The Temple is Completed
July 20, 2020
Commentary
Darius commanded that the records be searched to determine if Cyrus had actually made a decree permitting the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (v. 1). The document they sought was not found in Babylon but in Ecbatana, the capital of Media Province, where the Persian kings maintained a summer palace (v. 2). Cyrus gave the orders that the foundations be “strongly laid” and the height and breadth were both to be ninety feet (v. 3). It seems that Cyrus wanted to rebuild a bigger and more impressive facility than the one which had previously been destroyed. He not only permitted the rebuilding of the temple but he was willing to underwrite the expenses of the project (v. 4). The gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar took from the original temple were to be brought back to this new temple in Jerusalem (v. 5).
Darius goes beyond the decree of Cyrus in helping the Jews in their building project (vv. 6-12). He not only warns Totnai not to interfere but gives instruction as to what they are to do to help the work (vv. 6-7). In addition they were to give money from taxes to the Jews in order to finance their expenses (8). He and his associates, either through an honest desire to perform the king’s will or through fear of Darius threat, that anyone who disobeys would be hanged, “did speedily what he had commanded (vv. 9-12). The temple was finally completed in the sixth year of Darius reign.
Application
God’s will is supreme over all rulers, all historical events, and all hostile forces. He can deliver me in ways I can’t imagine. If I trust in His power and love, no opposition can stop me. What am I doing presently that Satan is trying to prevent me from doing but I know I have the victory through Christ?
Ezra 6:1– 12 (NET)
1 So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows:
3 In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. Its height is to be 90 feet and its width 90 feet, 4 with three layers of large stones and one layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore, let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.’
6 “Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of Trans-Euphrates—all of you stay far away from there. 7 Leave the work on this temple of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.
8 “I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates, the complete costs are to be given to these men so that there may be no interruption of the work. 9 Whatever is needed—whether oxen or rams or lambs for burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by the priests who are in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without any neglect, 10 so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.
11 “I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled on it, and his house is to be reduced to a rubbish heap for this indiscretion. 12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation who reaches out to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!”
Illustration: Hendricks Tells of Young Man Restored to The Lord
Author and teacher, Dr. Howard Hendricks tells the story of a young man who strayed from the Lord but was finally brought back by the help of a friend who really loved him. When there was full repentance and restoration, Dr. Hendricks asked this Christian how it felt away from the Lord. The young man said it seemed like he was out at sea, in deep water, deep trouble, and all his friends were on the shore hurling biblical accusations at him about justice, penalty, and wrong. “But, there was one Christian brother who actually swam out to get me and would not let me go. I fought him, but he pushed aside my fighting, grasped me, put a life jacket around me, and took me to shore. By the grace of God, he was the reason I was restored. He would not let me go.” (Source Unknown).