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Daily Devotion: Ezra 6:3-5

Ezra 6:3-5    "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 expenses 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."

It was decided to search the records of King Cyrus when opposition came against the workers of the temple. Darius was now king and had no first hand knowledge of the directions of Cyrus concerning this matter. But we can see the hand of God even on him as he commanded the search be made to make a determination. They searched through the house where the treasures of Babylon had been stored. They came upon a "roll" (written record) of the command of Cyrus.  That command is found in the verses that we use today.

All the golden and silver vessels were to be returned and worship restored in the house of God. It is amazing to me as I think of this foreign king taking such care in the details concerning the materials and manner in which the house was to be built. God is truly amazing and His mercy endures forever. Remember how the people expressed the love for the Lord when they had laid the foundation. "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid." (Ezra 3:11) They realized indeed the mercy of the Lord had allowed them to return to Jerusalem. They realized indeed the mercy of God was in the moving of King Cyrus to give the command to return.

There is a phrase in verse 4 that catches my attention. Cyrus had specifically stated, "Let the foundations thereof be strongly laid."  We could say he was simply speaking of the physical foundation of the house of God, but I believe the Lord meant it for even more than that.  For you see, these words of Cyrus were inspired by God. The Lord moved him even in the speaking of the instructions.  You may ask, "How do I know that?"  The answer is pretty simple: The words are in the Bible; therefore they are inspired by God.  I say it again, The Lord moved Cyrus to release the people to go back to Jerusalem. The work of the Lord is that sure foundation upon which that house of God was to be built AND the foundation upon which the Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ is to be built.  The Word of God must be the focus of every time of worship. The building will fall if the foundation is not secure.

When the Word of God is the focus, then we can be sure that Jesus Christ is at the very center.  Jesus declared that He would build His Church upon the Rock of His true Person.  The Church is not and never can be built upon the basis of any man. The true church belongs unto our Lord Jesus Christ and HE must be the focal point of each time the congregation meets.  The same instructions apply today to the true church of Jesus Christ, to our nation, to families, and to individuals: "Let the foundations thereof be strongly laid."  We must build our lives upon the Rock: Jesus Christ.

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