TITLE: GOD ALWAYS SUPPORT THOSE WHOSE HEART ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM
TITLE: GOD ALWAYS SUPPORT THOSE WHOSE HEART ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM
SCRIPTURE:
“In the first year of King Cyrus, the king issued a decree concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, 4 with three courses of large stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; they are to be deposited in the house of God. 6 Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. 7 Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. 8 Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. 9 Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, 10 so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons. 11 Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime, their house is to be made a pile of rubble. 12 May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.” (Ezra 6:3—12 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
The prophets prophesied to the children of Israel to rebuild the temple of God. Zerubbabel and Joshua were set to rebuild the house of God with the prophets were with them supporting them. However, they ran into problems with Tattenai, governor of the Trans-Euphrates and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates questioned them; “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received. This is crucial to any endeavor that we take on for God. No matter what the obstacles are, I have learned this very important truth. When God calls you to do something, He will see to it that it will be accomplished and established as he intended it to be. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai questioned who authorized Zerrubbabel Joshua and the prophets to rebuild the house of the Lord, and wanted to know the names of all who are involve in the project so they could report to the king.
Who authorized us to do the things that God asked us to do. The answer is simple, God. Ezra wrote, BUT THE EYES OF THEIR GOD WAS WATCHING OVER the elders and they were not stopped. I am reminded of this scripture, For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. The Eyes of the Lord is watching over all of our endeavors and he will strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. The text above proves this. The report came back from King Darius, saying, let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. Moreover, The cost of the project is to be paid by the royal treasury. Also, all the furnishings that King Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple must be returned.
King Darius also warned Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai, to STAY AWAY from there. Do not INTERFERE with the work of the temple. All the expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Eupharate, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed, provide it and supply it for the work. Whatever they needed, provided for them daily. Furthermore, if anyone defies this edict, a beam from their house be pulled and they are to be impaled on it and the house be reduced to rubble. It is amazing when God tells us to do something, and he already planned it out to accomplish it his way. God’s eyes are searching throughout the earth for those whose hearts are fully committed to him so he may strengthen and support them. When God calls us to do something, we must make sure it’s him rather than us initiating it. What God wants to do, will always be fulfilled by doing it God’s way, trusting and acknowledging him always.
APPLICATION:
I learned today that God’s plans are so much higher than my plans. I learned that God is committed to fulfilling his word in my life when I set my heart to trust and follow him. I will continue to trust and submit all my plans to God and let him guide and lead me to fulfill the things that he wants me to do. Another great takeaway from this passage is, that God never calls me to do something without the assurance of His presence. As his eyes were on the project and his people, so it was with me as I ventured out to serve him. He is with me always.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the encouragement of your presence when you called me to be in ministry. Thank you for the promise of your presence daily. Thank you that your eyes are ever over your people and those whom you called to serve you. I pray that your presence will never leave me. I ask that you continue to lead and guide me in all the endeavor that you plan for me to do for your glory. I love you Lord, Amen!
