DAY 256 Read Ezra 4 through 6.
Today's reading: Years passed. King Cyrus died, enemies stopped the work, and the people's zeal flickered out. Then two prophets aroused the people, and a new king issued a second work permit. The temple was completed and dedicated.
Memory gem: "And with them were the prophets of God helping them" (Ezra 5:2).
Thought for today:
"Under the favor shown them by Cyrus, nearly fifty thousand of the children of the captivity had taken advantage of the decree permitting them to return. These, however, in comparison with the hundreds of thousands scattered throughout the provinces of Medo-Persia, were but a mere remnant. The great majority of the Israelites had chosen to remain in the land of their exile, rather than undergo the hardships of the return journey and the reestablishment of their desolated cities and homes.
"A score or more of years passed by, when a second decree quite as favorable as the first, was issued by Darius Hystaspes, the monarch then ruling. Thus did God in mercy provide another opportunity for the Jews in the Medo-Persian realm to return to the land of their fathers. The Lord foresaw the troublous times that were to follow during the reign of Xerxes--the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther--and He not only wrought a change of feeling in the hearts of men in authority, but also inspired Zechariah to plead with the exiles to return....
"It was still the Lord's purpose, as it had been from the beginning, that His people should be a praise in the earth, to the glory of His name. During the long years of their exile He had given them many opportunities to return to their allegiance to Him. Some had chosen to listen and to learn; some had found salvation in the midst of affliction."--Prophets and Kings, pp. 598. 599.
NOTE: Verses 6 through 23 of Ezra 4 present problems. The kings named here and the events narrated seem not to fit the natural sequence of the story. Space limitations in this book prohibit a discussion of the problems. Just assume that the story interrupted at the end of verse 5 resumes again with verse 24--that verses 6 through 23 describe later events which Ezra included here to round out all opposition encountered by the Jews.
Today's reading: Years passed. King Cyrus died, enemies stopped the work, and the people's zeal flickered out. Then two prophets aroused the people, and a new king issued a second work permit. The temple was completed and dedicated.
Memory gem: "And with them were the prophets of God helping them" (Ezra 5:2).
Thought for today:
"Under the favor shown them by Cyrus, nearly fifty thousand of the children of the captivity had taken advantage of the decree permitting them to return. These, however, in comparison with the hundreds of thousands scattered throughout the provinces of Medo-Persia, were but a mere remnant. The great majority of the Israelites had chosen to remain in the land of their exile, rather than undergo the hardships of the return journey and the reestablishment of their desolated cities and homes.
"A score or more of years passed by, when a second decree quite as favorable as the first, was issued by Darius Hystaspes, the monarch then ruling. Thus did God in mercy provide another opportunity for the Jews in the Medo-Persian realm to return to the land of their fathers. The Lord foresaw the troublous times that were to follow during the reign of Xerxes--the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther--and He not only wrought a change of feeling in the hearts of men in authority, but also inspired Zechariah to plead with the exiles to return....
"It was still the Lord's purpose, as it had been from the beginning, that His people should be a praise in the earth, to the glory of His name. During the long years of their exile He had given them many opportunities to return to their allegiance to Him. Some had chosen to listen and to learn; some had found salvation in the midst of affliction."--Prophets and Kings, pp. 598. 599.
NOTE: Verses 6 through 23 of Ezra 4 present problems. The kings named here and the events narrated seem not to fit the natural sequence of the story. Space limitations in this book prohibit a discussion of the problems. Just assume that the story interrupted at the end of verse 5 resumes again with verse 24--that verses 6 through 23 describe later events which Ezra included here to round out all opposition encountered by the Jews.
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