Devotions

Rev Gav

Celebrate

Ezra 1.1–6

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:

‘Thus says King Cyrus 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 in Judah. Any of those among you who are of his people — may their God be with them! — are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel — he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill-offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’

The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites — everyone whose spirit God had stirred — got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered.

Reflect

King Nebuchadnezzar II, leader of the Babylonian Empire, conquered Jerusalem in 587 BC, destroying the First Temple, burning the city, and deporting Israelites to be held in Babylonian captivity. Then, in 559BC, King Cyrus, leader of the Persian Empire, overthrew the Babylonians and released all the exiled captives — not just Jewish people but of every religion. Under an edict from the King, the Jews were allowed to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, but more than that, he allowed much of the plundered treasures to return and asked that money be provided to support the project. This is chronicled in the first chapter of the Book of Ezra in our Bibles.

Ezra was a Jewish priest and scribe (a write of sacred texts) who led a group of the exiled Israelites back to Jerusalem from Babylon, reintroduced the Torah (the Law of Moses) to the people, and worked to restore the Jewish religious way of life. So grateful were the Jews at King Cyrus setting them free and sponsoring the building of the Second Temple, that they honoured this Persian King and called him Cyrus the Great.

What I find remarkable about this story is that a Persian King — a non-Jew — would honour the Jewish religion and that the Jewish people would then hold such a non-Jew in high regard and see his actions as ‘divinely inspired’. We do not know why King Cyrus helped the Jewish people, whether it was altruistic or for his own personal gain, but it is likely he had a respect for all religions, seeing the ‘one true God’ in all of them, for we know he also paid homage to Marduk, the god of the Babylonians.

So, how can this Bible passage have relevance for us some 2600 years later?

It is to be open to the idea that God can and does work in and through non-Christians. For example, humans were not created to be stewards of creation, but it is our God-given mandate. God is in the business of reconciling the world to themselves, and we are called to be God’s agents of love and every act of love matters. Certainly, non-Christians think, say, and do much that aligns with God’s will, and when they care for creation (including other human beings) and act with humility, generosity, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and so on, they are unconsciously being Jesus to the world.

Therefore, whenever we witness someone acting with love or compassion, we must celebrate it and say, “Well done! Great job!”, hold them in high regard and, if we get the opportunity, gently introduce them to the One they are serving so wonderfully.

Pray

Holy God
May I never
limit the reach
and inspiration
of your Holy Spirit.
Help me see
Jesus in others
and celebrate their
acts of love
and compassion.
Now and forever