The King's Heart

by Diana Durrill

The Jews are finally beginning the work on rebuilding the temple.  Before too long, their enemies oppose them and write a compelling letter to Artaxerxes, the Persian Emperor, telling him that they were building a "rebellious city" (4:12).  Artaxerxes, as any proud but fearful King would do, puts a stop to the work.  

It looks to man like God's plans are interrupted.  However, as we keep reading we are reminded that God's plans cannot be interrupted.  What appears to be trouble or interruptions in our lives is often preparation for God's great blessing! 

In Ezra 5:1 God sends Haggai and Zechariah who encourage the people to begin building again. The enemies go back to their same tricks and try the same tactic that had worked on Artaxerxes on the new emperor, Darius. They write a letter of complaint but this time it backfired and if we are paying attention we will see an amazing reverse effect!  (It kind of makes you want to stand up and cheer for Darius!)

Darius went back and searched the archives and found the original decree from Cyrus that authorized the building the temple. In Ezra 6:7-8 he writes back with a surprising message, one that is above and beyond what they could ask or think. (Which, by the way, is just like our God! - Ephesians 3:20) He says to the enemies in Judah,

“Now therefore…Keep Away.  Let the work of this house of God alone.  Let the governer of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.  Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God.  The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue…Whatever is needed…let that be given to them day by night without fail, that they may offer pleasing sacrafices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.  Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.  May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy the house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”  (Ezra 6:6-12, emphasis mine)

Darius isn’t messing around, is he?  He makes it very clear that not only was he going to pay for the work to be done (sparing no expense), but he would see to it that no one halted the work, ever again.  God worked through the enemies of the Jews to bring a halt to the construction until in His timing, there was an emperor who was ready to help the re-building of the temple to the extent of paying for it!   Ezra 6:22  says it clearly,

"The Lord had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." 

What a timely reminder for us today! God rules the hearts of kings and emperors (and presidents, president nominees, senators, city officials, etc.).  We can believe it when God’s Word says,

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”  - Proverbs 21:1