out the vessels that were previously used in the temple.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father You are an awesome God, You humble the proud and empower the humble. You are able to humble those forces that are keeping us away from You, such as bad habits, lust, compulsions and maybe other forms of blockages such as addictions. Put Your trust in God my brothers and sisters for God is the God of all. He is able to work miracles in our lives if we humble ourselves and give Him the go ahead to be present and active in our lives Amen. The choice is ours and what are we going to respond today? I leave that for each of us to answer in the presence of God Amen.
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. 8. King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9. 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 2 verses 7 to 11)
Oh God, my Father all praise and worship be given to You! You did it again! You stripped the riches of Babylon and restored what was of Your people back to its place in the temple. Moreover, You also restored those of the exiles who wanted to return back home to Jerusalem. However what is more extraordinary is that You make slaves or servants of powerful people such as King Cyrus, who became so humble as to personally bring out the vessels that were previously used in the temple.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father You are an awesome God, You humble the proud and empower the humble. You are able to humble those forces that are keeping us away from You, such as bad habits, lust, compulsions and maybe other forms of blockages such as addictions. Put Your trust in God my brothers and sisters for God is the God of all. He is able to work miracles in our lives if we humble ourselves and give Him the go ahead to be present and active in our lives Amen. The choice is ours and what are we going to respond today? I leave that for each of us to answer in the presence of God Amen.
