Darius Finds Cyrus’s Decree
6 Then King Darius issued a decree, and search was made in the [a]archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 In [b]Ecbatana in the fortress, which is in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows: “Memorandum— 3 In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the [c]temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be [d]retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits; 4 with three layers of huge stones and [e]one layer of timbers. And let the cost be paid from the [f]royal treasury. 5 Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and [g]brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.’
6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the [h]River, Shethar-bozenai and [i]your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the [j]River, [k]keep away from there. 7 Leave this work on the 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 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. 9 Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it is to be given to them daily without fail, 10 that they may offer [l]acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 And I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict, 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. 12 May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who [m]attempts to change it, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree, let it be carried out with all diligence!”
God had a plan for those who had returned to Jerusalem, and He told them that they should rebuild the temple. So they restarted the work, the surrounding governors weren’t happy about it, and they wrote to Darius to settle the matter. And settle the matter he did!
Not only did Darius give the green light to rebuild the temple, but he also found that the cost was decreed to be paid from the royal treasury. So as a rebuke to those who tried to stop the work, he decreed that the taxes and sacrifices should be paid from the provinces of those leaders who stood in opposition to the temple reconstruction.
And in case he wasn’t clear, Darius issued a severe death edict for anyone who would continue to oppose his decision. No doubt this was very reassuring to those who had begun the work and worried whether it would ever be finished.
There are times when it seems government is at odds with God, but God never ceases to be in control. His will cannot be thwarted in any country, free or closed, democratic or totalitarian. God will always find a way to reach the hearts of people, even when it seems that all of earth is opposed to His ways.
So whatever He has called you to do, do it with all your heart, for you can be sure that God’s plan will be accomplished. We may not see the finish line, or even the way that we should go tomorrow. But God sees it all, and He will guide our steps.