Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Nov 6 2019 - Ezra 1 – The exiles begin their return

The Babylonian empire was succeeded by the even more powerful and extensive Persian empire when Cyrus the Great captured Babylon in 539 BC. The Babylonians had sought to consolidate their empire by taking captive the key population of the countries they defeated and transporting them to Babylon. Cyrus pursued a very different policy. He sent the exiles back to their own countries to live in accordance with their own customs and traditions though they would continue to owe allegiance to Cyrus as their great king. (This decree can be seen engraved on the Cyrus Cylinder now housed in the British Museum.)

Ezra records the decree which freed the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem. Cyrus was ready to help them to rebuild the temple so that they could worship their God – the God of Jerusalem – in the way he had ordained. Cyrus even demanded that any neighbours of returning Jews should help them on their way by giving them gifts of silver and gold – echoing the way in which the Israelites were given silver and gold by their Egyptian neighbours when God brought them out of slavery in Egypt (see Exodus 12:35-36). So we read that:

The family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings. (Ezra 1:5-6).

We should note that many Jews stayed behind, preferring to remain where they were in the Persian Empire and even to serve in its civil administration as Daniel and his friends had done in Babylon (see the books of Nehemiah and Esther).

Ezra teaches us afresh that the Lord God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is sovereign ruler over all the world. He moves the hearts of kings to serve him, even though they do not acknowledge him as the only real God. God is at work to fulfil his promises and to bring his people back from exile to the land he had promised to give them.

The Lord was at work also through the rulers of the Roman Empire when Jesus was handed over to them and crucified as a threat to the might of Rome. They pursued self-serving policies of their own and yet through their actions accomplished what God had purposed, planned and prophesied.

And God is still working out his own purposes through all the twists and turns of human history.

God is working his purpose out,
as year succeeds to year,
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

Father God, we see a world around us that seems to be marked by chaos and confusion. We are often filled with fears concerning the future; fears for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. Help us to lift our eyes above the clamour of the angry voices that compete for power in our day – voices that often cause us alarm – to see that you are still God and that our risen and triumphant Saviour is King of kings and Lord of lords. Help us by your Spirit to serve your purposes in our own generation and to see your kingdom extended and your name praised.

Nov 6 2020 - John 6:1-21 – They saw Jesus approaching

It had been a hard day for the disciples. They had ministered to the needs of as many as ten thousand people and had cleared up the mess left after their picnic. And while they were busy clearing up and sending the people off home, Jesus had cleared off to spend time by himself somewhere up the mountain. As night fell and it began to get cold, the disciples had decided to go home to Capernaum. They got back into the boat and began to row across the lake. But by the time they had got to the middle of the lake they were being tossed about by a violent storm. They were alone and in the dark.

But a three or four mile stretch of rough water could not prevent Jesus from coming to the aid of his disciples: "They saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading" (John 6:19-21).

There are times when the going is rough; times when we seem to struggle through the day and maybe even through the night making little headway; times when the Saviour seems far from us. We need the assurance that there is nothing that can keep him from us. In our times of deepest trial he is right there with us, encouraging us with the words, "'It is I; do not be afraid."

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39, New Living Translation)

Yet there are many times when we do not feel that Christ is close; do not feel that his love surrounds us. We feel abandoned and alone; left to clear up the mess made by others while Jesus has gone off into a place of peace and safety. It is at such times that we need to remember that his ascension into heaven is not an abandonment of us; he is no longer with us bodily, precisely that he might be with us in the presence and power of his Spirit.

Paul encourages the young Christians in Thessalonica with the words, “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one… May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:3,5). God’s strength and protection are ours as we persevere in following Christ. But we have strength to persevere only as our hearts are turned towards God in seeking to understand and appreciate his love for us. The habit of the directed heart will teach us to be conscious of Christ’s presence with us, even in the time of trial.

Holy Spirit, Spirit of the risen Saviour, direct my heart to fasten upon God’s love for me in Christ that I may go on following him. And when the road is rough and steep, or the storms threaten to overwhelm me, help me to fix my eyes on Jesus and to know his strength in my weakness.

Peter Misselbrook