259 - The decree discovered

Kathleen's thoughts

Zechariah 6: 1-15
Ezra 5: 3-17, 6: 1-14
Zechariah 7: 1-15

The vision of the four chariots I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains.
The angel told me, "These are the four spirits of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth.
As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and the Lord said, "Go patrol  the earth " So they patrolled the earth.Then He summoned me saying "See those going to the land of the north have pacified My Spirit in the northern land.

Symbolic crowning of Joshua The word of the Lord came to me; 'Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  You are to ell him
Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the Lord's temple.
Yes, He will build the Lord's temple; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them The crown will reside in the Lord's temple as a memorial to Heidai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah.

Tattenai and Shetharboenai's question Who gave you the order to rebuild this temple and finish this structure.

They appeal to Darius But God was watching over the Jewish elders.
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding he temple that was built many years ago.
So if it pleases the king, let a search of the royal archives in Babylon be conducted to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king's decision regarding this matter be sent to us.

Cyrus' decree is discovered

Darius adds to the decree Leave the construction of this house of God alone., Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site,.
I hereby issue a decree concerning what you must do, sot hat the elders of the Jews can rebuild this house of God;
I also issue a decree concerning any man who interferes with this directive,

Go-operation of Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai So the Jewish elders continued successfully with the building under the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia,.

Insincere fasting condemned When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these 70 years, did you really fast for Me/ When you eat and drink, don't you eat and drink simply for yourselves. Aren't these the words that the Lord proclaimed through the earlier
prophet?

The cause of exile The Lord of Hosts says this; Render true justice. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.
They turned a pleasant land into a desolation.

The Lord's promise The Lord of Hosts says this; I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath" The Lord says this; 'I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful Cit, the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, and the Holy Mountain."
The Lord of Hosts says this; 'I will save My people from the land of the east and the land of the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be My  people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God:
As you have been a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Don't be afraid; let your hands be strong. S
SO I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah, Don't be afraid.

For thought and contemplation.
When I read this today I was deeply touched along with the scripture below, We serve an awesome God and His word is just.
An effective father, it has been said, needs two outstanding qualifications; firmness in discipline and a readiness to encourage. Some think God has just Enif these characteristics - firmness in discipline - but look again at Zechariah 8: 15 and remind yourself that God is a Father who not only disciplines but encourages and cares.

Psalm 103: 13, 17-18
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him...But from eternity to eternity the Lord's faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions.

Wow, what an awesome scripture to stand by.

Blessings
Kathleen.