Ezra 1
Ezra 1
Today we begin the book of Ezra! The book of Ezra (alongside its companion Nehemiah) is an account of the rebuilding of the temple of the LORD in Israel. The reason that rebuiilding the temple is so important is because it is a symbol for the presence and worship of the LORD.
There is a strong connection between these books and 1-2 Chronicles. All of these writings are set in the context of the Babylonian exile of Isreal (think around the same time as Daniel). It is also clear that this book is a fulfillment of prophecy from the book of Jeremiah (see Ezra 1:1).
This chapter is largely an introductory one, but what can we take away from it?
Mainly, the temple of the LORD is an important symbol of the presence and worship of the LORD, and this matters immensely.
The rebuilding of the temple is clearly God’s idea:
2 “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.
God’s presence no longer rests in a physical temple, but we see in the New Testament that Christians themselves now take on the qualities of displaying the presence and worship of the LORD. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” (1 Cor. 6:19)
You and I exist to display the glory of God.
How are you reflecting God’s glory in your daily life?
By: Graham Withers
Today we begin the book of Ezra! The book of Ezra (alongside its companion Nehemiah) is an account of the rebuilding of the temple of the LORD in Israel. The reason that rebuiilding the temple is so important is because it is a symbol for the presence and worship of the LORD.
There is a strong connection between these books and 1-2 Chronicles. All of these writings are set in the context of the Babylonian exile of Isreal (think around the same time as Daniel). It is also clear that this book is a fulfillment of prophecy from the book of Jeremiah (see Ezra 1:1).
This chapter is largely an introductory one, but what can we take away from it?
Mainly, the temple of the LORD is an important symbol of the presence and worship of the LORD, and this matters immensely.
The rebuilding of the temple is clearly God’s idea:
2 “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.
God’s presence no longer rests in a physical temple, but we see in the New Testament that Christians themselves now take on the qualities of displaying the presence and worship of the LORD. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” (1 Cor. 6:19)
You and I exist to display the glory of God.
How are you reflecting God’s glory in your daily life?
By: Graham Withers
1 Comment
Excited to go through these books together with the CPC Fam! So exciting!