Ezr 6:10 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we have proof that God never leaves an obedient and trusting people to themselves. Darius’ investigation and command make it clear to faith that God is working behind the scenes. We also see that He uses the power of the enemy to advance His purposes. It is an example of how for those who love God, “all things ... work together for good” ( ; ). When Darius has received the letter, he gives a decree to search ( ). Then a scroll is found which reveals the truth of the events ( ; cf. ). Darius is a great liquidator of Cyrus, the founder of the realm. This explains his willingness to act in this way without taking any notice of what Arthahsasta has commanded. By the way, the latter has changed a law that should not be changed ( ). What the returned Jews have claimed has been searched and found to be correct ( ). Details are even given regarding the purpose of the house, the dimensions of the foundation and the materials. The purpose of the house is to offer sacrifices. The “height” of the foundation speaks of the lofty, heavenly character that is known there – far above the level of the world and the thoughts of man. The “breadth” speaks of the fact that every part of the truth must have its place there. The materials are “huge stones” and “timbers” ( ). They speak of the believers who are on the one hand living stones ( ) and on the other hand a new creation ( ). Everything must be paid out of the royal treasury, which means that man cannot contribute anything to God’s building. Placing the utensils back in the house of God ( ) reminds us that it is not enough to know the truth of ‘the house’, but that we must also be utensils of honor ourselves. We must take our place in the house of God, the church, and make ourselves available to Him to do what He made us capable of doing. What is written in the found scroll is clear. Darius gives a direct order to the people who wrote to him not to bother the Jews anymore and not to stand in their way ( ). Instead of preventing the building, the enemies are ordered by Darius to help the Jews with the building by providing them with what they need ( ). This involves reimbursement of expenses and providing sacrifices ( ). Here we see that “out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet” ( ). Everything that is necessary for our sacrificial service is made fully available to us by God “daily”, i.e. every day. He has it ready for us in His Word. In His Word, the treasure of Christ for God is unfolded to us on every page, so that we may examine it and rejoice in it. For those who are interested in it, immeasurable facilities for worship are available. Darius appreciates the intercession of this despised company ( ). He knows that these people are praying and that God hears the prayer of His people. When someone prays or intercedes, it means that such a person knows the value of prayer (cf. ). The first task of the house of God is that it is a house of prayer “on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority” ( ; ). Darius concludes his letter with some penalty provisions for those who violate his decree regarding the building of God’s house. He himself sets a measure of punishment. He determines that whoever turns against God’s house “a timber shall be drawn from his house and he shall be impaled on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this” ( ). He desires that God let His judgment come to anyone who damages the house in which He has made His Name dwell ( ). This shows that Darius has known that Jerusalem is the city of the “God Who made His Name dwell there” (cf. ). When the adversaries have received the message from Darius, they act in “with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent” ( ). Thus the opposition ends. Under the influence of the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, the house is completed ( ). Only Haggai is called prophet, although Zechariah may just as rightly be called so. However, in this case it is mainly a word for the conscience of the people. That is what the people need and that comes from Haggai. The work has been stopped until the second year of Darius ( ). In the sixth year they are finished with it ( ). When the foundations have been laid cannot be said with certainty, because we do not know the elapsed time between Cyrus and Darius, but it is estimated to be more than fifteen years earlier.

‏ Ezra 6:10

Introduction

In this chapter we have proof that God never leaves an obedient and trusting people to themselves. Darius’ investigation and command make it clear to faith that God is working behind the scenes. We also see that He uses the power of the enemy to advance His purposes. It is an example of how for those who love God, “all things ... work together for good” (Rom 8:28; Phil 1:12).

Darius’ Investigation and Command

When Darius has received the letter, he gives a decree to search (Ezra 6:1). Then a scroll is found which reveals the truth of the events (Ezra 6:2; cf. Est 6:1-2). Darius is a great liquidator of Cyrus, the founder of the realm. This explains his willingness to act in this way without taking any notice of what Arthahsasta has commanded. By the way, the latter has changed a law that should not be changed (Dan 6:16).

What the returned Jews have claimed has been searched and found to be correct (Ezra 6:3). Details are even given regarding the purpose of the house, the dimensions of the foundation and the materials. The purpose of the house is to offer sacrifices. The “height” of the foundation speaks of the lofty, heavenly character that is known there – far above the level of the world and the thoughts of man. The “breadth” speaks of the fact that every part of the truth must have its place there.

The materials are “huge stones” and “timbers” (Ezra 6:4). They speak of the believers who are on the one hand living stones (1Pet 2:5) and on the other hand a new creation (2Cor 5:17). Everything must be paid out of the royal treasury, which means that man cannot contribute anything to God’s building. Placing the utensils back in the house of God (Ezra 6:5) reminds us that it is not enough to know the truth of ‘the house’, but that we must also be utensils of honor ourselves. We must take our place in the house of God, the church, and make ourselves available to Him to do what He made us capable of doing.

What is written in the found scroll is clear. Darius gives a direct order to the people who wrote to him not to bother the Jews anymore and not to stand in their way (Ezra 6:6-7). Instead of preventing the building, the enemies are ordered by Darius to help the Jews with the building by providing them with what they need (Ezra 6:8). This involves reimbursement of expenses and providing sacrifices (Ezra 6:9). Here we see that “out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet” (Jdg 14:14a).

Everything that is necessary for our sacrificial service is made fully available to us by God “daily”, i.e. every day. He has it ready for us in His Word. In His Word, the treasure of Christ for God is unfolded to us on every page, so that we may examine it and rejoice in it. For those who are interested in it, immeasurable facilities for worship are available.

Darius appreciates the intercession of this despised company (Ezra 6:10). He knows that these people are praying and that God hears the prayer of His people. When someone prays or intercedes, it means that such a person knows the value of prayer (cf. Col 4:2-4). The first task of the house of God is that it is a house of prayer “on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority” (1Tim 2:1-2; Isa 56:7b).

Darius concludes his letter with some penalty provisions for those who violate his decree regarding the building of God’s house. He himself sets a measure of punishment. He determines that whoever turns against God’s house “a timber shall be drawn from his house and he shall be impaled on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this” (Ezra 6:11). He desires that God let His judgment come to anyone who damages the house in which He has made His Name dwell (Ezra 6:12). This shows that Darius has known that Jerusalem is the city of the “God Who made His Name dwell there” (cf. Deu 12:5 ; 10-11).

When the adversaries have received the message from Darius, they act in “with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent” (Ezra 6:13). Thus the opposition ends. Under the influence of the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, the house is completed (Ezra 6:14). Only Haggai is called prophet, although Zechariah may just as rightly be called so. However, in this case it is mainly a word for the conscience of the people. That is what the people need and that comes from Haggai.

The work has been stopped until the second year of Darius (Ezra 4:24). In the sixth year they are finished with it (Ezra 6:15). When the foundations have been laid cannot be said with certainty, because we do not know the elapsed time between Cyrus and Darius, but it is estimated to be more than fifteen years earlier.