God Never Gives Up

P.S. I apologize for this getting posted so late.

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional
Message Title: God Never Gives Up
Date: June 02,2011
Chapters: Ezra 3-5
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-june-2
Details of Today's Chapters: Worship is established in Jerusalem, an altar is set up and Temple foundation is relaid, rebuilding of the Temple is hindered, encouragement from the prophets and the work resumes.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” - I Peter 3:8-12.

Sometimes it's not easy being a Christian, we face constant criticism, not only from the world, but other Christians as well, especially when we are trying to serve our Lord. You can be sure that once you start serving God obstacles will come your way to try and stop you. The amazing thing is that everything is in God's hands, once He sets you on that journey to do His work He will stop at nothing for you to complete it, it might even take a while, but God never gives up on you.

Israel was in ruins, most of the Jews from the Northern Kingdom were scattered all over the world, while the Southern Kingdom was held captive in Babylon, for seventy years not a thing was done to restore their promised land, once flowing with milk and honey. Now that king Cyrus set the Jews free they were able to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding. After four months of traveling they finally arrived to a desolate, abandoned land, full of evil.

“And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;” - Ezra 3:1-4.

Every Jew came together as one and the first thing they did was set up an altar to God as it was written in God's Word. This would be the first time that many of the Jews even knew of the feast of the Lord, but they followed every command written in the law of Moses as they learned it. Most people upon asking Jesus Christ to save them have never stepped foot in church or have been away for a long time. God does not expect us to completely change overnight, but day by day as we learn God's Word we learn to follow His commands as they are written. “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.“ - Matthew 4:4.

Two years after the Jews return they began to rebuild the Temple, every willing heart came to do whatever they could to help. “Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” - Ezra 3:9-11.

The foundation was laid, the people jumped for joy, they were so excited that they were crying. Why after two years was only the foundation was laid? The plans to build the Temple were laid out in the Book of the Law, if they were to do the job right they had to learn what that was. It's important that we learn to follow all of God's Word. Like I said earlier, God does not expect us to know everything instantly, it takes time to learn everything God has to show us, and even then we never learn everything, but we must stay in His Word in order to know all His commands. ““But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:14-17.

Now, you can be sure that with all the commotion going on near the Lord's stomping grounds that there would be some people out there not too happy about the rebuilding of the Temple. As soon as the Jews laid the foundation, they were faced with criticism and opposition. “Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia...Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” - Ezra 4:4,5,24.

Their lack of faith caused them to lose sight of God in the midst of their obstacles instead of seeking Him for help. For fourteen years the Temple remained unfinished while the Jews attended to rebuilding the city. It took the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to remind them that they had not finished the Temple and it was time to get to work. This time God was with them and nothing would stop them.

“Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter... And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.” - Ezra 5:2-5,11.

Their reply as to who ordered the work of the Temple, God ordered it, this time God was with them and nothing was going to stop them from completing the work that He called them to do. God's hands are in every part of our lives, from the good to the bad, He allows everything in order to grow us, prepare us, strengthen us, and bring us to the point that we realize we are nothing without Him. It's great to praise Him when things are going well, but it's the times we praise Him when things are not going so well that He blesses us the most. The more we praise Him through the obstacles the blessed we become. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:7-10.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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