Providence At Work (2 Chronicles 36:22–23)

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “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 at 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 36:22–23

So here’s why I want to lead us to pray according to these two verses, because they’re the last two verses in the book of 2 Chronicles, which tells the story of so many kings—some of them good and righteous, most of them evil and wicked—in ways that lead right before this in 2 Chronicles 36 to the destruction of Jerusalem.

The paragraph right before what I just read talks about Jerusalem being captured and burned—the Chaldeans or the Babylonians destroying Jerusalem, taking God’s people into exile.

2 Chronicles 36:22–23 shows God’s faithfulness even after judgment.

And 2 Chronicles 36 could end at verse 21, that Jerusalem was destroyed because of the sin of God’s people. But it doesn’t stop there. Instead, we have these last two verses that remind us that God is faithful to his people despite their sin against him. And his Word will prevail according to the Word of the Lord. God ends up raising pagan King Cyrus, king of Persia, to one day restore Jerusalem and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

And I share all of that to encourage you today. I obviously don’t know all that’s going on in your life or your family or your work, but I’m guessing there’s some of you listening to this right now who are at a low point and things are not working out the way you had planned in any number of ways.

And you might be tempted to despair or dismay or hopelessness, thinking this is the way this story is going to end, when the reality is for all who trust in Jesus, whatever we experience in this fallen world is not the end of the story—not when the sovereign God over all the universe is faithful to his people and promises that redemption and restoration are coming; who promises that he is working all things—all things, all things—together for the good of his people and ultimately their glory with him.

2 Chronicles 36:22–23 reminds us that sin and pain do not have the final word.

Your sin and your suffering are not the end of your story. Believe that today. Receive that word today as we pray. God, we praise you as the One who restores the years that the locusts have eaten. And you are the Redeemer, the One who redeems us from sin and suffering and never leaves us—as your people—without hope—ever, ever, ever.

We praise you that whatever we’re experiencing today in this fallen world is not the end of the story. We praise you that you are writing stories in all of our lives, in every single one of our lives as your people, that is leading to good for us, conformity to your image. Lord Jesus, may it be so today.
Make us more like you, Jesus, we pray through the challenges we might be walking through, through the suffering we might be walking through. God, we pray that you would work your redeeming power and plans in our lives, in others’ lives.

This verse teaches us to trust God’s plan for our lives.

God, we pray for the spread of your grace and your glory through us as we walk through whatever we face in this fallen world, and as we anticipate the day when this fallen world will be no more. And we know how the story ends. You’ll wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more mourning, and no more crying, and no more pain, and no more sin, and no more suffering, and no more death. All glory be to your Name, for that’s the end of the story—all who trust in you with you forever.

So God, please help us to encourage others with this today. Help us to encourage other people around us who may be walking through challenges today, just to hold on. God, please take your Word in us and cause it to spread through us, to build up brothers and sisters in Christ, to lead people to you. Lord, we pray you give us urgency in evangelism today, and not just around us.

Prayer for the Maldivian People

God, we pray for the Maldivian people, for half a million of them, hardly any known followers of Jesus. Lord, we pray for these fishermen and merchants and boat builders. God, we pray that the gospel would spread in the Maldives. Please bless, God, all those who are working for the spread of your grace in the Maldives, that they might know the Redeemer, the King who has conquered sin and suffering and death, and promises to reconcile to himself all who trust in him. God, we pray all of this with anticipation for the end of the story and with gratitude that this fallen world is not the end. In Jesus’ name we pray all these things, according to your Word in 2 Chronicles 36:22–23. Amen.