Prophets and Providence
Ezra 5:1-6:12
March 22, 2009

 

I. Back to work

1. No progress

4:24 work stopped during time of Cambyses (Cyrus’ son) due to accusations by Judah’s enemies and internal issues in the empire.

Question had to arise: When would they start again? The work was idle for 15-16 years.

2. Impact of preaching

5:1 shows critical change to move Judah from despondence to action. What had taken place in the interim? (a) They had grown cold in their fervor for the work of restoring worship as central to the people of God. (b) They had become preoccupied with their own needs and wants, as evident in Haggai 1. (c) Consequently, the world took center stage instead of worship.

If we evaluate Haggai and Zechariah, we see that they took two different approaches. Haggai dealt straight forward with the immediate problems at hand:

Haggai does point to the future messianic glory as motivation but deals primarily in the present need to trust the Lord and move forward with building the temple.

Zechariah calls for repentance—returning to the Lord by reminding them of how their fathers learned that Yahweh would fulfill His purposes and promises (Zech 1). The balance of the prophecy uses apocalyptic language that focused primarily on the future Messiah. It is one of the most quoted and referenced OT books in the NT. He ends by demonstrating that the Lord reigns as King over all. That message lifted the thinking of this small group of Jews who lived under Persia’s thumb.

3. Responding to Preaching

The people listened to the prophetic words! Zerubbal and Jeshua led the way with “the prophets of God…supporting them.” They “arose and began to rebuild the house the house of God.”

What did they have to overcome?

How did they overcome?

II. Courage boys, courage!

An official inquiry

There’s not the same tone of opposition noted in chapter 4 but rather a governor of the province just making sure that the king’s interests were served. What did Tattenai the governor do?

(a) He wanted to know who gave them permission to build and finish

(b)Who were the men responsible for the project?

2. The Eye of God

Tattenai’s tactics were not out of line but were nonetheless intimidating. Government and religion were in a standoff. Who would triumph? The ones upon whom the eye of God rested.

That’s a beautiful phrase to express God’s intervention, sustaining grace, and power to accomplish what He had given them to do. What does this mean?

3. Revealing Correspondence

vv 7-10 Tattenai states his case and procedure

vv 11-16 The Jews respectfully respond:

  1. Who are we? “Servants of God of heaven and earth”
  2. What are we doing? Rebuilding the temple that one of our great king’s had built
  3. Why are we in this predicament? Our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath
  4. How did it happen? Our God gave us into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar who consequently, destroyed the temple and departed us.
  5. Note the theological confluence–man works while God also is at work; the greater work supports the lesser.
  6. Why are we rebuilding? King Cyrus decreed it. This was critical because Darius had great admiration of Cyrus, the George Washington of Persia. Evidence of the decree could be found in the temple utensils and the Persian appointed governor leading the way.
The Request

v. 17 Check it out to see if this is true.

Sweet Providence

Would there be a record of these events some 16 years before? The record was located in an odd spot—the treasury in Ecbatana rather than in Babylon or Susa. These three cities served as residences for Persian kings at various times of the year. The scroll revealed the truth.

1. Cyrus’ Memorandum

vv 2-5

2. Darius’ decree

vv 6-12

(a) Let them build without problem from the government or anyone else v 6-7

(b) Pay the tab from your local taxes v 8

(c) Make sure that everything needed for worship is available to them v 8 (the details give evidence that he probably had a Jewish assistant writing for him. Could it have been Daniel?)

(d) Offer sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the King and his sons v. 10

Darius and other kings did the same with other deities so we cannot take this as a profession of faith—yet what he asks is later echoed by Paul in 1 Tim. 2:1-6, yet with Paul showing the need for the Mediator-Jesus Christ.

(e) Beware of hindering these Jews in their work! v. 11

(f) May this God show Himself mighty against any opponents v. 12

(g) Make haste, finish the temple, and get to praying!



How remarkable that a worshiper of other gods would decree that the temple be rebuilt! Yet is it really that remarkable when we know whose temple it was? And yet, is the physical temple the ultimate object of this God’s governing of the universe? His reign focuses on His Son, the bloody cross, and a redeemed people. What took place in 6th C. Persia was so that no detail be left out when God would send forth His Son, born of a woman born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that He might adopt us as His children (Gal. 4:3-5).

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be explicitly approved by South Woods Baptist Church.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:

Copyright South Woods Baptist Church. Website: www.southwoodsbc.org. Used by permission as granted on web site. Questions, comments, and suggestions about our site can be sent here.