Nov 16, 2022
EZRA 1:
Before going to Ezra, I want to say that one
can do a whole lot of digging deeper in the last two chapters of
Daniel. History tells about those kings, and we know from what
Jesus said and what is written in Revelation, that God plans for
history to repeat itself. The main ‘take-away’ points are clear,
just as they are in Revelation: Blessed are those who endure and
live wise and holy lives.
It is a great time now to return to those three small remaining books of history remaining for us to read this year: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. These books allow us to see the fulfilment of prophecies we have read about. King Cyrus was one of the kings served by Daniel and alluded to in his prophetic visions. Now, in Ezra, we will read Cyrus’ proclamation, which is in accordance with Jeremiah’s prophecy about the 70 year duration of the exile in Babylonia. And we haven’t read it yet, but Isaiah specifically names Cyrus twice— writing about him some 150 to 200 years before Cyrus was born.
Ezra, a scribe and priest,
doesn’t start speaking about himself until chapter 7. Originally
the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were one book, and Jewish tradition
holds that Ezra wrote both of them. The dates of writing are
somewhere between 458 and 420 BC.
ISAIAH 29:
The
advantage of reading a meaning based translation like the GNT/NLT
is that you readers and listeners had the pleasure of understanding
the mocking of Isaiah (or God, in the NLT) by the people of Israel,
and Isaiah and God’s mocking response (28:7-13). Then in that
context, it is shocking to find the famous verses quoted in the New
Testament:
Is.
28:16 NLT Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD
says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in
Jerusalem,
a
firm and tested stone.
It
is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build
on.
Whoever believes need never be
shaken.
The New Testament quotes this verse three times. In all three, the last line has the object “believes in him” (Jesus) because Paul and Peter quoted from the Septuagint, the ancient translation of the OT into Greek.
2CORINTHIANS 10:
The
heart of what Paul was teaching about in chapter 9 about the
practice of Christian charity is this:
2Cor. 9:6 NLT 6 Remember this—a farmer who
plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who
plants generously will get a generous crop.
8
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always
have everything you need and plenty left over to share with
others.
15 Thank God for this gift too
wonderful for words!
Just like Philippians 4, it should never be forgotten that the promise of God providing (such as v.8) is found in the context of people who are already unselfishly supporting God’s work.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.