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Written by Matthew H. Patton, a contemporary pastor.  This is an excerpt from his work “The End of Exile: The Old Testament as Cliffhanger.”

The Old Testament ends in a cliffhanger. Remember how much God promised would happen: the magnificent complex of promises we call “the restoration” or “the kingdom of God.” And then consider the fizzling disappointment we discover in Ezra–Nehemiah. What is more, consider how Israel’s recalcitrant sin intensifies the problem: If the only way out of exile is through Israel’s repentance, but the very reason for exile is Israel’s inability to repent, how will the restoration ever come to pass? All this leaves us with an unresolved “To be continued . . .” flavor. But it also leaves us with some insights about why God gave us the Old Testament. First, the story of Israel’s ongoing exile deepens our appreciation for how deep sin’s tyranny goes. Even when Israel was in the depths of their misery and knew that they needed to truly repent to be restored, they could not do so. The allure of their sin was too powerful, the corruption of their hearts too great. Second, Israel’s unending exile underscores their desperate need for God to make the first move. They desperately needed a deliverer, one from the outside who would take the initiative to rescue them from something too powerful for them. Third, we see how everything is riding on God’s steadfast commitment to His covenant promises. God’s recollection of these promises prompted a new beginning long ago. Now, after so much sin and apostasy, Israel’s only hope is that He will act on these promises once again, even in their exile. No wonder that in the depths of Israel’s groaning over the loss of Jerusalem, they found hope in the Lord’s steadfast commitment to His ancient covenants. No wonder that God’s compassion repeatedly emerges in passages about the end of exile. The transition from wrath to grace must begin with His compassion for Israel’s bondage to sin, apart from any worthiness in Israel. Finally, we can now appreciate God’s purposes in the small positive trends in Ezra–Nehemiah. Their mitigated return to the land, the small temple, the dubious gift of the wall—these and all the other attenuated blessings cannot be called the promised restoration. But they are signs of God’s continued regard for His people. He will one day make good on His promises, and therefore these small gifts are pledges of greater things to come…Ezra–Nehemiah is a period of “lightened exile,” where they are still in bondage, but God has shown them that He has not forgotten them, even in the valley of the shadow of death, by allowing them to come back to their land. The curtain closes on the OT amid great anticipation. The promised kingdom must come. How will God finally bring exile to an end once and for all? As they say, to be continued . . .

Prayer:

Written by Paige Deane, a contemporary author.

Lord, you are faithful to me. Your glory outshines everything. Help me to step out in faith for your kingdom and to challenge those I’m discipling to do the same. Do not allow us, your disciples, to grow complacent or prideful. Challenge us to step out in faith and depend on you fully for all that we need. You are worthy of our trust. Your plan is perfect. Cast out all doubt that would hold us back from stepping into all that you have called us to do. We are your servants, help us to be obedient to your Holy Spirit’s convictions. You are God above all creation. You are all powerful, all knowing, and always present. We give you all our adoration and praise for your grace and mercy in our lives. Amen.