177th Week, Ezra Intro-Chapter 4 (Click o title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Ezra Introduction

Ezra Intro

Tanya Ruden

THOUGHT
This book is devoted to an event occurring in the land of Israel at the time of the return from the Babylonian captivity and subsequent years. The emphasis is on the rebuilding of the temple. The book can be divided into 3 “sections” — account of return of exiles, collection of historical documents illustrating the fortunes of the community, and record of the enterprise of the author of the book.

One thing I found interesting was that the notes say we will see the continuation of the Biblical theme of the “remnant”.  Whenever disaster or judgment falls, God always saves a time remnant for Himself (i.e. Noah and his family from the flood, Lot’s family in Sodom and Gomorrah). Here I think the remnant is the Israelites we studied about in the book of Numbers.

This book is a chronicle of “hope and restoration”. There is a great hope that our God is a God of forgiveness and a God who will not turn His back on us when we seek Him in repentance and brokenness.
 
PRAYER
Father God, You are the God of HOPE and without You we would live in such a “hopeless” despair.  It is so wonderful to wake up to You each day knowing that with You we have Hope for a better day and continual blessings. I pray You open our hearts to study Your Word as we delve into the book of Ezra, a book some of us know and love and a book some of us may have never read. May it speak to us in ways only You can do. AMEN

Tuesday, Ezra Chapter 1

Ezra 1

Verse 5

Tanya Ruden

Verse 5:  Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, everyone whose heart God had moved, prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

THOUGHT

I love how the Bible makes everything seem so much like a fairy tale.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are many times the Bible tells it like it is and covers very tough issues.  However, just like in the Gospel when Jesus was born, it says “she gave birth...” - like it was no big deal.  I mean it doesn’t go into the details of 8 hours of painful labor, etc.  Anyway, as I read this verse I thought the same thing.

Everyone whose heart was moved were going.  Do you really think it happened just like that?  Just like the husband said to his wife, “I feel moved to go build this temple.”, and she said, “I feel it too.”  He just left. Don’t you think there were doubts?  How will we pay the bills while you are gone?  When will I see you again?  Maybe he had some sadness when leaving his family, some hesitation and struggle with leaving his day-to-day norm to do something bigger and different.

I do believe we feel moved in our heart by God’s call, but I know I would be lying if I said when I heard the call it was easy to follow it.  May we be open to God’s call, listen to it, pray about it, and follow it in faith, knowing His plans are better than our mundane day-to-day worries and plans.

PRAYER

Dear God, move my heart.  Work in my life in such a way that You are glorified each and every day! Do not allow the world to cause me struggles in my heart. May my faith be strong enough so that I can distinguish Your call from the pressures of the world.  May I also support those around me who feel called by You when I think they are “crazy”.  Help me to surround them with prayer and support.  AMEN

Wednesday, Ezra Chapter 2

Ezra 2

Tanya Ruden

THOUGHT

There wasn’t a particular verse from this chapter that struck me to share, but I just wanted to talk about genealogy for a moment. My Bible footnotes talked about it being very important to prove you were a descendent of Abraham in order for you to call yourself a Jew.  It determined what role you had in the temple.  I have to confess that I am not into genealogy.

When we were in Florida, my mother-in-law’s cousin was very into it and has done a lot of research. She was sharing so many things she had found out. I realize history is an important part of life and is the source of much of our wisdom.  It is so much a part of who we are, and I do like to share with my kids the people I knew and family I have known.  I know mom and Jane often talk about their grandma, but it is hard for me to get excited about going farther back than that. I guess I just like to live in the present and enjoy the here and now. It is neat to see my kids look at old pictures of me or my parents.  They are finally getting to an age where they understand we do age, and we were once their age. It is hard sometimes to remember I was once younger with big hair and braces.

So, the point of my devotion is that I am glad I didn’t have to prove my genealogy in order to find my place in life, because I would still be out wandering around.  We need to treasure the memories of our history and share the important, funny, memorable moments with our family so they can treasure them in their hearts.  However, don’t get so caught up in remembering the past that you forget to enjoy the memorable moments of the present!

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank You for our history. Thank You for our genealogy that makes up so much of who we are. Help us to remember and share the memories of the past, but always enjoy the moments of the present with our families and friends. May we never forget that no matter where we came from You are our ultimate Father, the one we should always look to and remember. AMEN

Thursday, Ezra Chapter 3

Ezra 3

Verses 11-12

Tanya Ruden

Verses 11-12:  And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud.

THOUGHT

A couple of things struck me relating to this chapter.  The first was that the people had just built the foundation to the temple, which I gathered was a very difficult task, and the first thing they did was sing worship songs to God to praise Him for helping them complete this challenging task. No one bragged how wonderful it was, seeking praise or gratification for what they had done, but they realized it was work for God’s glory.

The second thing was how some people were rejoicing and others were crying. I am not sure how I feel about the people crying. I understand it is disappointing to think of what you had and what you have now if less.  This new temple does not seem to measure up to the former, but they are finally getting a new temple to praise in.  Is it the activity not the location that matters?  Does this make them seem like they are coveting or “liking” a physical place better than God? I don’t know. 

I guess it made me think of my home in Wichita and my move. I know many of you have heard me say that I loved my home in Wichita. But what good is a lovely home when you are too far away for anyone to come visit?  Was I coveting it more than I loved God? I would like to think I hadn’t gotten to that extreme, but I was beginning to worship an earthly item. That is what is so strange about finding a new home.  I have such an attitude of, ‘if it is meant to be, it will be’.  Whereas before I was thinking, ‘I have to have it’.

Sometimes the replacement isn’t bigger or better than the original, but it is still a gift from God that we must always cherish and never love more than God.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank You for always providing for our every need. I know sometimes we are “disappointed” by what You give us - that sinful human nature. May we always look past that to the praise we owe You for being our giving and providing Father. May we always have a thankful heart.  AMEN

Friday, Ezra Chapter 4

Ezra 4

Bart Strayer

THOUGHT

This chapter talked a lot about opposition. Opposition is one of those funny experiences. We all would agree that it is the challenging and opposing situations that help us to grow the most, yet we all hate to go through them. 

How many times have you all prayed for God to bring about difficulty for a good-old-fashioned growing experience? I don’t find myself praying that very much. Yet, it seems to find us.  God allows it because He always begins with the end in mind. He sees what opposition and a refining fire can do to our growth as a people. 

Personally, it is not difficulty that I have trouble with. I tend to have problems with how long opposition lasts and the depths that it goes. A little problem here and there and we all look up to the heavens and thank God for that growing opportunity. But then again, a month of straight opposition and the bottom is yet to be seen ... this is different. Little do we know the bottom isn’t for another 8 weeks.  Trust me, an options trader knows about this stuff. Opposition can turn to despair. Yet, never for a moment doubt how God can take a bad thing and turn it for good.

PRAYER

Father, we thank You that we can come to You and make our requests known. We know that You will never give us more than we can handle. Help us as we go through those ‘growing periods’. Give us the foresight to see Your working hand. In Jesus Name. AMEN