Today's Daily Bread

THE EXILE AND RETURN

Date : Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Passage : 2Chronicles 36:15~23
Keyverse : 23  
15
The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.
16
But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.
17
He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.
18
He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials.
19
They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
20
He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.
21
The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.
22
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
23
"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "’The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.’"
Finally, there was no remedy for all the idolatry committed by Israel except for God to take away the land he had given them as an inheritance. Nebuchadnezzar was a cruel, godless king who did not spare young or old, men or women (17). The temple in Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, as a visual demonstration to the people of how they had forsaken God (19).

However, this was not the end of God’s good purpose for his people. A remnant of Israel was not killed but was taken into exile in Babylon, where they could understand the sorrow of living apart from God’s presence. This remnant looked powerless, and their situation seemed hopeless; but then God raised up the Persians and King Cyrus (22). A Gentile ruler commanded the Israelites to return to Judah and build a new temple for the Lord! (23) It was a resurrection miracle, showing that anything is possible with God. Nothing could stop God from fulfilling his salvation plan, ultimately by sending Jesus to us.

The most devastating and painful events in our life are really opportunities to learn resurrection faith. No matter what, we must not lose hope; we must remember that nothing is too difficult for God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your discipline for your people, which is for our good. Help me believe that you can restore us from any loss.
One Word: God can bring us back