Ezra 6:1

Ezra 6:1 says, Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.  The Jews who were rebuilding the Temple asked those telling them to stop to search the records for the decree of Cyrus stating that they were to rebuild it.  Of course, those opposing the rebuilding of the Temple were likely hoping that it either didn’t exist or wouldn’t be found.  We as followers of Christ must always do what God tells us to do, but it is always better if the laws of the land are with us instead of against us.  

Verse two adds, And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:  The decree was found in a scroll in Achmetha in the province of the Medes, not in Babylon.  Matthew Henry says that Darius didn’t use the fact that the decree wasn’t found in Babylon as an excuse for not searching elsewhere.  We need to pray that if we are ever in a situation where we need proof to support our authorization by governmental powers to do a certain work in the church that they will be looking for proof we are authorized to do what we are doing and not just go through the motions of doing so.

Verse three continues, In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;  The decree was from the first year of the reign of Cyrus, and told not only of his authorization but also gave the dimensions of the Temple that was going to be rebuilt.  The decree contained even more information than they had claimed.  Sometimes, God will give us more than we are expecting when we are doing His work.  Of course, I’m not too sure that He is going to give us what we need until we actually start doing what we say we believe He has called us to do.

Verse four states, With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:  There was a continuation of the specifications for the Temple, and an added provision that it would be paid for from the king’s house.  Not only did those who were trying to stop the Jews from building not find a reason for the building of the Temple to be stopped, they found authorization for it to be paid for.  I believe that God will always provide what we need when we are doing His work.  

Verse five adds, And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the Temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the Temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.  Not only was the work to be paid for, but all the Temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar were to be returned.  We may have some things taken away from us in this lifetime by those attempting to stop God’s work, but when Christ returns, everything that is God’s will be restored to Him, especially His people, those who have put their faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.