Ezra - Chapter 1

The prophecies of Jeremiah can be read in the book of Jeremiah.  In Chapter 25 we see God telling the people that they will be in captivity in Babylon 70 years, and in Chapter 30 God promises that after the captivity He will bring the people back to Israel.

The book of Ezra begins with a reference to these prophecies, and Cyrus, King of Persia, is used by God to fulfil them:

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:"

The return of the people to Israel is "to fulfil the word of the Lord."  God's word can always be trusted, and is central to his relationship with his people.

In the New Testament (John 1) Jesus is described as the Word:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

It is encouraging that in the very first verse of this new book we see a link to Jesus.