Morning by Morning, October 19 - The Destiny of a Destroyed Nation Restored Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look and listen, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ... There was a time when the nation of Israel was under siege, and they were judged for the sins of the people and of their leaders when the armies of Babylon came and destroyed their temple and their nation. There was a time of great suffering in their exile. But there was also a time of great prayer and travail in the hearts of the intercessors, like the prophet Daniel, who would not let it go and would not give up on Your plans and purposes for the nation (Daniel 9:1-27). You heard their prayers and even began to move in the hearts of rulers of the world to make a way for restoration of what was lost. We see a record in Scripture of the earthly decree that released from the courts of heaven: “Then King Darius made a decree, and they searched the archives where the documents were stored in Babylon. But it was in Ecbatana, the capital in the province of Media, that a scroll was found on which this was written: ‘A record. In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought; its height shall be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three courses of hewn stones and one course of timber; let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. Moreover, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God that Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon be restored and brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God” (Ezra 6:3-5). Just as You turn the hearts of rulers, You turned the destiny of the nation. You made room for restoration. You made provision for Your purposes. Against all odds. When all seemed lost. You broke through to give Your people another chance in their nation. “Then, according to the word sent by King Darius, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what King Darius had ordered. So the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia, and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius” (v. 13-15). It was “by command of the God of Israel” and also “the prophesying of the prophet” and building work of “the elders” along with the “decree” of world rulers -- all fashioned together in Your time and in Your way according to Your will -- that this time of restoration and reversal of the destiny of the nation came to pass and the work was “finished.” This move of God carried out by the hand of God moving in the hearts of people and leaders in miraculous ways was for “the rebuilding of this house of God” that had been destroyed (v. 8). And when the work was finished, there was a time of joyful celebration: “The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy!” (v. 16). They remembered the day of their great deliverance from Egypt through the day of Passover and the celebrated this restoration of their nation that was no less miraculous: “On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the Passover. For both the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and also by all who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to seek the Lord, the God of Israel. With joy they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel” (v. 19-22). O God, move in our hearts today. Move in the hearts of world leaders and those in authority today. Move miraculously to restore the heart of our nation, to redeem us from our sins and failures, and to fulfill the destiny of all that is in Your heart to do through our land and through our hearts. Even now, before we see it fulfilled with our eyes, despite whatever darkness or battles we must go through, fill our hearts with joy for all that You will do. Can You do it? Will You do it? What comes to my heart is the cry of the heart of another praying prophet with a passion for his nation: “Listen, a roar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, dealing retribution to his enemies! Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor she delivered her children!” (Isaiah 66:6-8) Lord, let it be so -- here in our hearts and here in our land. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be moved in your heart to pray for the restoration of what has been destroyed and all that is to be restored for the fulfillment of the plans and purposes of God for you and your nation, in Jesus' name. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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