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WITH RESPECT Read: Ezra 5:6-17 Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 3–4; Mark 10:32-52 If it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus . . . issue[d] a decree. Ezra 5:17 The citizens of Israel were having some trouble with the government. It was the late 500s bc, and the Jewish people were eager to complete their temple that had been destroyed in 586 bc by Babylon. However, the governor of their region was not sure they should be doing that, so he sent a note to King Darius (Ezra 5:6-17). In the letter, the governor says he found the Jews working on the temple and asks the king if they had permission to do so. The letter also records the Jews’ respectful response that they had indeed been given permission by an earlier king (Cyrus) to rebuild. When the king checked out their story, he found it to be true: King Cyrus had said they could build the temple. So Darius not only gave them permission to rebuild, but he also paid for it! (see 6:1-12). After the Jews finished building the temple, they “celebrated with joy” because they knew God had “[changed] the attitude of the king” (6:22). God is in control of every situation. When we see a situation that needs to be addressed, we honor God when we plead our case in a respectful way, trust that He is in control of every situation, and express gratitude for the outcome. Lord, help us to respond respectfully to situations around us. We need Your wisdom for this. May we always honor, trust, and praise You. Respect for authority brings glory to God. 
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Isaiah 44:26 and on into the next chapters addresses Cyrus by name. It was written about 150 years before Cyrus takes Babylon, it even says how he will defeat Babylon, "I will dry up thy rivers .." He had diverted the river so the moat defenses were low enough to walk under. To my understanding this scroll is handed to Cyrus (probably by Daniel) on about the 3rd day when he had defeated the city. So he decrees Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Wouldnt you be amazed if you were given a scroll about 150 years old and you are addressed in it, and it said how you defeated your enemy, and that it had been decreed by God, and that you would help rebuild His Temple? How could you refuse? lol Judgment Day will be interesting - and all paths lead there.
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