PRAYER - "Darius Of Persia Asks The Jews To Pray For Him"
Zerubbabel asked Darius to find the decree issued by Cyrus authorizing the Jews to build the temple. Darius found it and added his own decree, ordering all adversaries to leave the work alone and let them speedily build the house of God. He donated sacrifices for the God of heaven, then added, "Pray for the life of the king, and of his sons."
Ezra 6:12 - "And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem."
PRINCIPALS - "Zerubbabel Finishes And Dedicates The Temple"
Darius communicated with his governors beyond Jordan to cooperate with the Jews as they built the temple. It took about 18-20 years. Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes of Persia all supported the Jews, and Haggai and Zechariah prophesied the word of the LORD as they built. Finally, His house was finished. Similarly, Jesus is now building His church, but soon, He will be finished. Joy comes in the morning!
Ezra 6:16 - "And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy."
PRINCIPLES - "Blessed By The Hand Of The LORD"
If you want to see what it is like to have the good hand of the LORD on your life, read Ezra 7, when Artaxerxes king of Persia blessed Ezra to return to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes furnished him with incredible riches to rebuild and restore Jerusalem. "And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house."
Ezra 7:6 - "Ezra went up from Babylon; ...and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him."
PROPHECIES - "Prophets Haggai and Zechariah Help Zerubbabel"
When Zerubbabel started to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem, trouble-making Syrians repeatedly asked the Persian authorities to stop temple construction. But the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to Zerubbabel, who then appealed to Darius the king. Darius found Cyrus' original decree and sent his blessings to Zerubbabel. If God is for you, who can be against you?
Ezra 5:17 - "Let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem."
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