that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
A hostile report to Darius was meant to shut the building down. Instead the king searched the records and confirmed the older decree of Cyrus. He paid for the sacrifices out of his own taxes — and asked the returned exiles to pray for him and his sons.
Opposition turned into provision
The enemies' letter to the king was the very thing that secured the work:
Edward DennettTo faith it was plain that God was working behind the scenes, using the power of the enemy to serve His own purposes. This is another instance of how He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. When their adversaries stepped in, Darius did not only confirm the decree of Cyrus. He issued another decree: the king himself would pay for all the provision the house of God needed.
The reversal was sharper than it looks. The original complaint had warned that a rebuilt temple would cost the crown its taxes:
Leslie M. GrantRehum had argued that if the temple were built, the Jews would stop paying taxes — but Darius decreed that the Jews should be paid out of the tax money! And that was not all. Whatever the Jews needed, the king would supply: bulls, rams and lambs for burnt offerings, wheat, salt, wine and oil. The priests in Jerusalem had only to ask — and not on one occasion only, but "day by day."
What the king was paying for
The shopping list in the decree is not random. Each item belongs to a particular offering:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe material mentioned was for the sacrifices and offerings. Young bulls, rams and lambs for the burnt offerings. Wheat, oil and salt for the meal offering, and wine for the drink offering. These things were to go to the priests without fail, day by day.
Older translations call these "sacrifices of sweet savour." The ESV says "pleasing sacrifices."
Why God is called "the God of heaven"
The title Darius uses is the name God Himself takes while His people are under foreign rule:
William KellyFrom the start one solemn fact is clear: for now the Jews are Lo-ammi (not My people). God no longer speaks to them through the prophet… God is given the distinct title "the God of the heavens" (Dan. 2:18, 37, 44), and the same title comes back in Ezra 1:2, Ezra 5:12 and Ezra 6:9-10… His people had turned away from Him to idols. That state made it impossible, given His nature and majesty, for Him to act at their head or among them as "the Lord of all the earth."
A king who valued the prayers of the despised
What the king asked for from Jerusalem was prayer. That request says something about the standing of this small, humbled group:
H. L. RossierDarius does not go as far as the humbled Nebuchadnezzar, who proclaimed that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men. Even so, he acknowledges the God of heaven, and he recognises the temple at Jerusalem as the house of God… Darius also recognises that the prayers of these despised and humbled people are effective on behalf of the king and his sons (v. 10).
Commentators differ on how far to press this. Rossier notes only what Darius acknowledged. Another writer sees a deeper change, and applies it to us:
Leslie M. GrantDoes this not appear to be a true work of God in the king's soul? Today, whatever government Christians may be under, it is important that they pray for those in authority over them.
Praying for rulers, then and now
Scripture gives a clear reason for praying for rulers:
Hamilton SmithWe should pray for kings and all in authority, for the sake of the Lord's people throughout the world. We are to ask that the sovereign goodness of God may so control the rulers of this world that His people may lead "a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way"… Long ago the prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to God's captive people in Babylon. He urged them to pray to the Lord for the city that held them, and so to seek its peace. For, says the prophet, "in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7).
Accepting favour without losing separation
Taking a pagan king's money did not make the returned exiles worldly. They held two things together:
J. G. BellettThey accept the favour of Cyrus, of Darius, and of Artaxerxes, in the spirit of the command "honour to whom honour, fear to whom fear"… They were clearly grateful for the kindness these powers showed them, one after another. They blessed God because of them, and I am sure they were ready-hearted to pray for the life of the king and of his sons. Yet with all this they were a separated people. They refused to join with the Samaritans just as earnestly as they accepted the favours of the Gentiles.
Summary
- Opposition — The letter written to stop the work uncovered the decree that funded it. God used the enemy's power to serve His own purposes.
- Provision — Bulls, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine and oil covered the burnt, meal and drink offerings. They came "day by day" from the very taxes the enemies feared losing.
- Position — "The God of heaven" is the title God takes while His people are out of place under foreign rule. He does not act among them as "the Lord of all the earth."
- Prayer — Darius asked a small, despised group to pray for him. Their prayers counted for the life of the king and his sons.
- Peace — The pattern still stands. Pray for rulers and seek the welfare of the place you live. You will share in its welfare — and still stay a separated people.