Monday, May 17 - Ezra 1-4

Welcome to the chapter of Ezra!  We are back at it...full force!
Today's reading discussed Cyrus, king of Persia.  He sent a letter to all the people and asked those that loved the Lord to return to Jerusalem and help rebuild the altar of the Lord.  Many of the people returned and started the building process.  I really admire these people.  They worshipped the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings, even though there were others that didn't believe in what they were doing.  They didn't shy away from God in order to be "liked" by other people.  They also continued to worship God before the altar of the Lord was complete.  It didn't matter to them that the temple was still in the process of being built.  It helps solidify that a person can worship God in many different places. 
However, the reading from today doesn't go off without a hitch.  As the people of Jerusalem are praising God saying, "He is good; His love to Israel endures forever,"  the enemies of Judah and Benjamin were plotting against them.  The enemies sent a letter to King Artaxerxes informing him that the Jews were re-building the "wicked" city of Jerusalem.  After investigating, King Artaxerxes sent word that the Jews should not be rebuilding the city until he gives them permission.  The enemies used force to stop the people of Jerusalem from re-building the temple and the work was stopped immediately.