In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing.

— Ezra 1:1

… I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, for a light of the Gentiles.

— Isaiah 42:6

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

— Isaiah 49:6

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

— Psalm 103:10-12

22 Because of the great love of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

— Lamentations 3:22-23

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

Israel’s history presents a dramatic account of persistent human failures alongside God’s unrelenting grace. Called as His people and warned by His prophets, yet enticed by false gods, the splintered nation of Israel suffered God’s discipline, which was administered by conquering nations, Assyria and Babylon. God’s purpose had not changed despite their deportation to foreign lands. He wanted to shine His light to the world through His chosen people Israelites.

God declared His plans for Israel long before enemy nations gathered to destroy their cities and deport their people. God sent prophets to foretell He would stir a foreign king’s heart to send Israelites back to their ancestral homeland to live rightly as His covenant people after 70-year exile. God aligned the details to moved kings and people to accomplish His plans. God’s ultimate purpose extended beyond taking Israelites back to their ancestral land. He stirred their hearts to desire a spiritual renewal.