In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

— Ezra 1:1

God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

— Numbers 23:19

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

— 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

— Ephesians 2:13, 18

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

For 70 years, God’s people were scattered across the Babylonian Empire. They built homes, grew crops, and had children among the Babylonians. They lived alongside exiles from other nations.
Cyrus’s decree opened the door and provided the means for God’s people to return to Judah. God’s help came from a surprising source – outside His people. The Lord graciously cared for the needs of His people as He made a way for them to worship Him in the manner He prescribed. As God faithfully fulfills His promises, He meets His people’s need to live daily in His presence.

The end of Judah’s exile and opportunities for the returning exiles to reestablish life in Jerusalem confirm God’s faithfulness to His promises and His people. Through the leaders He calls and the circumstances He determines, God works to provide a way for His people to return to Him. He did that for Israel despite their failings. This reflects God’s heart for all people. God calls spiritually exiled humanity to return to Him through the atoning sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus. Ezra, committed to the Lord and His Word, overcame difficulties and complacency through prayer and steadfast obedience. God’s people still need leaders like Ezra today.