7/12/2011 7:13:59 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Stage two: The work resumed Pt.-3
(God used Darius)
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ezra 6:1-12
Message of the verses: “1 ¶ Then King Darius issued a decree, and search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 In 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 temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits; 4 with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost be paid from the 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 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 River, Shethar-bozenai and your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, 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 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 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!’”
I have read through the Bible many times and probably look over this letter as far as to see how this was something that was so remarkable in how it was written and what it said. I marvel at how Cyrus was used of the Lord to accomplish what the Lord planned for him to accomplish. There is little evidence that Cyrus knew the Lord in a saving manner, but I have to remember that Daniel had a large part in the government of both the Babylonians and also the Persians, and Daniel was a great man of God who wanted to see people come to know the One True God. This can be seen in how Daniel treated Nebuchadnezzar in a way that was leading him to know the Lord.
I want to say at this point that people in the OT were saved in the same way as in the NT, and that is to realize that they are sinners and in need of the Lord to forgive them of their sins, and place their trust in the Lord to accomplish this. In the case of OT believers they trusted in a coming Messiah to care for their sins and in the NT people look back at the Messiah as One who has accomplished this on the cross of Calvary. I have been told or perhaps read somewhere that when a person gets to heaven he will have three surprises: who is there, who is not there and the third surprise is that they are there.
We have to look back and see how the leaders of the exiles treated the governor when he approached them, for they could have treated them harshly or been offensive to them, but they were not. First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4) God had called the nation of Israel to be a wittiness to the world around them, and for the most part this was not done, however in the case of the exiles when dealing with this situation it was done. Cyrus wanted the exiles to pray for him and for his son’s as seen in this document and this verse in 1Timothy, although it had not been written yet probably was what the exiles did as all of us who name the name of Christ should do.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I must say that I have not been a supporter of the president that is now in office, but I am to pray for him, knowing that God will use him in a way that will bring about what His plans are for him and also for our nation. It was easier to pray for a President who had the same beliefs as I do, but the verses in 1Timothy make it plain to pray for those who are leading the country that I live in.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Trust the Lord to work out the plans that He has for this country.
2. Trust the Lord to work out the plans that He has for me.
7/12/2011 7:54:55 AM
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