I couldn't think of any reason not to be in Ezra tonight. So we're in Ezra tonight. They're in chapter six. And I trust that the material will just cause us to burst forth with thanksgiving to God, just to be constantly reminded of his goodness to us. So as we introduce Chapter 6 tonight, I thought we could think about how all this began, just momentarily. So these Jews have been in exile in Babylon. They've been there a while. There's really not much hope for them. Babylon's roughly a thousand miles from Jerusalem. I remember the old song, I'm 500 miles away from home. Well, that was in the days of automobiles that that song was written. Those people back then, those Jews were a thousand miles away from home. They were without any hope of being released out of captivity. They are captive to the Babylonians. And God moved on a king's heart. In fact, he was a pagan king. And King Cyrus decreed that the people would be let go. They would be released. All that wanted to go back to Jerusalem were free to go. Make your travel plans and leave. Well, what we find is a remnant of a remnant decided to return to Jerusalem. Not a remnant, a remnant of a remnant. So the first, I've got four introductory points and then we'll get into the chapter six. So this is a venture of faith. All right? And our lives are a venture of faith. That's the point. And faith begins, a lot of times, in a hard place. Well, you know, you're down and out. You realize you're a sinner. You've tried putting your best foot forward. But so often we can't even figure out which one is our best foot. We have all kinds of problems. But what does the Lord do? He gently calls us to himself. He gets our attention. He says, I want your trust. I want you to turn to me and trust me. Stop trying to roll up your sleeves, work by the sweat of your brow, pull your boots up by your, you know, whatever. Pull your, whatever we're pulling on, our bootstraps. Pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps. That's it. Well, We try all these things. You know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about self-effort, trying to achieve things on our own, ignoring God. It's all about self. And the Lord just gently shows us that He's there, He's watching, and He wants our trust. And we may not be looking at a thousand mile trek somewhere. I would suggest it's a lot further. We wanna go to heaven and there's only one way to get there and that's through Jesus. And we trust him to get us there. And you trust him in this life. And sometimes that faith is born in hardship. Just because we have problems doesn't mean we cannot trust the Lord to get us to heaven. In fact, we're always gonna be encountering resistance in this life. Some of you felt it today, anybody? Okay, well, you don't wanna raise your hand, that's fine. I think most of us probably encountered some resistance in our lives. And what's the Lord say? Trust me, trust me. Well, I got this thing I can't figure out. Well, trust him. He'll even give you wisdom. And if that doesn't come fast enough, He'll give you the strength to get through whatever you're facing. But this whole idea of just, you know, okay, when things are just lovely and wonderful and all things are in order in my life, and then I will have faith and trust in Jesus. Don't wait till then because you'll be waiting a long time. It doesn't work that way. You trust him in the midst of the chaos. You trust him in the midst of the pain. You trust him when that's all you know to do is trust Jesus. You trust him. And he will not let you down. He will never let you down. So their venture began in faith. A good reference there, we're not gonna read it right now, but it's Haggai, the prophet Haggai prophesied to them And you can read what he said to them in chapter one, verses six through 11. But the venture of faith began in hard times. And then secondly, the venture of faith continued in a day of small things. Zechariah was another prophet. God released prophets to speak to the people in the midst of their pain because they needed to hear encouragement from the Lord. So it's important to hear the word. It's important to hear the public reading of the word. It's important to hear the encouragement from the Lord, whether it's encouragement that you receive in your private devotional time, or whether it's encouragement that you receive in a small group, in a Sunday school class, or encouragement from one Christian to another or in a corporate setting. We need to hear the word of God to be encouraged, to trust, to be reminded not to overthink. Don't overthink life. Trust Jesus and he will guide you. But the venture of faith continued in a day of small things. So what's that mean? It means this, you trust Jesus. and everything doesn't just change dramatically overnight. Does it? I mean, did I miss something? No, I trusted Jesus and I woke up the next morning and I still had my life, my responsibilities, my issues, I had all that on that day. But I had the care of the one true God in heaven who knew that and was helping me along. And so I knew he had begun a good work, and I knew that he would continue that good work. And it continues as we can just trust him. Day by day, moment by moment, through situations, whether it be hardship, whether it be the mundane, you just keep trusting Him. And things don't always just dramatically change when you trust Him. What did Zechariah say to those people? He said, don't despise the damn small things. What's a small thing? You just trust in Him. Well, I still have that pain, I still have that issue, I still have a situation I gotta deal with. That may not go away, but you'll have a wonderful companion through it. That's Jesus. The writers, I think, of the Bible, of the Psalms, say that he'll bring us through the fire, he'll bring us through the flood, he'll bring us through whatever condition. need to trust Him, and don't despise the day of small things. You know, you might think, well, it's a small thing that you're here on a midweek service. Or you might think it's a small thing that you picked up your Bible and you read a verse. Or a small thing that you had a conversation with a fellow believer. Or a small thing that you're here tonight and you're listening to Ezra, some words out of Ezra. Don't despise those small things because the Lord uses them to build faith in your life. It's a big deal. Listen, the little things are a big deal. Don't despise small things because we have a big God who's over those small things. You have an appetite for the word, read the word. and don't despise the small thing. And then thirdly, the venture of faith continued in the midst of thorough examinations. You know, the people that did return to Jerusalem were under the microscope, so to speak. The people that were already there, the unbelievers around them were really really looking at their lives, really not being very gracious to them, let's say that. They weren't necessarily pushing for this project of the temple being rebuilt. And in spite of that resistance, the people continued to trust. And then lastly, it all ended in triumph. They went back to Jerusalem to rebuild a temple and that temple was rebuilt. It was. The Lord was with them. The Lord gave them not only the leaders there, He gave them the people who had the expertise and certain crafts and building what they could do and God saw the project through and those people saw this temple raised to the glory of God. It took probably Well, it took quite a while to build it. They had to slow down at some points along the way. So that's just a very general overview, but I think it helps us to understand that these people, they planned on leaving. We're going to leave Babylon. We're going back to Jerusalem. Well, they had to get there some way. They didn't, you know, God didn't give them wings to fly. That was an arduous journey and they trusted the Lord step by step and he got them back and God took care of the project. So anyway, faith is a precious thing in the sight of the Lord. Now, we're in chapter six. Interestingly enough, Ezra, the book Ezra, is the first six chapters are really about Zerubbabel. And then in chapter seven, you get to Ezra. So we're almost to Ezra in chapter seven, but we're gonna finish up with reading this chapter six. And this has to do with the completion of the temple. He that begins the work does what? He finishes the work. That's our confidence. So we'll begin there in verse 1 and we'll read and we have an outline here before us and there's some good material here. So verse 1, then King Darius, so this is another Persian king and He, you know, it's taken time for them to get, for the Jews to get back. And then another king rises up as the previous one passes off the scene. So we have King Darius here. He issued a decree and search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon. So they even took some of the utensils out of the temple, and they took it out of the temple, out of Jerusalem, and all the way back to Babylon. And they stored some of these precious treasures that had come out of the temple. Look at verse 2. in Ecbatana. I don't think we've read about Ecbatana until now. Let's find out more. In Ecbatana, in the fortress which is in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows. Memorandum. In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the King issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits. So what they found was the record of the original king, Cyrus, issuing the decree for the people to return from Babylon back to Jerusalem. And they found it, evidently, in Ecbatana. We'll get back to that in a minute. So 60 cubits and it's width 60 cubits. So what's that? 90 feet by 90 feet, 90 feet high, 90 feet wide was the temple dimensions. with three layers of huge stones. Now this is, we've read that before, I think chapter five or four or five. Remember when the people were, when the Persians were being critical and they were like, you guys are building, you're using huge stones. So what are you building here? Are you building a place to worship? Are you building a fortress? What is the purpose of all that? So they were scrutinizing the materials. Well, as it turns out, Cyrus had said, use three layers of huge stones. The literal translation there is huge rolling stones, meaning the only way they could be moved is that you had to roll them. They were that big. They were huge stones. That's what it says here in verse four. And one layer of timbers and let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. So why would the pagan king issue a decree and be so adamant about the dimensions of a temple and that these Jews would build their temple? Well, the rationale was this, that as they conquered other people, In order to maintain favor, they would incorporate those gods, if it was many gods or one god in the case of the Jews, into their whole spectrum of gods, because they wanted to maintain favor with all the gods. They were polytheists. That's what they were. So they want the worship done the way the God, whoever's God it was, specified that it be done. So they're adamant about it. They're particular about it. He says use these three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers and let the cost be paid from what? The royal treasury. So the king not only gives him permission to return, not only says you can return, but you will build your temple, but he says, we're gonna pay for it. Boy, yeah, this is just like God. Because you have a people here that are in what we would consider a miserable circumstance. I mean, the temple wasn't built overnight. It was some 20 years. And there was a big pause in the middle of it. And they're hurting. And nevertheless, God shows his mercy through our misery. And he is glorified. That's what he does. I don't know how many of you saw the quote from William Kalper when you came in. but that on the board is this. William Kalper was a great hymn writer. And it's just, it's beautiful. He says, the clouds we dread are gonna break forth in blessing on your head. You know what that means? We can always stay thankful. Lord, it doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand what's happening right now. I hurt. I don't see it going the right direction. I don't know how you're going to be involved in this. There's a blessing in it. There's a blessing. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, just walk by faith. There's a blessing there. Where are we? Well, I think we're with the huge stones and the cost be paid from the royal treasury. Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon. So he was the original conqueror of the Jews. Nebuchadnezzar goes with the Chaldeans, the Babylonians. They were overtaken, the Babylonians overtaken by the Persians. That's where we get Cyrus. And by the way, God, Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would release the people of God to rebuild the temple over in Isaiah. I can't call the chapter and verse, but it's beautiful. It's a wonderful prophecy. And sure enough, there it is, the decree of Cyrus. We're reading this decree. He says, let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon be returned. So not only a temple, but the things, the utensils that were used for worship, be returned and brought to their places in the temple, and you shall put them in the house of God. Now, therefore, tatanei. So he's the governor of the province and he's the one that's overseeing and making sure things are done right. It's easy to look at Tantanai like an enemy. We'll see an enemy later on. His name is Sanballat. Tatanei is very mild compared to Sanballat. Tatanei just wants to make sure that, well, he wants to honor the chain of command, and he wants to make sure that everything is done right. and that there has been a decree and that it's written down so the credentials are there and the instructions are there. And when he answers to the king, he has firm ground to stand on. He doesn't want to stand before the king and have to answer questions and feel like he's in quicksand. So here's the documentation. So Tatanei, the governor of the province beyond the river, Shethar, Bozanai, and your colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the river, keep away from there. This is a straightforward command. Keep away from there. Leave this work on the house of God alone. These are instructions to Tatanei. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Pretty straightforward. There's no room for equivocation here. it is very straightforward. Moreover, he says, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God. The full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the river and that without delay. So the king's treasury, the royal treasury is the is going to be an outlay of funds for this project. Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it is to be given to them daily without fail. The details here are amazing. that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Isn't that interesting? So this is a pagan culture and they are intent on this temple being built right and that the priests have everything they need to worship in the temple and And they're supposed to offer these acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven, and they have a prayer request. The king says, pray for the life of the king and his sons. Pray for us. As you worship, pray for us. That's what he says. Now, I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict A timber shall be drawn from his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this." So in case anyone has any ideas about not doing what the king instructs, this is what will happen to you if you disobey. So it sounds serious to me. I don't know anyone who would want verse 11 to come true for them. So I'm sure they just step back, build the temple, we'll make sure you have the funds, the materials, all you need. May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to change it so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be carried out with all diligence. And that's a phrase that we find throughout Ezra, is let it be carried out with all diligence. And then, so it's, it's gonna come together. And we see the completion of the temple right here in verses 13 through 15. Then Tatanei, the governor of the province beyond the river, Shethar, Bozanai, and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent. I mean, the Lord's moving heaven and earth to get this temple built for these people, and these folks are cooperating with the Lord. And that cooperation is really a picture of their trust in God. And keep in mind, at this time, most of their brothers and sisters are a thousand miles away back in Babylon, because, I mean, why move? They've been there so long, it was home to them. Only a few returned. Only a few. And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Edo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia. So it was finished. Haggai first prophesied about four and a half years before the temple was complete. It was completed. All praise to God. The temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar. It was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Lord who begins the work will finish the work. Whether it's in the individual believer or whether it's in the church at large, God begins that work, God completes that work. He honors his word. He makes his promise and that promise comes true. Verses 16 and following, and the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. With joy. This spiritual work that God is doing in his people in this day, there is, listen, there are hard times. There are hills and valleys, there's sunshine, there's dark clouds, there's everything along the way. But it is all with joy because of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross and what He began, that good work He began in you, He will complete it. They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. So the 12 male goats for the number of the tribes of Israel is important because some people doubt that number. They think it's less, but they're there representing the 12 tribes of Israel there. Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites and their orders for the service of God. We talked about that Sunday with Zacharias. The divisions, the courses, and their orders. David organized that whole thing. We have the basics for that in the book of Exodus, in Leviticus and Numbers, but David expounded on it and organized it and developed it. So for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. So here is the completion in verses 13 through 15, and then 16 through 18, we have the dedication of this temple going on. in verses 19 and following we have the celebration it just gets it gets better are you think well it's finished temple I had to be they were joyful the temple is dedicated but there's a celebration to be had and all these are part of the life that we enjoy and we look forward to that eternal celebration, that glad day we'll have in the presence of Jesus one day. But we have a foretaste of that right now and we can celebrate what he's done for us now. So they celebrate. The exiles observe the Passover on the 14th of the first month. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together. All of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers, the priests, and for themselves. The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them to seek the Lord God of Israel ate the Passover. And they observed the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy. I mean, all of this is joyful. I mean, there's, it's joyful. I mean, just all that God does with His Word and with His people. For the Lord had caused them, the Lord had caused them to rejoice. And it turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Who would have thought that the Lord would have used pagan kings to facilitate the work of building the temple? And God does what God does. He moves hearts. So you have the completion of the temple, the dedication of the temple, the celebration that went on there at the temple. When you read verse 17 concerning the sacrifices, if you compare that with Solomon's temple, and when that temple was dedicated, there's no comparison. Solomon was a much wealthier, He had many more animals. I mean, you can read that over in, I think it's First Chronicles. An interesting contrast to this particular temple. Anyway, never give up. Keep on trusting Jesus. Trust Jesus. Say, well, it's hard. Well, it doesn't get easier, I don't think. Life doesn't get easier. We just trust Jesus. Our confidence is in him. in him and what he can do, not in ourselves, because we've already seen what we can do. Yeah. All right. We ready to, is it raining? Do I hear rain? Or is that wind? I don't know. Or is that the air kicking on? I don't know. Well, let's stand. We'll be dismissed. It's good being with everyone tonight. Have a happy Thanksgiving.