Context: At the end of yesterday's reading we saw a memo that had been sent to King Darius from the governor of Trans-Euphrates. As a result, Darius searched the archives and found the original decree allowing the Israelites to rebuild the temple. He sent a decree back with this message.
Today's devotion: Ezra 6:8-12
8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God:
The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.
I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
When God acts, he does it in such a big way. The Israelites only wanted to continue rebuilding their temple. What they got was permission to continue, all the funding they needed to complete their work, and a threat of death to anyone who stood in their way!
The return of the exiles and the rebuilding of the temple resulted in a return of the Israelites not only to their country, but to their God as well. They worked together to restore the magnificent dwelling for God and, as you read later in the book of Ezra, they turned from their sins. More than any other generation, I imagine these folks realized the vast consequences of the actions of their forefathers. Because of decades of disobedience, the cities of the Jews were in rubble. During the reconstruction many who had never stepped foot in Jerusalem could see the magnificence that had been destroyed. They essentially had to start all over again.
But God gave them that chance, just as he gives us that chance every morning. And while he doesn't cause our enemies to be impaled on the beams from their own homes, rest assured that he WILL deliver justice to those who stand in the way of his plans for us!
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