Devotion – Wednesday, 14 April
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Ezra, Chapter 6 verse 22, “The Lord has made them joyful,” (NRSVB). The reason for the joy of the returned captives was the first celebration of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread in their restored Temple. When the captives returned to Jerusalem they tried to start rebuilding the city walls and the temple, however they were stopped. A letter was sent to King Darius by the Persian commander warning him that the Jews were rebuilding Jerusalem. The commander was concerned because the Jews produced a copy of a letter given to them years ago, by King Cyrus, promising help to the returning Jewish captives in rebuilding Jerusalem. The Persian commander advised King Darius to search the archives to see if there was such an instruction from his predecessor. They found the scroll in Ecbatana in Babylon in which King Cyrus decreed that not only must the Jews be allowed to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, they were to be given material, and all the sacred vessels that were taken from the Temple had to be returned. King Darius immediately instructed the officials to give the Jews material and funds and to return the sacred vessels in order that the Temple of the Lord God of Israel may be completed. The House of the Lord was finished in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius, and he asked the Jews to pray for him, his reign and the lives of his sons, as they brought offerings to their God. The Jews were celebrating the restoration of worship, the peace and the help that God gave by inspiring King Darius, a foreign king, to support them in their work and worship. God surely “moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform,” as Cowper wrote. “Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessing on your head,” (Lutheran Hymnal, 1973). Would the captives and exiles have believed that the enemy kings would have helped them restore the City of God? Our hearts can be joyful. God’s outcomes for the good of his people are astonishing.
Jesus sent out seventy of his newly appointed followers to go ahead of him to the cities that he was coming to visit. They went two by two and were given instruction to go to those towns and people who invited them in, those who received them with hospitality and an eagerness to hear the Word of the Lord. Jesus told his followers to enter the houses and to pray God’s peace on the house, blessing the people as they entered. They were given power to preach, teach and heal in the Name of the Lord. Jesus also warned them that they might not be invited to preach and teach. If they were not invited, they had to leave from the city, moving to the next one. When Jesus met up with his followers they were excited, over-awed and overjoyed, for even the demons fled and were subjected to them in the Name of Jesus. Then Jesus said to them as we read in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 10 verse 20 “(Rather) Rejoice that your names are written in heaven,” (NRSVB). Jesus revealed to his followers, like God revealed to Moses, the Psalmist and Daniel, that those who love the Lord names are written in his book and even their tears are recorded as remembrance (Psalm 56 verse 8).
The Apostle Paul wrote in his Letter to the Philippians, Chapter Four verse 4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, Rejoice,” (Amplified Bible). God has given us the greatest reasons to rejoice: we are redeemed through the Work of His Son, Jesus, on the Cross for us, and he has written our names in the Book of Life! Nothing can snatch us from his hand. God’s peace, the peace that transcends our understanding, is therefore ours.
Father, we praise and thank you that we can rejoice and have joy in you! Amen.
