Let Him Go (Ezra 1:3)

 


Wednesday, October 2, 2024


Psalm 77

Ezra 1

Colossians 1:21-29


Let Him Go (Ezra 1:3)


A few weeks ago we ended the books of Chronicles and moved through some more of the minor prophets. Now we return to pick up where we left off; Chronicles ended with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, but hinted at a future ruler who would restore the holy city. Babylon now is no more; the Persian empire is in ascendance, and their king, Cyrus, has reversed certain Babylonian policies as regards religious freedom. Where the Babylonians (and the Assyrians before them) would ransack the temples of local deities and carry off anything not nailed down, the Persians tried out something novel: they would let the locals worship their own gods. As we read, this is all because God has turned the heart of Cyrus – indeed, God planned for Cyrus to rule this way before Cyrus was even born (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1) – and it is the means by which God will bring the exiles home in order that they rebuild his temple in Jerusalem.


However, we shouldn’t fawn over Cyrus too much. Isaiah, giving us insight into God’s use of Cyrus, continues: “I [the Lord] summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me.” (Isaiah 45:4-5) The Persian king is performing the good and perfect will of God, yet he doesn’t even acknowledge the Lord as God!


We can see much the same thing today. People are in positions of power, authority and influence. They do things that move the kingdom of God forward, in spite of the fact that they do not love and fear the Lord Jesus. That, however, is for them to worry about. God is above all things, and he is moving history in such a way that his people are free to do their work of worship and love in the kingdom of God on earth. As Cyrus himself said: “Anyone of [God’s] people among you – may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord.” If God has given us the opportunity, then take it, and don’t worry about how God has brought that opportunity about! The kingdom of heaven is near; the kingdom of heaven is here. Let us get to work.


What unlikely opportunities do you have in your life right now to do the good work of the Lord? When was the last time you stopped to wonder at how incredible God’s ways are in bringing about those opportunities?


Lord God of heaven: you hold all things in your control. Open up opportunities for us to shine your light in unlikely and unexpected places. And bring our rulers out of darkness into the marvellous light of the Lord Jesus.

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