“Therefore tell them, thus says Adonai-Tzva'ot, 'Return to Me' – it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva'ot – 'and I will return to you,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot.”

—Zechariah 1:3

The prophets had spoken to the Jewish people of Judah and now as exiles in Babylon:

• Return to Jerusalem! Check 
• Rebuild the Temple! Check
• Return to the Lord! Check

Things are looking good for the Jewish people of the 5th and 6th centuries. Better than they've looked in a long time.

Yet by the time we reach the end of Ezra-Nehemiah, things start to tank. The exiles have returned to Jerusalem, yes, but because of their behavior Nehemiah fears the will be kicked out once again (Nehemiah 13:18). Though they renewed the covenant to return to the Lord and keep His commandments, observe the Shabbat, not intermarry with those who served other gods and not to neglect the Temple, all of their promises come up empty and are broken once again.

Now that's disappointing. This is the place on the page when our hope starts to dwindle. What does this mean regarding the promises of God? Are the words of the prophets powerless? Were they even true? Before we go down that road, remember that the words God gave to His prophets often told about events in the current time, near future and a time even further in the future. They are always pointing us forward, but what were they pointing us forward to?

Jeremiah 31: 30-33 gives us a glimpse:

“Behold, days are coming”

—it is a declaration of Adonai—

“when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah—

not like the covenant

I made with their fathers

in the day I took them by the hand

to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they broke My covenant,

though I was a husband to them.”

it is a declaration of Adonai.

“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”

—it is a declaration of Adonai—

“I will put My Torah within them.

Yes, I will write it on their heart.

I will be their God

and they will be My people.

No longer will each teach his neighbor

or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’

for they will all know Me,

from the least of them to the greatest.”

it is a declaration of Adonai.

“For I will forgive their iniquity,

their sin I will remember no more.”

A new covenant. Great! They just entered into a new covenant in Nehemiah 10. Yes, well basically they committed again to keeping the covenant God gave them through Moses, which they never had great success at keeping. And let's be honest here, neither have we.

So, what is Jeremiah talking about, “a renewed covenant?” No, He says, a NEW covenant, not like Moses' covenant. A covenant, the terms of which are that I will take their sins and remember them no more and I will write my Law on their hearts. Not one where I throw out the Law but now I engrave it on their hearts by my Spirit and empower them to do it. But there is one thing more they need, a NEW HEART.

We know that Jeremiah was speaking of the work of Yeshua here, right? He was the Messiah, the deliverer who would come and accomplish for His people what they couldn't accomplish for themselves. He would take their hearts of stone and give them a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Good, so this is the end of the story, right?

Oh, and one more thing, "No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother, saying, ‘Know Adonai, for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest’" (Jeremiah 31:33). Hmmm…that doesn't sound like the way things are now, does it? We still have teachers and are still learning from them about who God is, aren't we? Yeshua said, "The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I said to you" (John 14:26).  Still, Paul reminds us that we only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Now you may ask, are you sure Jeremiah 31 wasn't completely fulfilled when Yeshua came? My friends, don't forget that the story doesn't end with Yeshua's first coming. He is returning to establish His forever Kingdom. In Revelation 21:3, John points us to a future time when God is with us as our light. We definitely won't need anyone to teach us then, will we? We will all know Him for He will be in our midst!

Let's look again. After Yeshua ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9), what events followed that He predicted (Luke 21:24)? Fast-forward to 70 A.D. The Temple was destroyed, and the Jewish people were once again exiled, only this time we called it "dispersed."  Then what began to happen in the 20th century? Jewish people began to return to the Land promised to Abraham after one of the greatest atrocities in human history, the Holocaust. The State of Israel is reborn in 1948 and Jerusalem becomes the fledgling nation’s capital in 1967 (Isaiah 66:8, Ezekiel 37:1-14). But I thought the words of these prophets were foretelling the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon. Yes. Were they also speaking of a future exile and return? Yes. Remember 3-part harmony from Day 1 of this devotional series? God's plan is always layers deep, a beautiful tapestry of sound, so much deeper than we're discussing even now.

Here is the 3-part harmony we're hearing in this section of the Ezra-Nehemiah story:

• Return to the Land
• Return to Me
• I'll return to you

Return to Me and I'll return to You. The Lord was speaking this to the Jews coming out of exile. He was saying it in 1948. He is still speaking this to Jewish people today. When will Yeshua return and fill Jerusalem with His glory? In essence, He says, I will return to Jerusalem, when Israel returns to Me and says, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:39).

Reflection:

1. Have you ever thought about Jesus returning to the earth when the Jewish people return to Him? What does that stir up in you?
2. Ask the Lord to reveal His heart to you for His people to return to Him.

Hope implies an expectation of something good. When you and I hope for something, we have at least a slight expectation that it will happen. When it comes to our faith, hope is the confident expectation that what God has promised will come to pass, and the strength of our hope rests in His faithfulness alone.

There have always been seasons of hope and expectation in the history of Israel, and they have often been sandwiched in the midst of troublesome times. We've seen this in the story of Ezra-Nehemiah and we see it now.

We have been in a season of expectation, not only in 2020, but right now on the biblical calendar. This is a time referred to as the counting of the Omer. It is the span of days between Passover and Pentecost (Hebrew = Shavuot) when God reminds His people to count 49 days until the day of the wheat harvest, which would occur on the 50th day. On that day, the Jewish people were then to bring an offering to the Lord of the first fruits from their harvest (Leviticus 23:15-22).  It was a time of waiting and expectation for the harvest yet to come. Tonight, at sunset begins that appointed time on God's calendar, and this should fill our hearts with hope and expectation!

But why?  As Believers in Jesus in the 21st century, how can counting up toward a wheat harvest festival hold any significance for us?

Traditionally, Shavuot commemorates the day God gave His teaching, instruction and commandments (The Torah) through Moses to His people Israel (Exodus 19-Leviticus). In unity, the people were gathered together at the base of the mountain when the awesome presence of the Lord descended on Mount Sinai in fire, and the people were covered in a blanket of smoke as His presence ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The mountain shook as God drew Moses to climb it in order to cut a covenant with His people, setting them apart for Himself as He is set apart, and then Moses came down to speak God's words to His people. The people waited for Moses to come down from the mountain with God's words for them.

We also remember Shavuot as the day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and power upon the disciples (Acts 2). That too was an awesome day. After waiting and counting the Omer, on day 50, the sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the place where they were waiting with expectation for the "promise of the Father," though they didn't know exactly what to expect. Tongues like fire rested on the heads of those who were gathered in unity, and then, suddenly, new, unlearned languages poured forth from their lips, as they declared the praises of Adonai to the Jews from many surrounding nations who were gathered in Jerusalem for the pilgrimage Feast of Shavuot! A great harvest followed, though this time, not of wheat, but of people, just as Yeshua, Jesus, had promised!

Those are two examples of significant events that occurred on Shavuot. Perhaps we've just uncovered another melody and harmony line in God's prophetic song. But what about the 3rd voice? Where is the string of notes that rounds out this piece and brings it to its peak, its fulness, a beautiful conclusion?

We are living in unprecedented times, and none of us knows what tomorrow holds. I can hardly keep straight if I'm supposed to stay inside except to go outside and if I go outside, should I wear a mask and gloves? Yes, a mask, but that will only protect others if I'm sick and gloves yes, but if I touch something that has COVID on it and then touch something else that someone else eventually touches and then gets sick, will my efforts have been in vain? Such a balagan! (Hebrew for chaos or a state of extreme confusion or disorder)

And so, how in the world with all this craziness, how are we to be thinking about what God might do on Shavuot this year? Well, it just might be worth our while since we're in a holding pattern of waiting. And, after all, we are called to lay aside the distractions of this world and set our minds on things above where we are truly seated with Him in heavenly places (Luke 8:14; Colossians 3:2-4).

Let's review what we know about significant events in the history of our faith that have occurred on appointed days on God's calendar. The death of Jesus happened on Passover. His resurrection? On first fruits. His ascension? During the Counting of the Omer. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Shavuot. Doesn't it make you curious about what might be in the mind of our awesome God during this season, and in particular, as we approach this Shavuot 2020?  Could we be entering the future time spoken of by Paul in Romans 11 when all Israel shall be saved, the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled and the return of Yeshua nearer than when we first believed? Yikes - that's a lot to ponder! Still, the Jewish people at the base of Mount Sinai couldn't possibly have pictured what God would do for them on a certain Shavuot in the future either, I'd venture (Acts 2). So, is it any wonder why we would have a hard time seeing it now?

As we return to God's story of hope and expectation found in Ezra-Nehemiah, let us listen ever so intently and so that we might zoom out from the small brush strokes our Creator has used since the beginning of time to view the broader picture of His story, the full measure of His song. May we glimpse the unbridled object of His affection and the great lengths to which He will go to recapture the love and obedience of the human heart. Who knows, we just might find another reason to have high expectations in this season.

Prayer: Abba, today, please plant in me an expectation for what You plan to do in this season. Please prepare my heart and ready my spirit for this season’s harvest and for Your return, revealing to me the role you have for me to play in it.

Reflection

1. Has your heart become discouraged and your spirit dull as you've waited for the promise of your Father? Ask the Lord to come heal those places of your heart today and give you eyes to see what He sees, the overarching plan of how He is causing all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Write down for the record how He encourages you to raise your expectations and set your eyes on Him.
2. How can you reach out to someone today – a neighbor, stranger, friend or family member – and encourage them to put their trust in the Hope of the Scriptures and the Author of their pages? There is no promise God has given to His people Israel and to the Nations that has not or will not come to pass. This is good news and can give others a sure expectation of the future when they put their trust in Him!

Click to learn more about what the significance of Shavuot/Pentecost and why it's important for Believers in Jesus in the 21st century: https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/between-passover-and-pentecost-waiting-expectation-w-pastor-mike-rabbi-joshua

“Now in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Adonai from the mouth of Jeremiah, Adonai stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia…” (Ezra 1:1).

Ancient Israel had a hope: to return to the Land God had promised to give her. Yet, she had been in exile in Babylon for so long that I’m sure the hope of many began to wane, if not completely disappear. Those who were old enough to have witnessed it told the story to their children and grandchildren. Family members and friends died in the siege, homes were taken, all of our livelihood was destroyed, we were led away in shame and humiliation, a defeated people, into the land of our captors, and our beloved city Jerusalem still lies in ruins. Yet, here they were – in Babylon. They could not just get up and leave. They were being held captive by a force more powerful than they. Even so, by seeking the peace of Babylon as instructed (Jeremiah 29:7), many had grown accustomed to the new lives they now lived and had forgotten “home.”

Many, but not all. An exiled Jewish man in Babylon searches the books of the controversial prophet Jeremiah and uncovers a prediction: “the number of the years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70 years” (Jeremiah 25:11-14; 29:10,11).

After a few quick mental calculations, realizing that the time is near, he drops to his knees and begins to cry out to the God of his fathers, fasting and sitting in sackcloth and ashes, asking forgiveness for him and his people who have rebelled and turned away from the Fountain of Living Waters. He acknowledges God's justice and that their punishment is deserved. After confessing Israel's sins and unfaithfulness to the Lord, he then begins to proclaim God's faithfulness despite them, and asks God to hear, forgive, listen and act for His own sake, because of His great compassions and for His city and His own people who are called by His name. He's interrupted mid-sentence as a presence enters His room. A messenger of God, Gabriel, announces that since the moment he began to pray, his prayer was heard (See Daniel 9:1-23).

What follows this prayer? Let's go back to Ezra-Nehemiah where the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy begins to unfold. God’s Spirit stirs the hearts of pagan kings to send His people back to Jerusalem with blessing and abundance (Ezra 1:1). Temple treasures are restored, and men are selected to lead the exiles who desire to go home. Enter Sheshbazzar, Zerubabbel and Jeshua, then Ezra, and later Nehemiah. At the precise time the Lord placed on His calendar, the exiles return in three stages, and three milestones occur: the second Temple is built and dedicated, the people recommit to following the Torah and enter into a covenant with the Lord, and Jerusalem’s city walls are repaired.

Can you imagine the initial scene? What would it be like to receive word from your country’s highest ruler: I’ve just heard from the God of Israel and I want you to return to your homeland and worship freely. Here’s money to do that. Oh and here’s the plane tickets. What else do you need? It’s yours. Go in peace. Your God is the One true God.  Talk about hope fulfilled! No more sheltering in place! Take the journey, cross the borders and enter freely without fear.

Israel’s hope was finally being fulfilled and becoming reality! "The Return" had finally begun.

But what were the exiles returning to? Could they see beyond the tremendous work that lay before them to the hope of better things than they had in Babylon?

After all, life in Babylon had become the new normal. After 50+ years, the 2nd and 3rd generation of Jews born in Babylon could not even imagine what times were like before this. They couldn't relate to the full pain of the exile and captivity as their grandparents and great grandparents could. Jerusalem was not a distant memory for them; it was simply a memory that didn't exist. They had never been "home," nor did they necessarily long for it.

But for many of the aged and elderly who waited for the promises of God through His prophets to be fulfilled, the announcement of "the Return" to Jerusalem ignited their hopeful hearts while likely causing concern about how the tired tents of their physical bodies could accomplish such a task. Yet perhaps… just maybe… God would stir the hearts of the younger generation of Babylonian Jews to return home just as He stirred the heart of the pagan King Cyrus to send them home. Thankfully, the Lord God did just that. "…everyone whose spirit God had stirred up – arose to go up to build the House of Adonai in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:5).

As Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and then Daniel all foretold, even after a time of hopelessness and seeming abandonment into the hands of their enemies, the God of their fathers would not abandon the Jewish people, but would make good on His promises.  He would restore them to the Land according to His promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:8, 21:12; Jeremiah 29:10,11)!  God's Presence would fill a new Temple! (Ezekiel 40-48)  God's Kingdom would rule over all the Nations (Isaiah 2; Zech 8)!  And as if that wasn't enough (dayenu!), He would send His Messiah, even giving them clues as to Who He would be, the exact timing of His coming and His Return! (Isaiah 11 and 53; Daniel 9:23-27)

This was a season of expectation, and hopes were high! There had to be a stirring up of these words in their hearts. Perhaps this is the time! Or was this simply one line in the song God that was singing over His people? Were the prophets speaking of another time as well, of a new Jerusalem, when our Messiah returns and establishes His Kingdom over all the nations of the earth?

Let's return with them to find out…

Reflection:

1. God alone has the power to stir the hearts of kings and those in authority, and prayer has the power to reveal God’s plan to us so that we can partner with Him (See Daniel 9:23 and Psalm 25:14). Do you believe God can stir up the spirit of the leader of your nation to accomplish His word?  Why or why not?  Today, let’s ask the Lord to stir up our faith in the place of prayer, both for our leaders and for our own expectation that His plans will be accomplished in our world.
2. Jerusalem, not Babylon, has always been the promised home of the Jewish people, and for all those who trust in Yeshua, both Jew and Gentile, we know that one day He will return to make Jerusalem new and establish His forever Kingdom.  Ask yourself: How might I be caught up in the "new normal" of this world and thus distracted from the hope of my true home, just like ancient Israel was from theirs?
3. Many Jews in Babylon may have feared to leave their comfortable lifestyles to go to a broken down city and sanctuary and take up the daunting task of rebuilding.  Ask the Lord to reveal any fear in your heart about leaving this earth and its treasures behind for the world to come and the most Treasured One.  Ask Him to fill you with hope, joy and peace as you build your life upon the Rock that is unshakeable and eternal.

For thus says Adonai: “After 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will visit you, and fulfill My good word toward you – to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity – to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:10-11

God's plans for His people are often deeper than we know or can figure out, but they are not a mystery to Him. He knows them, and He knows them well.

Speaking to those who would go into exile, God gave Jeremiah prophetic words of hope to sustain them.  …"I will visit you, and fulfill my good word toward you – to bring you back to this place" (Jeremiah 29?10).  I am sure these words seemed like a slap in the face at the time. After all, they were in the midst of a war they wouldn't win and were about to be killed or carried off as slaves to a foreign land. Yet, here was God, giving them a hope to hold onto if they would only believe Him.  The problem was, the plans He had in mind for them weren't clear to them and didn't make sense in their minds. To them, it was a cacophony of words, jumbled notes, an indistinct melody.

I love to sing. But do you know what I love more than that? To sing in a choir! The layering of voice parts blends together to make such a full and beautiful sound that any music lover would be lifted up onto their toes in delight! So rich, full, complete!

Let's take a choir's many parts and break it down into 3-part harmony for a minute. For the sake of our exercise, let's use the voice parts of 1st Soprano, 2nd Soprano and Alto. A typical melody line for each of these voice parts looks a little different. Usually the highest voice (1st Soprano) carries the melody. Theirs is the part of the song that comes out the strongest and most clearly. It's usually the one that captures our attention first and is the one we most often try to sing along with. That is because their melody line is memorable.

The second voice part (2nd Soprano) carries a harmony line that is not too far below the 1st soprano's melody, and it adds another layer and depth to it. This line can be harder to pick out in a song, but it often has just as much melodic movement in it as the top voice part and complements it beautifully.

Then, there's the Alto, the third voice part in our example. Uniquely, the alto's melody line typically doesn't have much movement at all. Most altos go through an entire song sounding out the same notes below the beautiful and flourishing melody line up above, in order to offer a foundation for the song so the other parts can shine. The alto line is not as distinguishable, but like the 2nd Soprano, it provides a harmony line that complements the melody, adding yet another layer.

Each part is unique. One part doesn't usually know the other's part, they simply know and sing their own. But when each sings its line and it combines with the others, what a glorious, sweet sound they make!

When it comes to the story line of the Bible, we will hear melodies and harmonies while the voices of the prophets contribute their lines to the song of the ages.

Our God is the Master Composer. The intricacies He has purposefully arranged on His grand scale of time are often indistinguishable to the human ear, unless we strain to hear.

As we journey through the story of Ezra-Nehemiah in the days ahead, listen in for a pattern, a 3-part harmony, as God composes another movement in His song through the mouths of His prophets. See if you can make out the sounds of:

1. A melody line which gives a clear sound of the present and near future
2. A harmony line that rings out future events
3. And yet another harmony line speaking of a future era when time as we know it will be no more, but we enter the space of eternity

It is in the blend of these voice parts that the sound becomes deeper and more richly layered, having the ability to lift our spirits to glorious heights.

The book of Ezra-Nehemiah (two books in our English Bible/one book in the Hebrew Bible) tells the story of the Jewish people coming out of exile, returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple and the city's walls. These events were prophesied by Jeremiah and others. This is our melody line. The harmonies underneath it, through the words of the prophets, point us to yet "another day of hope."

For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity – to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). What is the future hope spoken by the prophets?

May we keep our ears attuned to the 3-part harmony of heaven, arranged by our Master Composer in the story of Ezra-Nehemiah.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15).

Reflection:

Ask the Lord to tune your ears to hear His words and the song of Heaven today, tuning out any distractions that keep you from believing His words about a future and a hope.

Working from home is one of the biggest changes to my life over the last few months. I’ve found that little things like stopping for my morning coffee, complaining about traffic, and listening to my favorite morning talk show bring me joy. One thing I don’t miss is picking out what I’m going to wear every day. I’m challenged when it comes to fashion ☹. Despite my struggle and even though I’m working from home; I still get dressed every day. The action helps me prepare my mind to work and I’m ready just in case something out of the ordinary happens. In the same sense, I put on the spiritual garments the Lord has provided me daily, no matter what I have planned:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand…

—Ephesians 6:10-11a

He has given us instructions not only to help us right now but to also prepare and help us navigate the challenges that are ahead.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm then!  

—Ephesians 6:13-14a

Read, study, and meditate on the Word so you can stand firm in times of trouble. Clothe yourself now for the battle that is yet to come. You may look ridiculous today (all dressed up and nowhere to go) but you will be preparing yourself for whatever comes your way tomorrow.

• Do you have a favorite scripture that you read daily to encourage yourself?
• If not, consider reading Ephesians 6:13-18

At the outset of a war, no one knows how long the fighting will last. The longest war in history persisted 781 years, between the Spanish Empire and the Moors. The shortest battle, the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896, lasted a mere 38 minutes.

Jerusalem Day commemorates the second shortest war in history, which arose between the enemies of Israel and the young Jewish country. It occurred from June 5 to June 11, 1967, and is aptly named the Six-Day War.

Jerusalem Day, or Yom Yerushalayim, is an annual Israeli holiday occurring on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This date falls in April or May on the Gregorian calendar. Events include memorial services for those who died in the Six-Day War as well as parades, parties, special meals, prayer services and much more.

The Six-Day War was monumental in modern Israel’s history, second only to her War of Independence in 1948‒1949. Israel had not intended to fight at all in 1967 but was drawn into battle by Arab neighbors whose hunger to destroy her was agitated by Russian-planted lies. After six short days, Israel gained East Jerusalem from Jordan’s control and the Golan Heights from Syria.

Both acquisitions are of incalculable value to Israel. Taking possession of East Jerusalem meant that for the first time in 2,000 years, an undivided Jerusalem belonged to Israel again. Obtaining control over the Golan Heights was paramount to Israel’s security. The area lies elevated above Israel’s former border with Syria. In Syrian control, the Golan leaves Israeli citizens vulnerable to the kind of sniper attacks that took place incessantly before the Six-Day War.

Years of such turmoil and predatory actions by enemies of Israel – her neighbors in surrounding Arab nations – laid the foundation for 1967’s brief but fierce battle. Below is a summary of events leading up to and during the Six-Day War.

1959   

• Israel begins a project to bring water from the Sea of Galilee to the Negev according to a design set forth by U.S. Ambassador Eric Johnston

1964   

• Syria begins a united Arab plan to divert the Jordan River’s headwaters – to thwart Israel’s water-carrying project
• Syria fires from the Golan Heights on Israeli farmers below in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Israel responds by attacking Arab bulldozers working on the water diversion project
• Syrian and Palestinian attacks on Israeli individuals continue through 1967

1966   

• Syria shells Israel, and Israel responds by downing a Syrian fighter jet
• Egypt and Syria sign a mutual defense pact. Attacks by Israel’s enemies immediately increase

April 1967

• Between January and April of 1967, Arabs carry out 63 attacks on Israel
• In April, Syria shells Israel within the DMZ, and Israel responds

May 1967

• After 14 attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Eshkol warns Syria of retaliation
• Russia meddles – plants lies about a supposed Israeli plan to attack Syria
• Egypt mobilizes thousands of troops around the Suez Canal. The Egyptian military meets with Syria and finds no state of alert there. Cairo, Damascus and the U.S. agree Syria is under no threat from Israel, but Egypt’s President Nassar continues amassing troops and broadcasting inciting messages about destroying Israel
• Egypt flies a reconnaissance mission over Dimona, where Israel’s nuclear reactor is. Israel debates the risks of inaction versus a preemptive strike in defense of her people from the enemies of Israel
• Tens of thousands of Egyptian troops amass in the Sinai
• May 22, 1967 – Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, considered by many to be an act of war and the cause of the Six-Day War. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson condemns the blockade as illegal
• Six Arab countries respond as common enemies of Israel by deploying more than 230,000 troops near Israel’s borders
• Jordan and Egypt sign a mutual defense pact

June 1–4, 1967

• Arab leaders ramp up their rhetoric and enflame hatred among the people against Israel, declaring, “Our goal is clear: to wipe Israel off the map!”

DAY 1 – JUNE 5, 1967

• 8:15 a.m. – Fearing the loss of thousands of Israeli lives, Israel pre-emptively strikes the Egyptian Air Force, destroying 311 planes – mostly on the ground – and disabling 13 bases
• 8:30 a.m. – Israel sends a message to Jordan’s King Hussein promising not to attack if Jordan stays out of the fighting
• 10:00 a.m. – Jordan attacks Israel. Egypt’s Nasser misled Hussein, saying Egypt is inflicting massive damage on Israel. Jordan proceeds to fire 6,000 shells on Jewish Jerusalem, damaging 900 buildings, killing 20 Israeli civilians and injuring 1,000
• Noon – Syrian fighter jets strike Galilee settlements in Israel
• 12:30 p.m. – Israel attempts to destroy Jordan’s air capabilities by striking its airfields
• 1:00 p.m. – Israel strikes Syrian air bases, destroying two-thirds of its planes

DAY 2 – JUNE 6, 1967

• Through the night – massive Syrian artillery barrages hit Galilee communities
• 5:30 a.m. – Egyptians begin to retreat
• Afternoon – Lebanon attacks Israel
• 4:30 p.m. – Israel and Jordan accept ceasefire terms set by the United Nations, but Syria and Egypt do not
• 11:30 p.m. – Jordan’s Hussein orders troops to retreat, then reverses the command

DAY 3 – JUNE 7, 1967

• 10:00 a.m. – Israel gains control of East Jerusalem, the Old City and Temple Mount
• 12:15 p.m. – Israel breaks the blockade at the Straits of Tiran and opens the passageway to all ships
• Throughout the day – Syria continues shelling Israel’s north

DAY 4 – JUNE 8, 1967

• Syria incessantly bombards Israel from the Golan Heights, completely leveling several kibbutzim, communal Jewish farms
• The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) takes control of Hebron and other West Bank towns

DAY 5 – JUNE 9, 1967

• Israel, realizing Syria’s shelling of her northern communities will not stop as long as they remain in control of the Golan Heights, engages in a heavy ground battle with Syria

DAY 6 – JUNE 10, 1967

• Israel gains control of the Golan Heights
• Evening – all parties agree to a ceasefire. The war is over. Israel gained East Jerusalem and Golan Heights

God brought about the rebirth of Israel in a single day back in 1948. Since then, the enemies of Israel have relentlessly aimed to injure and kill her citizens and, ultimately, eliminate her existence.  But she remains the nation of God’s people and a key component in His prophetic plans.

Jerusalem has always been the capital of Israel. Her ancient kings resided there. The first and second Temples were located there, which meant Jerusalem was also the religious center of Israel. The third Temple will be built there, and when Yeshua (Jesus) returns to usher in the coming age, He will come to Jerusalem.

The second shortest war in world history resulted in a unified Jerusalem returned to Israeli hands. It is an exciting event on God’s prophetic timeline, revealing that we are, indeed, living in the Last Days.

Happy Jerusalem Day, Israel!

Sources:

The 20 Longest Wars in History, MSN, May 2019

The Shortest Wars in Human History, World Atlas

Six-Day War Timeline, SixDayWar.org

Ephesians chapter 3 has one of the most beautiful illustrations of the love of God in the entire Bible. First, I have to preface that statement with the fact that I’m a former supply chain manager who was tasked with scheduling truckloads of food for delivery to restaurants. Space was always at a premium and I was always finding new ways to maximize the space I was given. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul gives an invitation to pray for the strength to understand the size and depth of the love of Yeshua.  

“I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to grasp with all the        kedoshim [saints]  what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God.”

—Ephesians 3:17b-19

In challenging times like we find ourselves in right now, the one comfort we can have is that God loves us the same as He did when things were “normal.”  I know from my shipping days that the capacity of a container is not going to change. I can only fit more of something by emptying the container of something else.  We learn from Scripture that God’s love is vast and limitless:

The Width of His forgiveness is “as far as the east is from the west, so far He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

The Length of His sacrifice encompasses the whole world: “He is the atonement for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

The Height of His mercy is limitless: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy for those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11).

Simply, the Depth of His love can’t be contained! “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Today, we need as much of the Lord’s love as possible to strengthen us! His love has no limits, so the question is, how much room have we given Him?  

• Do you need a refill today of God’s love?
• Prayer: “Lord, fill me with more of you!  Show me things in my life that are taking up space so I can remove them and be filled with more of You.”