58. FINDING COMFORT IN REPENTANCEIf repentance changed the fate of a nation, could it change yours?
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Do you believe this statement?
"Humility and repentance are able to win more battles than pride and fighting for one’s rights.”
How many times have you seen families fall apart because the husband, wife, brother, sister, or cousins couldn’t bring themselves to say, “I am sorry.”
So many employers have lost good employees because one or the other wouldn’t humble themselves to say, “You were right, I was wrong.”
In fact whole nations go to war and millenniums of bloodshed have ravaged the world because people won’t repent and say, “I am sorry.” It takes courage to apologize and to accept an apology when given. In this lesson we will witness something very unusual, a nation that repents. The results are beautiful.
First let's start with a modern story that will help us gain perspective for the scriptural narrative.
It was a beautiful spring day in May of 2005. Ismet, his wife and two teenage girls took the metro to the center of Berlin, where thou- sands of other German citizens gathered for speeches and a time of remembering. Ismet who was born in Van moved to Berlin after he gained employment with a washing machine manufacturer.
The day’s festivities marked the sixty year anniversary of the end of World War II. Ismet and his family planned ahead suspecting it would be crowded and they arrived almost two hours before the event. Fortunately, they found good seats near the front. His wife had prepared some börek and brought tea in a thermos. So they passed the time in grand Turkish style.
Once the event began and he heard the speeches of the leaders, Ismet was surprised at his own emotions. He had suspected a lot of political rhetoric. Instead he found men who were honestly confessing the wrong that they and their country had done in the War. On a large stage where local leaders sat, a huge video screen suddenly ickered on transmitting a live broadcast from the nation's parliament.
First the president, Mr. Köhler, stood up and said,
"We Germans look back with shock and shame at World War II, which was unleashed by Germany, and at the Holocaust, which was a breakdown of civilization for which Germans are responsible.”
This was followed by similar speeches stressing Germany's responsibility for starting a war that they said, “turned Europe into a mass graveyard.”
As Ismet and his wife rode the subway home that day, they soberly discussed how unusual it was to hear a nation profess it's guilt. Is- met always felt proud to be a Turk and he always would. But for the rst time in his life, he also felt proud to be a German. He ques- tioned himself,
“Why would I feel such pride to belong to a country like Germany who had committed such cruelties?” He thought, “Certainly life here is orderly and the people have cleverly designed the cities.
But my feeling is not about ease or comfort. No, it is something else. Today I felt proud to hear my leaders confess.”
He rolled this question over in his mind all evening.
The next morning while his daughters were getting ready for school, he heard a conversation between the two of them through the door of the bathroom. One of them apologized to the other for using a hair brush without asking. A smile spread across his face as he heard the second sister kindly forgive the rst. He felt a twinge of fatherly pride when his girls worked out their problem in such a civil manner. Suddenly, his question from the day before came back to his mind. He concluded that the sense of national pride he felt towards Germany was linked to the noble integrity necessary for honest confession.
Ismet would say that day in the park was a turning point for him.
“I realized that if a nation can be more respectable because it can confess, apologize, and remove it’s shame, then certainly I can be a better man, employer, father, and husband by doing the same.”
Confession, repentance, and heartfelt sorrow are powerful changers of fate. In this lesson we will see the remarkable things God is able to do when men have a humble spirit and cooperate with Him.
For hundreds of years, the nation of Israel was not cooperating with God. They weren't even looking to Him for guidance. The result was that their city was in ruins and their people scattered. God had allowed them to be conquered by Babylon because of their idolatry. After reaching rock bottom, there was only one thing that could change their situation, repentance.
After almost 70 years of captivity, Daniel was now an old man. In Daniel chapter 9, he tells us that he was studying the book of Jer- emiah. This shows us that even prophets take time to read and contemplate the writings of other prophets! While studying he learned that Israel’s captivity was about to end. Jeremiah had prophesied that after 70 years, the Israelites would be set free. Filled with hope Daniel began to pray and confess the sins of his people. Let's read a portion of that prayer in Daniel chapter 9 verses 4-6 and 17:
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.
Daniel was repenting for his nation. Over 200 years before this, the Prophet Isaiah had written that King Cyrus of Persia would restore the Israelites to their homeland. The Prophet Daniel had read the prophecies of Isaiah regarding the Persian emperor and was deter- mined to show him the sacred book. According to Josephus, the rst century historian, it was Daniel who brought the scriptures to Cyrus' attention. Let's read the verse where Cyrus is mentioned by name in Isaiah chapter 45 verse 13:
13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward says the LORD Almighty.
Can you imagine the emperor’s surprise when he saw his own name on that ancient scroll? Surely it had to be a humbling experience. His empire stretched from the deserts of Iran in the east to the coasts of Asia Minor. And yet, he was still subject to God's will. Let' read his response in Ezra chapter 1 verses 2 and 3:
2 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. 3 Anyone of his people among you- may his God be with him, and
let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
This decree took place in 537 B.C. It was a tremendous moment for God’s people, a royal decree to return to their homeland. In addition they were supplied with enough gold, silver, and materials to rebuild their beloved temple! It was an amazing day. Now they knew how their ancestors felt when they had left Egypt.
Thousands traveled from Babylon back to Jerusalem. After getting settled in homes the first thing they did was build an altar for sacri- ces. Let's read about it in Ezra chapter 3 verses 1-3:
1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
The most important words in verse 2 are “in accordance with what was written in the Law of Moses.” They studied the word of God, found God’s directions for worship, and they obeyed what it said. In spite of being afraid of their neighbors, they were determined to live according to God’s word and ful ll the prophecy laid out in Daniel 9. They were preparing the way for the Messiah. Let us not forget that the altar of sacri ce wasn't just a place to burn animals, it was a place of repentence and a symbol of salvation.
Shortly thereafter, they set to work building a new temple. The money Cyrus had given was used to buy lumber from the forests of
Lebanon. Finally, almost two years after their arrival, the foundation was completed and all the people gathered to celebrate. It was a very emotional moment, listen to the description in Ezra chapter 3 verses 10-13:
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: He is good; his love to Israel endures for ever. And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
The sound was heard far away! Shouts of joy and sounds of weeping lled the air. It was a special day for everyone. The old men even wept. They remembered the glory of Solomon's temple and it's destruction. They, more than anyone else, remembered what had caused their captivity.
Not long after this, some enemies of Judah came and attempted to stop the work on the temple. Their devious efforts are described in Ezra chapter 4 verse 4 and 5:
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and 5 bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
For almost 13 years no work was done on the temple. It was just a bare foundation. But God raised up an amazing team of leaders,
each with unique skills and talents to finish the work. The Bible describes them in Ezra 5 verses 1 and 2:
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
Through the vigilant prayers and efforts of these men, God again provided a miracle in the pagan courts. He inspired the Persian king Darius to renew Cyrus' commandment and eliminate those who would impede the rebuilding of the temple. After years of waiting and work, the temple was rebuilt. We can read about it in Ezra chap- ter 6 verses 14-16:
14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They nished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Per- sia; 15 and this house was nished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
This was an unforgettable triumph, but it wasn’t the end of the story. Though the temple had been rebuilt, the city around it was still in ruins. In fact the city walls and all the gates were still broken. Can you imagine how vulnerable they must have felt without any city walls protecting their beautiful temple inlaid with gold and cedar? Not to mention how strange it must have looked to have a beauti- ful place of worship sitting on a heap of rubble! Rocks and wooden beams were strewn everywhere. Likely gece kondos had gone up and squatters were slowly overtaking the city. Thus was the scene for about sixty years after the temple was completed.
Fortunately, God wasn’t nished. After sixty years, God raised up two new spiritual leaders and inspired yet another pagan king, Ar- taxerxes, to make a decree similar to Cyrus'. Immediately upon recieving the decree, a man of God named Ezra took the king's letter and thousands of Jews back to Jerusalem to work on the city in 457 BC. We can read about it in Ezra chapter 7 verses 11-16:
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the command- ments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel: 12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now 13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall nd in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
Over the course of years, Ezra and another godly man named Nehemiah worked hard to restore both the city and its walls. They per- sistently moved ahead in faith against every kind of danger. The neighboring pagan people were determined to stop their progress, but the God of heaven prevailed and they succeeded in rebuilding Jerusalem.
The amazing climax of this saga concludes on a battle field. But not a battle eld with horse, sword, and soldier. It was rather on the battle eld of the human heart. Do you remember the reason why Jerusalem had been destroyed over a hundred years earlier? Why had God allowed it to be pillaged by the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar? God had pleaded with the people through a prophet named Jeremiah to repent from idolatry and other lusts. But they would not repent.
Here are the prophet’s words from Jeremiah chapter 5 verses 1-3:
1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can nd a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her. 2 Though they say, "As the LORD lives," yet they swear falsely. 3 O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.
And now, over a hundred years later they have returned to their homeland and rebuilt their city. The series of events leading up to this day started with Daniel's prayer of repentance. By sweat, blood, and faith the temple was nished, the city rebuilt, and the walls re- paired. One month after the last block had been laid, completing the wall of Jerusalem, the people gathered all together. It was the last holiday in their holy calendar. We can read this amazing moment of reconciliation between God and His people in Nehemiah chapter 8 verses 1-11:
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the rst day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden plat- form that they had made for the purpose.... 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 ....Also the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
Why were the people crying? When the people heard the Tevrat read, the Spirit of God moved powerfully and they were deeply con- victed of their sins. The Law was beautiful and holy. They were weak, de led, and spiritually dirty. They felt shame and sadness for their sins and the sins of previous generations. For over three weeks they gathered every day to hear what Ezra would read to them.
Let's read what happened on the 24th day in Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 1-3:
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.
It was an unusual day. A day when a whole a nation repented! Much like the gathering that Ismet found in Berlin. But this day was much deeper and passed with great tears and heartfelt confessions.
Jerusalem had been physically rebuilt, but now it’s spiritual atmosphere was being rebuilt by the humility of the people . Surely this
was a place where God could live! It was a 180 degree reversal fora nation that had been rebelling against God for hundreds of years. Listen to their prayer of confession in Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 5-8:
5 Then the Levites, said, "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.
It is a beautiful prayer, similar to Daniel’s 160 years earlier when he had repented for his nation. Now the people were living in the midst of the miracle he had prayed for. The prayer climaxes in verses 32- 38:
32 "Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awe-some God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. 38 "Because of all this we make a rm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
Their repentance was so heartfelt, they wanted to write it down and give it to God! They were nally free from the years of shame and guilt. It was a moment of great jubilation. It was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel chapter 9, that they would put an end to sin and create an atmosphere worthy for the Messiah's coming.
A father was growing old. Though not wealthy, he had a career in the military and had obtained several properties over his life. He was making his will and dividing up his inheritance among the children. When the older sister heard of it, greed overcame her and she saw it as a moment to get ahead of her brother. She repeatedly spoke behind her younger brother’s back attempting to persuade the father to leave all of the inheritance in her name. Perhaps because the mother had died many years earlier and the daughter was a reminder of his beloved wife, the father gave in. The younger brother was a very soft spoken man. It bothered him immensely that he would be treated like a step child and not respected by his father or sister. But he did not fight. For the next five years, the inheritance stayed in the older sister’s name.
Whenever she visited the younger brother, her greedy deed was eating away at her conscience. But she tried hard to brush away the guilt because she loved money and really wanted those properties. She was resolved to stick with her decision. Over time her heart became harder and harder, until she no longer even liked herself.
One day, while they were all together the young brother got up the courage to speak,
“My Father, my older sister, how can you treat me in such a way?”
Immediately the sister was lled with anger and began to defend herself. She shouted accusations. But strangely, like a lightning flash in a dark room, she had a moment of clarity. She could see things through her brother’s eyes. It was the Spirit of God giving her the opportunity to repent. In a moment she was faced with a decision: ght or do right? She asked for a moment with the father alone.
In a half hour they came out of the back room. The older sister hugged her brother and began to cry. She apologized and said that she had discussed everything with the father. Everything would be split half and half. It was as if chains were cut from her heart. The act of confessing, apologizing, and then doing the right thing had set her free.
People often attribute wars to "fate". But millenniums of bloodshed have ravaged the world because people won’t repent and say,
“I am sorry.”
In other words, "fate" can be altered by a few small words.
"I was wrong. I am sorry. Forgive me."
It takes courage to apologize and courage to accept a meaningful apology. We may not think that words can be so powerful, but in this lesson we saw that words of repentance change fate.
Discussion Questions
1. Is it possible for a nation to repent today?
2. Reread the text from Jeremiah 5:1-3. What do you think it means that “God is looking for truth?”
3. Three times God moved on pagan emperor's hearts to help his people. King Cyrus, King Darius, and King Artaxerxes, all made
decrees to build up the city of the Great God. Do you think the people's repentant spirit had anything to do with these miracles?
4. Why do you think Ezra and others faced obstacles and opposition when they were clearly doing God’s work? Couldn’t God have
made it easier for them?
5. What are some attitudes or behaviors or motives that God is needing you to repent from? Do you see how a repentant spirit is an
opportunity to be free?
"Humility and repentance are able to win more battles than pride and fighting for one’s rights.”
How many times have you seen families fall apart because the husband, wife, brother, sister, or cousins couldn’t bring themselves to say, “I am sorry.”
So many employers have lost good employees because one or the other wouldn’t humble themselves to say, “You were right, I was wrong.”
In fact whole nations go to war and millenniums of bloodshed have ravaged the world because people won’t repent and say, “I am sorry.” It takes courage to apologize and to accept an apology when given. In this lesson we will witness something very unusual, a nation that repents. The results are beautiful.
First let's start with a modern story that will help us gain perspective for the scriptural narrative.
It was a beautiful spring day in May of 2005. Ismet, his wife and two teenage girls took the metro to the center of Berlin, where thou- sands of other German citizens gathered for speeches and a time of remembering. Ismet who was born in Van moved to Berlin after he gained employment with a washing machine manufacturer.
The day’s festivities marked the sixty year anniversary of the end of World War II. Ismet and his family planned ahead suspecting it would be crowded and they arrived almost two hours before the event. Fortunately, they found good seats near the front. His wife had prepared some börek and brought tea in a thermos. So they passed the time in grand Turkish style.
Once the event began and he heard the speeches of the leaders, Ismet was surprised at his own emotions. He had suspected a lot of political rhetoric. Instead he found men who were honestly confessing the wrong that they and their country had done in the War. On a large stage where local leaders sat, a huge video screen suddenly ickered on transmitting a live broadcast from the nation's parliament.
First the president, Mr. Köhler, stood up and said,
"We Germans look back with shock and shame at World War II, which was unleashed by Germany, and at the Holocaust, which was a breakdown of civilization for which Germans are responsible.”
This was followed by similar speeches stressing Germany's responsibility for starting a war that they said, “turned Europe into a mass graveyard.”
As Ismet and his wife rode the subway home that day, they soberly discussed how unusual it was to hear a nation profess it's guilt. Is- met always felt proud to be a Turk and he always would. But for the rst time in his life, he also felt proud to be a German. He ques- tioned himself,
“Why would I feel such pride to belong to a country like Germany who had committed such cruelties?” He thought, “Certainly life here is orderly and the people have cleverly designed the cities.
But my feeling is not about ease or comfort. No, it is something else. Today I felt proud to hear my leaders confess.”
He rolled this question over in his mind all evening.
The next morning while his daughters were getting ready for school, he heard a conversation between the two of them through the door of the bathroom. One of them apologized to the other for using a hair brush without asking. A smile spread across his face as he heard the second sister kindly forgive the rst. He felt a twinge of fatherly pride when his girls worked out their problem in such a civil manner. Suddenly, his question from the day before came back to his mind. He concluded that the sense of national pride he felt towards Germany was linked to the noble integrity necessary for honest confession.
Ismet would say that day in the park was a turning point for him.
“I realized that if a nation can be more respectable because it can confess, apologize, and remove it’s shame, then certainly I can be a better man, employer, father, and husband by doing the same.”
Confession, repentance, and heartfelt sorrow are powerful changers of fate. In this lesson we will see the remarkable things God is able to do when men have a humble spirit and cooperate with Him.
For hundreds of years, the nation of Israel was not cooperating with God. They weren't even looking to Him for guidance. The result was that their city was in ruins and their people scattered. God had allowed them to be conquered by Babylon because of their idolatry. After reaching rock bottom, there was only one thing that could change their situation, repentance.
After almost 70 years of captivity, Daniel was now an old man. In Daniel chapter 9, he tells us that he was studying the book of Jer- emiah. This shows us that even prophets take time to read and contemplate the writings of other prophets! While studying he learned that Israel’s captivity was about to end. Jeremiah had prophesied that after 70 years, the Israelites would be set free. Filled with hope Daniel began to pray and confess the sins of his people. Let's read a portion of that prayer in Daniel chapter 9 verses 4-6 and 17:
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.
Daniel was repenting for his nation. Over 200 years before this, the Prophet Isaiah had written that King Cyrus of Persia would restore the Israelites to their homeland. The Prophet Daniel had read the prophecies of Isaiah regarding the Persian emperor and was deter- mined to show him the sacred book. According to Josephus, the rst century historian, it was Daniel who brought the scriptures to Cyrus' attention. Let's read the verse where Cyrus is mentioned by name in Isaiah chapter 45 verse 13:
13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward says the LORD Almighty.
Can you imagine the emperor’s surprise when he saw his own name on that ancient scroll? Surely it had to be a humbling experience. His empire stretched from the deserts of Iran in the east to the coasts of Asia Minor. And yet, he was still subject to God's will. Let' read his response in Ezra chapter 1 verses 2 and 3:
2 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. 3 Anyone of his people among you- may his God be with him, and
let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
This decree took place in 537 B.C. It was a tremendous moment for God’s people, a royal decree to return to their homeland. In addition they were supplied with enough gold, silver, and materials to rebuild their beloved temple! It was an amazing day. Now they knew how their ancestors felt when they had left Egypt.
Thousands traveled from Babylon back to Jerusalem. After getting settled in homes the first thing they did was build an altar for sacri- ces. Let's read about it in Ezra chapter 3 verses 1-3:
1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
The most important words in verse 2 are “in accordance with what was written in the Law of Moses.” They studied the word of God, found God’s directions for worship, and they obeyed what it said. In spite of being afraid of their neighbors, they were determined to live according to God’s word and ful ll the prophecy laid out in Daniel 9. They were preparing the way for the Messiah. Let us not forget that the altar of sacri ce wasn't just a place to burn animals, it was a place of repentence and a symbol of salvation.
Shortly thereafter, they set to work building a new temple. The money Cyrus had given was used to buy lumber from the forests of
Lebanon. Finally, almost two years after their arrival, the foundation was completed and all the people gathered to celebrate. It was a very emotional moment, listen to the description in Ezra chapter 3 verses 10-13:
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: He is good; his love to Israel endures for ever. And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
The sound was heard far away! Shouts of joy and sounds of weeping lled the air. It was a special day for everyone. The old men even wept. They remembered the glory of Solomon's temple and it's destruction. They, more than anyone else, remembered what had caused their captivity.
Not long after this, some enemies of Judah came and attempted to stop the work on the temple. Their devious efforts are described in Ezra chapter 4 verse 4 and 5:
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and 5 bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
For almost 13 years no work was done on the temple. It was just a bare foundation. But God raised up an amazing team of leaders,
each with unique skills and talents to finish the work. The Bible describes them in Ezra 5 verses 1 and 2:
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
Through the vigilant prayers and efforts of these men, God again provided a miracle in the pagan courts. He inspired the Persian king Darius to renew Cyrus' commandment and eliminate those who would impede the rebuilding of the temple. After years of waiting and work, the temple was rebuilt. We can read about it in Ezra chap- ter 6 verses 14-16:
14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They nished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Per- sia; 15 and this house was nished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
This was an unforgettable triumph, but it wasn’t the end of the story. Though the temple had been rebuilt, the city around it was still in ruins. In fact the city walls and all the gates were still broken. Can you imagine how vulnerable they must have felt without any city walls protecting their beautiful temple inlaid with gold and cedar? Not to mention how strange it must have looked to have a beauti- ful place of worship sitting on a heap of rubble! Rocks and wooden beams were strewn everywhere. Likely gece kondos had gone up and squatters were slowly overtaking the city. Thus was the scene for about sixty years after the temple was completed.
Fortunately, God wasn’t nished. After sixty years, God raised up two new spiritual leaders and inspired yet another pagan king, Ar- taxerxes, to make a decree similar to Cyrus'. Immediately upon recieving the decree, a man of God named Ezra took the king's letter and thousands of Jews back to Jerusalem to work on the city in 457 BC. We can read about it in Ezra chapter 7 verses 11-16:
11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the command- ments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel: 12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now 13 I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, 15 and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 with all the silver and gold that you shall nd in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
Over the course of years, Ezra and another godly man named Nehemiah worked hard to restore both the city and its walls. They per- sistently moved ahead in faith against every kind of danger. The neighboring pagan people were determined to stop their progress, but the God of heaven prevailed and they succeeded in rebuilding Jerusalem.
The amazing climax of this saga concludes on a battle field. But not a battle eld with horse, sword, and soldier. It was rather on the battle eld of the human heart. Do you remember the reason why Jerusalem had been destroyed over a hundred years earlier? Why had God allowed it to be pillaged by the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar? God had pleaded with the people through a prophet named Jeremiah to repent from idolatry and other lusts. But they would not repent.
Here are the prophet’s words from Jeremiah chapter 5 verses 1-3:
1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can nd a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her. 2 Though they say, "As the LORD lives," yet they swear falsely. 3 O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.
And now, over a hundred years later they have returned to their homeland and rebuilt their city. The series of events leading up to this day started with Daniel's prayer of repentance. By sweat, blood, and faith the temple was nished, the city rebuilt, and the walls re- paired. One month after the last block had been laid, completing the wall of Jerusalem, the people gathered all together. It was the last holiday in their holy calendar. We can read this amazing moment of reconciliation between God and His people in Nehemiah chapter 8 verses 1-11:
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the rst day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden plat- form that they had made for the purpose.... 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 ....Also the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved."
Why were the people crying? When the people heard the Tevrat read, the Spirit of God moved powerfully and they were deeply con- victed of their sins. The Law was beautiful and holy. They were weak, de led, and spiritually dirty. They felt shame and sadness for their sins and the sins of previous generations. For over three weeks they gathered every day to hear what Ezra would read to them.
Let's read what happened on the 24th day in Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 1-3:
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.
It was an unusual day. A day when a whole a nation repented! Much like the gathering that Ismet found in Berlin. But this day was much deeper and passed with great tears and heartfelt confessions.
Jerusalem had been physically rebuilt, but now it’s spiritual atmosphere was being rebuilt by the humility of the people . Surely this
was a place where God could live! It was a 180 degree reversal fora nation that had been rebelling against God for hundreds of years. Listen to their prayer of confession in Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 5-8:
5 Then the Levites, said, "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.
It is a beautiful prayer, similar to Daniel’s 160 years earlier when he had repented for his nation. Now the people were living in the midst of the miracle he had prayed for. The prayer climaxes in verses 32- 38:
32 "Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awe-some God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. 38 "Because of all this we make a rm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.
Their repentance was so heartfelt, they wanted to write it down and give it to God! They were nally free from the years of shame and guilt. It was a moment of great jubilation. It was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel chapter 9, that they would put an end to sin and create an atmosphere worthy for the Messiah's coming.
A father was growing old. Though not wealthy, he had a career in the military and had obtained several properties over his life. He was making his will and dividing up his inheritance among the children. When the older sister heard of it, greed overcame her and she saw it as a moment to get ahead of her brother. She repeatedly spoke behind her younger brother’s back attempting to persuade the father to leave all of the inheritance in her name. Perhaps because the mother had died many years earlier and the daughter was a reminder of his beloved wife, the father gave in. The younger brother was a very soft spoken man. It bothered him immensely that he would be treated like a step child and not respected by his father or sister. But he did not fight. For the next five years, the inheritance stayed in the older sister’s name.
Whenever she visited the younger brother, her greedy deed was eating away at her conscience. But she tried hard to brush away the guilt because she loved money and really wanted those properties. She was resolved to stick with her decision. Over time her heart became harder and harder, until she no longer even liked herself.
One day, while they were all together the young brother got up the courage to speak,
“My Father, my older sister, how can you treat me in such a way?”
Immediately the sister was lled with anger and began to defend herself. She shouted accusations. But strangely, like a lightning flash in a dark room, she had a moment of clarity. She could see things through her brother’s eyes. It was the Spirit of God giving her the opportunity to repent. In a moment she was faced with a decision: ght or do right? She asked for a moment with the father alone.
In a half hour they came out of the back room. The older sister hugged her brother and began to cry. She apologized and said that she had discussed everything with the father. Everything would be split half and half. It was as if chains were cut from her heart. The act of confessing, apologizing, and then doing the right thing had set her free.
People often attribute wars to "fate". But millenniums of bloodshed have ravaged the world because people won’t repent and say,
“I am sorry.”
In other words, "fate" can be altered by a few small words.
"I was wrong. I am sorry. Forgive me."
It takes courage to apologize and courage to accept a meaningful apology. We may not think that words can be so powerful, but in this lesson we saw that words of repentance change fate.
Discussion Questions
1. Is it possible for a nation to repent today?
2. Reread the text from Jeremiah 5:1-3. What do you think it means that “God is looking for truth?”
3. Three times God moved on pagan emperor's hearts to help his people. King Cyrus, King Darius, and King Artaxerxes, all made
decrees to build up the city of the Great God. Do you think the people's repentant spirit had anything to do with these miracles?
4. Why do you think Ezra and others faced obstacles and opposition when they were clearly doing God’s work? Couldn’t God have
made it easier for them?
5. What are some attitudes or behaviors or motives that God is needing you to repent from? Do you see how a repentant spirit is an
opportunity to be free?