Thursday, May 23, 2013

Week 21 - Day 5


Ezra 1-4; Psalm 114

*Click here to read these passages:

Ezra who is also believed to have been the writer of 1 and 2 Chronicles describes the return of the exiles back to Jerusalem and Judah, and then he describes the rebuilding of the altar and the temple.  It seems the people are getting back on track to serving the Lord and following His ways.

Whenever you are doing God’s work, however, there will always be opposition.  First their enemies offered to help, but as I read in the commentary in my Bible, their claim to “seek” the Lord was deceptive because they also worshiped pagan gods.  So if they would have been allowed to join in with the Israelites it would have caused problems.  Then it says, “The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.  They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans.”  Deceived … discouraged … made afraid … frustrated.  Then finally official power was used against them to try to stop them.

Opposition can come at you from every different direction and in every possible way imaginable, but if you can cling to God and determine to follow Him no matter what, it is all worth it in the end.

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

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