The noted 18th century French Philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778) was a renowned Atheist. He criticized the Bible and he claimed that “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker.” A few decades after Voltaire’s death the Geneva Bible Society purchased his house to set up a printing press to print Bibles. Later his house became the headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Those who spend their efforts to destroy God’s work are fighting for a lost cause. God will Triumph. That is a fact based on God’s Word. Those who find themselves like Voltaire opposing the Lord’s work may also experience poetic justice for their senseless schemes.
In our text we find the King of Persia gives support to the Jews to rebuild their temple. But the King puts in a poetic justice twist to his decree. If anyone changes the edict that God’s house will be rebuilt, they are to be destroyed by taking the main support beam from their own house, hang them on it, and let their house be reduced to rubble.
Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence. (Ezra 6:11-12)
We may look around and it seems like the devil makes strides and inroads, but don’t forget God unquestionably holds the ultimate victory.
It is good to remember where the Jews are in context of when they receive this amazing support from King Darius. Because of the wickedness, idolatry and hard heartedness of God’s people Jerusalem was destroyed. The temple was demolished in 587 BC.
As Jeremiah had prophesied the Jews were in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. It was the Babylonians who invaded and conquered Israel. Now the Persians have invaded and conquered the Babylonians.
Cyrus the King of Persia made a decree as he was moved by God. The Jews could return and rebuild. They did return and they did rebuild. Beginning with the altar, then the foundation. Those who remembered Solomons temple knew the 2nd temple they are rebuilding is not as big and not as glorious as Solomon’s temple.
The Samaritans opposed the Jews and brought the work to a standstill for 12 years. It was Zechariah and Haggai the so called “minor prophets” who called the Israelites to get on with the work after it came to a standstill for years.
Praise the Lord for encouragers and motivators who get God’s people moving when they have already decided to quit. The local governors saw the Israelites in Jerusalem got back to work on the temple and they got suspicious.
It had been 20 years since King Darius’ predecessor King Cyrus had made his decree for the Jews to return and rebuild. For 8 years they returned and began the work. For 12 years the work was stopped.
The Jews answered the local governors with conviction. They challenged the governors who opposed them to search the decree from 20 years ago. Ask the king and he will confirm it. In the meantime, we are going to keep rebuilding. It you interrupt us and we are proved right, then you are guilty of violating the King of Persia.
The enquiry of Governors was taken seriously. The record was searched. First in Babylon the record could not be found. Then they searched in Persia. While they were looking for the decree the Jews kept on with the purpose in their hearts. They continued rebuilding the temple.
It took time to find the decree and send word back that the decree was found. In the meantime, they continued their important work. The temple is the place God puts his name to dwell there.
When the decree was found it was almost the same as what the Jews has said. They well remembered it. That must have haunted them when they stopped building the temple and used the materials for their own houses. Now that their spirit was rekindled, they were not going to stop again.
The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction. (Ezra 5:8)
The decree shows they were authorized to use the great stones. They were not building a fort to overthrow the government. They were building a temple to worship God. The decree showed the temple was to be subsidized from the royal treasury. The gold and silver articles returned.
With three courses of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury. (Ezra 6:4)
Once the decree was found the Jews were allowed to build the temple according to every scriptural detail.
If you are doing God’s work don’t fear when you are opposed. You need to stand on the authority of God’s Word. It is important that you press forward in boldness. The response of God’s people made a difference. It was twelve years earlier they shrank back. Now they are going forward with conviction.
Sometimes we say that persecution advances the gospel. But it's not just persecution, but how we respond to the persecution that determines the gospel advance. It is bold response to the persecution that advances the gospel. When we shrink back in persecution the persecution works, so to speak, so persecution does set the progress back when we shrink back.
In contrast it the work advances when we respond to persecution and opposition with boldness. That is when the work goes forward in amazing ways.
That is what happens here in the rebuilding in the temple and that is what you will observe when you see persecution happening out in the ministry fields. For the Israelites the work is advancing as they respond in faith and conviction when they are opposed and persecuted.
King Darius authorizes the work. When King Darius finds the decree of his predecessor, he orders the work to continue. He also makes a decree of his own.
Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. 7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. (Ezra 6:6-7)
God uses a pagan king to serve his purpose. We call King Darius a person of good will. We have the man of peace in Luke 10 who is a believer who becomes an important beachhead for the gospel to reach a new area. We also have our person of good will who we see here in Ezra chapter 6.
King Darius did not become a true believer in the true God, but he was a blessing to God’s people. I see many who may not be believers who help kingdom causes. We can thank God for these people. We can also share the good news with the person of good will so that they have an opportunity of salvation in Christ. They are such a blessing to us, but they are also sinners who need a savior just like any of us.
The outcome is completely favorable for Israelites to rebuild the temple. A little faith overcame opposition. Through faith they overcame apathy. There is so much we can do as Christians with the Holy Spirit through faith.
When we operate by faith and go forward in boldness under the authority of God’s Word, we can attempt great things for God. Maybe you are an encourager who can help people put a focus back where it is needed when you find someone who has been discouraged and stopped doing the Lord’s work.
The priests were to be provided for in what they needed to carry out their religious duties. The priests were in turn to pray for the king and his sons.
Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons. (Ezra 6:9-10)
What a total turn around. Not only where the Jews allowed to rebuild, but the royal revenues would help finance them.
If you are doing the work of the Lord, you can expect opposition. You can also expect to find apathy all around you. But do not let any of this discourage you are cause you to stop your work of the Lord.
If the work, you are doing in God’s will and you are working on the authority of God’s Word then you are called to exercise faith. You are called to overcome the difficulties.
When the children of Israel retreated in fear the work stopped. When they acted in faith the work advanced. God has given us so many important ministries. Let us advance and be bold for the cause of Christ.
The application for you? If you shrink back in fear of opposition and persecution the work will be stopped. If you step out in faith and boldness the work will advance. We are called to live by faith. Walk by faith and honor your Lord Jesus Christ.
