CHECK THE RECORDS FOR THE FACTS

PROCLAMATION

“Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there a Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”  Ezra 5:17 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition.  Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied unto the Jews that were in Jerusalem and Judah in the name of the God of Israel.  Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began to build the house of God at Jerusalem.  The prophets of God were helping them. (Ezra 5:1-2)  At that time Tatnai the governor and Shethar and their companions came and asked them who had commanded them to build this house and the wall.  They also wanted to know the names of the men who were building the house and wall.  But the eye of God was upon the elders of the Jews and they did not building until the word came from Darius the king of Persia. (Ezra 5:3-5)  Tatnai the governor sent a letter to Darius the king telling him that the people of Judah were building  temple and a wall around it using huge stones and timber.  He said that he asked them who gave them permission to build it and what their names were, and they responded that they were “… servants of The God of heaven and earth …”  They said that Cyrus the king decreed that the temple be build, and that he gave them the gold and silver vessels to put in the temple, and he named Sheshbazzar the governor. (Ezra 5:6-14)  Then Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation for the temple and they have been working on it since then.  Tatnai said that the king should search the royal archives for such a decree from Cyrus, and then do as he wishes concerning this matter. (Ezra 5:16-17)

APPLICATION

People will ask us questions, not believe our responses, and then they will ask someone else or they will check the records for the facts.  There is nothing wrong with checking the facts, but why didn’t they just do that in the first place.  We should verify what we hear with the Word of God.  Some people only want to hear what they want to hear, the truth is not important to them. (2 Timothy 4:3)  There is a saying, “Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.”  (Elbert Hubbard)  The world will always question Christian behavior because they will never understand it, or Christ.  Only believers will understand The Word of God.