2023.04.29/30
From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Collins Kung
Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,
From January to April 2023, our preaching series begin with the Gospel of John, we learn from the life of Jesus as our model for deeper life.
For the next two months starting in May, our preaching will go back to the Old Testament. We will study the Book of Ezra – Building the House of God.
The Israelites were God’s chosen people, whom were supposed to be the most blessed ones. However, the Israelites did not respect God as God and serve God exclusively; instead, they turned to worshiping idols. God kept sending prophets to warn them, but they did not listen. As a result, the kingdom of Judah was captured by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. From then on, the Israelites were exiled to Babylon and entered a period of subjugation.
However, God’s intention is to discipline them through exile and give them a chance to return. Through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, God declared the judgment (exile) and comfort (return from exile).
- 25:11-12 : “11This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste.”
- Jeremiah 29:10 : “10For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.”
God indeed is faithful. The first chapter of the Book of Ezra told us the fulfillment of the prophecy. At that time, the Babylonian Empire had fallen and was replaced by the Persian Empire. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, Cyrus made a proclamation that the exiled Israelites could return to Jerusalem to build the House for the Lord. This is the first return. In our preaching for the next two months, we shall study chapter 1 to 6, focusing on the returned Israelites and how did they rebuild the House of God. Having God’s help did not mean the building of the House of God was no difficulties or challenges; there were numerous difficulties and obstacles. Finally, under the protection of God and the repentance of the Israelites, the project was eventually completed.
Our preaching series ends at Chapter 7, which tells us how Ezra led the Israelites for the second return and how God used Ezra to rebuild His people.
May we study God’s Words with our heart, I encourage you to read the scriptures (one chapter at a time) prior to worship, to listen to the sermon and to take notes of the sermon. We learn from the vast experiences of Israelites of their return journey and apply it today to build the House of God.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Collins Kung