Sabbaths

"All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years."
-2 Chronicles 36:21

What an interesting idea! I had never made this connection. God left His dwelling place bare for seventy years to make up for all of those Sabbaths that hadn't been kept since long before (Josiah?). To be specific, the writer says, "until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths." The land was tired. It was probably being abused and overworked. It needed to rest. We all need rest.

"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.'"
-2 Chronicles 36:23

How interesting that a Persian King, who is not Jewish, could be so in touch with God. I know the stories of Cyrus, they come later in the Bible. It always intrigues me that God would choose someone outside of His people to rebuild His house. But Cyrus was being pretty faithful to God. He had realized that all his power comes from the Lord, and any time he forgot that, the Lord sure helped him remember. I just think it's cool.

I just think God is cool. He always surprises me. He works in ways I would never expect or plan. He shows me things and humbles me with His greatness. I don't know why He would ever choose me to use me, but He has, and so I will follow His crazy plans where ever they lead because I'd rather be following God's crazy plans than my own.