Ezra 1 ~ the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled

Cyrus's Cylinder

1995 Dr. Bryant Wood found Cyrus's Cylinder, declaring freedom for captives in Babylon to return to Israel and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the temple. Ezra 1:2-4

Ezra 1


1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.


How amazing the archaeology is supporting what we, as Christians know to be, the Word of God. Understanding Israel was demolished. Three separate kings of Persia offered the slaves freedom. Not only freedom, but help rebuilding their Temple to God and the nation. Returning the Temple Tools built under the instruction of Moses. Nebuchadnezzar had heard of the Lord because Jonah, unwillingly, had gone into the Assyrian Empire to declare the LORD is God Almighty. The Assyrian Empire never attacked Israel and fell becoming the Persian Empire.

The Holy Spirit in Acts 1 displays the power of the Holy Spirit as fire. And with the capacity for one light brightening the world and starting another light, Nebuchadnezzar preserved a ruined nation's heritage, their Tools of the Temple, instead of melting them down. And allows the Light of God to flourish; bringing a dead nation back into His Grace.

Yesterday we spoke of the LORD eagerly waiting as our Father for us to live our journey and return to HIM. Like the prodigal son's father running to Him. Israel was not returning to life as a nation. The Assyrian Empire was Gone. So many Empires were gone, how could one tiny nation ever reform with the scattered children of Israel. Only because of HIS Word. His faithfulness to a people undeserving. And each amazing time in Scripture - He comes through.

Romans 8:19
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

God created all of what is visible to our eyes and beyond with His Word. Jesus is the fulfilling of Gos's Word. God waits with eager longing to see us revealed as the children of God. His Word fulfilled and the promise of us and who we are to HIM being part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Remembering something very, very, very uniquely important in this.

Matthew 10:7
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

This is why Acts 1 exists, the Holy Spirit has been set free. All we have to do is invite HIM to live, move and have HIS dwelling within us.


Matthew 10:7
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

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