In His Time – CAC Living Water Devotionals

CAC Living Water Daily Devotional 25th December 2021 – In His Time

DATE: Saturday, December 25, 2021: Christmas Day

TOPIC: In His Time

READ: Ezra 1:1-11

[1]Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

[2]Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

[3]Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

[4]And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

[5]Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

[6]And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

[7]Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

[8]Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

[9]And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

[10]Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

[11]All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

MEMORISE: Who says of Cyrus, "He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," and to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid" (Isaiah 44:28)

EXPOSITION

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The book of Ezra is the story of Israelites restoration from exile of Babylon to Jerusalem, with the task to rebuild the temple. From the time the Jews were carried into captivity to Babylon, by King Nebuchadnezzar and the proclamation of King Cyrus to return to Jerusalem, was a period of about 70 years, according to Prophet Jeremiah.

The verdict of King Cyrus did not just happen by chance. It is in line with God's divine timing for the liberation of His people. Though Cyrus made the decree, but it was God who moved his heart to do just that. Nothing happens to God's people by accident. The exodus from Egypt after 430 years of stay, the birth of Jesus Christ being commemorated on this day, which is the christmas Day all over the world, after 700 years of prophecy by prophet Isaiah, and the apostolic advent and the call of Ayo Babalola for this generation are not products of chance (lsaiah 9). God is at work. God works with His time (Jer. 29:10; Ezra 1:1-5).

God works with His own timing and not ours. In His time, He gave answers to prayers (1 Sam. 1:20). Waiting upon the Lord is more than fasting and prayer, it goes on to waiting patiently on God until He chooses to grant our desire (Psalm 121). When it pleases God to set the Jews free from captivity of Babylon, He made Cyrus to conquer the almighty Babylonia empire, and in the same year of the conquest, he made the decree to set the Jews free to return home. God owns the timetable of the world, yours inclusive.

PRAYER POINTS

1. I have waited upon You Lord, let me not be put to shame.

2. Oh Lord God of time and season, let my glorious season come.

3. Deliver me from all the powers that are trying to hold me down.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Nahum 2:5 - 3:19; Habakkuk 1:1 - 2:18; Rev. 15:8 - 16:20