A couple of years ago I made a pivot in my Bible study plan. Instead of reading through the entire Bible over the course of the year, I decided to study an entire book (or books) over the course of the year. Don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with reading the Bible cover to cover throughout the year. It’s a good discipline, and I plan to return to that model at some point. I just wanted to try to slow down and let my soul simmer in a book for an extended period.
A few years ago, I purchased, at a very discounted Southern Baptist Convention rate, the CSB Scripture Notebook set. Each book of the Bible has its own individual notebook. The text is on the right side of the page, and the left side has space for notes. I read a chapter or two a day, make some notes as I prayerfully read the text, then consult a commentary that is more devotional than academic, from the “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus” series.
This year I plan to rotate between selected books from the Old and New Testaments. I hope to slowly read and learn from an Old Testament book, then move over to the New Testament and spend some time walking through one of those books.
This morning, I began to work through Ezra, and, as usual, the Lord used today’s reading to meet me right where I am on my walk with him, and to remind me of a truth to which I need to cling.
As the book opens, we read these words: “In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of King Cyrus…” (1:1). Roused means “stirred up,” which has the idea of moving someone to action.
A few decades before Ezra, God had delivered some bad news to his people. Because of their stubborn, systemic, and incessant sin, they would be handed over to their enemies, the Babylonians. Amid that bad news there was a glimmer of hope. God also promised that their banishment would not last forever, and that they would be able to return to the land from which they were expelled.
As Ezra opens, the circumstances don’t seem too favorable for that good promise to be realized. There’s a new power in charge. Persia had dethroned the Babylonians. And there’s a new kid on the block. King Cyrus is in his first year, ready to flex his muscles.
The Persians weren’t very pastoral. They were pagans who did not worship Jehovah. They had no tenderness or kindness to extend to the captives they inherited. If anything, the new king of a new world power would likely flaunt his greatness and show people the power he possessed.
“…the Lord roused the spirit of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation…”
Unbelievably, that proclamation gave the Israelites permission to return to Judah if they desired to do so, just as God had promised. The Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus “in order to fulfill the word of the Lord.”
“A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.” (Proverbs 21:1). No prince, prime minister, or president can supersede God’s power or nullify God’s promise.
In fact, God will use his power to fulfill and keep his promises.
In Ezra 1:2 we see the fulfillment of a promise given in Isaiah 44:28.
In Ezra 1:3 we see the fulfillment of a promise given in Jeremiah 16:15.
In Ezra 1:4 we see the fulfillment of a promise given in Isaiah 48:20.
In Ezra 1:8 we see the fulfillment of a promise given in Jeremiah 27:21-22.
It bears repeating: God will use his power to fulfill and keep his promises.
I don’t know what lies ahead in these 365 days we have charted for 2026. What I do know is that there will be days spent on top of the mountain and days spent down in the valley. I know there will be some curves along the way that we don’t see right now. I know that some days there will be a lingering fog that will make it difficult to see. I know there will be joyous moments, as well as some difficult ones scattered throughout the year. I know that “A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).
And I know that God will use his power to fulfill and keep his promises.
Maybe we should ask God to rouse our spirits as well.
The View From My Pew 