12 August 2009 Devotion for Today "Vindicated" Ezra 6:1-6

hen King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives,[a] where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And at Achmetha,[b] in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus:

3 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, 4 with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king’s treasury. 5 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”—

6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there. 7 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. (Ezra 6:1-6)

Vindication. It happens rarely in this life, but when it DOES happen, it is a cause to celebrate and to praise God. Few things are as disconcerting of being accused of something one did not do, or to have one's dreams frustrated and stonewalled under a mountain of red-tape. Such were the plans for the new Temple constructed upon Ezra's direction. They had already begun laying the foundations and constructing the Temple when, in the last chapter, the local pagan officials tried their best to put a stop to it by sending a letter to the king demanding that the work stop. The Jews had to write yet another letter by respectfully reminding him that the order was given by Darius' predecessor, Cyrus, and suggested that he might search his archives to verify what had taken place. Darius did make the search. Not only did he find Cyrus' order, but also found more money owing tot he Jewish Temple project than was actually dispersed. The money was paid out, the order was reissued with a warning of swift execution to anyone who slowed the process down again.

Seldom are our dreams realized without hard work and persistence- even when there is no one to oppose us. But when there are, that is the time to go to God, not to remind Him, for He already knows, but to remind ourselves how important the project is and how determined we are in carrying out the will of God.

Have a blessed day!

Prayer: Heavenly Father- there are those about me who want nothing better than to see me "crash and burn" Help this not to happen, that you may be glorified. In Jesus Name, Amen.