daily reading 15.5 (Ezra 1:1–4)

5-days-a-week through Daniel and other late OT books in 2023

Our opening prayer for this glorious Easter week:

Lord, you have heard your Servant’s cry, And rescued from the grave.
Now he shall live, and none can die, If God has sworn to save.

This is the day the Lord has made; He calls the hours his own.
Let heaven rejoice; let earth be glad And praise surround the throne.

Today he rose and left the dead, And Satan’s empire fell;
Today the saints his triumphs spread And all his wonders tell.

Hosanna to th’ anointed King, To David’s holy Son!
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring Salvation from the throne.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, who came With messages of grace,
Who came in God the Father’s name To save our sinful race.

Hosanna in the highest strains The church on earth shall raise;
The highest heavens, in which he reigns, Shall give him nobler praise.
Amen.

Ezra 1:1–4

  • "In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD roused the spirit of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:
  • 2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.
  • 3 Any of his people among you, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
  • 4 Let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem."
Helpful notes on Ezra 1:1–4


The Cyrus Cylinder



















For yourself pray:

  • That on the last day God gives you a place in his new Jerusalem, for Jesus' sake

For others pray:

  • That God uses heathen rulers to serve his purposes

A psalm to listen to, as time allows:


 



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