Restoration
Most great civilizations at one time or another face a certain tragedy from which their actions on particular matters can have a significant bearing on the future. For our country one such moment took place ten years ago when we faced the most horrific act of war on our soil since the Civil War. At times of tragedy, such as that, we have the opportunity to act in such a way to restore a way of life that seemed to be altered. In a span of a decade, we have found little restoration even in the face of justice to our enemies. Things will never be quite the same as they were on September 10, 20o1.
When we think about national tragedies in this light, and when we draw our attention to the narrative of Scripture, we come to the end of the Kings-Chronicles era of history that ends in absolute tragedy and the overthrow and capture of Judah. Life was not the same for the Jews who were dispersed in Assyria and Babylon. Yet in the dawn of the Persian empire, we find a second chance by God’s grace for His people. They return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and to return to a way of life that marked their very existence as God’s chosen people. Life was not exactly rosy after the temple was rebuilt and the wall was erected. Neither were as great as the original. So how do the people act? How do they reconcile a current reality with the national tragedy that befell them years before. This is the subject of Ezra-Nehemiah. Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah each play a role in the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. They have a new opportunity of life, albeit in a very controlled, benevolent dictatorial way, but, nonetheless a new chance to rebuild the familiar. God’s graciousness is at work here. His relentless faithfulness to these people is astounding. God worked it out so His people would return and the long awaited Messiah could fulfill the prophecies of old. Even though life was different for the Jews, their independence was gone, God still brought about His wonderful purpose in Jesus Christ.
God’s dedication to His people is wonderfully good and unmerited. When reading Ezra-Nehemiah, we see a people who come back to rebuild, and like usual, they get off track. It seems they are faithful for awhile, but sinfulness corrupts. Even though we see faithlessness, apathy, sin and even hedonism, we see a God who nonetheless is determined to keep His covenant promise with David to bring about the Messiah in his lineage. When we tie ourselves to the reality of what God is doing in His church, we find ourselves marked by similar characteristics. However, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are a new creation living under grace that should afford us the desire to be like Christ. Christ is everything to us including an example of personal sacrifice and devotion that is rarely mimicked in His followers. Be Christ-like in Christ’s body (the church) for Christ’s sake.
