2022: A Year of Peace and Restoration (Part Two)

—John 16:33 NASB

Peace and Restoration

The world needs peace and restoration. The church, carrying the Gospel of peace, reconciliation and restoration, needs to bring that healing to the world. We need to carry the peace of Christ is us and share it with the suffering world around us. This divine peace will bring healing and restoration to a broken world. We face tribulations, but know Christ has overcome the world and give us His peace in the midst of storms (Jn 16:33). We must carry out Jeremiah’s prophetic word and bring ‘health and healing’ to both the church and the nations (Jer 33:6).

The world is in ‘chaos,’ but is at the same time yearning for ‘order,’ to put it into the conceptual framework of Jordan Peterson. ‘Chaos is… when things fall apart; when your dreams die, your career collapses, or your marriage ends… Chaos is where we are when we don’t know where we are, and what we are doing when we don’t know what we are doing.’ Order, on the other hand, is ‘the floor beneath your feet, and your plan for the day.’ (12 Rules for Life, 35–36*). In order words, we take responsibility to restore that which is broken down. But Peterson rightly points out that it takes courage to tackle the challenges of life, or, as he calls it, ‘the terrible responsibility of life… deciding to voluntarily transform the chaos of potential into the realities of habitable order… willingly undertaking the sacrifices necessary to generate a productive and meaningful reality (it means acting to please God, in the ancient language).’ This famous psychology professor turned ‘intellectual celebrity’ encourages his readers to ‘embark on the voyage of your life, let your light shine… and pursue your rightful destiny’ (ibid., 27–28).

This type of restoration requires strength and strategy and a proper approach to pain and suffering, as we discussed in Part One of this message on peace and restoration when we looked at Job and David regarding restoration on a personal and corporate level respectively. We saw how they dealt with challenges and hardship and how God turned a bad situation into a good one. Life is never perfect, unless you live mentally in an unreal Hollywood movie or some abstract science-fiction novel. It is striking, though, that the science-fiction section in most book stores are disproportionally large compared to religion, for example. People seem to be wanting to escape reality rather than face it in order to change. Why is that, you think? Might we lack strength and strategy? Here are some suggestions.

Part Two and Three of this message on peace and restoration seeks to explore strategies and principles for national restoration found in Ezra and Nehemiah. These principles also apply to personal or corporate restoration on a small scale. Whatever the problems we are facing are, whatever size they might be, we must find a way to turn the chaos into order, heal what is sick, and restore what is broken down. There is no such thing as a perfect life. Suffering is part of life. Accept that and find the courage to confront it and overcome. ‘Take the bull by the horns,’ as the saying goes. But life is also beautiful. Life has many blessings—and many opportunities we need to take. We must find ways to deal with all of this and overcome it and see God’s hands bring a good outcome in the end. Challenges are positive if we approach them in the right way, but crushing when we do things the wrong way. Biblical insights offer us practical wisdom and liberating truth of how to keep it together when everything is falling apart. And the first thing that must not fall apart is you!

National Restoration

Ezra and Nehemiah offer us key strategies for national restoration worth considering. I summaries these in seven principles from Ezra and twelve principles from Nehemiah. Each one is of crucial importance as we seek to go beyond personal and corporate restoration and seek to contribute towards the restoration of our broken nations. As a church we cannot fail our nations. Of course, there are things only God can do, but there are things we must do. The best way is to have God work in and through us in partnership with His sovereign acts in and over the nations. As we remain faithful in small things, God will give the increase and reward (see Mt 25:21, 23; Lk 16:10a; 1 Cor 3:5–7).

Restoration in Ezra

On the time line of history, we find our story in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1), with the decree of restoration in the year 539 BC. The Temple was completed in the year 515 BC, and Ezra (458 BC) and Nehemiah (445 BC) joined later with their respective contributions to religious and communal life. Each group of people did their part in the restoration of the people of Israel in the ancient Jewish homeland, from rebuilding the Temple (religious), to establishing law and order (communal) and restoring the walls and gates of Jerusalem (practical).

Cyrus’ decree (Ezra 1:2–4) was based on Jeremiah’s prophecy and caused by God Himself (Ezra 1:1). Daniel’s prayer (Dan 9) was based on the same prophecy to launch the movement that eventually saw Israel resettle in the Land God had promised to their fathers (Gen 12). God’s promises proved true because He is faithful, and this despite human failure and sin that had brought God’s people into exile in the first place. God is a God of restoration! Whatever might have gone wrong in your life, God can restore things and turn any situation around. He works all things together for good (Rom 8:28).

The following principles will hopefully prove useful in our own involvement in restoration, be it national as in the biblical example under discussion, or more personal on a small scale. I trust that following these principles will prove insightful and practical.

(1) The importance of prophetic accuracy

The decree of the Persian king Cyrus to rebuild God’s house, i.e., the Temple, in Jerusalem, was ultimately based in God’s sovereign decree. It was ‘in order to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah’ (Ezra 1:1). Earlier on, Daniel, also a prophet, had ‘observed in the books the number of years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years’ (Dan 9:2; cf., Jer 25:11; 29:10ff). Based on these prophetic words, Daniel started praying (vv 3ff). Everything starts with God’s word.

It is very important that everything we do is based on prophetic accuracy. God needs to guide us in His work for Him. We must live by every word God speaks (Mt 4:4). His word gives light and guidance. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch (Mt 15:14). Or, as Obi-Wan Kenobi asked the young Luke Skywalker, ‘Who is the more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?’ If you participate in a work, make sure it’s based on God’s guidance and prophetic accuracy. Don’t just follow good ideas or an attractive offer. Make sure you know what the will of God is (Eph 5:17).

In Ezra, the first thing that was rebuilt was the altar of God. This was done according to what was ‘written in the law of Moses’ (Ezra 3:2). Prophetic accuracy is building our lives and communities according to the word of God, not human wisdom (cf., 1 Cor 2). This altar was built in its foundation (Ezra 3:3). It’s important that our foundations are solid and accurate. We must remain faithful to the right kinds of traditions. The Temple was also rebuilt on its ancient foundations (v 10). What are your foundations in life? What do you stand on? With solid foundations in place, there was ample reason for celebrations (vv 11–13). Note how the musical side to their worship was based on David’s instructions (v 10). First rebuilding the altar was a sign of setting worship to God as their top priority. Part of their motivation was due to their fear of enemies (v 3). Protection was found in worship, hence first rebuilding the altar, not the walls! They trusted God for their protection. Your devotional life is crucial. It gives you spiritual strength and protection. As you first seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, all things will be provided by His gracious hand (Mt 6:33).

Prophetic accuracy is listening to both the written and the spoken word of God. Two important prophets greatly encouraged the building efforts after opposition sought to stop their work and discourage them to do what God had told them to do (Ezra 5:1ff). Prophets, in line with the written word of God, can be a tremendous inspiration and encouragement in our personal and corporate restoration, as well as on a national level. Success in building and completing the work depended on the encouraging influence of prophetic inspiration and guidance (Ezra 6:13). Hear God and follow His instructions without compromise and you will succeed and prosper (Josh 1:8–9).

(2) The importance of decisive action

Knowing and hearing the word of God must lead to decisive action. We must be doers of the word, not hearers only; the latter only deceive themselves (Jas 1:22–23). When people of the Restoration of Israel heard the decree, they ‘arose’ and decided ‘to go up and rebuild’ (Ezra 1:5). There was a stirring by God’s Spirit and the people responded. Without action nothing gets done. We all know that, but sometimes it’s easier to find an excuse than a reason. When things inside of us aren’t in order, we won’t be able to set things in order. We must make sure we are in a spiritually and mentally right condition to respond properly when we hear God accurately. Be brave and take action!

There’s an interesting Italian proverbial saying that goes something like this. When you’ve lost money, you’ve lost nothing, because with work you can gain in back. When you’ve lost honour, you lost something, but with a heroic deed you can regain your honour. But when you’ve lost courage, you’ve lost everything. Why? Because without courage we won’t do a thing. We must have courage to tackle the challenges of life. Find a place to regain your courage and act. Faith comes from hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17).

(3) The importance of individual contribution

After hearing the word of God and taking decisive action, the people also ‘encouraged’ individual contributions. When we set about to get something done, we need resources. Everyone gave what they could (Ezra 1:6–11; 3:4–7). God doesn’t expect more than that. Be generous but wise; never be greedy or stingy. As they each contributed ‘according to their ability’ (2:68–69), so should we. Each contribution is important. God loves a cheerful giver and rewards our generosity (2 Cor 8—9).

Resources in terms of financial contributions matter, but also contributions of skill and talent. There were ‘masons and carpenters’ (Ezra 3:7) and other ‘men… who were reconstructing this building’ (5:4). All sorts of gifts and talents are necessary to restore lives, families, communities and nations. As each body part is important, each member of the body of Christ, or a community or company, must contribute what they can (see 1 Cor 12; Eph 4). Each individual contribution must be valued and appreciated.

(4) The importance of wise procedure

Wise procedure is vital. A large part of wise procedure in both Ezra and Nehemiah is dealing with opposition. When people do something worthwhile, there will be those who oppose—for various reasons (Ezra 4). How we deal with opposition is crucial in terms of the future of the work we started. Many people start but won’t finish, and this is often due to the inability to deal with opposition. We must accept the fact that some people will be ‘enemies’ (Ezra 4:1) and they will target the leaders first (v 2). A strong and clear response is necessary not to get discouraged or frightened (vv 3–5). The enemy will try different strategies but with the same aim: to discourage the people and stop the work (4:12, 21–24).

Wise procedure also relates to dealing wisely and respectfully with the authorities. Although the enemies at the time wrote a letter of ‘accusation’ against the people rebuilding Jerusalem, they too wrote to the authorities to settle the matter (Ezra 4—6). While we first of all trust God and continue the work He has called us to complete, with the help of prophetic encouragement (5:1; 6:13), we must appeal to the authorities according to legal possibilities. We must not be intimidated spiritually, neither surrender legally. We must stand up for what we believe and do what God commanded us to do (6:19–22). We must trust God for a good outcome. He remains the greatest authority above us and we must obey God, not people seeking to stop what He has called us to do (cf., Acts 4:19). Restoration can have set-backs, but we must stay on course with God’s help and grace.

(5) The importance of biblical instruction

After the first remnant had returned to Israel to rebuild life and infrastructure in their ancient homeland, God sent more support. Ezra the skilled scribe with God’s hand on him (i.e., God’s blessing) came to support the restoration efforts (Ezra 7:1ff). His main task was to advance biblical instruction (7:10). As from the outset, restoration had to be done according to the word of the Lord (1:1), the law of Moses (3:2) and the instructions of David (3:10). The foundations must be built on that which proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt 4:4). We must live according to His word. In the storms of life we must obey His word (Mt 7:24–27).

Ezra’s task proved vital as not everything, despite their best of intentions, was done according to God’s law (7:14) and will (7:18). God sends us help to accurately understand the will of God. Even Apollos was in need to ‘more accurately’ understand the word of God in terms of the Gospel (Acts 18:24–26). It is advisable to remain humble to learn more, but without becoming gullible to believe every wind of deceptive doctrine that contradicts the written word of God (Eph 4:11–14). We must remain in His word to know the truth that sets us free (Jn 8:32–36). Carefully test everything and keep what is good and right (1 Thess 5:19–21); what is of God is pure, never evil (v 22).

(6) The importance of purity and holiness

A major part of Ezra’s biblical instructions was the joint issues of purity and holiness. Remember, Ezra was a priest (7:11) from an important lineage (vv 1–5). It was part of the priestly responsibility to teach the people the difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane (see Lev 10:10–11).

Ezra the priest set many things in order, from the priestly order to communal issues such as mixed marriages. Note the difference of then and now in terms of mixed marriages. In order to preserve the Jewish nation, the ‘holy race’ (Ezra 9:2) as they understood themselves in terms of God’s calling and responsibility to be a blessing to the nations of the world (Gen 12), and their pure worship to Yahweh, who tolerates no other gods besides Himself (Ex 20:3), mixed marriages at a time of local deities, was a problem. Similar to King Solomon, mixed marriages can draw the hearts of God’s people away from devotion and obedience to their God. These instructions must be understood in the context of their time, and can’t be used to forbid interracial marriages. The issue is, as it was for Paul, to marry within the same religious tradition to have harmony and partnership in marriage (Eph 5).

(7) The importance of repentance for revival and restoration

Finally, there is no restoration without repentance. Ezra was not a judgmental teacher, but one who lead by example in both word (7:10) and deed (10:1). He himself repented on behave of the people he sought to humbly lead back to the right ways of God. The people’s response was one of humility and change, leading to a renewed covenant commitment to God (10:2–3) and to do His will (v 11). This is a revival, as we turn to God in humility and are restored back to His will in dignity. We rise from the ashes and are crowned with beauty!

*Peterson, Jordan B. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Canada: Penguin Random House, 2018.