Today’s Reading:
Ezra 1:1-6
“And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, with goods and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” (v. 4, NIV)
A Restorer is one who restores, and to “restore” means to give back or replace or repay or return what was taken, stolen, or snatched by one person/ group from another. The extent of restoration could be full or partial and can be or not be the same things taken or stolen or snatched. While in general, human beings find it difficult to want to restore, especially because of ego, greed and lack of compassion, God is known in the scriptures, to be a God of restoration (Joel 2:25). Also, Jesus Christ, as recorded in all the Gospels, through his compassion, brought healing and restoration to many, including restoration of eyes, limbs, health in general, and even of lives.
In the Old Testament days, the lives of God’s chosen people and nation, Israel, were vivid examples of God’s character as a great “Restorer”. Today’s reading recounts how God restored the fortune of the Israelites, after suffering in captivity for seventy years. God decided to use the then King, Cyrus of Persia, to return the Israelites to their nation Israel, and also to build the destroyed temple of God in Jerusalem. By this process, God fully restored what the Israelites lost to their capture, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In fact, God “spoilt” them with lots of treasures. In v4, king Cyrus gave directives that in any locality where survivors were living, the people around them were to provide them with silver, gold, goods, livestock’s, and even freewill offerings for, the temple. And in V6, it is recorded that the neighbours of the Israelites, obeyed the King’s directives. In addition, the King in V7, brought out the articles, belonging to the temple, which King Nebuchadnezzar had carried away. He gave them to the elders and priests to be taken back to Jerusalem for the temple to be rebuilt.
Similar to this account is that in Neh. 2;7-9, in which Nehemiah, an Israelite captive in exile in Persia then, asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the ruined city, walls and gates. Furthermore, he asked for letters to governors of the region to give him and others with him, protection as they journeyed back to Jerusalem. Also, he asked for a letter from the keeper of the royal park for the supply of timber for the construction of the gates and walls. Nehemiah’s requests were duly granted. When the Israelites were leaving their land of slavery, God organized that the Egyptians spoil them with articles of silver and gold and clothing (Exodus12:35-36). There was the restoration of years and properties lost to slavery in Egypt. It is evident from the foregoing that God can use anyone, anything, and at any time to bring restoration to a person or group. It is important to know what qualities are required for restoration by God. These include his compassion, which does not fail, and it is his main basis for his restoration.
Other key qualifications include repentance and a turnaround from sin(s) to God. After the Israelites were in captivity for seventy years, during which period they had repented and returned to God, he restored them to himself and also all their lost fortunes. Faith in God also qualifies one for restoration. We need to key into God’s compassion, repent of all sins, ask for restoration, and we are sure to get it.
CHRISTY KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
Father, please always prove yourself as our great restorer, in Jesus name.
Father, let your compassion lead to our restoration, in Jesus name.
O Lord, open our eyes to any sin that can stand against our restoration, as you help us to repent of it, in Jesus name.
Father, we receive by faith, restorations to every area of our lives, where needed, in Jesus name.
Father, restore the fortune of the body of Christ and our nation, in Jesus name.
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