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 this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”
Darius ends his ruling on the temple with a prayer, not a threat of his own. He asks God to deal with anyone who would tamper with the house. The verse raises two questions. How much did this Persian king know of Israel's God? And why did an empire end up guarding a small and despised people?
A Gentile king's protection
The king does more than permit the work. He wraps the builders in his own authority, then hands the matter to a higher court. One writer notes the words Darius chooses for God, and what followed once the order went out.
Edward DennettThe king surrounded the Jews with his authority. He guarded them against further interference by putting the penalty of death on anyone who meddled with their work. From the language he uses, we can hardly doubt that Darius had some knowledge of "the God of heaven." He speaks of Him as causing "His name to dwell there." However that may be, God turned his heart in favour of His people and of the work of building His house. The effect of the decree was immediate. Tatnai and his companions did quickly what Darius had sent. All opposition stopped, and the enemies of the work disappeared from the scene.
What "caused His name to dwell there" means
The phrase points to God's presence. One writer marks out what that presence included and what it did not.
H. L. RossierJoy fills the hearts of the people. Once again God causes "His name to dwell" (v. 12) in this restored house, in a publicly approved way. His glory does not return to it, and neither does His throne between the cherubim. But where the centre of gathering of His people is acknowledged, His spiritual presence cannot be lacking.
Providence behind the paperwork
The whole decree hangs on an old record that turned up in an unlikely place. One writer reads the search itself as God at work.
H. L. RossierIn all this we can see the providence of God, watching over His people. The edict of Cyrus turns up at Achmetha, in the province of the Medes, and not at Babylon (v. 2). This proves that without God stepping in, even the most careful search would have been in vain. Darius does not go so far as the humbled Nebuchadnezzar, who declared that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men. Still, he does acknowledge the God of heaven, and he recognises the temple at Jerusalem as the house of God. He also recognises that the prayers of these despised and humbled people are effective for the king and his sons (v. 10). He uses the authority entrusted to him to punish those who would oppose the will of God. Lastly, he solemnly calls on the God who dwells at Jerusalem to take vengeance on those who oppose Him.
The decree came after the faith, not before it
The order of events matters. The builders had already picked up their tools before any of this reached them. Their enemies were the ones who wrote to Darius and triggered the search.
J. N. DarbyAll this shows us that Israel was at fault in stopping the building of the temple. They had no excuse, since even the king's command was on their side. What they lacked was faith in God. We have seen that when there was faith they dared to build, although there was a decree against it. The effect of this faith is to produce a decree in their favour. And it comes even through the action of their adversaries. It is good to trust in God.
Leaving opposition to God
The lesson here is not a method for handling rulers. One writer draws the opposite conclusion.
William KellySo God knows how to turn everything aside and fit it to His purpose. Our business is not to set one king against another. It is to go forward in the name of the Lord, taking His word as our full warrant. We can be completely sure of this: as we seek God's guidance, it is God's part to guide all men and all circumstances. That is His work, not ours. Our part, in short, is to go on in faith. He knows how to deal with those that oppose us.
Summary
- Faith first. The builders dared to build while a decree stood against them. The decree in their favour came afterwards.
- Enemies as couriers. The decree that protected the work came through the action of their own adversaries. Opposition carried the help.
- Providence in an archive. The edict turned up at Achmetha in Media, not Babylon. Without God's hand, the most careful search would have found nothing.
- A name, not a glory. "Caused His name to dwell there" marks God's presence with a gathered people. The glory and the throne between the cherubim did not return.
- His work, not ours. Kings' hearts are God's business to direct. Ours is to go forward on His word and leave the opposers to Him.