April 26, 2025, Ezra 6:1-12
6 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.”
God gave even more than
Israel expected, providing funds collected by Israel’s enemies for Israel’s
priests and builders. When has God done more than you expected?
Debbie Walker
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