When the Jews, who had returned from Babylon, entered... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2023

Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they (the children of Israel) set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD.
Ezra 3:3.

When the Jews, who had returned from Babylon, entered their home town of Jerusalem, a desolate scene of devastation met their eyes. Seventy years previously the soldiers of the new Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had made a thorough job of the destruction. How forlorn they must have felt amid all those ruins. And it may have been the first time they became properly aware that the present inhabitants of the land regarded them as hostile intruders. It was a precarious situation.

What do believers do in such a situation? What would we do? Do we realise what a threat these dangers pose? Or have we already come to terms with God’s enemies? How did the believers react then? They sought their God precisely in the way He wished. What mattered to them was finding God’s approval and attending to His commandments.

They re-instituted the service of sacrifices and started with the burnt offering. Didn’t they propose getting on good terms with their opponents and looking for allies? Such thoughts were clearly far from them. They spoke with God from the place that He had appointed. For us today it would be speaking to Him of Christ who had been totally dedicated to Him. They put God and His interest first.

The message for us is: seek fellowship with the Father and the Son. This gives us tremendous, lasting joy. This is something worth experiencing. The Holy Spirit will undoubtedly lead us to this end. Then enemies, the world, problems and other things recede into the background.

Today’s reading: Daniel 2:1-16 · Psalms 37:30-40