Darius’ Decree

The last time we met we were left waiting, wondering what the king would say to the most recent letter.   Today in Ezra 6:1-12 we get the answer. 

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. 2 And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record. 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. 5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”
6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. 7 Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. 8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. 12 May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

Darius got the letter and instigated a search of the records. And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found.  On this scroll was the information that Darius sought. “A record. 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. 5 And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”

Vindication for the Israelites eh?   I can just see it coming. The proof is in the writing! The governors and leaders were told to leave the Israelite people alone.  The work the Israelites were doing they were commissioned to do.  On top of that Darius made an additional couple of decrees. 

The Decrees

The first: Pay them the tribute they are supposed to have.

Second: Give them items they need to make their sacrifices. Let those sacrifices be pleasing.

Third: If anyone hinders them, he’ll die by impalement on a beam from his own house, and then his house destroyed.

All these decrees were to be done with due diligence.

I have to admit, part of me reads these words and I am flabbergasted. 

Darius didn’t NEED to honour the words of a previous king.  But he did.  Moreover he made up for the delay caused them.  Giving them what they needed to make sacrifices, making sure their work would no longer be delayed and that they had the funds to do the job right.

The Israelites had waited, and been patient.  Then they were straight-forward about their needs and duties.  And King Darius answered them well.

Isn’t it interesting how God works things out for his people?  It’s amazing if you let it be eh?  Two letters, two very different results.  I am kinda wishing I could have been there when the Israelites got the news.  Did they jump for joy and celebrate or did they just grin and get on with their work?  Part of me really imagines the second…hoping they had that faith that God would work things out. 

Makes me think you know, how easy it is to take God for granted.  To just figure he’ll work it out, but it also takes faith, faith we don’t always exercise.  Take for example, Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.  He was the perfect bridge between us and God, and how many people fail to see their need for faith.  Or how many believers are so ho-hum about this pivotal event in our lives.  Failing to really see the cross.  Failing to really see how God worked things out with his beloved people.  The Israelites couldn’t afford to be ho-hum know you?  King Darius DIDN’T have to let things go their way but he did.  God made it so.

We need to remember this.  To think on it.  God worked it out, let’s rejoice in it!