God had instructed the Israelites to let the land rest every seven years. But since the days of Josiah this had not happened. In fact the children of Israel had completely turned away from following anything the Lord had commanded.
Since they wouldn't follow God's laws he forced them to rest.
2Ch 36:20 — 2Ch 36:23
Those who had escaped from the sword he took away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia was established there,
To fulfill the Lord’s word by Jeremiah, till the land had enjoyed its sabbaths; for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath to fulfill seventy years.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, 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: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given me, and He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up [to Jerusalem].
For seventy years they lived in the land of Babylon and allowed the land of Judah to rest.
When things happen that seems to close every door in our lives and we are forced to sit and do nothing, just enjoy it. It could be that God is allowing some time of rest so that we and those around us can be refreshed.
Don't get too comfortable either because Gods promises never fails. At some point He will open the door to go back to the land He promised you and when He does, you will go back full with everything you need to rebuild and go forward.
Lord, help me to follow you today and rest when you tell me to rest. Don't force the rest upon me, but if you do, help me to accept it and to enjoy the rest and prepare for the journey to start over.
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