所罗巴伯——重建的希望
有将近七十年的时间，神的百姓都一直在问：“我们究竟做了什么，竟沦落到从家乡被放逐？”答案是，他们承认自己敬拜了别神，需要祈求这位真神的赦免。
帝国兴衰有时，当波斯人攻占巴比伦后，神赐给祂的百姓一个重返家乡的机会。成千上万的人在大卫之家的王子所罗巴伯（又被称为设巴萨）的带领下，长途跋涉回到他们被毁坏的家乡耶路撒冷境内。
在那个重要时期，先知哈该领受从神而来的话语。神说，“我必震动天地。我必倾覆列国的宝座，除灭列邦的势力......我仆人......所罗巴伯啊，到那日，我必以你为印，因我拣选了你。”（哈该书 2:21-23）
印是指国王的图章戒指，象征着王的权柄。可见神是在加给所罗巴伯以鼓励和盼望，神也是在更新祂对自己百姓的应许。
神使祂的百姓重新迁回应许之地， 为另一个大卫之子、弥赛亚、耶稣基督的来临预备好这个民族。祂为那住在自己罪恶废墟中的子民带来盼望，赐给他们力量去重建生命。在我们期待耶稣降生之时，愿这也成了我们的盼望。
主耶稣，祢对我们的计划如此美好。在祢的里面我们有盼望，我们为此感谢祢。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
以斯拉记 1:1-2:2
1波斯王古列元年，耶和华为要应验藉耶利米口所说的话，就激动波斯王古列的心，使他下诏通告全国说：
2“波斯王古列如此说：‘耶和华天上的神已将天下万国赐给我，又嘱咐我在犹大.的耶路撒冷为他建造殿宇。
3在你们中间凡作他子民的，可以上犹大的耶路撒冷，在耶路撒冷重建耶和华─以色列神的殿（只有他是神）。愿神与这人同在。
4凡剩下的人，无论寄居何处，那地的人要用金银、财物、牲畜帮助他，另外也要为耶路撒冷神的殿甘心献上礼物。’”
5于是，犹大和便雅悯的族长、祭司、利未人，就是一切被神激动他心的人，都起来要上耶路撒冷去建造耶和华的殿。
6他们四围的人就拿银器、金子、财物、牲畜、珍宝帮助他们（原文是坚固他们的手），另外还有甘心献的礼物。
7古列王也将耶和华殿的器皿拿出来，这器皿是尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷掠来、放在自己神之庙中的。
8波斯王古列派库官米提利达将这器皿拿出来，按数交给犹大的首领设巴萨。
9器皿的数目记在下面：金盘三十个，银盘一千个，刀二十九把，
10金碗三十个，银碗之次的四百一十个，别样的器皿一千件。
11金银器皿共有五千四百件。被掳的人从巴比伦上耶路撒冷的时候，设巴萨将这一切都带上来。
1巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒从前掳到巴比伦之犹大省的人，现在他们的子孙从被掳到之地回耶路撒冷和犹大，各归本城
2他们是同着所罗巴伯、耶书亚、尼希米、西莱雅、利来雅、末底改、必珊、米斯拔、比革瓦伊、利宏、巴拿回来的。
Returning Zerubbabel
"Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord ... and may their God be with them." — Ezra 1:3
For almost seventy years the people of God had been asking, "What did we do to deserve exile from our land?" The answer pointed to confessing that they had worshiped other gods and needed to ask the true God for forgiveness.
Empires rise and fall, and when the Persians overtook the Babylonians, God gave his people the opportunity to go home. Many thousands of people led by the prince of the line of David, Zerubbabel (also called Sheshbazzar), journeyed back to their devastated homeland surrounding Jerusalem.
The prophet Haggai had words from God for Zerubbabel at that important time. God said, "I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms... On that day ... I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel ... and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you" (Haggai 2:21-23).
A signet ring symbolized a king's authority. God was giving Zerubbabel encouragement and hope. God was renewing his promises with his people.
By resettling his people in the land of promise, God prepared the nation for the coming of another son of David, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He brought hope to people living in the ruins of their sins, providing strength to rebuild their lives. That hope is ours too, as we look toward the birth of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, you have such plans for us. Thank you for the hope we have in you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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