So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

— 2 Chronicles 36:21

But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation.

— Jeremiah 25:12

2a “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘…

3 Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

— Ezra 1:2a, 3

2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.

— Micah 5:2, 4

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Through the Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, God spoke amazing promises of restoration to His exiled wayward people – Israel. When Israel’s 70-year exile ended and their God-ordained return to their homeland took place, the Israel exiles who returned faced physical obstacles in their quest to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, but they also needed spiritual restoration to turn their wayward hearts back to God. God raised more prophets and Law teachers to deal with them and turn their hearts back.

Eventually Israel’s return to their land closed out the Old Testament, and began the fulfillment of many prophecies and God’s promises of the coming and return of our Savior. Israel’s exile exalted God, but so would their restoration. Ultimately, the history of the returned Israel leads to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and God’s own Son. When God fulfills His promises, He declares to the world, “I am the Lord.” Only God can orchestrate the future to broadcast His glory.