#140 Ezra 1-3

Devoted to Scripture

Day 140 of the podcast, reading Ezra 1-3 NET, read along at:
https://netbible.org/bible/Ezra+1-3/

This is day 140 of our journey.

The book of Ezra begins with the proclamation of King Cyrus of Persia that the temple of the Lord would be rebuilt in Jerusalem. He grants permission for Israelites to return to their land to help with the project. 40000 Israelites return home after 70 years in exile. As the foundations of the temple were laid, the people praise the Lord and celebrate. Even though it is an answer to prayer and a fulfilled promise of God, many who were alive to see the original temple weep in regret as they remember what had been lost.

Join me in Ezra 1-3 to see the people returning from exile!

Key verses:

Ezra 1:3
Anyone of his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the Lord God of Israel – he is the God who is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 2:1
These are the people of the province who were going up, from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city.

Ezra 3:11
With antiphonal response they sang, praising and glorifying the Lord:“For he is good;his loyal love toward Israel is forever.” All the people gave a loud shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established.

All Scriptures are from the NET.