1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,279 Speaker 1: Let us pray. They gave money also unto the Masons 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: and to the carpenters, and meat and drink and oil 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: unto them of Zidon and to them of Tire, to 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the Sea of Joppa, 5 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: according to the grant that they had of Cyprus, King 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: of Persia Ezra threey 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 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: the heart of the Israelites in the books of Ezra 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: and Haggay. 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: Eye. 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: When I feel rejected from those who are building your church, 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: give me the proper perspective to know that I do belong, 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: and that you have called all people from all nations 17 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: to partake in your glorious blessings of forgiveness and newness. 18 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: As the longing for more of you in my life increases, 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: I will look in expectation to your word, For it 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: is in your word that you point me to the 21 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: greatest love and acceptance ever known, the love of Jesus. Therefore, 22 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: my heart will remain at rest even when others push 23 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: me away, because in You Lord, I have full access 24 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: and acceptance. I belong in your temple. I have an 25 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: assignment to help build the House of the Lord. And 26 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: I belong to the Body of Christ, which is your Church. 27 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: In Jesus name, Amen, thanks for making prayer a priority 28 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: in your life. Hear the Bible come to life. Stay 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: tuned for the Bible in a year brought to you 30 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: by Bible innyear dot com. 31 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 3: It's time to take back freedom over your healthcare. This 32 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 3: open enrollment learn more about how Christian Healthcare Ministries, a 33 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 3: faith based alternative to health insurance, empowers you with choice 34 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 3: as you make medical decisions. Discover flexibility to pick your 35 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 3: providers with programs as low as ninety two dollars per 36 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: month plus. When you prep ahead, you can have the 37 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 3: peace of mind as you're surrounded in spiritual support. So 38 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 3: what are you waiting for? Start saving today? Enroll at 39 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 3: Chministries dot org. 40 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 4: Slash prey the Exiles return. 41 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: In our last story, Daniel was saved from the jaws 42 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: of venous lions. The Lord protected him. This spoke to 43 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: the King of the meads Darius. He proclaimed the goodness 44 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: of God, and the Lord became famous in the land. 45 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: Now we fast forward over fifty years, the Persians had 46 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: complete control over Babylon. The Lord tugged on the heart 47 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: of the king, and the exiles are sent back home 48 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: to rebuild their city and restore their culture. Inspired by 49 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: the books of Ezra, Hagai, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 50 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 5: Hello everyone, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of 51 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 5: the Bible in a year. In our latest episode, we 52 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 5: heard how God rescued Daniel from the lion's mouths. Daniel 53 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 5: had refused to hide his faith, his prayer, his worship 54 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 5: of God, or to bow to King Darius, and was 55 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 5: thrown into the lion's denis punishment. As a regretful King, 56 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 5: Darius looked on, hoping Daniel's God would somehow save him. 57 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 5: God God did indeed rescue Daniel, and Darius praised the 58 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 5: Lord for his greatness. Today's reading picks up more than 59 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 5: fifty years later. After last episode's events, God moved in 60 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 5: the heart of the Persian king to allow his people 61 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 5: to return home and rebuild their city. God was now 62 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 5: taking his people out of their exile and restoring their 63 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 5: rightful home. Let's listen now to the reading of God's work. 64 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: Dawn scattered across the Persian landscape. The air was filled 65 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: with the smell of new spring bloom. The budding sun 66 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: splattered colors across the sky, and King Cyrus of Persia 67 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: basked in its morning light. The King of Persia had 68 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 2: conquered all that was once Babylon. As a result, he 69 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 2: had been introduced to the ways of the Jewish exiles. 70 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: King Darius had told him of all that happened with 71 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: Daniel in the lions Den. He had heard tales of 72 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 2: the sea's parting and the reign of King David. He 73 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 2: had a new found love for the exiles. As he 74 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: sat on his rooftop basking in the glory of the 75 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: new day, the Lord tugged on the Persian King's heart. 76 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 2: As Jeremiah had prophesied years before, it was time for 77 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 2: the people of God to return home. So a decree 78 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: was sent across the land that the exiles were free 79 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: to return to Jerusalem and the surrounding region of Judah 80 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 2: and Israel. Not only were the people free to go, 81 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: but they were sent back with the sacred items. King 82 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: Nebukanezer's store from the temple. Among the people was a 83 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 2: man named Zi Rubbable. He led the exiles back home 84 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: and helped them settle in the land seemed strange. It 85 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: had been over seventy years since they were taken. Some 86 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,119 Speaker 2: people still remembered the great nation. Others had been born 87 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 2: and raised as exiles in Babylon. Many homes were still broken, 88 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: and the city of Jerusalem seemed to be a ghost 89 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: of its former glory. Zi Rubbabel and his leaders walked 90 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 2: the city streets filled with dust and ash had collected 91 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 2: on the old roads, and they led up to the 92 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: plot of ash and debris where the great Temple of 93 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,119 Speaker 2: God once stood. Two years had passed and the city 94 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,559 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem was beginning to look as it once had. 95 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 2: The old dust had been wiped away, and new families 96 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: were settling in and making homes for themselves. Yet the 97 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 2: temple still loomed over the city like a giant grave. 98 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 2: It depressed the people, especially Zerrubebel. With the new resources 99 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: that had been gained, as Irubebel decided it was time 100 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: to restore the temple. It would be no easy task, 101 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 2: as it was almost completely destroyed during the Babylonian siege, 102 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: every able bodied man was put to work. Slowly, the 103 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: temple began to regain its former image. It still had 104 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: much to go, but the foundation itself was built to last. 105 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 2: Zerubbabel and his men rejoiced. The elders and levites of 106 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: the city bowed with joyful tears. They praised God for 107 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 2: his faithfulness. He had promised to return them to their home, 108 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 2: and he did. Yet the elderly in the city looked 109 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 2: upon it and wept. Their tears were drowned out by 110 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: the noise of cheering. Yet they could not help but 111 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: mourn over what the temple once was. Yes, the building 112 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: was restored, but the presence of gods seemed to be 113 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: far still. They wept and nobody noticed. Yet their tears 114 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 2: revealed a deep need still left unmet in the heart 115 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: of Israel. There were some in the land of Judah 116 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: who had remained when the nation was overtaken. They grew 117 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: up in the land awaiting the return of their kin. 118 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 2: When the remnant heard that the temple was being restored, 119 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: they jumped in to help. We have been worshiping the 120 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: God of Israel all our lives, they shouted with joy, 121 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: please let us aid you in the building of the temple. 122 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 2: Zerubabul was a good leader, but ignorant of the heart 123 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: of God in many ways. He turned the Remnant away, saying, 124 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: this work is for us and for us alone. You 125 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: shall have none nothing to do with us. The Remnant 126 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: was shocked and hurt at his words. Cast aside, they 127 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: steeped in bitterness towards the returned exiles. Sir Rebebel made 128 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: a great error in turning them away. He had failed 129 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: to understand that the Lord desired that every nation should 130 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 2: be welcomed into the family of God, especially those who 131 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: share the name of Abraham. The people of the land 132 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: were discouraged and became enemies towards the exiles. They bribed counselors, 133 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: vandalized their building sites, and wrote accusations against them. To 134 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 2: the king. They sowed lies and rumors that Israel planned 135 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: to rebel against Persia once it regained its strength. This 136 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: proved to be a great barrier to thriving as a nation, 137 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: so for a while King Cyrus ordered for the rebuilding 138 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 2: project to cease until he was sure of their true 139 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: intentions and loyalties. Cyrus was a generous king, but no fool. 140 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: He would not give power to a nation that planned 141 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: to war against him before the temple was to be repaired. 142 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: The relationship with Persia must be repaired first, so King 143 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: Darius was able to brok a peace between Persia and Israel. Ezra, 144 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 2: a scholar of the Word of God and proclaimer of truth, 145 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 2: was appointed to teach the people the law of God. 146 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 2: As the temple was slowly restored, so the word of 147 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: God went forth among the people. The temple restoration was completed, 148 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: and it stood proud among the people of Judah and Benjamin. 149 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 2: They stood in awe of its majesty and awaited the 150 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 2: connection with God to be restored as well. Ezra knew 151 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 2: this would take time. He knew that the word of 152 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: the Lord had to dwell richly in the hearts of 153 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 2: men and women. It would be a task that would 154 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 2: take a lifetime. Slowly, the culture of Israel and Judah 155 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: began to reform. Sacrifices were made in the temple, and 156 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 2: God's law was proclaimed. 157 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: In the courts. 158 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 2: Yet there was something missing. There was a lingering emptiness 159 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 2: that all in the land felt. There was longing for 160 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 2: the presence of God to be near, and felt the 161 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: Temple was supposed to be that place where God would 162 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 2: meet with his beloved. Yet there was a hidden sense 163 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: that something greater was coming, something that the prophets Jeremiah 164 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: and Ezekiel spoke of. Not just a rebuilding of the 165 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 2: Temple of God, not just a rebuilding of the city's streets, 166 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: not just a rebuilding of the schools and teachings. No, 167 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: there needed to be a rebuilding of the heart. Their 168 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 2: hearts of stone needed to be replaced with hearts of flesh. 169 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 2: This would not come to pass until much later, until 170 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: the true presence of God dwelled in the city streets 171 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem. One day, the fullness of God would re 172 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 2: enter the Temple, but it would not be via sacrifices 173 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 2: or incense. It would be through the footsteps of the Messiah. 174 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 5: As we begin today's reading, there is a change in 175 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 5: the air. Persia had conquered all of Babylon. Their ruler, 176 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 5: King Cyrus, had become well acquainted with the Jewish people 177 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 5: and knew of what God had done through his servant 178 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 5: Daniel and others. His heart was soft and kind towards 179 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 5: the exiles, a sign that God was working in his 180 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 5: life to accomplish his sovereign purpose and will. After more 181 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 5: than seventy years away from their homeland, it was finally 182 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 5: time for the remnant of Israel to return home. Here 183 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 5: again we see God's over arching will and purposes being accomplished, 184 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 5: not just through his chosen people, but also through rulers 185 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 5: that he had placed in positions of power to carry 186 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 5: out his plans. And so Cyrus issued a decree releasing 187 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 5: all the exiles to return to Jerusalem and the regions 188 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 5: of Judah and Israel. It was just as God had 189 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 5: spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These exiles were seeing the 190 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 5: fulfillment of God's promise to give his people a hope 191 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 5: and a future. That's one of the great verses of 192 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 5: the Bible in Jeremiah twenty nine eleven. What's incredible is 193 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 5: that Cyrus didn't merely send the people away and wish 194 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 5: them the best. He allowed them to take back the 195 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 5: sacred elements from the temple, things carried off by Nepeca 196 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 5: Deezer so many years before, So another sign of God's 197 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 5: faithfulness and his hand of provision we see in all 198 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 5: of this. The returning Jews were led by a man 199 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 5: by the name of Zerubabyle. But as joyous as this 200 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 5: return was, it wasn't all easy. There was so much 201 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 5: work to be done. Years of wars, pillaging, and neglect 202 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 5: had left Judah and Israel in a sad state. God's 203 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 5: Temple lay in ruins, so they set to work rebuilding 204 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 5: what was lost. Of course, they weren't alone. There were 205 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 5: those who had stayed behind, ken folks who were now strangers. 206 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 5: They were eager to help rebuild the temple and the city. 207 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 5: But Zerubabyle's heart harbored pride and bitterness. Rather than accept 208 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 5: the in fellowship, he turned away from those still in 209 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 5: the land. His attitude unfortunately sowed division and animosity, stunting 210 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 5: the flourishing that God wanted for his people. This is 211 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 5: the reason we must be very careful about creating divisions 212 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 5: and separations between us and others, especially in the family 213 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 5: of God. As Jesus prayed in John seventeen, we should 214 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 5: ask for unity and pray that God keeps us together 215 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 5: in the work that He's called us to do. The 216 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 5: seed of bitterness grew and undermined the process of rebuilding, 217 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 5: to the point that King Cyrus halted any efforts for 218 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 5: fear of a revolt against his kingdom. King Darius intervened 219 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 5: on behalf of Israel and help restore peace, and efforts 220 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 5: to restore the temple resumed. But all the restoration would 221 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 5: be for nothing if there was not a change in 222 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 5: the hearts of God's people. They needed to return to 223 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 5: God to know God's law and obey it. And so 224 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 5: Ezra was sent to Jerusalem because, as we read in 225 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 5: Ezra seven, verse ten, for Ezra had devoted himself to 226 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 5: the study and observance of the law of the Lord 227 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 5: and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. It 228 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 5: is so very important that God's people have a man 229 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 5: of God like Ezra, who will teach and explain his 230 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 5: word and impart Godly wisdom straight from the scripture. Today's 231 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 5: reading reminds us that we too must be careful to hear, study, 232 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 5: and obey God's word, for this is the only path 233 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 5: to flourishing to an abundant life. Slowly, but surely, Israel 234 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 5: and Judah began to return to a place of devotion 235 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 5: to God. Homes were rebuilt, including the Temple of God, 236 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 5: God's House, but the land would never return to its 237 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 5: former glory as in the days of David and Solomon. 238 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 5: Yet a time was coming when God would send someone 239 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 5: far greater than his temple and his courts, one greater 240 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 5: than Solomon, God's very presence. Jesus would come to the 241 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 5: earth as the Messiah to fulfill all of the promises 242 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 5: of God, and God would now dwell in the hearts 243 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 5: of his people. In the Old Testament, God had a 244 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 5: temple for his people. But now in Christ, God has 245 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 5: a people for his temple for you. We are the 246 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 5: temple of God because of what Christ has done for us. 247 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 5: Dear God, thank you for today's reading, which reminds us 248 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 5: that you are faithful to your promises always and forever. 249 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 5: Thank you that we can live in a house not 250 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 5: made with hands, but a temple made by your hands, 251 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 5: the work of the Holy Spirit. We pray that our 252 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 5: lives would be a sanctuary of your presence, that we 253 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 5: would live flourishing and an abundant life. That You may 254 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 5: be glorified in all that we do, that Jesus would 255 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 5: be first, and that Your kingdom would advance in Christ's name. Amen. 256 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 5: Thank you once again for listening to today's Bible in 257 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 5: a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas. Texas. You 258 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 5: can download the pray dot Com app and make Bible 259 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 5: study and prayer the priority of your life. If you 260 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 5: enjoyed this broadcast, let me encourage you to share it 261 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 5: with someone you know, someone that you care about, because 262 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 5: sharing God's word is a powerful influencer in people's lives. 263 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 5: Be a witness and tell people about the Word of 264 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 5: God and the testimony of Jesus. And let me encourage 265 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 5: you to go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack 266 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 5: Graham dot org for many resources that are free and 267 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 5: fully available to you if you just check them out. Again, 268 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 5: that's Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.