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.