1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Let us pray. They gave money also unto the Masons 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: and to the carpenters, and meat and drink and oil 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tire, to 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the Sea of Joppa, 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: according to the grant that they had of Cyprus, King 6 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: of Persia Ezra three seven, Father in Heaven, at this moment, 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: I come to you and ask you to do a 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: diagnostic of my life. Search me and search my heart, 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: so that any place in me that has become hardened 10 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: through disappointment and defeats would turn back into flesh, like 11 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: the heart of the Israelites in the books of Ezra 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: and Haggay. Eye. When I feel rejected from those who 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: are building your church, give me the proper perspective to 14 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: know that I do belong, and that you've called all 15 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: people from all nations to partake in your glorious blessings 16 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: of forgiveness and newness. As the longing for more of 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: you in my life increases, I will look in expectation 18 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: to your word, for it is in your word that 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: you point me to the greatest love and acceptance ever known, 20 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: the love of Jesus Therefore, my heart will remain at 21 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: rest even when others push me away, because in You, Lord, 22 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: I have full access and acceptance. I belong in your temple. 23 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: I have an assignment to help build the House of 24 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: the Lord. And I belong to the Body of Christ, 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: which is your Church. In Jesus name, Amen, thanks for 26 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: making prayer a priority in your life. Here the Bible 27 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: come to life. Stay tuned for the Bible in a Year, 28 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com. 29 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: The exiles return. In our last story, Daniel was saved 30 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 2: from the jaws of ravenous lions. The Lord protected him. 31 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: This spoke to the King of the Meads, Darius. He 32 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: proclaimed the goodness of God and the Lord became famous 33 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: in the land. Now we fast forward over fifty years. 34 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 2: The Persians had complete control over Babylon. The Lord tugged 35 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 2: on the heart of the king and the exiles are 36 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: sent back home to rebuild their city and restore their culture. 37 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 2: Inspired by the books of Ezra, Hagai, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 38 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: Hello everyone, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of 39 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 3: the Bible In. In our latest episode, we heard how 40 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,239 Speaker 3: God rescued Daniel from the lion's mouths. Daniel had refused 41 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 3: to hide his faith, his prayer, his worship of God, 42 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: or to bow to King Darius, and was thrown into 43 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,559 Speaker 3: the lion's den his punishment. As a regretful King Darius 44 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: looked on, hoping Daniel's God would somehow save him. God did, 45 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 3: indeed rescue Daniel, and Darius praise the Lord for his greatness. 46 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 3: Today's reading picks up more than fifty years later after 47 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 3: last episode's events, God moved in the heart of the 48 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: Persian king to allow his people to return home and 49 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,839 Speaker 3: rebuild their city. God was now taking his people out 50 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: of their exile and restoring their rightful home. Let's listen 51 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: now to the reading of God's word. 52 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: Dawn scattered across the Persian landscape. The air was filled 53 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: with the smell of new spring bloom. The budding sun 54 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: splattered colors across the sky, and King Cyrus of Persia 55 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: basked in its morning light. The King of Persia had 56 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: conquered all that was once Babylon. As a result, he 57 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,559 Speaker 2: had been introduced to the ways of the Jewish exiles. 58 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: King Darius had told him of all that happened with 59 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: Daniel in the lions Den. He had heard tales of 60 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: the seas parting and the reign of King David. He 61 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: had a new found love for the exiles. As he 62 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 2: sat on his rooftop, basking in the glory of the 63 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: new day, the Lord tugged on the Persian king's heart. 64 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: As Jeremiah had prophesied years before, it was time for 65 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: the people of God to return home. So a decree 66 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 2: was sent across the land that the exiles were free 67 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: to return to Jerusalem and the surrounding region of Judah 68 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: and Israel. Not only were the people free to go, 69 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: but they were sent back with the sacred items King 70 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: Nebuconezer's stole from the temple. Among the people was a 71 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: man named Zerubbable. He led the exiles back home and 72 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: helped them settle. Then the land seemed strange. It had 73 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 2: been over seventy years since they were taken. Some people 74 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: still remembered the great nation. Others had been born and 75 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: raised as exiles in Babylon. Many homes were still broken, 76 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: and the city of Jerusalem seemed to be a ghost 77 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: of its former glory. Zerubabel and his leaders walked the 78 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 2: city streets filled with sorrow. Dust and ash had collected 79 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: on the old roads, and they led up to the 80 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 2: plot of ash and debris where the great Temple of 81 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: God once stood. Two years had passed and the city 82 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem was beginning to look as it once had. 83 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: The old dust had been wiped away, and new families 84 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: were settling in and making homes for themselves. Yet the 85 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 2: temple still loomed over the city like a giant grave. 86 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 2: It depressed the people, especially Zerubbabel. With the new resources 87 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 2: that had been gained, as Irubebel decided it was time 88 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: to restore the temple. It would be no easy task, 89 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 2: as it was almost completely destroyed during the Babylonian siege. 90 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: Every able bodied man was put to work. Slowly, the 91 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: temple began to regain its former image. It still had 92 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 2: much to go, but the foundation itself was built to last. 93 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 2: Zi Rubbabel and his men rejoiced. The elders and levites 94 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: of the city bowed with joyful tears. They praised God 95 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: for his faithfulness. He had promised to return them to 96 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: their home, and he did. Yet the elderly in the 97 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: city looked upon it and wept. Their tears were drowned 98 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: out by the noise of cheering. Yet they could not 99 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 2: help but mourn over what the temple once was. Yes, 100 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 2: the building was restored, but the presence of gods seemed 101 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: to be far still. They wept and nobody noticed. Yet 102 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 2: their tears revealed a deep need still left unmet in 103 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: the heart of Israel. There were some in the land 104 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: of Judah who had remained when the nation was overtaken. 105 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 2: They grew up in the land awaiting the return of 106 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: their kin. When the remnant heard that the temple was 107 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: being restored, they jumped in to help. We have been 108 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: worshiping the God of Israel all our lives, they shouted 109 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: with joy. Please let us aid you in the building 110 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: of the temple. Ziubabul was a good leader, but ignorant 111 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: of the heart of God in many ways. He turned 112 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 2: the remnant away, saying, this work is for us and 113 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: for us alone. You shall have nothing to do with us. 114 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: The remnant was shocked and hurt at his words. Cast aside, 115 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: they steeped in bitterness towards the returned exiles. Zei Robebel 116 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: made a great error in turning them away. He had 117 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: failed to understand that the Lord desired that every nation 118 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: should be welcomed into the family of God, especially those 119 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 2: who share the name of Abraham. The people of the 120 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: land were discouraged and became enemies towards the exiles. They 121 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 2: bribed counselors, vandalized their building sites, and wrote accusations against them. 122 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: To the king. They sowed lies and rumors that Israel 123 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: planned to rebel against Persia once it regained its strength. 124 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 2: This proved to be a great barrier to thriving as 125 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: a nation, so for a while, King Cyrus ordered for 126 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: the rebuilding project to cease until he was sure of 127 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: their true intentions and loyalties. Cyrus was a generous king, 128 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 2: but no fool. He would not give power to a 129 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: nation that planned to war against him before the temple 130 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: was to be repaired. The relationship with Persia must be 131 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: repaired first, so King Darius was able to brok a 132 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: peace between Persia and Israel. Ezra, a scholar of the 133 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: Word of God and proclaimer of truth, was appointed to 134 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: teach the people the law of God. As the temple 135 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: was slowly restored, so the word of God went forth 136 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 2: among the people. The temple restoration was completed, and it 137 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: stood proud among the people of Judah and Benjamin. They 138 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: stood in awe of its majesty and awaited the connection 139 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 2: with God to be restored as well. Ezra knew this 140 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: would take time. He knew that the word of the 141 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: Lord had to dwell richly in the hearts of men 142 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 2: and women. It would be a task that would take 143 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: a lifetime. Slowly, the culture of Israel and Judah began 144 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: to reform. Sacrifices were made in the temple, and God's 145 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: law was proclaimed in the courts. Yet there was something missing. 146 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 2: There was a lingering emptiness that all in the land felt. 147 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: There was a longing for the presence of God to 148 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: be near, and felt the temple was supposed to be 149 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 2: that place where God would meet with his beloved. Yet 150 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: there was a hidden sense that something greater was coming, 151 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 2: something that the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel spoke of. Not 152 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: just a rebuilding of the Temple of God, not just 153 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 2: a rebuilding of the city's streets, not just a rebuilding 154 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: of the schools and teachings. No, there needed to be 155 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 2: a rebuilding of the heart. Their hearts of stone needed 156 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 2: to be replaced with hearts of flesh. This would not 157 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: come to pass until much later until the true presence 158 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 2: of God dwelled in the city streets of dru Usalem. 159 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: One day the fullness of God would re enter the Temple. 160 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: That it would not be via sacrifices or incense, it 161 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: would be through the footsteps of the Messiah. 162 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 3: As we begin today's reading, there is a change in 163 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 3: the air. Persia had conquered all of Babylon. Their ruler, 164 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 3: King Cyrus, had become well acquainted with the Jewish people 165 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 3: and knew of what God had done through his servant 166 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 3: Daniel and others. His heart was soft and kind towards 167 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 3: the exiles, a sign that God was working in his 168 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 3: life to accomplish his sovereign purpose and will. After more 169 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 3: than seventy years away from their homeland, it was finally 170 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 3: time for the remnant of Israel to return home. Here 171 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 3: again we see God's over arching will and purposes being 172 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: accomplished not just through his chosen people, but also through 173 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 3: rulers that He had placed in positions of power to 174 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 3: carry out his plans. And so Cyrus issued a decree 175 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 3: releasing all the exiles to return to Jerusalem and the 176 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 3: regions of Judah and Israel. It was just as God 177 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 3: had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These exiles were seeing 178 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 3: the fulfillment of God's promise to give his people a 179 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 3: hope and a future. That's one of the great verses 180 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: of the Bible in Jeremiah twenty nine eleven. What's incredible 181 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: is that Cyrus didn't merely send the people away and 182 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 3: wish them the best. He allowed them to take back 183 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 3: the sacred elements from the temple, things carried off by 184 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 3: Nepica deezers so many years before. So another sign of 185 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: God's faithfulness and his hand of provision we see in 186 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 3: all of this. The returning Jews were led by a 187 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 3: man by the name of Zerubabyl. But as joyous as 188 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 3: this return was, it wasn't all easy. There was so 189 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 3: much work to be done. Years of wars, pillaging, and 190 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 3: neglect had left Judah and Israel in a sad state. 191 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 3: God's Temple lay in ruins, so they set to work 192 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 3: rebuilding what was lost. Of course, they weren't alone. There 193 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: were those who had stayed behind, kin folks who were 194 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 3: now strangers. They were eager to help rebuild the temple 195 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 3: and the city. But Zerubabyle's heart harbored pride and bitterness. 196 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: Rather than accept the help and fellowship, he turned away 197 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 3: from those still in the land. His attitude unfortunately sowed 198 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: division and animosity, stunting the flourishing that God wanted for 199 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 3: his people. This is the reason we must be very 200 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 3: careful about creating divisions and separations between us and others, 201 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 3: especially in the family of God. As Jesus prayed in 202 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 3: John seventeen, we should ask for unity and pray that 203 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 3: God keeps us together in the work that He's called 204 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 3: us to do. The seed of bitterness grew and undermined 205 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 3: the process of rebuilding to the point that King Cyrus 206 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 3: halted any efforts for fear of a revolt against his kingdom. 207 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 3: King Darius intervened on behalf of Israel and help restore peace, 208 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 3: and efforts to restore the temple resumed. But all the 209 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 3: restoration would be for nothing if there was not a 210 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 3: change in the hearts of God's people. They needed to 211 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,719 Speaker 3: return to God to know God's law and obey it. 212 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 3: And so Ezra was sent to Jerusalem because, as we 213 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 3: read in Ezra seven, verse ten, for Ezra had devoted 214 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 3: himself to the study and observance of the law of 215 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 3: the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws. In Israel, 216 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:38,679 Speaker 3: it is so very important that God's people have a 217 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 3: man of God like Ezra, who will teach and explain 218 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 3: his word and impart godly wisdom straight from the scripture. 219 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 3: Today's reading reminds us that we too must be careful 220 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 3: to hear, study, and obey God's word, for this is 221 00:13:55,320 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 3: the only path to flourishing to an abundant life. But 222 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 3: surely Israel and Judah began to return to a place 223 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 3: of devotion to God. Homes were rebuilt, including the Temple 224 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 3: of God, God's House, but the land would never return 225 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 3: to its former glory as in the days of David 226 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 3: and Solomon. Yet a time was coming when God would 227 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 3: send someone far greater than his temple and his courts, 228 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 3: one greater than Solomon, God's very presence. Jesus would come 229 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 3: to the earth as the Messiah to fulfill all of 230 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 3: the promises of God, and God would now dwell in 231 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: the hearts of his people. In the Old Testament, God 232 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 3: had a temple for his people, but now in Christ, 233 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 3: God has a people for his temple. For you, we 234 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 3: are the temple of God because of what Christ has 235 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 3: done for us. Dear God, thank you for today's reading, 236 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 3: which reminds us that you are faithful to your promises 237 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 3: always and forever. Thank you that we can live in 238 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 3: a house not made with hands, but a temple made 239 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 3: by your hands, the work of the Holy Spirit. We 240 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 3: pray that our lives would be a sanctuary of your presence, 241 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 3: that we would live flourishing and an abundant life. That 242 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 3: You may be glorified in all that we do. That 243 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 3: Jesus would be first, and that your kingdom would advance 244 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 3: in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you once again for listening 245 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 246 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot com 247 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 3: app and make Bible study and prayer the priority of 248 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 3: your life. If you enjoyed this broadcast, let me encourage 249 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: you to share it with someone you know, someone that 250 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 3: you care about, because sharing God's word is a powerful 251 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 3: influencer in people's lives. Be a witness and tell people 252 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: about the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 253 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 3: And let me encourage you to go to Jack Graham 254 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 3: dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org for many resources 255 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 3: that are free and fully available to you if you 256 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: just check them out again. That's Jack Graham dot org. 257 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 3: God bless you.