Prayer: Father, Only You are able to move the hearts of kings. Your servant is ready to learn. Open my eyes to new understanding and truth. Amen.
The Bible Project: Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Summary | Watch an Overview Video (bibleproject.com)
Reading: Ezra 1-2 key: vs.1:1-2 “Now in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Adonai from the mouth of Jeremiah, Adonai stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict, saying: “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: Adonai, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build a House for Him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” TLV
Attention: According to Wikipedia, “In 1948, following the 1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine, the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel sparked the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight from the land that the State of Israel came to control and subsequently led to waves of Jewish immigration from other parts of the Middle East.”
Much controversy exists today about the actions which took place in forming (or reforming) the nation of Israel. If we embrace the declaration of scripture when Adonai promised “I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob, and give it to you as an inheritance (Exodus 6:8),” then we agree with the reforming of the nation of Israel according to Adonai’s promise. Even at Adonai’s promise, Israel’s borders do not match the land given them in Genesis 15:18, “On that day Adonai cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River.”
We see the hand of God (Adonai) presuming upon the hearts of the heads of states and authoritarian bodies to form (reform) a nation of Israel upon God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as we see the influence upon three kings in Babylon.
It was the sovereignty of God to “use a Cyrus, an Artaxerxes, and a Darius to accomplish His purposes (The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).” Ezra played a critical role to the returning Hebrew exiles. He was a priest and scribe used of God to rebuild the Temple of God and reinstitute the Law of God (the Torah).
Action: I choose to embrace the sovereignty of God to move the hearts of kings.
Yield: I choose to submit to the sovereignty of God to move the hearts of kings.
Engage: I choose to engage with the sovereign God in moving the hearts of Presidents and kings.
Relationship: I choose of live in intimate relationship with the Sovereign God, Adonai.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your intimate involvement in history. It is Your story which You are writing. Amen.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 21:1 “A king’s heart is like a stream of water in the hand of Adonai; he directs it wherever He wants.” TLV
Music Video: Paul Wilbur—Let the Weight of Your Glory Fall https://youtu.be/hQ5J0zppfaI?si=MUIRsWNjKCePuo4V
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”