Today’s Reading:
Ezra 6:1-16
‘’ And also let the golden and sliver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored’’ (v.5)
Restoration is an act or process of putting or giving back; reinstating; bringing back to a former or normal state. Before a restoration occurs, there must have been a loss of an original thing. In the Reading, the Israelites who were in exile in Persia had lost the temple and all its wears to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, when he conquered and destroyed Jerusalem. Losses could come through disasters, carelessness, even sin, like in the case of the Israelites who had sinned terribly against God. He allowed them to be taken captive for seventy years and scattered throughout the world. He used many Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other minor ones to warn them of their sins, especially of idolatry, but they never listened… for over two centuries.
However, God in his compassion, love and mercies stirred the hearts of subsequent Kings of Persia to restore the temple in Jerusalem. Even before the Israelites were taken into exile, God who knew they would become sober and repentant, had designed a restoration of the temple back in Jerusalem, so that the people would go back to worshipping Him in it.
The Reading is an account of how God used both past (Cyrus, Artaxerxes) and current (Dairus) Kings of Persia to effect the restoration. This involved decrees in favour of the Israelites, expenses totally borne by the King, return of all the treasures moved from the ruined temple, order for officials of the region not to interfere or hinder the work and necessary security and provision be supplied for the sacrifices (vv. 3-12) . Not only were all these done, but verse also 13 says they were done speedily. Verse 14 confirms that the Jewish elders built and finished the work. Then they, the Priests, Levites, and children dedicated their temple with joy.
God indeed is the God of restoration, no matter what is or was lost. He does it based on his mercies, forgiveness, and loving kindness. And it does not matter how long before that the loss was made. It does not matter the type of sin, it just needs repentance, turn from the sin, and return to God. God restores anything and everything lost, including properties, possessions, health, position, relationship. God restores in full, not half measure, practically all lost grounds. He uses anyone and anything He deems fit, even one’s enemies, friends, family, captor, strangers.
God can even restore by giving double for what is lost, such as shame (Isaiah 61:7). We see this in the life of Ruth, the Moabite in the book of Ruth. God, being our forgiving and loving Father, allows us to ask him for restorations in every area of our lives, where we have lost anything.
CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
1. Father, we confess and ask for forgiveness for every sin that has resulted in any loss in our lives.
2. I pray that God will visit every one of us with his mercy, love, and kindness, so that whatever has been lost from us will be restored.
3. I cry to the Lord for total restoration in every area of life, governance, economy, and so on in our nation.
4. Father, let every enemy, stranger, friend that has stolen from our nation restore everything.
5. O Lord, please restore double for the shame of our nation, in every aspect.
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