PROCLAMATION
“But the eye of their
God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a
report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” Ezra 5:5 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
In chapter one of The Bible
Book of Ezra, Cyrus the king of Persia issued a proclamation which allowed the
Israelites to be released from their captivity and return to Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-4) In chapter two there is a listing of the men
of Israel who came up from the captivity of the exiles and returned to Judah.
(Ezra 2:1-67) Chapter three records the
beginning of the rebuilding of the altar and the temple of The Lord. (Ezra 3:1-13)
Chapter four details the events which
led to the opposition to, and stoppage of, the rebuilding of the temple of The
Lord during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 4:1-24) In Chapter five, with Darius king of Persia
and under the direction of Haggai and Zechariah the prophets of God, the Israelites
resumed the rebuilding of the temple. (Ezra 5:1-2) There was still opposition to their work, but
The Lord God was with them. (Ezra 5:3-5)
The Israelites appealed to Darius, who found the original decree from
Cyrus and he also issued a similar decree. (Ezra 6:1-12) The temple was finally completed, and the
Israelites dedicated it to The Lord with a celebration. (Ezra 6:15-16)
APPLICATION
If we walk God’s way
and obey His Holy Word, we will be victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57) It does not matter who or what stands in our
way or opposes us. The Lord will make a
way for us to overcome and succeed when there appears to be no way for that to
happen. (Isaiah 43:19) If The Lord God is
with us, no person or thing can stand against us or stop us. (Romans 8:31)
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