Ezra 1:7-8 (NLT) King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.

When King Nebuchadnezzar came to give the final blow to Jerusalem and the Temple before taking the people as captives to Babylon, he took all of the items in the Temple that were of any worth. One may wonder how Almighty God allowed this heathen king to desecrate His Temple and to take His people into exile. How can anyone take what belongs to God and get away with it? The answer is that no one can.

The attack by Neduchadnezzar on Judah and on Jerusalem in particular was ordained by God. It was just punishment for the terrible sins of the people. They had become more wicked and were doing more detestable things than the heathen nations around them. After many, many warnings from a host of prophets of God over a long period of time, judgement finally came when it became clear that the people would not turn from their vile sins. But what about the articles that were in the Temple? How was King Nebuchadnezzar able to go into the Temple and take God's property? It was because the people of God (if you could call them that) had so ignored the Temple and considered the articles in the Temple of no worth. So God had Nebuchadnezzar carry them off for safekeeping. Of course, that's not what this king thought he was doing as he thought that he was possessing those things for his own false gods. But God's property is God's property and always will be.

When the time came, God moved on another heathen king (King Cyrus) to return everything back to the Temple of God where they belonged. When the exiles were allowed to return after seventy years in captivity as had been prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah, everything that belonged to God was returned. Also, the people that truly belonged to God were returned as well. We can be sure that God is sovereign and that no one can thwart His will; not even powerful heathen kings. That gives us a hope and an assurance that since we belong to God, no harm can befall us as we reverence, love and serve Him with our whole hearts. God is jealous over what belongs to him and if He cares enough about gold and silver plates, forks and utensils to make sure that they were returned to His Temple, how much more does He care for us? The proof, if there were any proof needed, was that He sent His only Son to die for us, so that what belonged to Him in the first place (us) can be returned to their rightful owner. We belong to God and because we do, we are as safe as safe can be. Glory be to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Pastor Joey Vazquez