No. 18 of Returning Home (Reignited)
After King Darius confirms the late King Cyrus’ edicts to rebuild Judah’s temple. He gives more instruction to Tattenai his governor.
6 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. 7 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. – Ezra 6:6-7(ESV)
Darius knows Tattenai is ready to act against the builders in Judah, so he gives direct instructions for him to keep away. The king explains that Tattenai is to keep away by letting the work on the house of God alone. Tattenai and his cohorts are not to interfere or work against this restoration project. Further, he mentions the governor and elders of the Jews. Darius is expressing the authority he is giving them to do the job they were appointed by Cyrus to do many years before.
This great king within his first years constructs a beautiful picture of his reign in stone (refer back to the Behistun Inscription). Darius’ conquests are many as he fights to maintain his control over rebelling provinces. Through this we see a king who knows to move fast and build quickly. He knows that a halted work is detrimental to his authority. A king of this nature would see the unfinished temple at Jerusalem, a project that should have been completed twice over by that time, as a weakness in his kingdom. He knew from their own mouths through Tattenai’s letter that these builders of God were still determined to build a house to God. From his experience he would know they’d been hampered by people in the land, that something had stood in their way from completing the structure that wasn’t commanded by any king. These are signs of anarchy — people in his empire acting on their own. His own governor over the province is seeking to halt an unmade building that should have been built long before. In response, King Darius goes beyond Cyrus’ edicts and passes a royal decree for them to build unhindered. God uses this king’s war-savvy, tactical knowledge to remove all obstacles for His people to serve Him without fear.
“Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.” – Ezra 6:8(ESV)
We see this seasoned ruler of empires taking on the responsibility of constructing this building by commanding the governor of the province to pay the moneys that were meant for the king’s treasury directly into the hands of the builders in Judah. King Darius is taking on the expense, pouring money into Zerubbabel’s hands to complete the project.
“And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. 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.” – Ezra 6:9-12(ESV)
Perhaps, if the men of Israel had not admitted that their fathers had sinned by not following God, this king would never have commanded Tattenai to supply the abundance of items required for sacrifice. But they did. They admitted their situation, their humbled condition before God, and God rewards them for their humility. King Darius is able to tell by their honest admission that these people truly love and worship their God. The kings of this time period were wiser than some of our leaders today in that they looked on the blessings of a nation as godly favor. Jerusalem had been a powerful city once and had fallen because her people did not obey their God. King Darius wants every and any godly favor he can amass to keep his position! By supplying these builders of Judah with the goods to sacrifice, He knows they will think kindly on him and bring his name before a God that has shown His power in the past. This strategy of a king to cater to the gods of the land is a foreign idea for us today. Yet, we still see a similar psychological tactic being used on people today. When a leader wants to curry favor with his people, he may issue government money to give to them, or issue valued government services. When a people have gratitude toward their leader, they are less likely to revolt. Darius knew this. In the midst of the rebellion going on across his empire, he was wise to curry favor with the people of the Most High God.
Tattenai, on receiving this letter and its closing threats, must have been bitter. He was itching to throw down a nation he hated — a nation known for ruling his people centuries before. Instead, he must place the money from his province into the pockets of his enemies! He must supply the animals and goods for these enemies to worship their God, a God that was the power behind the destruction of his lands years before. While turning over his riches to his enemies, he would continually rue his mistake of bringing up the matter of the temple of God to the king.
How did such a bad situation turn out so perfectly for God’s people? The weary leaders of Judah went from fear when approached by Tattenai to dread while waiting for Darius’ decision to astonishment at the king’s response. They experienced freedom for the first time in years, knowing Darius was going to punish those who came against their work. What a turn around!
These acts of God are not carried out by miraculous means, yet they are acts that seem utterly incredible. Compare the better outcome of this providential strategy: God could have sent lightning from the sky to kill off Tattenai, but then Darius would not have supported the work. God could have made a number of miraculous interventions, but none of them would have shown His people how beautifully He performs His plan by using time and people. Time is His tool. He works wonders through both good and evil people. If God can do this for His people in c. 518 BCE, in what great ways will He see His people through today?