Ezra 6:22

No wonder that the feast of unleavened bread was kept, and was kept with joy (v. 22), and the king of Assyria was supportive of the work of the house of God. It is a timeless principle: obedience brings joy and blessing.

The glory of Jehovah did not appear now, and no fire from Him burned up the offerings. Neither one would have suited a day of ruin and small things. True faith would not look for them either. As things are, there is no greater privilege and no higher honour; claiming more is only the flesh at work, and it opens the door to Satan. But faith has a right to gladness of heart, whatever the sorrow over God's broken and scattered people. Let the path be narrow, and the heart large.

This feast came right after the Passover, and takes its special meaning from it. The apostle has explained this to us. He says, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven... but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). That is, the moment we are redeemed God claims us. He wants us to answer that claim by holy lives — separation from evil, and separation to Himself. The feast lasted seven days: a complete period, and a picture of the whole course of our lives.

This feast is a picture of sanctification, both shared and personal, spoken of in 2 Corinthians 6:17 to 7:1. The restored remnant keeps this feast with joy. They had done the same at the feast of tabernacles, at the dedication of the foundation, and at the dedication of the house (Ezra 3:13; Ezra 6:16, 22). Here the feast differs from the law of Moses, which called this bread "the bread of affliction — for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste" (Deuteronomy 16:3). In the middle of all these recovered blessings, there is no room for any feeling but joy.

It is interesting to see at the end of Chapter 6 that the Lord had "turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them." So the king of Persia is called both "the king of Babylon" (ch. 5:13) and "the king of Assyria." Persia had conquered Babylon, and Babylon had earlier conquered Assyria. So Persia's king held authority over Assyria and Babylon.

It is true, not only of believing kings, but of all kings, that their hearts are in the hand of the Lord. They may think their rule answers to no one, but the Lord knows how to turn their hearts to do His will.

They kept the Passover — a proof that the redemption of the people could be remembered in the land. Happy privilege of the restored remnant! ... And even the thing they rejoiced in showed what their condition now was. "Jehovah had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." It was great kindness and touching grace on His part. But what a change!