Day 261, September 18: Bible reading & prayer
Ezra 1-3 (chronological); Ecclesiastes 4-6, 2 Corinthians 10 (OT/NT)
Yesterday we finished Daniel, a book containing both narrative and prophecy, and today we start Ezra, a book testifying of the fulfillment of prophecy. Today is a day to make a lot of connections.
As a reminder, Daniel was exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar as a youth, early in the reign of King Josiah’s son Jehoiakim. Jeremiah helped us fill in events and details of the end of the era of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel. Ezekiel gave us more details and understanding. Daniel gave us even more.
The first six chapters of Daniel were largely historic narrative which demonstrate God’s gracious intervention to protect the lives and faith of His people in exile from Judah and Israel in Baylon. After being taken from Jerusalem early in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Daniel and three of his friends were educated for three years in the literature and language of the Chaldeans before entering King Nebuchadnezzar’s service, long before Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin was taken into exile in Babylon with ten thousand other captives. The LORD gave Daniel understanding of visions and dreams, so he was able to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue, which represented his kingdom being succeeded by three subsequent kingdoms, which are all ultimately defeated by the God of heaven who will set up an eternal kingdom. In this dream, Nebuchadnezzar was represented by a head of gold, which may have inspired his building of a golden statute of himself. When Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship this golden statue and were rescued by the LORD after being thrown into a fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar forbid any offensive speech, upon pain of death, against their God. When Daniel interpreted another of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams which predicted he would lose his mind for seven years until he himself acknowledged the King of Heaven, Daniel begged him to repent, but the dream was fulfilled after an episode of Nebuchadnezzar’s boasting. His reason and kingdom were restored when he acknowledged the LORD. His son Belshazzar failed to learn this lesson in humility before God. He had a feast at which he and his nobles drank wine in vessels his father brought from the temple in Jerusalem and praised idols, and he was killed, losing the kingdom to Darius the Mede, that very night. Daniel then distinguished himself under the reign of King Darius the Mede. He was plotted against by his fellow administrators but was rescued by the LORD after being thrown into a lions’ den, causing Darius to decree that all men fear and tremble before the God of Daniel.
The last six chapters of Daniel contain prophecies revealed to him in dreams and visions. He had a dream in the first year of King Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, which has parallels to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream, showing beasts representing four successive kingdoms of the earth, the last being divided, with one last king persecuting the saints until he is destroyed by the Ancient of Days and an eternal kingdom is given to the Son of Man and dwelt in by the saints of the Highest One. He then had a vision in the third year of King Belshazzar, interpreted by the angel Gabriel, which showed a ram, which is Media and Persia, being destroyed by a goat, which is Greece, with one king who later falls to four kings and one final insolent king, who is mighty not by his own power and opposes the Prince of princes, removes sacrifice, and destroys the sanctuary for 2,300 days, before the holy place is restored. In the first year of King Darius the Mede, Daniel read in Jeremiah about the prophesied 70 years of desolation of Jerusalem [Jeremiah 25:11-12 (Day 225) & 29:10 (Day 226)] and was praying to God, confessing his sin and the sins of his people Israel, when the angel Gabriel appeared, telling him about seventy weeks until the time of the end that starts with a decree to rebuild Jerusalem and includes the coming of Messiah the Prince, the destruction of the city and sanctuary, and the ultimate destruction of the prince who is to come who will make a covenant but then be guilty of abominations.
Yesterday, in the last three chapters of Daniel, a message was revealed to Daniel in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, successor to Darius the Mede, about the latter days that he prayed, mourned, and fasted over for three weeks before an angel, who was dispatched when Daniel started praying, came to comfort him and give him an understanding of the vision. The angel gave insight into spiritual battles in the heavenlies, revealing he was delayed in getting to Daniel because he had to fight the prince of the kingdom of Persia until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help him, and that he was going to return to fight against the prince of Persia, that the prince of Greece was about to come, and that no one stood firmly with him against these forces except Michael.
The angel explained to Daniel that, “In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him” and then explained the vision of the latter days that Daniel saw. It reveals the most details about the last divided kingdom of the earth revealed in the other dreams and visions in the book of Daniel (and it is admittedly the hardest to understand). A southern kingdom (called the “king of the South,” with various leaders over time) will grow strong but eventually be defeated by a northern kingdom (called the “king of the North” also with various leaders over time), who will ultimately put into effect a “proposal of peace.” The king of the northern kingdom will then fall, be replaced briefly by an oppressor, and ultimately be replaced by one who will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. He’ll win one battle against the southern kingdom, but be opposed by “ships of Kittim” in a later battle, enraging him. He “will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation….he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods.” He will prevail against Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia, but Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon will be rescued out of his hand. “But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.’”
The angel finished his explanation of Daniel’s vision of the latter days, saying, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Regarding the length of time to the end of these wonders, he says, “a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed….these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!”
Today we start Ezra. As we discussed above, Daniel “observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years” (Daniel 9:2, Day 259, see Jeremiah 25:11-12, Day 225, & 29:10, Day 226). The Lord had revealed to Jeremiah, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place,” and the prophet Isaiah specifically named Cyrus as instrumental (Isaiah 44:38 & 45:1, Day 208).
The book of Ezra recounts the fulfillment of the word of the LORD to His prophets about the return of His people from exile to Israel.
Another return to the genealogy of the kings of Judah, descendants of David, is necessary, as this family line was preserved in exile and then in the return to Jerusalem, all the way through to the birth of the Messiah (Matthew 1:11-12).
Jehoiachin (AKA Coniah, AKA Jeconiah) was the son of Jehoiakim. He only ruled in Jerusalem for 3 months before he was taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. He was later released by King Evil-merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s son and successor (2 Kings 25:27, Jeremiah 52:31). He was the grandfather of Zerubbabel [Ezra 3:1], who returned to Jerusalem and helped rebuild the temple.
An overview of our yearly Bible reading plan, with all summaries so far, can be found here. My appeal for the resolution to read your Bibles is here.
September 18 chronological reading: Ezra 1-3
Ezra 1
v1 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
v2-4 ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.”’
v5-11 “Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods; and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Now this was their number: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates; 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles. All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.”
Ezra 2
v1-35 “Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city. These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172; the sons of Shephatiah, 372; the sons of Arah, 775; the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812; the sons of Elam, 1,254; the sons of Zattu, 945; the sons of Zaccai, 760;10 the sons of Bani, 642; the sons of Bebai, 623; the sons of Azgad, 1,222; the sons of Adonikam, 666; the sons of Bigvai, 2,056; the sons of Adin, 454; the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98; the sons of Bezai, 323; the sons of Jorah, 112; the sons of Hashum, 223; the sons of Gibbar, 95; the men of Bethlehem, 123; the men of Netophah, 56; the men of Anathoth, 128; the sons of Azmaveth, 42; the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743; the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621; the men of Michmas,122; the men of Bethel and Ai, 223; 29 the sons of Nebo, 52; 30 the sons of Magbish, 156;31 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254; the sons of Harim, 320; the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725; the men of Jericho, 345; the sons of Senaah, 3,630.
v36-39 “The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973; the sons of Immer,1,052; the sons of Pashhur, 1,247; the sons of Harim, 1,017.
v40-42 “The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, in all 139.
v43-54 “The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.
v55-57 “The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Ami.
v58 “All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
v59-60 “Now these are those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan and Immer, but they were not able to give evidence of their fathers’ households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 652.
v61-63 “Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name. These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.
v64-67 “The whole assembly numbered 42,360, besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337; and they had 200 singing men and women. Their horses were 736; their mules, 245; their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.
v68-69 “Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.
v70 “Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.”
Ezra 3
v1-7 “Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required; and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the LORD. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
v8-9 “Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.
v10-13 “Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel. They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, ‘For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.’ 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. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.”
September 18 OT/NT readings: Ecclesiastes 4-6, 2 Corinthians 10
We are reading Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament reading plan. We first read Ecclesiastes 4-6 in the chronological reading plan on Day 170.
We are reading the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians in the New Testament reading plan. Paul went to Corinth during his second missionary journey (see timeline of the book of Acts). It was the first place he remained for any length of time (18 months) until a disturbance was formed against him and he moved on. He had met Romans Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth, and he took them with him to Ephesus and left them there while he returned to Antioch. He returned to Ephesus at the beginning of his third missionary journey, staying over 2 years. He wrote what we know as the first letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus. 1 Corinthians 5:9 refers to a previous letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians and 1 Corinthians 7:1 refers to their writing a letter in return, containing questions he addresses in this letter.
During his time in Ephesus, when he wrote what we know as his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul resolved to travel through Macedonia and Greece to take a contribution to the saints in Jerusalem. He spoke about this collection in the last chapter of 1 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians was written during these travels at the end of his third missionary journey. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:1, “This is the third time I am coming to you,” so there was another visit by Paul to Corinth about which we don’t have details.
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians reprimanding them for divisions in the church, immorality, and incorrect handling of communion. He knows the reprimand of his letter caused sorrow. As I mentioned above, we get clues from his letter that he visited Corinth after he wrote it, with more reprimand causing further sorrow. He refers to the persecution he and those with him in Asia (Ephesus) endured, such that they despaired “even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:18), sealing his plan to leave Ephesus to travel through Macedonia and Greece. He had planned to go to Corinth (Greece) first, but decided not to return again and cause the Corinthians further sorrow. He is able to see a purpose in both his sorrow and theirs, declaring that the comfort we receive from God in our afflictions helps us comfort others in their afflictions. He explains the Corinthians should forgive the now repentant person who inspired his rebuke. He testifies of victory even in trying circumstances during his travels, making sure credit does not go to himself, but to the triune God. He explains that the ministry of the New Covenant, enabled by the Holy Spirit, is more glorious than the Old, and gives hope and boldness. He reminds that we can have confidence in a clear explanation of the gospel and should not veil it in any way. Those who do not understand it have had their minds blinded by the god of this world. He reminds that any power and effectiveness in ministry is due the work of the triune God in us. He reminds us to focus not on temporal affliction but eternal glory. We know by faith and not by sight, with God giving us His Spirit as a pledge, that once we are absent from the body, we will be home with the Lord, clothed in immortality. We aspire to be pleasing to Him, knowing we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that we can be recompensed for our deeds, whether good or bad. We know the fear of the Lord and we are controlled by the love of Christ, so we no longer live for ourselves but for Christ, who has committed to us the word of reconciliation. As his ambassadors, we appeal to others to be reconciled to God. Paul addresses those who, “take pride in appearance and not in heart.” Following Christ is not easy. May we not receive the grace of God in vain. May we not be bound with unbelievers. May we “cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Titus has visited the church in Corinth and brought a good report to Paul regarding their repentance and love for him. Paul gives them an update on the generous contribution to the saints in Jerusalem that he is receiving from the churches in Macedonia and encourages them to fulfill their commitment to this contribution.
In chapter 9 yesterday, Paul shares that he has confidence in the Corinthians’ generosity in the collection for the saints in Jerusalem and has been boasting about their generosity to other Macedonians. He still writes to them, and plans to send Titus and another brother, in advance of his visit “in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared” so that their contribution “would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.” He then encourages with important lessons on giving: “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed….He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 10
v1-6 “Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
v7-11 “You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.’ Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
v12-18 “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.”
Dear Lord,
in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia….“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem”
Help us to be in awe at the fulfillment of Your word, and may it give us confidence in Your promises. You have spoken and You will do it.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
May this be true of us. You have given us everything necessary for life and godliness. May we take hold of what You have given us, willingly submitting our entire lives to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"May this be true of us. You have given us everything necessary for life and godliness. May we take hold of what You have given us, willingly submitting our entire lives to You." Amen. Thank you Dr. Milhoan. Peace.