Ezra 9:8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.
Ezra 3:1-13-When the people of Israel left Babylon and arrived in Jerusalem, they immediately started sacrificing to God and celebrating their new life. When the foundation of the temple was completed, they celebrated again, praising and thanking the God of their fathers. They didnāt wait for the whole temple to be complete. They praised God and celebrated how He helped them make progress.
As Israel begins to rebuild the temple, the people both weep and rejoice at the same time. Their joy comes from the redemption of the Lord as they return to their rightful place in Jerusalem and are allowed to establish His house among them once again. But they feel deep regret that their own rebellion against God caused the destruction of the temple. Two contrasting emotions go hand in hand.
What a beautiful picture of how God wants to redeem us. We have regrets about mistakes we canāt undo, words we canāt take back, or decisions we canāt changeāour sin has affected ourselves and those around us. But we can have joy, too, because Jesus took away our debt and loves us even with our baggage. Rest in the joy that God can and will work even in hard circumstances.
Whatever blessings you have in your life today, large or small, stop now and thank Jesus for paying your price on the cross and making life with your Savior possible.
Ezra 9:1-15-The people of Israel were doing the work God had asked of them, but they were also directly disobeying God by living in sin and chasing their own desires. Even the leaders! I can imagine Ezraās thoughts as he fell before the Lord. Well, thereās no point now. Might as well throw in the towel.
Havenāt we all been there at some point? We see our mistakes and believe we are too far gone, so we might as well quit trying and go our own way. Right?
Wrong. Ezra recognized Godās ability to redeem Israel for His purposes, and God can redeem us as well. God wonāt throw us out like trash and move on to the next person. If we turn to Him and confess our sins, God will forgive and redeem us.
But now for a brief moment grace has been [shown to us] from the Lord our God, who has left us a surviving remnant and has given us a peg (secure hold) in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8 AMP
Reflections: When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for all our sins at onceābut that doesnāt make us perfect. Sometimes we get frustrated at all the mistakes we keep making, all the ways we return to our old sin. Letās remind ourselves we are all works in progress who wonāt be made complete until we get to heaven. If Jesus has changed your life even a tiny bit, praise Him now and thank Him for your progress.
Prayer: God wants to redeem us. You, Lord, are my reason for joyānot the pleasantness of my relationships, not the agreeability of my circumstances, not the state of my resources, not the bright prospects of my future. And lest I be tempted to make my joy dependent on anything else but You, grant me a spirit of heartfelt repentance today, showing me that real joy comes from how You rescue me from myself. https://hope14me.org/weekly-devotion/
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