Ezra Pt12: Darius and the Three Decrees
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Backfill story - looking at the response of the people - We are servants of God
6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
This brings us to the focus of our message this more as we look at EzDarius and the 3 decrees, I said 3 decrees not 3 degrees, in case you where thinking you where getting a rendition of “when will i see you again”!
No, this is Darius and his three decrees, in response to the letter sent by Tatanai as detailed in chapter 5, which we have already read.
A decree, is an official order that has the force of law. We know all about decrees in their modern form don’t we!! and the less I say about that the better.
Darius was the sovereign ruler, the law giver and his word and his law was enforced to the letter, and in response to the letter received about the building of the temple, he issues 3 decrees
Firstly, Darius issues a searching decree
Darius Issues a Searching Decree
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king’s house:
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
7 Let 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 his place.
The claim of the returning remnant was that Cyrus had authorised them to come back into the land and rebuild
so Darius issues an order to search the records (verse 1)
the records are searched and what do you know, the record of the decree of Cyrus has been preserved (verse 2)
an accident?
Chance?
No, divine providence!!
The records show that the Jews where granted permission to return and build (verses 3-5)
this brings us back to the beginning of our journey through the book o f Ezra, where the scribe records that return under the decree of Cyrus
Now remember we are dealing with the Medes and Persians here, and the law of the Medes and Persians was
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
According to the law of the Medes & Persians, once a decree is promulgated, it cannot be rescinded or altered, come what may! the law stays.
So the decree given by Cyrus still stands according to the law of the Medes and Persians
an accident?
Chance?
No, divine providence!!
As a result Darius respond to Tatnai that the work will continue (verses 6-7
So Darius first decree was a seaching one, then we find his second decree. Here Darius issues a supporting decree
Darius Issues a Supporting Decree
8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expences be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
Going even further than allowing the work to continue, Darius demands that Tatnai and the rabble rousers from across the river pay for it!! (verse 8-10)
they are to provide finances (verse 8)
and they are to provide the supplies for the priest to operate the levitical system!! (verses 9-10)
The enemy tries to take away and the Lord steps in!
John MacArthur posted recently that the county wanted to take away some of their Churches car parking spaces, about 180 of them, but they appealed and the courts stopped the county from actioning the threat. MacArthur went on to state that the synagogue which was on the same block as the Church reached out and offered their car parking spaces for Church use, about 150 of them - so instead of losing 180 they gained 150 extra car parking spaces!!
God is good
1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.
God is sovereign and He is in control
The enemies of the rebuilders of the temple, tried to stop the work
and instead of stopping it they become the ones bankrolling it!!
That is two decress down, the first one a searching one, the second one a supporting one. The final decree, well here Darius issues a Serious decreee
Darius Issues a Serious Decree
11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
The third decree of Darius carries a serious and sombre warning (verse 11)
anybody that messes with what has been said in support of the temple rebuilders is to be hanged
from the wood of his own house
which is to be destroyed
now remember Darius word is law, he is the law giver, he is the sovereign ruler with all authority
You have to imagine the reaction of the Tatnai and his band of merry men
not so merry after hearing this
talk about an epic fail in terms of stopping the work!
this scale of failure is second only to Heymans failure in the book of Esther
where he ends up being hanged from the very gallows he built for Mordecai!
So Tatnai and the others comply, they had no other choice (verse 13)
they did it speedily!! You bet they did!!!
and final the work of building the temple is completed (verse 14)
we have the running order of priority in terms of decrees
God first, Government Second
Conclusion
There we have the 3 decrees of Darius
A searching decree - the records showed that the jews had been given royal authority to rebuild
A supporting decree - where the agitators end up accelerating the work by means of their own coffers!
A serious decree - that death would faced any who messed with what Darius had decreed
Each one of these decrees given by the law of the Medes and Persians - once given it was unchangeable.
The Medes and the Persians where the first to the party with this concept of unchanging decrees and laws. No it wasn't original with them, because there is the ultimate law giver. One who laws are perfect, one whose decrees are holy, righteous and true
22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king; he will save us.
God never lies, what he says stands. His word is true and faithful, His decrees have ultimate authority
9 Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:
So, if Tatnai took the word of Darius seriously, how much more should we take the word of God seriously.
And by way of application this morning lets look at threee decrees of God
Searching decree - Jer 17:10
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Supporting decree - Heb 13:5
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Serious decree - john 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Folks here is what I want to say to you, , I want to point you to the cross, to calvary.
You see we are not subject to Darius’s decrees, he is long gone. But we are subject to the decrees of God, wether we like it or not, there is no escaping that fact.
The Lord searches are hearts, and if he doesn't find Christ then there is no support, just serious condemnation
Tatnai didn't mess about when he heard the decrees of Darius, he knew that that law giver had his life in his hand
i wonder this morning are you messing with the ultimate law giver
All things are in his hands - either you chose him as Lord or face him as judge, that outcome depends on what you do with Calvary Cross
What you do with Jesus
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The three decrees of Darius - searching, supporting and serious. how much more are the decrees of the almighty God to whom we all must answer to one day.
Let’s Pray