The sermon, 'The Lord Made Them Joyful' by Mike Davenport, discusses the historical account of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem as described in Ezra Chapter 6. It begins with King Darius issuing a decree to search for a scroll containing a previous decree by King Cyrus regarding the rebuilding of the temple. The scroll was found in Ekbatana and confirmed Cyrus's decree to rebuild the temple and return the sacred articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Darius ordered the local authorities to support the construction and threatened punishment for interference. The Jewish elders, spurred by the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah, completed the temple. This completion restored worship practices, including the Passover feast, with the people experiencing great joy, attributed to God's providence. The sermon emphasizes themes of divine providence, the power of God's word, obedience, and the source of true joy being God himself. It challenges listeners to reflect on their relationship with God and the handling of spiritual matters in their lives.

Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon. And that akmedah, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus. In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king's treasury.

Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place, and deposit them in the house of God. Now therefore, Tetanai, governor of the region beyond the river, and Shethar Bosni, and your companions, the Persians, who are beyond the river. Keep yourselves far from there. 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 on its sight.

Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God. Let the cost be paid at the king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the river. This is to be given immediately to these men so that they are not hindered. And whatever they need, young bulls, rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it, and let his house be made a refuge seat because of this.

And may the God who causes his name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree, let it be done diligently. Then Tetani, governor of the region beyond the river, Shathar-Bosni and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent. So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Eddo. And they built and finished it according to the commandment of God of Israel, according to the command of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.

Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which is in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. And they offered sacrifices to the dedication of this house of God, 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. They assigned the priests and the Levites to their divisions over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, for the priests and the Levites had purified themselves.

All of them were ritually clean, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brother and the priests, and for themselves. Then the children of Israel, who had returned from the captivity, ate together, with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord made them joyful and turned the heart of the King of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Father in heaven, thank you for your scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation. Lord, may your word go forth this morning with power and give us great joy, Lord, as you gave the men in Ezra great joy as they as they built your temple.

In Christ's name. So we come today to Ezra chapter 6. I've entitled the message, The Lord Made Them Joyful. It's what our brother just read in that closing verse. The Lord made them joyful.

As a means of introduction, I want to remind you of the context in which our text today is found. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah have arrived in Jerusalem. Through the ministry of the Word, the people have once again returned to the construction of God's house. The local authorities hearing of this sudden return to construction come to the scene at the construction and begin questioning the men who are at work. Motivated by a disdain for God and for His worship, these men led by Tatanei, a satrap who had been put into place by the king of Persia himself, they write a letter to King Darius in hopes that the king will send forth a decree that will bring an end to this construction.

Now the historical narrative we have before us in chapter 6 provides us with a glimpse of what is occurring back in Babylon with the king and what is occurring in Jerusalem. Now the first part of the passage deals with King Darius and his response to this letter. And we will consider this portion of chapter 6 under the following three headings, a search initiated, a scroll located, and support and supply decreed. Then the second portion of this historical narrative focuses back on what is going on in Jerusalem. And we will consider this portion of the text under the last three headings, the structure completed, the service of God restored, and the source of joy revealed.

So, first, a search initiated. We see this in verse 1. Then King Darius issued a decree and a search was made in the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon. The letter Darius had received from Tatanaeae made the following request of King Darius. You see it back in chapter 5 verse 17, now therefore if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king's treasure house which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem.

Well in response to this request, Darius initiates a search by means of a decree. Now the decree seemed to follow the request made even down to the very details. Tatanei seemed to have reason to think that the scroll containing this decree of Cyrus, if such a thing existed, would be able to be found in the king's treasure house located in Babylon. And this is precisely where the search begins. Verse 1 describes them as the archives where the treasures were stored in Babylon.

F. Charles Fincham in his commentary on Ezra states the following, it is quite natural that a copy of the edict concerning the Jews should be kept in Babylon because they came from Babylon to Palestine. The Cyrus Cylinder, with its toleration toward other religions and its concessions to the rebuilding of destroyed sanctuaries, was discovered by Rassum in Babylon. The Jews went to Jerusalem under the Edict, but did not carry a written copy with them. Tatanei was eagerly awaiting the outcome of his letter and the decision of the king, but the search in Babylon would turn up empty.

And so we see in verses 2 through 5 that a scroll was located, a scroll was located. And at Akmotha, In the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus. In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem. Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be firmly laid. Its height, 60 cubits, and its width, 60 cubits, with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber.

Let the expenses be paid from the king's treasury. Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple, which is in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple, which is in Jerusalem, each to its place, and deposit them in the house of God." Having failed to find the scroll among the treasures stored up in Babylon, the search widened leading them to Akmotha. Akmotha, also called by the name Ekbatana, was the capital of northern media. And this is the only mention made of this city in the scriptures. Mr.

Fincham again points out the following. According to the writer Xenophon in his manuscripts called Syripedia, in the winter Cyrus lived in Babylon, in the spring in Susa, and in the summer in Ekbatana. It is thus probable that Darius started his search in the city of Babylon. Later on, the edict was discovered in Ekbatana. One thing we can be sure of, the God who had declared that Cyrus would make the decree to send the people back to Jerusalem knew exactly where the scroll was located, and he intended that this scroll be found.

In that scroll was found a record of the decree of Cyrus, a confirmation of the providential hand of our God, as well as a testimony to the truthfulness of the report that the Jewish leaders had provided to Tatanaeus the governor, and he had included in his letter to Darius. The scroll that was located states when the decree was issued, who it was that issued this decree, what the subject of the decree was, that is, the house of God at Jerusalem, and what was being issued in the decree itself. Now, when we compare these verses to chapter 1 of Ezra. If you remember back in chapter 1, that's how Ezra first opened up his prophecy, or his historical narrative in talking about the very decree. When we compare these two, it would seem that in both places only a portion of the original decree is the subject at hand.

The decree, as stated in chapter 1, seems to focus on the calling of the people of God to go back and rebuild, as well as the duty expected of the surrounding neighbors to provide these people returning what they needed for the construction. Now, here in chapter 6, Ezra's focus seems to be on the construction itself and the return of the articles of the temple that are described in Ezra's historical narrative in chapter 1, but was not included within the portion of the decree referenced back in chapter 1. So as we see the decree of Cyrus here in chapter 6, how stark the contrast in the way the articles of Jehovah's temple were treated when we consider the action of the Babylonian kings with these Persian kings. If you recall, Nedukadnezzar had taken all of the articles of the temple back with him to Babylon and placed them in the temple of his gods. But then in Daniel chapter 5, we read of Belshazzar's actions that brought the wrath of God down upon Babylon.

Having been called to come and to interpret this writing that appeared on the wall by this hand that appeared, Daniel reminds Belshazzar of the hand of God that had humbled Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel spoke the following words to him in chapter 5 of Daniel verses 22 and 23. "'But you, his son, Belchazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this." And he was referring to what God had done to humble Nebuchadnezzar. And you, Belshazzar, have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them.

And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know. And the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified." Well in contrast to these attitudes of the Babylonian kings, Note the decree of Cyrus in chapter 6 and verse 5 and the details of how this transpired back in chapter 1, verses 7 through 11. Here we read also, let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple, which is in Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple, which is in Jerusalem, each to its place, and deposit them in the house of God. And then in the historical portion back in chapter 1 verses 7 through 11 we read, King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods. And Cyrus, king of Persia, brought them out by the hand of Mithridath the treasurer, and counted them out to Shezbazar, the prince of Judah.

This is the number of them, 30 gold platters, 1, 000 silver platters, 29 knives, 30 gold basins, 410 silver basins of a similar kind and 1, 000 other articles. All the articles of gold and silver were 5, 400. All these Shesh Bazar took with the captives who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem. God will not be mocked. What a man sows that he will reap.

Now God had allowed these articles of the temple to be removed for a season. But when they were desecrated by the heathen, God rose in such a way to use a Gentile king to bring these articles of his back, that they might be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place." But thirdly, we come to support and supply decreed. Support and supply decreed in verses 6 through 13. Now therefore, Tatanaeai, governor of the region beyond the river, and Shethar-Bosnaei and your companions, the Persians who are beyond the river, keep yourselves far from there. 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 on its site. Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God. Let the cost be paid at the king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the river. This is to be given immediately to these men so that they are not hindered. And whatever they need, young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the requests of the priest who are in Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail, that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected and Let him be hanged on it and let his house be made a refuse seat because of this. And may the God who calls us his name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it or to destroy this house of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, issue a decree. Let it be done diligently." Then Tatanei, governor of the region beyond the river, Shethar, Bosnei, and their companions, diligently did according to what King Darius had sent. So it seems that the content of this decree of Cyrus mentioned in verses 3 through 5 as found in the scroll was included in the response of Darius.

In so doing, Darius responded to Tatanaeus' first request, let a search be made to see whether such a decree was issued by Cyrus. But the letter that Darius had received concluded with a second request. We see that back in chapter 5 at the very end of 17. In that letter it says, let the king send us his pleasure concerning the matter. And this is what we have in this section.

We hear from Darius himself. Darius' response to Tatanaeae's letter has four different elements, and I love the introductory words to each of the statements in this response letter. My mind pictures a wincing and a grimacing Tatanaeae as he comes to each of these words in the letter. First in verse 6 Darius issues a now therefore. Then in verse 8, moreover.

Then in verse 9, and whatever. And then in verse 11, also. And so we see this rising crescendo, and I can just see Tatanei getting to each of those words and just wincing again. Now therefore, moreover, and whatever, also. Now These key words, they introduce the following four elements of the king's response.

First, permission. Now therefore, permit them to build. Leave them alone. Back off. So the first element, now therefore, was a permission.

But then the moreover. It introduced payment, payment. Moreover, pay for the construction through taxing your people. But not just permission and payment and provision, the fourth element, punishment. The fourth element, punishment.

Also punish anyone who will not follow the king's edict. And this punishment even went beyond what Darius was willing to do. It also referred to the punishment that he called down from the God of heaven to any who would interfere. Now we noted last week that Tatanaeus' letter was courteous, it was accurate, it was truthful and somewhat non-aggressive. Truthful and somewhat non-aggressive.

But the response of Darius highlights the intent of Tatanae and the king is not fooled. Romans 16, 18 reveals that divisiveness is typically cloaked in smooth words and flattering speech with the intent of deceiving the heart. And the response of Darius in regards to the building activity includes three commands that prove he's not fooled. Keep yourselves far from the construction. Let the work of this house of God alone, and let the Jews build this house of God on its site." I think his response was clear, and I think that it shows that understood the heart of Tatanei.

Now why would a Gentile king be so concerned with the building of the house of Israel's God? Well, there's only one answer. Proverbs 21, 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever he wishes.

It was God who was at work in the heart of Darius just as he had been at work in the heart of Cyrus. Through this decree of King Darius, God turned back the evil intents of his people's adversaries. Through this decree of King Darius, God caused the supplies of the building and sacrifice to be provided by his people's adversaries. And through this decree of King Darius, God also brought the fear of himself upon his people's adversaries, for the king issued not only the threat of his own judgment, but also invoked the judgment of God upon any who would interfere with this work. The psalmist Asaph declares in Psalm 76 10, surely the wrath of man shall praise you.

With the remainder of wrath, you shall gird yourself." Listen to the wisdom of John Calvin in relation to this verse in Psalm 76, and May your heart be strengthened and encouraged. Although at first the rage of the enemies of God and His church may throw all things into confusion and as it were envelop them in darkness. Yet all will at length redound to his praise, for the issue will make it manifest that whatever they may contrive and attempt, they cannot in any degree prevail against him. Although these enemies might not cease to breathe forth their cruelty, yet God would effectually restrain them and prevent them from succeeding in the accomplishment of their enterprises. If new troubles arise from time to time, let us remember that it is His proper office to restrain the remainder of the wrath of the wicked that they may not proceed to greater lengths.

Meanwhile, let us not be surprised if we observe fresh outrages every now and then springing forth for even to the end of the world, Satan will always have partisans or agents whom he will urge forward to molest the children of God." And in the last verse of this section, verse 13, draws attention to the response of Captain Nei and his companions. They had written to the king, Darius, to hear his pleasure concerning this matter of the temple reconstruction. No doubt, what they received was not what they expected or wanted. Nonetheless, they were left with no other option but to comply to the king's command. And this we read they did diligently.

But Now Ezra's historical narrative turns back to what was happening back in Jerusalem. And so we come forth to the structure completed, the structure completed. And we see that in verses 14 and 15. So the elders of the Jews built and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Ito. And they built and finished it according to the commandments of the God of Israel and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia.

Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Now, These verses set before us, they bring out three verbs that describe the activity of the people there in Jerusalem. They built, they prospered, they finished. They built, they prospered, they finished. A change, a change had come over this people.

This is not a new generation. This is the same group that had set aside the building of the temple for some 16 years. What had wrought such a change of heart in this people, a change so extreme that the verbs used to describe them here are building, prospering, and finishing? Well, the faithful scribe Ezra does not leave that question unanswered. He points us to the catalyst of the changes.

He declares what it was that made the difference. They prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Eddo. Their prosperity in this building effort was due to the response to the preaching of the prophets. It was the prophesying or the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. Now they both prophesied much, but do you recall the central theme of each mentioned in the opening words of their prophecies?

Haggai's opening message for this people was, "'Now therefore, ' says the Lord of hosts, "'consider your ways.'" Consider your ways. And then Zechariah's overarching message was this, thus says the Lord of hosts, return to me. Return to me. I propose to you that it was these two messages that composed the central theme of their prophecies Or to put it in other terms, it was only when they had a right understanding of who God is and who They were that they were ready to embrace the work that God had given them to do. Only when they had been confronted with who God is and what they were and where they were, consider your ways and return to me." When they embraced that message, they were ready to embrace the work that God had given them to do.

The three action verbs, built, prospered, finished, came on the heels of and only on the heels of these other two action verbs, consider and return. And they did not cease from the work because of this new conflict that arose, This all of a sudden visit from Tatanaeai and his companions and them seeking to stop the work and to gather names, give us your names, we want to send this back, and then the sending of this letter, this new conflict did not cause them to cease from their labors. Why? Because of the preaching of these prophets. And because of their preaching, they were confident, as we saw back in chapter 5, that the eye of the Lord was upon them.

And it was with this confidence that they continued their labors until they had completed the work. Now these verses also draw attention. The fact that this work was brought to completion according to the commandment of the God of Israel and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. It was the sovereign hand of God, His providence, that brought this completion about. Do you remember studying in the confession, chapter...the chapter on of divine providence?

Well, Chapter 2 draws our attention to the following. Chapter 2 of our confession says, although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly, so that there is not anything, but falls any by chance or without his providence. Yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. And so Ezra here acknowledges that the completion of the building occurred according to the commandment of God as the first cause, but also according to the decrees of these Persian kings as the instruments or second cause. And it's really interesting because here in this passage you'll see the word commandment of the God of Israel and the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.

And in the original language, there's a slight variation. There's a slight variation between these words that are here, commandment and command. In this slight variation, the second word that has to do with these kings almost has to do with a decree or an edict, not just the will or command from that sense. And so we see the will of God and the decrees of these kings as the second cause helping to bring this about. If you remember our study back in Isaiah 44 verses 24 and 28 And again in Isaiah 45-13, we read the following.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and he who forms you from the womb, I am the Lord who makes all things, who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and he shall perform all my pleasure, saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and to the temple your foundation shall be laid. I have raised him up in righteousness and I will direct all his ways. He shall build my city and let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, says the Lord of hosts." And then back in Ezra 1 verses 2 and 3, thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, all the kingdoms of the earth, The Lord God of heaven has given me, and he has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel. He is God which is in Jerusalem.

And so we see from the writing of Isaiah and Ezra it was the command of God and it was the decree of this Gentile King. Well then in verse 15 Ezra gives us a time marker. Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. They finished the temple in the sixth year of Darius. Now looking back to Ezra 424, They had started the work again during the second year of King Darius.

So it took them approximately four years to finish the work. Now remember, 16 years had passed since they had ceased from their labors. During the course of those 16 years, they could have finished the temple four times had they not stopped. But the work now is completed. And fifthly, we see in our text, the service of God is restored.

The service of God restored. That's verses 16 through 21. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the descendants of the captivity celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy, and they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of God, 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. They assign the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions over the service of God in Jerusalem as it is written in the book of Moses. And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves. All of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. The people of God had been in captivity for 70 years.

Having returned to Jerusalem after seven decades and having laid the foundation of the temple, they saw some twenty to twenty-one years pass before their eyes. Now the time had finally come. They could now rest from their labors. The work God had given them was complete. Having completed the building, The people have a dedication service for the house of God, and we are told they celebrated with joy, with joy.

Please note that when obedience is rendered unto God, when obedience is rendered unto God, His people are filled with joy and with gladness. That's how joy and gladness come. It's through obeying the Lord our God. Now do you recall Ezra's account of the celebration of the laying of the foundation of the temple back in chapter 3, there were shouts of joy. But he also drew attention to the fact of the noise of weeping.

There was the noise of weeping at the laying of that foundation. And What was the cause for weeping? Well, Ezra tells us that the weeping came from those who had seen the first temple. Haggai addressed those who had seen the glory of this first temple and its prophecy in chapter 2 verse 3, we recited it together today. Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory?

And how do you see it now in comparison with it is this not in your eyes as nothing Zechariah even addressed this attitude and in his prophecy in Zechariah 4 10 for who has despised the day of small things? In comparison with the temple of Solomon and the dedication of that temple, this was indeed a day of small things. We see this in regards to the number of people who were present to celebrate as well as the number of animals that were offered in this dedication service. In spite, in spite of this reality, please note that this passage before us today speaks much of joy, but nothing, nothing of the sound of weeping. The sound of weeping was there at the laying of the foundation, and now they're seeing this temple.

And it's nothing like the glory of Solomon's temple, but today there is found no weeping. We read only of joy. Could it be that this is a result of the preaching of these two prophets. Haggai's vision for this people back in chapter 2 after he had asked them the question, is there anybody who still remembers that former temple? How does this compare?

It's nothing in your eyes, right? But he goes on in verses 7 through 9 of his prophecy there in chapter 2, I will shake all nations and they shall come to the desire of all nations and I will fill this temple with glory says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine and the gold is mine says the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former says the Lord of hosts and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts. What about Zechariah?

What did he preach? Thus says the Lord of hosts, I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them. So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in His name, " says the Lord.

Maybe that's why there was no sound of weeping on this day. Truly this was a day for rejoicing. The service of God, the sacrificial system set in place when God redeemed His people from Egypt was finally restored. The priests and Levites were assigned to their duties and all was done, we read, as it is written in the book of Moses. Even after almost 100 years, the people were careful to restore the service of God just as had been prescribed by Moses.

This is nothing less than what we refer to as the regulative principle of worship which reformed churches throughout history and in various nations have sought to conform to. This is the reason they would not let the people of that land join them in their restoration efforts like we saw back in chapter 2. They were seeking to be biblical in the restoration of the worship that had been missing for so long, and they must get it right. I believe this again points to the impact that comes from giving the Word of God the preeminence that it's worthy of. Why were they concerned about doing it like Moses had prescribed?

Because the Word of God was coming with fresh power from the mouth of these prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The Word of God is not only a means of grace that motivates us to build, that brings prosperity to the activity of our lives and strengthens us to finish the task. But the Word of God is also the means by which we learn how to build in a way that pleases God. It's the means by which true prosperity is defined, and it's the means by which we can determine just when a task is really done, when it is complete. Well not only is the sacrificial service of the temple restored, But we find the people once again partaking of the Passover feast.

Now to keep this Passover feast properly, we find the people once again referring back to the law of Moses. They sought to purify themselves, to make themselves ritually clean. Dear ones, Passover was at the heart of their worship, and the purification and the sacrifice were at the heart of the Passover. Let me repeat that again. Passover was at the heart of this return to worship, and at the heart of the Passover itself, we see the purification and the sacrifice.

Well, think of this in New Covenant terms. At the heart of true Christian worship is God's justification of sinners, not destroying them on account of the blood of another. And at the heart of this justification is the purity and the perfection of the sacrifice of that Lamb of glory, Jesus Christ. Well then there was a great feast enjoyed by God's people along with all who separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land. Again, if you recall, these people said they were ready to help in the reconstruction efforts, and these people had said no because they needed to build according to the way prescribed.

But now that the temple had been finished, worship had been restored, It was open to all who would come, and they could join them if they had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land. And notice it was a separation not just from, but also unto. This is important. It's a separation not just from, but a separation unto. It was a separation from the filth of the nations, that is, from the idolatry and the wickedness associated with that idolatry.

But we see from our text that it was also a separation in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. This would seem to indicate that although these surrounding people were not allowed to participate in the building and restoration of true worship, they were allowed to come into worship if they had been separated from the rampant idolatry all around them. But this is also such a wonderful picture of the New Covenant and what happens when a people have heart encounters with God's Word and true worship. They separate themselves from their former sin and they seek the Lord with all their heart. Do you want a picture of what the gospel does when it is owned by the Spirit?

Well consider the report of Paul in regards to the testimony of the Thessalonians heard throughout that entire region. He says, this is what I hear no matter where I go about you the Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 1.9, for they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. That's the gospel. Turning to God, a separation to God, and turning from idols, a separation from the filth of the nations.

Well, not only is the structure completed and the service of God restored, but lastly, we see the source of joy revealed. The source of joy revealed. Not only do we read of them celebrating the dedication of the temple with joy, but they also found great joy in the keeping of the feast of unleavened bread. We read, and they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the Lord made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Pure joy for seven straight days.

Where does such a joy come from? Well, Ezra does not leave us in the dark. He comes right out and tells us, for the Lord made them joyful. In his commentary on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah entitled Memoirs of the Way Home, Gerald Bilx wrote the following in regards to the joy of this people. Whenever God's people have a season of joy, it is because the Lord has worked by His grace.

The people in this chapter certainly did not deserve the blessings they received in a completed temple building. It wasn't their hard work or persevering attitude that brought them to this point. It wasn't their deeds that were worth celebrating. The psalmist said, for you, Lord, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the work of your hands.

Psalm 92 verse 4. God will glorify Himself in His people. It was the affliction and the persecution of the adversaries that was the actual catalyst of God's working in order to turn the heart of this Gentile king to bless his people. It was the affliction and persecution upon them that caused this king to act on behalf of God's people, and it was the response of this king to their persecutors that strengthened the heart of God's people. Dear ones, God uses both His Word and His providence, His Word and His providence to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

His people are the apple of His eye. He will save them. He will defend them. He will refine them. He will prosper them.

And He will give them joy. The Lord made them joyful. Though there was nothing of their own doing to make them joyful, the full display of the grace of God brought them joy." I just have several applications now in closing, All by means of a question. First, how are you handling the things of God? When we consider the restoration of the temple of God and the return of the articles as we talked about to the temple, there are three groups that stand out in our minds, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Jews.

You could even narrow these down to Belshazzar, Darius, and Zerubbabel. And I propose to you this morning that one of these three represent your disposition to the things of God. First, Belshazzar, he despised the things of God. He treated them as common. He praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, and yet the very one who held his breath in his hand, the God who owned all of his ways, Belshazzar refused to glorify." Does that describe you?

Does that describe you? Do you despise the things of God, my friend? Are you here only because you have to be? Do you consider this word of God irrelevant, the preaching foolish, the worship Boring, the Lord's day, burdensome. Well these same attitudes may not fit our description of Darius.

Darius like Cyrus, his predecessor, did not despise the things of God, and in fact he was interested in them. He knew that the God of the Jews was a powerful God, and all these Persian kings sought to pacify him. They had no problem fitting him into their overall daily life. They were pleased with and helpful towards the establishment and maintenance of the worship of God's people and were extremely desirous of God's benediction upon them, even asking them to pray for them and for their sons. So maybe you're not like Bill Shazar.

You don't despise the things of God, but what about Darius, my friend? Are you content to try to pacify God, to acknowledge Him, to maybe give to the cause of His church monetarily or through service? You don't despise the things of God, at least not outwardly, but you are content to simply have a hand in the progress without giving of yourself wholeheartedly to the work of God's people. Are you content with the mere placing of the things of God in proper order, but not in actually worshipping Him? Tipping your hat to Him and then giving priority to the idols of your heart.

And thirdly, there were the Jews, or there was the rubble. They weren't always diligent. They were not always prosperous. They were not always faithful in the rebuilding efforts. They tended to get off mission and sometimes for long periods of time.

Their own things, their own houses, their own interests had crowded out the things of God for a time. But when the Word of God came in power, They responded. They became diligent in the work. They finished what they had started. Is that you, my friend?

Yes, there are shortcomings. There are often besetting sins. There are weights which so often seem to slow you down. There is often the waning of zeal. But when you look inside, you have a heart that is tender to the Word.

When you hear that Word, when you receive the things of God again, you become diligent, you become prosperous, And you are filled with joy as you walk in the ways and as you worship your Savior. Which of these three describes you? Which of these three does your heart resonate with? How are you handling the things of God? And by the things of God, I don't mean the articles of the temple.

I mean the means of grace for both the private and the public worship of God. How do you handle those things? How you handle these things reveals the true state of your heart before Him. Secondly, are you building? Are you building?

Are you prospering? Are you seeking to complete the things God has given you to do? I'm not asking you if the altar is in place. I'm not asking you if the foundations have been laid. I'm asking, is your trowel in hand?

Is there dried mortar under your fingertips? Is your shirt drenched with sweat in the service of our God. Is the work God has given specifically to you, prospering in your hand is your heart prospering under the Word of God. Are you this moment fighting the good fight? Are you this moment running the race set before you?

Are you this moment persevering with patience and perseverance? Are you this moment contending for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. If your heart is in any way uncomfortable by these questions, The remedy is not to slouch in despair or to turn away in discouragement. The remedy is to consider your ways and return to the Lord. That was the message for this discouraged people.

Consider your ways and return to the Lord. And do you recall the promise of God to all of those who would return to Him? Zechariah tells us, I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. I will return to you. If we are to build, to prosper, and to complete the kingdom work God has given us, it will happen in conjunction with our hearing and doing the Word of God just as it did with this people.

And then lastly, what is the source of your joy? What is the source of your joy? Do you have joy? If so, what is the source? Is it God?

Because if God is not the source of your joy, it will not last. If it is not God, this joy will leave you empty. It was this same Ezra who told this people in Nehemiah 8 10, do not sorrow for the Joy of the Lord is your strength. David declared in Psalm 1611, you will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Can you attest to these realities? Is the joy of the Lord your strength? Do you have joy when you find yourself in His presence? Are you receiving pleasures from His right hand? Or do you look for joy elsewhere?

Well, may God grant you grace to go to Christ and find Him to be the source of all your joy. Jesus told His disciples there in the upper room in John 15, 11, these things I have spoken to you, that your joy, that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. May God give us grace to consider our ways, to return to the Lord, to build, to prosper, and by His grace to finish the work He has given us to do and to truly find our joy in His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us pray. O God, we ask that you would give us hearts to respond to this your word even as this people did.

Lord, that you would cause us to consider our ways and to return and to get busy, to get back on mission doing the things you have called us to do. Oh Lord, make us a joyful people, not because we have found some other source of happiness or joy for it will not last but Lord as you did for this people make us make us joyful by your goodness to us in Christ's name we pray amen