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EZRA

CHAPTER 6

6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king's house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

The letter which was sent to Darius from the accusers of the Jews, evoked a response from the king. That response was to search out the archives of records.
Indeed a decree was found. That decree had been written by Cyrus, and outlined the truth. Cyrus had commanded that the temple be built.
He had also commanded that it be built with the KING'S MONEY!
He had also commanded that the golden and silver vessels which had been taken from "the house of God," be returned for use in the new temple which would be built.
God is indeed in control of all kingdoms. And when God determines that grace be poured out, it will be poured out.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I made a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

Darius reiterated the decree!
He not only determined to state it again, but to reinforce it. He issued with the decree a demand that these accusers help by being sure that whatever was needed was given to the Jews for the work.
Also, he stated that the sacrifices which were to be offered were to be given from the king's money. And if anyone tried to alter this decree, he was to be hanged from his own house's door, and the house was to be made a place of garbage piles.
Darius gave the reason for his adding to Cyrus' decree: "That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons."
Darius knew that these Jews were a devout people, and that they would pray for the authorities of the world to be divinely led by the Lord God. Darius WANTED those prayers!
All men of authority and public responsibility should desire the prayers of the saints of God.
After having read what Cyrus had written, Darius believed that "the God of heaven" had CAUSED (verse 12) His presence to dwell in the temple in Jerusalem.

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

Those who had determined to harm the work of rebuilding the temple, now gladly gave out of the king's money the necessities for the building of that same temple!
And the record states "they did speedily."
Haggai and Zechariah, God's prophets, were on hand to encourage the work.
Therefore, the temple was completed by the sixth year of Darius' reign.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

When the priests and Levites had sanctified themselves according to God's law, then they offered the sacrifices according to the law.
According to verse 18, they reinstituted the service of the priests and Levites by "course."
Verse 15 says that the temple was finished in the month, Adar, which was the 12th month of the Jewish calendar.
The very next month would be the FIRST month (Abib), in which the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover were to be observed.
Isn't it wonderful the way God orchestrates the events of the world to coordinate with HIS WILL?
The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover were indeed held. These two feasts were most important for they represented the consecration of believers to God and the salvation of God to believers.

21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

The theme of the chapter is presented here. God had caused the "heart of the king of Assyria" to be affectionate toward the Jews, and to HELP them build the house of God.
Yes, God CAUSED, it to be so!
And the Jews RECOGNIZED that, and gave the praise to God.
Christians should recognize today that God is always working all things together for good for His people (Romans 8:28).

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