Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.
Darius searched the royal records and found Cyrus's original order. Now he answers the officials who had challenged the builders. His answer is not a permit but a command to stand back. Why would a foreign king defend a temple that is not his own?
A rebuke, not a permit
The officials wrote hoping the king would stop the work. His reply came back as an order against them.
William KellyThat was enough for Darius. He gave the officials a rebuke. And far from listening to the adversaries of the Jews, he puts honour on the Jews. He makes fresh commands, carrying out even more fully what had already been proclaimed in the first year of Cyrus.
The scroll found at Achmetha
The old decree was not filed where anyone expected. It turned up at Achmetha, a fortress in Media, far from Babylon.
H. L. RossierIn all this we can see the providence of God, watching over His people. The edict of Cyrus turned up at Achmetha, in the province of the Medes, and not at Babylon. This proves that without God stepping in, even the most careful search would have been in vain. Darius does not go as far as Nebuchadnezzar did, who was humbled and then proclaimed that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men. Still, Darius acknowledges the God of heaven. And he recognizes the temple at Jerusalem as the house of God.
The enemy's own move used against him
The adversaries' own letter produced this order. Their attack became the protection of the work.
Edward DennettTo faith, God was plainly working behind the scenes. He was using the power of the enemy to carry out His own purposes. Here is another instance of how He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. When their adversaries interfered, Darius did not only confirm the decree of Cyrus. He also issued a second decree: his own treasury would pay for all the provision needed for the house of God.
Royal authority in second place
The order names the builders: the Jews' own governor and elders, not the king's officers. The king's word did not start this work. It confirmed work already going on, and it turned the opposers into helpers.
The Bible TreasurySo the great king's authority came on the scene only to confirm God's word and His servants, and to compel the homage and help of those who had tried to hinder. What an encouragement to look above the hills to Him who sits in the heavens! And, as we read, the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. The commandment of the God of Israel had its right and first place. The decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes came in under it.
Going forward instead of lobbying
Notice what the builders never did. They did not play one king off against another. They kept building and left the court to God.
William KellyOur 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 who oppose us.
Hearts first, then circumstances
Read chapters 4 to 6 together and an order appears. The work stopped. Prophets stirred the people. Then the way opened.
Michael HardtLook at chapters 4 to 6 as a whole and an important lesson appears. Where hearts are not stirred before God, He may allow circumstances to make the work impossible. On the surface it will look as though the work stopped because of forces no one could control. The deeper reason is that there was little or no stirring in the hearts of God's people. On the other hand, God steps in — for instance, by sending prophets who speak to the heart of the people. Then, when hearts turn to God, He also takes care of the circumstances. And then nobody can stop the work until it is finished, "by decree of the God of Israel."
Summary
- Hearts — The long pause was not just political. When the prophets reached the people's hearts, the outward obstacles began to move.
- Search — The lost scroll surfaced in Media, not Babylon. Without God's hand, the most careful search would have found nothing.
- Rebuke — The letter meant to stop the work came back as an order against the men who sent it. Darius added fresh commands that went beyond Cyrus.
- Distance — Told to keep away, the opposers then had to help. God used the enemy's own power to do His work.
- Order — God's word held first place, and the royal decrees came in underneath it. Faith keeps building and leaves the rulers to God.