The Israelites under the Persian king Ahasuerus were told to stop rebuilding the temple. The Israelites had been in exile and the prior king, Cyrus, had sent them back to their land to rebuild the temple. But Cyrus was gone. And now King Ahasuerus was out of office also. King Darius was king. And the Iraelites spurred on by the prophets started to rebuild again.
“Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure?!” (5:3)
“What are the names of the workers?!” (5:4)
The Israelites answered that it was King Cyrus. And so the people of the land that were opposed to their rebuilding sent a letter to King Darius, told him what was happening and encouraged him to search the records to see if what the Israelites was saying was true.
At first it wasn’t looking good for the Israelites. The Babylonian library was searched and they couldn’t find any decree from Cyrus saying that he had given permission for the Israelites to rebuild. But then a record was found in the fortress and there it was, clear as day (6:1). Not only had Cyrus permitted them to rebuild, but he was the one who initiated it, commissioned them, and made provision. So Darius followed suit.
He told the people of the land not to mess with the Israelites, to make full provision for them with food and material, and that anyone who opposed them was to be impaled on a beam from his house. Talk about a reversal!
With that in place the Israelites finished the temple. And now it was time to celebrate.
“They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel” (6:22).
When we walk in obedience, we never know what God will do.
