Ezra 6:6-12: a reflection

6Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there. 7Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses must be given with all diligence to these men, that they not be hindered. 9That which they have need of, including young bulls, rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, 10that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. 11I have also made a decree that whoever alters this message, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened on it; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter this, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree. Let it be done with all diligence.

When opponents might have hindered the rebuilding of God's house, God so turned the heart of the king that he not only ordered the work to proceed unhindered but commanded that it be paid for from the royal treasury. Let the work of this house of God alone, the king decreed; and moreover, that the expenses be given to these men from the king's goods, that they not be hindered. What might have been stopped by opposition was instead protected and provided for by royal decree. The king ordered that the builders not be hindered, and that the costs of the work and even of the offerings be paid from his own treasury. God turned a ruler's heart to remove the hindrance and provide for his work. This shows that God can turn rulers to favor his work, removing hindrances and providing for it. God can turn rulers to favor his work, removing hindrances and providing for it. What opposition might have stopped, God can turn to support. God works even through the decisions of rulers to accomplish his purposes. Trust God to provide for his work, even through unlikely means.

Notice the turn of events. The rebuilding of God's house had faced opposition; there were those who might well have hindered or stopped it. But instead of the work being halted, the king issued a decree that turned everything in its favor: the opponents were to leave the work alone; the builders were not to be hindered; and, remarkably, the costs of the work, and even the materials for the offerings, were to be paid from the king's own treasury, given diligently and without fail. What might have been stopped by opposition was instead protected and provided for by the very authority that could have crushed it. Behind this stood God, who turned the ruler's heart. This reveals something about how God accomplishes and provides for his work. God is not limited to obvious means; he can turn the hearts of rulers and authorities, even those who might have opposed his work, to favor it instead, removing hindrances and providing for it. What opposition might have stopped, God can turn to support; through the decisions of rulers and the resources of the world, God can provide for his purposes. This encourages us to trust God with his work, and with our part in it, even when opposition or obstacles loom. God is able to remove hindrances and provide for his work through means we would not expect, turning even potential opponents into supporters. We do well to trust God to accomplish and provide for his work, even through unlikely means, rather than fearing that opposition can finally stop it. Trust God to remove hindrances and provide for his work, even through unlikely means. What opposition might have stopped, God can turn to support. God can turn the hearts of rulers to favor his purposes. Do not fear that opposition can finally stop God's work.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can turn rulers to favor his work, removing hindrances and providing for it, and we do well to trust him with it, as God turned the king's heart to protect and pay for the rebuilding. We can fear that opposition will stop God's work; but God turned the king's heart to order the work helped and funded from his own treasury. God provides. When opposition or obstacles loom over God's work, do not fear it can be finally stopped; trust God, who can remove hindrances and provide even through unlikely means. Trust God to accomplish and provide for his work, even through unlikely means and even turning potential opponents into supporters, as when opponents might have hindered the rebuilding of God's house, God so turned the heart of the king that he not only ordered the work to proceed unhindered but commanded it be paid for from the royal treasury, decreeing that the work be left alone and the expenses given from the king's goods that the builders not be hindered; for what might have been stopped by opposition was instead protected and provided for by royal decree, the king ordering that the builders not be hindered and that the costs of the work and even the offerings be paid from his own treasury, God turning a ruler's heart to remove the hindrance and provide, which reveals something about how God accomplishes and provides for his work, that he is not limited to obvious means but can turn the hearts of rulers and authorities, even those who might have opposed his work, to favor it instead, removing hindrances and providing, so that what opposition might have stopped God can turn to support, providing for his purposes through the decisions of rulers and the resources of the world, which encourages us to trust God with his work and our part in it even when opposition or obstacles loom, since God is able to remove hindrances and provide through means we would not expect, turning even potential opponents into supporters, so that we do well to trust God to accomplish and provide for his work.

Lord, when opponents might have hindered the rebuilding of your house, you so turned the heart of the king that he not only ordered the work to proceed unhindered but commanded that it be paid for from the royal treasury. Let the work of this house of God alone, the king decreed; and moreover, that the expenses be given to these men from the king's goods, that they not be hindered. What might have been stopped by opposition was instead protected and provided for by royal decree. The king ordered that the builders not be hindered, and that the costs of the work and even of the offerings be paid from his own treasury. You turned a ruler's heart to remove the hindrance and provide for your work. Show me the turn of events. The rebuilding of your house had faced opposition; there were those who might well have hindered or stopped it. But instead of the work being halted, the king issued a decree that turned everything in its favor: the opponents were to leave the work alone; the builders were not to be hindered; and the costs of the work, and even the materials for the offerings, were to be paid from the king's own treasury. What might have been stopped by opposition was instead protected and provided for by the very authority that could have crushed it. Behind this stood you, who turned the ruler's heart. This reveals something about how you accomplish and provide for your work. You are not limited to obvious means; you can turn the hearts of rulers and authorities, even those who might have opposed your work, to favor it instead, removing hindrances and providing for it. What opposition might have stopped, you can turn to support. This encourages me to trust you with your work, and with my part in it, even when opposition or obstacles loom. Take that to my heart. When opposition or obstacles loom over your work, keep me from fearing it can be finally stopped; help me trust you, Lord, who can remove hindrances and provide for your work even through unlikely means, turning even potential opponents into supporters, and accomplishing your purposes.