The Temple Completed and Dedicated

Transcript

GRS 145
The Temple Completed and Dedicated
02/16/1997
Ezra 5-6
Gil Rugh

The book of Ezra in your bibles. An interesting time in Israel’s history. As we look into the book of Ezra, it’s really a glorious time. In many ways, it’s overshadowed by the glory that characterized the nation, before it’s decline, and fall, if you will. The captivity that resulted in the end of the northern kingdom in 722 BC. Then the series of three Babylonian deportations, that brought the southern kingdom to an end in 586. Now, God in His grace, has called the nation back from captivity. Primarily the southern kingdom. Judah and the little tribe of Benjamin. They’re representatives from the other tribes that are involved, as we will see. Yet there is a certain sadness that looms over it, as we’ve seen. As they laid the foundation of the temple. People who remember the height of the walls, see the difference in how it is. Yet in the book of Ezra, we see in a marvelous way, the hand of God on His people. Their splendor, their greatness, in many ways is a shadow of what it was. They are not an independent nation any longer. Their existence, humanly speaking, is at the whim of the Persians who rule the world. Humanly speaking again, just a little puff of breath to blow away this little group of people. Yet in them we see the sovereign had of God in keeping his promises, and working His purposes. So, you have the mighty Persian nation, dominating the world. God using that mighty world empire for the accomplishing of His purposes with His chosen people, the nation Israel.

The book of Ezra, when the people return back from the Babylonian captivity, with the intention to rebuild the temple, the center of worship for the nation Israel. They begin by setting up the altar. The altar is at the heart of the worship on the nation. It’s there that sacrifice is offered, that God meets with His people. We noted the statement in Exodus 29:43, where God said, regarding the altar. “And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.” The altar, the place where I meet with Israel, the place where sin is atoned, where our fellowship is joined, where My glory is displayed.

Chapter 3 of Ezra begins with the recording of the setting up of the altar. We looked through this chapter, we noted that the people are characterized by unity. In verse 1, they are gathered together as one man, by an obedience to the law. The end of verse 2, they are functioning as it is written in the law of Moses. They are characterized by fear. In verse 3, they were terrified because of the people of the land. But, the altar is set up. Following the setting up of the altar, there is great celebration, verses 10 and 11. The people joined together in praising God. The point that is foundational to their worship of God has now been set up. Now they are prepared to move on for the construction of the temple proper.

They see, already the hand of God. His loving-kindness, verse 11, His goodness, in dealing with Israel. We know that that word, loving-kindness, hesed, is how we have it in English, it’s God covenant love, covenant loyalty. Loving-kindness for Israel, His chosen people. There’s that mixture of sadness and joy at the end of chapter 3. The older people remembering how glorious the temple of Solomon was, that had been destroyed. This is not going to be anything on that scale. Yet there is great rejoicing.

Chapter 4 there was the opposition that arose. The enemies of Israel try a variety of strategies. The first one was, let’s work together. We worship the same God you worship. These are difficult days, let’s join hands in the work. Zerubbabel put a stop to that immediately verse 3, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the Lord God of Israel.” There will be no compromise in our worship and in our ministry. So, the enemy proceeded in verse 4 and 5 to discourage the people, to frighten them, to hire counselors who would go to the court of the king and make accusations against the Jews to undermine the work and discourage the people. They were effective as chapter 4 concluded in verse 24, “Then work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased.” What the devil doesn’t accomplish in one way, he tries in another. He may not win the war, but he wears us down with his relentless opposition. We just get tired. The children of Israel abandon the work on building the house of God. The year is 536 BC as we concluded chapter 4. The work will not resume until the second year of Darius, it will be dated for us in Chapter 5. It is dated for us in chapter 4, really. The work stops until the second year of the reign of Darius King of Persia, that was 520 BC.

Chapter 5 begins with 520 BC. Sixteen years, 536 to 520, have lapsed between Chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5. During that time, no work of any significance has been carried out on the temple. The comments that come out of this chapter makes you think they may have puttered around a little bit. But for all intense and purposes, nothing has been done on the temple. The work stopped. The people got diverted.

You come into chapter 5, and chapter 5 is about the temple construction restarted. We will begin again with the building of the temple. To get this started and to encourage the process, God brings on the scene, two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. Zechariah is the better known to us. He has one of the greater prophetic books in the Old Testament. Sometimes called the book of revelation on the Old Testament. The book of Zechariah. Particularly the last portion of his prophecy beginning in chapter 8, focuses on climactic events associated with the coming of the Messiah, the establishment of the kingdom, and the glorious temple that will characterize that time. Haggai will carry us to that time as well. Zechariah has a fuller development of it. The great words of encouragement to the people in these days, of building this temple. It’s a reminder that God is not done with Israel. The temple plays a key role in God’s future plans for the nation Israel. These are words of great encouragement. The opening verses of chapter 5, “When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, then Zerubbabel the son of Hsealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets were with them supporting them.” These two prophets, we can date their ministries pretty clearly. Haggai, we can date very exactly. Haggai delivered a series of four messages, over a period of about four months, beginning in August of 520 and concluding in December of 520 BC. The temple construction will start in September of 520. You can see, just after Haggai’s first message, construction gets under way on the temple. Zechariah begins his ministry two months after Haggai. His first message is dated in October of 520. His last dated message, recorded in the book of Zechariah is dated February 518. So last dated because some of the closing chapters of Zechariah are not dated, so we’re not sure exactly the dates of those. Ezra has stressed in his letters, particularly chapter 4, that opposition came from the enemies of the Jews. They worked to try to undermine the work. To compromise the Jews first, then to dishearten them and frighten them and stir up the king of Persia against them. But you get a different perspective as you come to the prophet Haggai as well as Zechariah.

We will concentrate on Haggai. Haggai reveals that the real problem centers in the attitude of the people and their sin. So, he comes with a message of rebuke to them. Come to the book of Haggai, all the way to the back of your Old Testament. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, concluding books of the Old Testament. Keep in mind, when prophets come on the scene, it means your going to hear a message from God. That’s what a prophet is, he is a spokesman for God. You see this numerous times. Jeremiah, when God called Jeremiah, I have put my words in your mouth, my words in your mouth. So, a prophet comes with a message from God. But the coming of a prophet is also an indication of spiritual decline in the nation. The prophet is raised up by God, to bring a word from God. And it is a word, first of all, of rebuke and condemnation for disobedience. That’s why the prophets are difficult for us in our study. It’s often, again and again and again, we’re reminded, sin, sin, sin, so it is with Haggai and Zechariah. They come on the scene at a time when Israel, again is in disobedience. They came back into the land. The decree to return is given in 538. They return in 537 and in 536 the work on the temple is done. They stopped. Didn’t take them long, did it? People who had given up everything they had known. 70 years they hadn’t been in this land. Travel the 900 years back, big price to pay. You know, the devil knows how to get to us. He knows how to distract us. He knows how to divert us from what God has called us to do.

Each of Haggai’s messages are dated, the four messages. Chapter 1:1, in the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month. That’s why we can say, this was delivered on this day in this month in this year. The second message given in chapter 2:1, on the twenty-first of the seventh month. If you are using a reference bible, you probably have the dates given in your notes as well. So I’m not giving them to you. The twenty-first day of the seventh month, October 17, 520 BC. The third message, verse 20, the twenty-fourth of the ninth month in the second year of Darius. Then verse 20, “Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month saying.” So, we have the four messages in Haggai, clearly set down. The first eleven verses of chapter 1, we’re not going to get through the whole book, but the first eleven verses, you see how he starts out. It contains a strong rebuke to the people. They are guilty for their disobedience. In that rebuke, there is a remedy given. How they can get back to a place of blessing from God. You see something of their attitude and how they got to where they are in verse 2. Haggai 1:2, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘This people says, the time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.” What happens is, we allow certain circumstances and situations to determine what God would have us do. It’s just not a good time. We’re back to chapter 4 of Ezra in our thinking, the opposition there. Easy to decide what? This isn’t a good time. First let’s get settled in. Let’s get ourselves established. Let’s become part of the community again, so to speak. Get our houses established. Then we’ll be in a position to really build the temple the way it should be. This just isn’t the time. Sixteen years later, it’s still not the right time. It’s never a convenient time. But they have been busy.

Verse 3, “Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, it it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?” What they really did was, use God as an excuse to divert their energy, their attention, their recourses, to building their own homes. I got to think about that. You know do I want to get involved in what the Lord’s doing, and throw myself and my resources into that, when I don’t even have myself established? They are dwelling in paneled houses, which is a sign of doing well. They are living high, but it’s not the time to build the house of the Lord. You can leave the work of the Lord there alone, concentrate on building your houses. You see subtly, we find an excuse for it. Israel did. Of course, we’ve made the sacrifice, the Lord knows our hearts, we’re committed to get the work done. But you know, we want to be sensitive, it’s not a good time. With the opposition and everything, after we get ourselves settled in, we’ll be ready. One writer put it this way, they had deluded themselves into believing, that if they first made themselves prosperous and satisfied their own needs, they would then be in a better position to meet their obligations to the Lord. What they failed to see however, was that when one neglects to discharge his obligation to the Lord first, whatever he does for himself, will not prosper. So, God leaned on Israel. Verse 5, “Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.” Verse 9, “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? Declares the Lord of hosts, Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.” You know what? With the kind of thinking they had, it’s still not the right time. It’s just not getting better for them in that sense. With this kind of excuse, it never gets good enough for people. Here, for the people, the Lord was withholding His blessing, and that just confirmed for them, that it’s just not the time for rebuilding. We’re not in a position to do it. There’s no other way to do it, then to step out in faith and trust the Lord, because He withholds the blessing from them.

The solution verses 7 and 8. “Thus, says the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord.” Get your priorities right. Number one, please Me. Number one, be concerned about My glory. It sounds like Jesus says on the sermon on the mount, seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. Same idea, put the Lord first. Seek to please Him first. Glorify Him with your life and allow Him to take care of the rest. The problem, disobedience. They haven’t built the temple. The remedy, they build the temple. Make that the priority of your life. The encouraging and amazing thing is, the message of Zechariah or Haggai, makes an impact on the people. They respond. That is not always the case in the ministry of the prophets.

Verse 12, “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the Lord.” They honored the Lord, by obeying His word. And God assures them of His presence. He sends Haggai with a message in verse 13, the end of the verse, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” Verse 14, “So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirt of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” That’s where we are in Ezra chapter 5:1-2. Leave a marker in Haggai for a moment. Come back to Ezra.

We understand when it says, “When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.” A reminder, it’s the God of Israel who is over them. Now they come telling them, what the God, who is over them, says is wrong, and what the remedy is. The response, as Haggai begins the ministry of these prophets, is obedience. Praise the Lord, He stirred them up, and they respond. Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua, he’s called Jeshua in Ezra, with an e. In Haggai and Zechariah, it’s Joshua, the same man, the high priest, just a variation on his name. Verse 2, “They began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.” I want you to see that the ministry of these prophets was not just a rebuke. It started out as a rebuke, but when the people responded in obedience, then they carry on an ongoing ministry of encouraging the people. Come back to Haggai. Let’s look at this encouragement. Then we’ll get back and move through these chapters in Ezra. Haggai’s second message was one of those supporting messages. A message of encouragement. The first nine verses of chapter two, record that message.

Verse 3, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?” He picks up on the discouragement that some of the people felt when they saw the foundations originally laid. They realize that this is not going to be like Solomon’s temple. Verse 4, “But now take courage, Zerubbabel, declares the Lord, take courage also Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage, declares the Lord, and work; for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.” That puts it in perspective. Whether this temple is going to be as great and splendid as Solomon’s, becomes secondary, doesn’t it? In this work, the Lord says, I am with you. Are you in this work to glorify the Lord, or to satisfy our own selfish desires? Well, if you can’t build a temple like Solomon’s, I’m just not interested in it. Are you interested in joining with the Lord and the work that He is doing, in effect, is what God says.

Verse 5, “As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear! For thus says the Lord of hosts, Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place, I shall give peace, declares the Lord of Hosts.” It seems that Haggai, moves us beyond just the immediate setting. A reminder that God’s purposes center in this place. In the temple that would be built in this place. We find that Haggai’s message, and even more so in Zechariah, we have that reminder that what is being done here is important. Zechariah says, don’t despise the day of small things, because the temple you’re building, is not what is crucial here. What’s crucial here is, you’re doing the work of the Lord. And the Lord is with you in it.

The Lord’s purposes are being accomplished, and those purposes will ultimately climax in a temple, which is splendid beyond description. We have a fullness of that millennial temple described in the closing chapters of Ezekiel. There is encouragement here, in what is going on. Don’t be discouraged with the little bit you seem to be doing, and the insignificant of this place, because My purposes, say God, center in this place. Again, can you have any other concept, as you read a passage like this? But that God has a future for the nation Israel? The future for this nation Israel centers in the land of Palestine. The center of His work in the land of Palestine, is going to be the temple. If that’s not what this means, God has seriously deluded His people. And encouraged them and supported them in the work, with promises that He has no intention of carrying out. But God is always true to His word. They’re building and working on this temple, is a testimony that God is faithful, and God will accomplish His purposes. A reminder to us, in this day when Israel does not have the temple again, that there will come a day when they do. All the wealth of the nations will flow to that temple. The glory will be the greatest that it has ever been. So definitely an encouragement to these people to keep up with the work of the Lord. Be encouraged to know that the Lord is with them. That His spirit is abiding in their midst.

Come back to Ezra. Now this ministry of the prophets is going on. If you take the time to read Haggai and Zechariah, you get something of the flavor then, of what is going on through the ministry of these prophets, during the time that we are studying. The work has started, we’re under way. Praise the Lord, this is thrilling! Verse 3, opposition again. We saw that the work of the Lord is never carried out without opposition. So, the governor of the area, Tattenai, we’ll call him, in verse 3. He’s the governor of the province beyond the river. And Sethar-bozenai, associated with him. In other words, the man Tattenai is the man entrusted with the responsibility for this portion of the Persian empire. The construction on the temple get underway. You note, there is no opposition to the people, as long as they are building their own houses. Paneling them, taking care of their own lives. It’s when they throw themselves into the work of the Lord, that opposition gets stirred up. That’s why we know that this proof. That’s why, to this day, we as the people of God, have a certain reluctance about being too aggressive with the work of the Lord. Because we can pool our energy into so many things, and go on with our lives. But, we become serious about the work of the Lord and His business, the the opponents come out of the woodwork. And I know it’s going to happen, they knew it would happen. Tattenai, has to take notice of what is taking place here. So he comes and approaches them, to question their authorization for building a temple here. You know, you couldn’t just decide to do this. This is within the realm of Persia’s empire. You have to have permission. So he comes, and asks them, the end of verse 3. “Who issued you a decree to build this temple and to finish this structure? Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building” Why did they tell him the names? Well, he had asked. Down in verse 10, “We also asked them their names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head.” This was somewhat intimidating. These Jews stopped the work 16 years earlier, because of pressure and then selfish desires. Now they come, they want to know our names, their going to write it down, who knows? It’s a form of intimidation. It’s like somebody coming to your job and saying, you’re a Christian, and you told so and so about what you believe. Then they name some of the others that have been telling others about Christ. Now, all of a sudden you feel a certain fear in the pit of your stomach, like, am I going to get my pink slip over this? Well, you know here, they’re going to take our names to the king of Persia, next thing I know, the king of Persia may say, you send those guys here to see me. Darius is going to be used of the Lord, but he is not a particularly nice guy. You see that, in one example of his conduct. The questions come and Tattenai writes down what is going on and sends it to Darius. He tells him, here’s what the people told us. So we asked them, where did you get authority to build this.

Verse 11, “And thus they answered us, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.” This is not a new work. We are simply rebuilding an old work. Former king, a great king, built a great temple. Verse 12, “But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.” That’s what happened to that glorious temple. We were disobedient to God. We rebelled against Him. See the impact of the prophet’s message, had an impact on them, they had started the work again, and they acknowledge, it was their sin that destroyed the first temple. They told how the temple, they are rebuilding was originally constructed. What happened to it, and now the key here, verse 13. Where did they get the authority to rebuild. “However, in the first year of Cyrus King of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.” Not only that, but he provided financing for it. And he gave us our temple utensils that Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Babylon. Just further evidence that Cyrus intends this temple to be rebuilt and used.

Then verse 17, they request from the governor to the king, “And now, if it pleases the king let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.” That’s the summary of what goes on. Now, God’s hand of providence is on His people in this. Look at chapter 5:5, “But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report should come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it.” That expression, the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, rather, it’s God watching over them. God is in control here. In His plan, the government does not say the work will stop until I have authorization, He says the work can continue while I seek authorization. So the governor here, does not manifest himself as a violent opponent. In many ways, he’s doing his job. But God is watching out for His people.

The response it sent to Babylon, where Darius is. Darius responds to this governor’s request and has them search the royal archives of Babylon for the decree. But they don’t find a decree at Babylon. It’s amazing how sovereign God is in this. The city that’s mentioned here in chapter 6:2, Ecbatana, was the capitol of the Median empire. The Meads and the Persians, remember allied together in the early stages of the empire, that the Persians would ultimately dominate. Well, Ecbatana is 300 miles northeast of Babylon. It’s in the mountains. Cold winters. But delightful cool, summers. Ecbatana was used as a summer residence for the Persian kings. Cyrus was here in 538, when he issued the decree for the Jews to rebuild. Amazing, because you know, you just didn’t tap into a computer or make a phone call. You had to send a messenger to Babylon, 300 miles to Ecbatana. Instructing that a search be made of the royal records that are kept there. Keep in mind, you really have a handful of Jews, in a desert part of the empire that’s 900 miles away from Babylon. Asking to build the temple, and the governor asking, is this ok, can you find the decree that this is ok. As I first studied through this, I thought, that Darius would say, don’t bother me. But that’s not the way it operated, the government, like we would have the right appeal, and the Persians did operate, according to the law of the Meads and Persians. They did honor the decrees that had been given. Those were not to be changed. At Ecbatana the decree is found.

Verses 3-5 tell us about the decree, the instructions for the temple. Some indication in the measurements that had been given at the end of verse 3, 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits, that there is some confusion. Those measurements would make it bigger than Solomon’s temple, so there is some reordering of those measurements. You can look at those and study them on your own, rather than me trying to work out some of the alternatives there. Just to be aware. In verse 6-12, when Darius has reported, you can see how good God has been, because if the governor of the region said the work of the temple has to stop. That’s a long trip, 900 miles, like Ezra had said, and when we get into chapter 7, four months to make the trip. If they had to wait until he made the trip. Then they search the archives at Babylon and don’t find it. Then they have to send messengers to 300 miles northeast to check at another capitol, search its records. Then send messengers and a copy of the decree back to Babylon to Darius. Then go through that process, then send the return back. They would easily lose a year’s working time here. But in the providence of God, His eye was on upon the elders of the land. The work of the temple did not stop. Construction kept going on.

When Darius realizes that Cyrus gave such a decree, he issued a decree of his own. It’s addressed in verse 6, to Tattenai. I’ve got down 4 points in the decree. Number 1, it stipulated, the Jews were not to be bothered. Verse 7, leave the work on the house of God alone, let the Jews build this house. Leave them alone, in other words, keep away from them. The first thing, the Jews weren’t to be bothered in anyway. Number 2, you see the hand of the Lord. I hope you marked that, if not, go back there and mark chapter 5:5, we see what it means, the hand of the Lord, not only does the work not stop on the temple, but the work is going to be enhanced. Because now they have an official decree from the king, don’t bother these people, let they alone. All expenses for the building of this temple, are to be pulled out of the royal treasury. The Jews weren’t expecting this. You see what happens, when they decide to do what will be pleasing to the Lord. Do it His way. The Lord wasn’t stuck, you don’t have enough money, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was their obedience. Chapter 6:8, “Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay.” The king of Persia had a way of getting things done. He just told them, you better do it and no delay in the doing of it. Number 3, all the items necessary for carrying out the sacrificial system, day after day, were to be provided on a daily basis. Verses 9 & 10, “And whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven”, and so on. End of verse 9, “ to be given with out fail, that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for he life of the king and his sons.” Again, it’s not because Darius is a believer. He did this for a variety of religions throughout his empire. There’s a way of gaining the favor of the people and he was a polytheist. He saw it to his advantage to have the various people praying to their gods, for the wellbeing of this king. He thought, if I have all the gods on my side, nobody will ever defeat me. So what he does for the Jews here, is used of God, but he did work and provide for other temples throughout his empire, historical records have shown. Number 4, this gives you something of as insight into the character of this king. Look at verse 11, “And I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be drawn form his house and he shall be impaled on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this.” We sometimes see these decrees in favor of the Jews, and get the idea, this king, well we happen to have a softy. But when he says, if anybody doesn’t do as I say, you impale him on a timber, he meant to do it. This same Darius, put down a rebellion at the city of Babylon. After he put down the rebellion at Babylon, he impaled 3,000 Babylonians on steaks. I think if I read this decree, whoever violates it shall be impaled, I would think Darius means business. That record is recorded by Herodias, the 5th century Greek historian and is also found in descriptions that Darius himself made. These have been discovered by archeologists, the 3,000 Babylonians he impaled. You see a man of this character, being used of God for the accomplishing of His purposes. The political setting of the time is key in all of this. This is just a little bit going on in the background.

Cyrus, issued a decree for people to return. Cyrus is followed by his son, Cambyses. Every time there is a turnover of kings in an empire, there is a certain amount of turmoil, because every change provides an opportunity for enemies to try to jockey for power and to usurp the role of the king, and become king themselves. In the jockeying for power, Cambyses, murders his own brother, when he thought there would be a threat. He goes off to Egypt to put down a rebellion in Egypt, that is part of the Persian empire. While there, someone comes up to declare himself the real brother of Cambyses. Cambyses, knows he’s not his real brother because he murdered him. So, he is the pseudo brother. Pseudo is part of his name. While things get to be so touchy, Cambyses commits suicide back in Palestine, doesn’t return to the capitol. Now you have further turmoil. The king has committed suicide. So a distant cousin Darius, takes hold of the throne, and for about two years, there is turmoil throughout the empire. Darius asserts himself and puts down the rebellion in various places. This helps you appreciate part of his process in currying the allegiance of people throughout the empire, is favorable edicts on their behalf. Could the Jews be anything less that fully supportive of Darius, in light of what he is doing for them? So the political situation stays controlled by God. That His purposes are accomplished for His people.

Now, you think all that’s going on in the world, it all focuses down to God’s purposes, in a direct way, are really focused on that little temple being constructed in this “no place” in the Persian empire. Babylon is the center of the world, humanly speaking, the capitol for these kings. But, God’s controlling them, why? Because He wants the temple rebuilt, this little pile of tin, in Jerusalem. Remarkable! So, God works. Why? His eye is on His people. Look at verse 14, “And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” So, a summary of the building of the temple.

Artaxerxes is mentioned here. He’ll carry us down to a later time. But, Ezra chapter 7 will say, he’s a later king, he did contribute to on going work at the temple after the temple has been through construction at this time. He’s mentioned here as a reminder that God’s provision and work for providing for His people and the temple, will continue on after this period. We get into that, when we get into chapter 7.

Verse 15, “And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.” The month Adar, is our February/March. The month is 515 BC. Now the original work started in 536. We’re in 515, 21 years have passed. Now the work stops in 520, and then was resumed. For 4 and a half years the temple was under construction. We come to 515, it took 4 ½ years for the temple to be rebuilt on this occasion, at this time. This is approximately 70 ½ years after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in 586. Since some date the Babylonian captivity from the destruction of the temple in 586 to the completion of the temple in 515. That would be 70 years rounded off. 70 years plus months. That would be one way. We know when we were in chapter 3:8, that some date it from the deportation in 536. The deportation in 605 to the laying of the foundation in 536. The first deportation to Babylon being in 605, marks the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. Then the laying of the foundation of the temple in 536, marks the return. Either way you have a 70 year period of time. It fits the pattern. While it’s not possible to be conclusive, it seems to me, I’d probably tip toward the chapter 3, from the first deportation and the establishing of the temple foundations, but this is a 70 year period, and it does mark now with the completion of the temple, that Israel is back to function as a nation, so to speak, because the temple is the heart of the nation, in their worship of God. That ended with the destruction of the first temple and now has begun. So a 70 year period either way.

You ought to note too, is the dedication of the temple that takes place. And the celebration, note the last part of Ezra 6:17, as they offer different sacrifices, “and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.” This may support those who want to make the reestablishing of the nation, in the end of the 70 year captivity, with this point, because here attention is drawn to the twelve tribes. God is recognizing the twelve tribes, is back. The bulk of the return would have been from Judah and Benjamin. There would have been remnants from other tribes that had been deported earlier. God is dealing, not with two tribes and the other ten, lost. He’s dealing with the nation Israel, which is comprised of twelve tribes. So, the sacrifices are made for all twelve tribes. God’s dealing here, is with the nation, the twelve tribes. Again, a reminder, we’ll see this as we go to future prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled, God’s going to deal with the twelve tribes of Israel. We say, I thought they had been lost. Well, they have been lost for us, but God hasn’t forgotten. So God says, I can’t tell you which Jew belongs to which tribe, God doesn’t know. I’ve never understood that kind of thinking, when I read that. You say those tribes are lost, nobody knows who they are. Well, qualify that, nobody on earth knows who they are.

Verses 19 to 22, you have the Passover the feast of unleavened bread being celebrated. Recognizing that God had moved on the king of Persia to make their return possible. God’s working is with a variety of people. Verse 22, “And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had cause them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” The interesting thing here is, he’s called the king of Assyria. That’s not unusual, cause in secular records, the kings, like the king of Persia, sometimes call themselves the king of Babylon, because he had conquered Babylonian empire. Called themselves the king of Assyria because he had conquered the Assyrian empire. A reminder, he is the king of kings on the earth. But remember it was the Assyrians in 722, who took the northern tribes into captivity. We are reminded, the one who is now the king of Assyria, is the one who is supportive of the return and the rebuilding of the temple. Again you see the sovereign hand of God, accomplishing His purposes in marvelous and unique ways.

So let’s just review some of these points in these chapters. Number 1, God’s word is key in the accomplishing of God’s work. That’s behind everything. The ministry of Haggai and Zechariah. What happens when God’s people get off track? How did they get off track? Not being obedient to God’s word. How do they get back on track? Having their attention being drawn back to God’s word and being obedient to God’s word. So, God’s word is key in the accomplishing of God’s work. Preceding this, but within that framework, we ought to be reminded that we must not become diverted from the work that God has called us to do. We must not allow good things to replace the best things. Yet, can you say, it’s wrong for me to get my own house built, to get established, is that wrong in and of itself? No, it’s wrong when it replaces the most important thing, accomplishing God’s will, doing God’s purposes. That’s what’s wrong, what happens to Israel. You have to be careful in that realm, because you take something that’s neutral in and of itself. Building a house, that’s not good or bad, that’s a neutral thing. It can become a bad thing, a sinful thing, when it replaces what God has called me to do. I have to be careful that my focus stays always honoring Him. God watches over His people, chapter 5:5, the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews. You know that song Ethel Waters used to sing, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. It’s a biblical truth, picked up by Christ obviously, that idea that He watches the sparrow, and when the sparrow falls to the earth, that concept, the eye of their God was upon them. He watches over us. Do I really believe that? Can I trust Him? Can I step out in faith, do what I know what He wants done, and believe that He has it all under control?

Number 2 and 3, we should recognize the hand of God in discipline and blessing, chapter 5:11-13. God provided through Solomon, the building of the original temple in verse 11. God disciplined in verse 12 because of sin. God blesses inverse 12, as a result of obedience. We want to see the hand of God in both, and accept both from the hand of God. Things would have been drastically different if the Jews would have responded to the message of Haggai. No, you’re wrong, that’s not the reason. That’s not the problem. I’m not open to that. You know, as I continue to resist the word of God, rather than, yes, you’re right, I have rebelled against the word in this area, and bow before it, make the change, I can get on with my life, and God can get on with the blessing. Now we need to recognize the hand of God in discipline and blessing.

Number 4, intimidating situations can be God’s means to great blessings. The coming of the governor of this region in verse 3 & 4,10, taking the names of the leaders, it can be an occasion to retreat, to say, we told you it wasn’t the right time. Now, look at what will happen. But you know, that becomes a means of great blessing. That will lead to the decree of the King in chapter 6, which provides a hedge about the Jews, so that they are not bothered in the building of the temple. See that all the finances are provided for them. See that all the offerings that they need, are provided, day after day. And a protecting curse on anyone who would not carry out what the King would require. There’s no doubt that if they were obedient, they didn’t shrink back in the face of the intimidation that came to them, provided an opportunity for God to bless in greater ways than they would have known.

Number 5, God uses a variety of means, in accomplishing His purposes. Chapter 6:14, “And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” You see what God did here, He used the elders, the leaders of the Jews. He used the prophets. Used the people, used the Kings of Persia. God is sovereign over everything. He uses a variety of means in the accomplishing His purposes. Our concern is to be biblical. God facilitates His work in a variety of ways.

Number 6, the restoration of the nation, encompasses all twelve tribes, verse 17. I think that is an indication of how God will fulfill the future promises to the twelve tribes of the nation Israel. There will be twelve tribes. They will be dealt with as a physical nation, physical decedents of Abraham, Issacs and Jacob and the twelve patriarchs.

Number 7, finally, obedience brings blessings. The problem building the temple was lack of obedience of the part of the people. It wasn’t, our enemies were too strong, it’s too frightening a situation, the problem was willingness to obey. The not willing to obey in difficult situations, I’m not willing to obey. I would obey God if the time was right, meaning, if it was easy. No, obedience brings blessing. When God’s people obey God, they God takes care of all the details. Again, historical situation, what God was doing, demonstrates His providence in the nation. As He works His purposes for His people. A reminder for us, our God is the same. The same yesterday, today and forever. A God who is a covenant keeping God. A promise keeping God. A God who has everything under control. God works all things together to good, to those who love Him. To those who are the called, according to His purposes, were told in Romans. Nothing changes, does it? What an honor, what a blessing, what a privilege, and we have the history that we studied, as an added motivation. What zeal and relentless enthusiasm ought to characterize us, in carrying out the work that God has called us to do in this day.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord, for your rich blessings upon your people Israel. We’re reminded again and again of your faithfulness and your goodness. Even if you sent Haggai and Zechariah to confront your people with your word, to point out their disobedience, to encourage them to repentance and submission. Lord by your grace, you brought about that change that enabled you to bring greater blessings than they could have thought possible. I’m reminded that you are a faithful God. May we be encouraged, as we move into a new week, Lord we confront difficulties and trials in our own lives, struggles and oppositions, intimidating circumstances, frightening situations, may we rest in the comfort and security of knowing you are our God. Your eye is upon us. You are working all things for our good and your glory. We can concern ourselves completely with obedience, to being pleasing to you, and allowing you to work all the details, in all the circumstances according to your purposes, in the accomplishing of your perfect plan for us. We praise you in Christ’s name. Amen