The amazing intricacy of God's work - Ezra 6:1-2

Strange verses to highlight? No. God had sent the exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city, but difficulties had arisen and the hearts of the people had strayed. But now, through Haggai and Zechariah, God had told them to start work again. It was going well,. but then opposition arose again. But, in explaining what they were doing, they mentioned that King Cyrus had commanded them to rebuild. In previous years the investigation that was then requested by the opponents would have generated only opposition. But Darius had become King (v1), and the Persians had taken Babylon in such a way that all records had been preserved. And more, he had seen Daniel's witness, had seen God's power and so he ordered a proper investigation. Just as well ... although he ordered the archives in Babylon to be checked (v1), it was further away that the documents were found (v2). And so the work was not only able to continue but given total authority.

What we see is the intricacy of God's work. His timing in bringing His word to the prophets, His work in softening the hearts of the returned exiles, bringing repentance and a commitment to do the work of God, His placing of Daniel for Darius, His work in Darius' heart, His working so that the documents were found even though not in the place they were ordered to look, and His enabling and enpowering of work on the Temple and Jerusalem. All this came together 'at just the right time'. The opposition that looked like disaster God used for His purposes. He had put all the pieces in place at the right time to completely work out His will.

Facing things that look like a problem? Seems like God is not working as you would wish? Being faithful to God but not seeing quite what He is doing? All these are Ok ... God is on His throne and working out all things well!

Three Points of Comfort in God - Psalm 75:1-2,9

In a time of panic, God's people have every reason to react entirely differently. These verses help us see how. There are three good reasons given:

1. 'Your Name is near' ... We have a God who has made Himself known to us, has revealed His love towards us in Jesus, and covenanted His love towards us ... He will never leave us nor forsake us, and we are hidden within the stronghold of His love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This is His perfect love that drives out fear.

2. 'People tell of your wonderful deeds' ... He is a God who works in mighty ways. He has told us that He will shake the nations so that the desired of all nations will come into His Kingdom. He does this through many means, even through the fallenness of this world. He is sovereign God. Like Jesus, resting in a boat in the middle of a storm, we can rest in God's sovereign purpose and authority.

3. 'I choose the appointed time' ... We have a God who rules over all of time. The Psalmist in Ps139 reminds us that every day ordained for us was planned before one of them came to be. Our times are in His hands. He has numbered our days. Our life will not end until the time He has ordained. But this verse also speaks of the time of God's judgement. That reminds us that it is God who ordains even that final time and that even then, if we are in Christ, all God's just anger over our rebellion has been spent on Jesus - we are the redeemed. So, whatever the times are, we are secure in Him and need not fear.

There is one result of knowing all this in Jesus ... The Psalm starts and ends with praise. Even in the worst circumstances, God's people can be a people of praise because we know the certainty of God's love, power and authority. So, let's be the people we ought to be in Christ even when all around us fear.