Ezra 8-10 Reviving and the steadfast love of God

May 23rd, Ezra 8-10

       First off I want to let people know that I am rounding up some people to be guest bloggers on Fridays. Tomorrow my sister is going to take her turn. I hope you enjoy the fresh perspective of some other voices as we move through the Bible together this year.
       As for today, I always enjoy statements of honesty. Especially when the statement didn't need to be made. A caravan of Levites is coming to town and there is prayer and fasting for a safe journey. In that day and age a journey could be a treacherous thing.
       The honesty comes when when the writer proclaims his shame in asking the King for a band of soldiers for protection because he's already made the following claim..."The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."
       If God is so powerful then you don't need an army for protection right? This is where our beliefs step into practice. We say we trust God, but an army of soldiers, would that be a better guarantee? In our head we say no, as we head out from the safety of the fortified wall we say, "GOD HELP US!!!"
       It's a great place to be. Thanks to the writer for expressing what we all feel, so we know we are normal.
       I also enjoyed chapter 9:8-9. It feels a little like the movie Shawshank Redemption. A group of guys get to do manual labor with their buddies on the rooftop and feel a little like free men instead of the prisoners that they are. "But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and give us a secure hold within his holy place, that God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. We are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair it's ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem."

       I pray that in the middle of your work for the Lord that you too can sense some reviving and the steadfast love of God.