SOAP Ezra 1: The LORD Stirred

The LORD Stirred

God can stir any spirit

Ezra 1

Background: Ezra means "The Lord Has Helped." The name of this book is derived from the main character of chapters 7-10. Interesting fact, in the Hebrew Bible Ezra-Nehemiah are a single book. The generally accepted view of this book is the writer and or compiler of Ezra, also wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles as well as Nehemiah during the 5th century.

After more than 60 years of captivity in captivity in Babylon, God stirs the heart of King Cyrus and issues an edict declaring that willing Jews can return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and city.

---

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem. Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the Lord , which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods;

Ezra 1:1-7 NKJV

Won't God do it?!?!

I'm so grateful for chapters like this one. Sometimes, I just need a swift check to my spirit saying: "Is there anything too hard for God?" "Is there anything He cannot do?"

The answer is a resounding no! I can get so caught up in what people will do, can do, or want to do. God is able to bypass all of that. He is able to stir previously unwilling spirits. He is able to soften hearts that were once hardened. God is able.

Who can stand against our God. There is not one.

No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord .

Proverbs 21:30 CSB

He said: Lord , God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you.

2 Chronicles 20:6 CSB

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31b ESV

I'm not sure what you are facing or what impossibility looms at your door, but I'm here to remind you that there is nothing... yes, I mean nothing, absolutely nothing is to hard for our God. Do you dare to ask God for a list of seemingly impossible things? Just remember, He CAN do it!

PRAYER: Oh, my God! I want to believe for things so much bigger than my small asks. I want to believe, ask, and see the miraculous happen. Lord, when we command sickness to leave and for the lame to walk-let it be so in the mighty name of Jesus. Lord, remove any roadblocks or barriers from us walking in the fullness of your favor and the authority and identity you've given us. God we believe for it! In Jesus name, we say yes and amen!