May 3, 2025 - Ezra 1-2

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” (1:1), and Cyrus ruled that the people of Israel could return to Jerusalem.  This was fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 25) that the exile would last 70 years.  How long did it last?  70 years, of course!  The Lord had spoken through his prophet, and the prophecy would surely come to pass.  Over and over again in the Scriptures, we read “that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled” or some phrase like that.  We could name prophecy after prophecy that is fulfilled but perhaps that which so quickly comes to mind is reported by Matthew:  “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:21-23)

And, of course, all the Old Testament prophecies were preparing the way for and pointing toward this event, the birth of Messiah.  And, of course, this birth itself is the promised descendant of Eve told about in Genesis 3:25.  What a marvelous story!

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.   --Charles Wesley (1744)