10/28/2008
Ezra 5:6 - 10 (HCSB) 6This is the text of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials in the region, sent to King Darius. 7They sent him a report, written as follows:
To King Darius:
All greetings.
8Let it be known to the king that we went to the house of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being built with cut stones, and its beams are being set in the walls. This work is being done diligently and succeeding through the people’s efforts. 9So we questioned the elders and asked, “Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?” 10We also asked them for their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
Ezra 6:1 - 12 (HCSB) 1King Darius gave the order, and they searched in the library of Babylon in the archives. 2But it was in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found with this record written on it:
3In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its [original] foundations be retained. Its height is to be 90 feet and its width 90 feet, 4with three layers of cut stones and one of timber. The cost is to be paid from the royal treasury. 5The gold and silver articles of God’s house that Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon must also be returned. They are to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem, where they belong, and put into the house of God.
6Therefore, you must stay away from that place, Tattenai governor of the region west of the Euphrates River, Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues, the officials in the region. 7Leave the construction of this house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its [original] site.
8I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, so that the elders of the Jews can rebuild this house of God: The cost is to be paid in full to these men out of the royal revenues from the taxes of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that the [work] will not stop. 9Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, or wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given to them every day without fail, 10so that they can offer sacrifices of pleasing aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11I also issue a decree concerning any man who interferes with this directive: Let a beam be torn from his house and raised up; he will be impaled on it, and his house will be made into a garbage dump because of this [offense]. 12May the God who caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who dares to harm or interfere with this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree. Let it be carried out diligently.
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Have you ever known a tattle-tale kid? One of those kids who seeks to manipulate others by reporting their actions to some authority. I must admit that I have done this as a child. But here in these verses, we have a group of people who oppose the Jews’ rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. They try to have the re-construction stopped by reporting to King Darius that the construction is going on. They even imply that the Jews are rebuilding the city in order to mount a revolt against the king. However, the Jews remind the king that King Cyrus had given the Jews permission and provisions to rebuild the city.
When Darius found the archives stating that Cyrus had made such a decree, he reinforced the prior decree then added his own penalty for impeding the Jews’ progress.
I love this passage because it reminds us that God will confound the plans of the wicked. And He will work miraculously on our behalves. Not only did the tattle-tales’ plan fail, but you see, they were also instructed to give the Jews whatever they needed. This really adds insult to injury for those petty people. Its like when you tell your mom: “Sis took my coloring book!” and mom replies: “Now give her your crayons, too.”
This is just an example of what God will do when we join in His mission. When we devote our hearts and lives to achieving His purposes, He will confound the schemes of the wicked.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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