As We Walk

Ezra 8


Decree in hand, Israelites gathered, Ezra heads out to Jerusalem to fulfill God's call upon his life. They carry with them royal treasures that would be needed for their offering at the temple. Ezra 8, lists all the family heads who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem. Ezra led the people so cautiously to the House of God, it encourages me to depend on God like he did. Why here's why

Lessons

• God is able to bring the right people into our lives- (Ezra 8:18-20)Az Ezra left with the Israelites he had no Levites with him, so he sent a few people to get some attendants for the temple. About 258 people joined him from Casiphia. Here's what he testifies " v18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah's sons and brothers, 18 men;". God is able to send the right people in our way, as we make this journey towards fulfilling His plan in our lives.


• God is willing to guide, if we're willing to ask Him-At no time did Ezra think he could go about the work in his hands, on his own. He sought direction for every single step. "21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
  22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.
  23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer." I sometimes think, ok God knows, so I need not ask Him. Ezra knew God's hand was at work, he could have thought, God would take care, but he did not leave it at that. He went ahead and prayed with fasting. Later we read "31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way". Sometimes we tend to get complacent with God and forget to invite God into any new happenings in our lives, assuming God will do something. Sometimes, in His graciousness God does intervene, but it develops our relationship when we pray when we seek Him and invite Him into our lives, like we would a best friend.

Conclusion:Everything went well, the treasury stuff arrived safely. They arrived in Jerusalem safely. The royal satraps and governors of Trans-Euphrates assisted them as per the decree received from the king. God is able to make all things beautifully in our lives. I like the concept of inviting God to be at every new birth in our family, every new job we take, every new home we build, every new step we take towards fulfilling His call in our lives. Above all, who else would know the end from the beginning better than God Himself. Lets seek God to work in all areas of our life,no matter how trivial or important it may seem.He is able and He loves to be with us. Emmanuel.

Impactful Living

As I read through the Book I Ezra, I found Ezra hadn't been a part of the rebuilding of the temple. He was reserved for another purpose-to teach the law of God to the Israelites(Ezra 7:10). The king of Persia, was Artaxerxes then, about 60 yrs since the completion of the temple. One thing that impressed me about Ezra is-how the King of Persia had observed him. In the letter that Artaxerxes writes to commission Ezra to carry out God's law for Israel and Judah, the king had noticed some special characters of this man exiled in Babylon, Ezra.

• Ezra's faith -Ezra 7:12-"Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. ". This is a brilliant testimony to Ezra's God, a non-Jewish, non-Y-H worshipping king, acknowledging Ezra's God as the God of Heaven!!!
• Ezra's Trust-Ezra 7:13-22 Artaxerxes even decrees to give from the treasury everything Ezra needed to carry out the plan of the God of heaven whom he serves. Isn't that amazing, an Iranian king providing funds to the Israelites to fulfil God's desires.
• God's plan through Ezra-"Ezra 7:23 "Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons?" This verse amazes me to see that, the diligence in Ezra's heart to follow God, had shown the king how important it was to follow God's plan.
• Ezra's wisdom from God-"Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. " Imagine the king allowing Ezra, almost an administrative duty, of appointing offices as the need be for him. I don't think any king in his right mind would ever have given such an authority to anyone, yet this big role was handed to Ezra, for surely, I believe, the king had seen something special in the manner Ezra was conducting his ways for the Living God.

Lessons: It is possible for every believer to have this kind of a testimony before people who don't know God. The King was so impressed by the faith that shone through Ezra's living that he decreed that those who do not know must be taught the Law of God, Ezra's God. The key to such an impactful life is humble obedience to the Word of God

• The hand of the Lord was with Ezra in everything he did.(Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:9, Ezra 7:28,Ezra 8:18, Ezra 8:22,23, Ezra 8:31)
• Ezra never forgot to acknowledge the fact that he was able to do everything ONLY because the hand of the Lord was with him.

How could we see such results in our life?

By devoting ourselves in knowing our God, through His Word-Ezra 7:9-10" He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel" While studying about Ezra I found, Ezra was actually a priestly scribe of the Law of Moses. Scribe is a person who serves as a professional copyist, esp. one who made copies of manuscripts before the invention of printing. And usually their whole life was devoted to this task, of writing, copyring proofing etc. However Ezra was going beyond his work. He devoted himself to

1. Study the Law of God
2. Observe or Obey the Law of God
3. Teach the Law of God

Conclusion: We can have blessed and impactful lives, if we do what Ezra did. I am glad the Bible mentions the above things in that order. If we want the lives of people around us changed, we need to devote ourselves, 1st to study God's Word, this is the ONLY place we can find information on how to live a blessed life. 2nd to obey it ourselves and then 3rd to teach it to others. I believe the results will automatically will be visible to others, even if they don't know our God, they WILL KNOW through God's hand which begins to work in our lives, like God's hand worked on behalf of Ezra as he devoted himself to this cause.

Living out God's Calling on our Lives

Ezra 7
Background:Once the decree from Darius was received, ".. the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia."(Ezra 6:14). The Bible describes the priest Ezra under who's guidance everything happened. If we want to learn how God works through lives of His people, there are lessons we can learn from Ezra's life. What can we learn from a priest's life? Well the Word of God calles us a royal priesthood and we are encouraged to build our Lord's temple His body.

Lessons

1. Dedicated to the Word of God-"this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given." Also verse 9 and 10 say "the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."How well versed with the Word of God are we as the royal priesthood?
2. As we continue in obedience to God, God's hand provides-"The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him." I have heard earlier from many preachers, when God gives us an assignment, He gives us all the necessary equipment to complete it too. So God did with Ezra and all of us, who walk in obedience to God's will.
3. Knowing where our help comes from-"27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me." Ezra knew exactly where he had come from and how he had reached there. He was grounded on the fact that he had been able to accomplish all that he had, ONLY through God's hand that worked in his life. Many times ministries fail after a good long run, because the leader starts to think he did everything, he suffered for building the church and so on.

Conclusion: As Ezra lived in obedience through the Word of God, he saw God's hand working through him, he saw God's favour upon him, so also as we walk in obedience to our calling, we will see God's hand working in our lives and His divine favour resting on us. Let us therefore remember that the key to a fruitful life is not the extent of our ability but the extent of our dependence on God for the very existence of life.

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Legal Permission to Build God's Temple

Ezra 6
Background:Atleast 3 books are running in parallel to this book of Ezra that I read. The book of Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah. As the Israelites began their spiritual journey back to their God, with the rebuilding of the temple of their Living God under the leadership of 2 great leaders God has raised up for them, Ezra the priest and Nehemiah the governor, the enemies did not like the idea of Israelites rebuilding the temple of their God.

The Bible says "Ezra 4:4 "Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. [a] 5 They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia." The opposition worked, not only during the reign of King of Cyrus but through the reign of king Xerxes and Artaxerxes until King Darius arrived on the throne. Though the opposers might have thought they had brought to halt the work of God when Artaxerxes sent a decree refraining the Israelites from building the temple of God " Ezra 4:24 "Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia."

It might have seemed to the enemy they had won, when the work stopped, the Bible records "Ezra 5:5 "But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received. " So the Israelites continued to work with the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. This time, the governor of Trans-Euphrates , Tattenai's attention came upon the Israelites who were still working at the temple. He sent the right letter to King Darius, seeking, whether King Cyrus had really sent a decree to rebuild the temple of the Israelites' God. What happened after Tattenai's letter reached King Darius is so glorious, I think you should read it yourself , here.

Lessons

• Activate God's divine intervention through obedience to His Word-All this while, atleast for the past 400yrs or so the Israelites had been running away, in disobedience, from God and they saw defeat upon defeat till they lost the kingdom. As they started returning to God, God began to intervene and change their lives into a blessing. He changed the heart of King Cyrus to give them authority to build the temple and now He moved King Darius' heart to affirm the decree King Cyrus had given, with even more fervour. As we walk in obedience toward God, we get closer into God's intervention so that our lives may be transformed and God will not leave any stone unturned, in order for His good pleasing and perfect for our lives to be completed.
• Hurdles are not road blocks-When the Israelites started rebuilding the temple of God, their enemies discouraged them, defamed them even to bring their work to a halt for a time, but God kept watching His people and did not rest until the hurdle was overcome, until Darius' response had come(Ezra 5:5). When we are at God's work, in obedience to God, there will be many hurdles the enemy places in our paths to prevent us from running the race that is set before us. However God knows, He watches over us and will not rest until the solution for our situation has come to us.
• Legal Permission to Rebuild-It was God's desire to rebuild the temple of God for the Israelites, then. Even so for us, God desires for us to rebuild His body, His temple, us, the body of Christ. God desires ever so greatly that every soul be reunited to His body and we have a permission to rebuild. King Darius sent out a decree, saying no one should hinder the Israelites from working on the temple, infact the Israelites should be provided for their need from the national treasury, everything they need to rebuild the temple. Can you imagine that, Persia(Iran) paying Israelites to rebuild God's temple!!!
• When God's in the middle of the work, your provisions are taken care of- Darius declared Ezra 6:8"v8 The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop" God is able to provide for all the needs we might have during the rebuilding of His temple, from treasuries you never thought of.

Conclusion:Through this reading of Ezra 6 a great revelation dawned on me. We have a legal permission and calling to build the temple of the Living God. Jesus commanded Mark 16:15 "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Our King Lord Jesus has given out a decree Matthew 28:19-20 "19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." And all our needs, while we work, are met by the royal treasure, just as another builder of God's temple, wrote in his letter to us "Philippians 4:19"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Whatever be our need, spiritual, physical, financial, be it anything, our King Jesus is able to provide from His royal treasury, as we continue at our work for His Kingdom

Don't Let Opposition Discourage You

Ezra 4 & 5
These 2 chapters are exciting chapters from the Book of Ezra, it talks about the beginning of the rebuilding of the temple and immediate opposition to cut it off, but God had His eyes set on the elders and prophets right there to encourage His people, prophet Haggai and Zechariah. These chapters remind me of the Christian walk, though at times we might feel lonely, discouraged and everything else the enemy is willing to throw at as, even as you read this, I want to encourage you in remembering that our Lord Jesus is faithful and just in forgiving our sins and above all " 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,[b] God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[d] (Colossians 2:13-15). DON'T GIVE UP, continue building the temple of God, the Body of Christ.

Lessons

1. Know who you allow to build the temple of God with you-"1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." Spiritual discernment is a key to building your faith and relationship with the Lord. The Word of God says "Matthew 7:21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." The Israelites were building the temple in accordance with God's will in Ezra 1. What did these enemies have to do with the building??? The way to find out who's really helping is to check those people's lives, do they do God's work because they're being obedient or because they expect something in return, some gain...that check includes me too.
2. When you tell the enemy to take their hands off from the project God has given you, they go out to find ways to discourage you- "v4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. [a] 5 They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. In the Word of God, Lord Jesus compared His body to the temple and Lord Jesus also compares all believers to be the body of Christ, so God's temple=body of Christ and when we take on the project of rebuilding God's temple, in getting back God's children into the kingdom of God, be sure we'll find lots of opposition, spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and all other ways the enemy could possibly try to discourage us, because what you're doing is defeating their hold in your life.
3. The enemy begins the blame game-Ezra 4:6-24 records the ridiculous weave of conspiracy the enemies planned against the Israelites to somehow stop them from building God's temple. The placed accusations against Judah and Jerusalem. Why does this not surprise me? Its because we have an enemy, who knows if you're not getting discouraged, you can surely be falsely accused thats the enemy's works day and night to falsely accuse (Revelation 12:10). The Word of God says, we are righteous because of our Lord Jesus, but the enemy continues to say "Look God, that woman is a sinner, look God she has done this, he has done that" and Jesus our Saviour continues to intercede for us and says "They asked for my pardon, they are pure through my righteousness". Don't fall for the blame game.
4. Don't give up building, for God is watching over you and encourages you-" 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received. " I know when accusations build up, and the enemy is determined to put you down, it can be difficult to stand, but don't give in. God spoke through the prophets Haggai ("Haggai 1:13 "Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God" ) and Zechariah to encourage the people and they continued to build.

Conclusion: If you have embarked on a journey with the Lord Jesus, to rebuild God's temple, His body, then be sure of facing difficulties and discouragements, even accusations, but we have hope in this, that our God constantly watches over us as we continue in His work.

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:13-15)

Return to Love

After 400 years of pursuing and various kings leading them, to all disobedience, Israel now for the first time gathered together as a group of people belonging to God, with one motive in mind-the rebuilding of the temple of God, they proclaim

"11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD :

"He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD,

because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid."

I read here in Ezra 3:7-13 for the first time, the Israelites turning to God as one people and accepting God's love after how God pursued the Israelites with His love, to the point of moving the heart of the Persian king Cyrus. This day, finally, they acknowledged God's love for them.

Lesson

Our lives are like those of the Israelites, trying our best to run away from God, doing our own thing, even if it be wrong, even if it be dissatisfactory, even if it be disastrous, we want to have control of things we know not about. We think we know whats right for us, but we know not.

I thought I had my life in control, as in, I am a "strong believer" and everything. I thought, I know the Bible, I have talents and I know God's heart, what He wants and He will do exactly that. With that attitude, I was going great I thought, yeah I led church worship and everything, but I was becoming empty, losing my first love. Until one day, I fell face down, into a pit I had determined never ever to fall in. Self-righteousness- I thought myself better than others, but now I am glad I took this fall. I had almost formed a mentality, God moves at my words!!! Dangerous philosophy, God doesn't move at our words, He honours His word which He has already written, we are to conform to His Word. Remember my post on David, He did not ask God for making him a king and giving him riches and all the bling bling...God Himself in His good plan, decided to do that for David, because David loved God and obeyed Him.

At this time, when no one was there to care or to help me, one man stood, though not knowing much about the Word of God and everything. Christians came and said kind words to me and went on...but this man, he just stood by there silently beside me, would just sit with me and would say nothing...he accepted me just as I am...with my arrogance(the worst of which he had experienced himself, from me)..with my "holier than thou" attitude and everything, one big bundle of wasteful pride and everything else that comes with it. Then I realised my weakness and returned to God," God this time really have it Your way". Later I was to get married to that man who cared for me, when no one else did and it was and still is real joy.

I know now, how wonderful the day might have been when Israel for the first time in 400yrs turned around to the Living God, Who had been following them with His love in His heart, every single day they were out there, doing their own thing. More so, Jesus our Saviour continues to wait by our doors, knocking at our hearts, hoping someday we will return to His love and what a glorious day that will be. Surely better is one day at God's door, than thousands elsewhere. Israelites came to know, that those 400 yrs they lived elsewhere, with people they thought they could get some appreciation from, cared nothing. Until God intervened and finally Israelites saw, God's love for them.

That day in Jerusalem, there was a great shout of victory as the Israelites made an effort to rebuild the broken temple of their God, a beginning of a new relationship, laying of a new foundation. Ezra 3:12 says "12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away."

This reminds me of another shout of victory of rejoicing, with tears of joy, that reveberates through the heavens everytime, that child, that child whom God had been pursuing with His heart full of love, turns around and faces God and accepts and returns to His love.

Luke 15:10"In the same way, I tell you,

there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents."

Conclusion

Return to His love, you broken heart

You will not find love so blessed

For only God can satisfy

No matter how much you're messed

Return to Love, the One true Love

whom others tend to fake

His love can change from inside out

It will never be a mistake

He holds His arms open wide

hoping for your retreat

He waits for you through day and night

When will His love, He meet

Make today the day, of sweet return

throw away those fake nothings

He waits, He longs to see your love for Him

and turn you into a blessing.

-by Godzheart

Don't be afraid to shine in these dark times

Ezra 3
I found a verse which touched me, in the reading of Ezra 3. The Israelites, now back in their own towns through God's move in Cyrus' heart and they are in the process of reconnecting with their God. The same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,Who had called them His own.This verse moved my heart and searched my soul. Well isn't that, what the Word of God does for us. Hebrews 4:12"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart"

Ezra v3 reads "3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices. 4 Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day."- I wonder why the Israelites were afraid of the people around them. They were back where they were meant to be, Jerusalem and their own places. Of course, they themselves, in their disobedience had mingled with the outsiders and now the outsiders are watching them. Were they afraid, they're seen, worshipping God, finally. Or were they feeling foolish, doing something they had not done for quite some time now-worshipping the One True Living God?

My pondering upon the Israelite's life at this current juncture ushered me into my life and I thought-

• Everyone wants to be like everyone else-Aren't we afraid to show our faith sometimes, because that might jeopardise our popularity with the people around? Aren't we afraid people might be seeing us pray blessings on our food, when in a restaurant? Are we afraid of being identified with the people walking on the narrow-road? Aren't we afraid of being called "narrow-minded" people just because, the others are in a bar and we don't want to go. Aren't we called or looked on as someone foolish, just because we didn't take the short cut to clearing an exam and landed up a job a year or 2 later than the others.
• The flip side of not being like everyone else, but being your unique self, the way God made you-I realised sometimes, knowingly or unknowingly I have done that, I have been afraid to show my faith, but then I cannot deny the times, when I have displayed my faith, like Peter-walked on water and have seen my God work that for a miracle in someone's life. Yeah it did seem foolish at the time, but when it was over, when I had conquered the fear of being called a "weirdo" and went ahead and prayed, or done that act of faith anyway, I saw God step in and take over. I sometimes imagine God saying "Ok, back off , you heard what my child just said. She's not going with you." Then He takes over the battle.
• God wants to identify with us-God likes us the way we are, thats why we are the way we are, and He loves us just that way and wants to identify with us, whatever we are, knowing what we are capable of becoming under His guidance. Then why are we reluctant to walk on our calling in little tasks that we do, daily? Our God wants to identify with us, why are we afraid of letting everyone know, what a wonderful Person our God is?

Conclusion: Jesus said"John 15:15 "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Isn't that our calling, to be unafraid and be bold to shine out for our Father in Heaven. Imagine if the Christians, after Jesus' crucifixion had gone scared and not preached, thinking people might think they're lunatics!!! They didn't, infact they were willing to lay down their lives, their prides, in order to boldly proclaim, "Jesus is the Only risen Lord". They died preaching. What am I doing?

Therefore I encourage you and myself "1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

No Situation Is Ever too Difficult for my God

Background:God does know to work in ways we'd never know. I am getting dreary just reading about how the Israelites kept turning away from God and how God continues to pursue them and give them that glorious inheritance that He has for them. To the point now in Ezra, a foreign king's heart is moved to lead the Israelites back to their land.The book of Ezra comes at a very important time for Israel. Here is where a priest named Ezra and a governor named Nehemiah, rebuild the temple of the Living God at Jerusalem. After Israel had been exiled from Jerusalem and Samaria by the babylonians(including Daniel the prophet), this was the first time another country, Persia(Iran) comes into power and they capture babylon and release the Israelites back to Jerusalem, under the reign of Cyprus.

Lessons -Ezra chapters 1&2 So how does one return to a God, they had once known, they had backslidden and moved away? Also knowing that this God has been running after them to love them and call them His own. Here it is.

1. Every one returned to their own place-"1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town," God had a plan for mankind when he created us, in his own image. To commune with Him, walk with Him in the evenings at the end of the day and enjoy living. When man lost that with sin and obedience, he lost his original place. Let us return to our own place, a place of rest with the Lord, much needed walk with the Lord in the cool breeze of His Word and His presence.


2. Rebuild the altar-Before anything else, the Israelites gathered together in one group as one man, from all their tribes and rebuild the altar first. Altar signifies a place of sacrifice of the burning up of sin bearing animals. In the altar of our heart too, there will be a lot of sins that need to be burned down and as the blood of our Lord Jesus cleanses us from those sins, as our Lord Jesus, our lamb for our sins is sacrificed, the pleasant aroma reaches our Father in heaven. The aroma of a surrendered heart accepting Jesus as their Lord, ready to do His will.


3. Rebuild the temple-10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. The word of God teaches us, we are the temple of the Living God. Unless the inside be cleaned the temple cannot be rebuilt on dirty ground. The Israelites moved on from altar to the rebuilding of the temple. Rebuilding of the temple is not quite as building a fresh one. Yet there is much rejoicing in heaven (I think) even over every sould that returns to the Lord and starts rebuilding the temple of God, themselves, in the knowledge of God's truth.

Conclusion:If we have been looking for an answer for our lives, which has meandered into the world, through worry, through bad decisions and the likes, God has planned a way out, a way back to our inheritance.Do you wanna take it? God can make a way through people you had never imagined could be potential tools in God's hand. I could have never thought of Persia(now Iran) being one of the nations, who's king would make such a decision so as to gather all God's people to do God's work. Well here it is, though highly unlikely in our terms of understanding. But wait a minute, isn't that the way God thinks. He can make possible the impossible. His ways are always higher than our ways and His thoughts are always higher than our thoughts....I'd say yippee to that. I know, I don't know any way out of my situation other than what is obvious before me and not right, but I also know I have a God who is able to make a way for me where there seems to be no way. He can make the Persian king change his mind!!!