I do not want to trouble you Brethren and Elders of Israel, so it is important I explain my actions.
The Lord has given King Cyrus (a pagan King) the heart to enable the building of the temple in earnest. He had even according to Isaiah 44:28 said :
‘He (Cyrus) is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please;
Also in Chapter 45, YHWH said:
‘’I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:
I will make all his ways straight.
He will rebuild my city
and set my exiles free,
but not for a price or reward,
says the Lord Almighty.”
I personally believe this is happening even now.
YHWH can use anyone and that is why I am open to those not among the elders of Israel. I call them great because anyone willing to be used by YHWH is great in heart.
Cyrus’s decree was integral to the building of the second temple. It was because of his decree that Darius his successor was able to say to Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and other officials of that province:
‘’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.
-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, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
- 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.’’
In other words, the King ordered the non-Jewish governors of the surrounding provinces (who were actually in opposition to the building work) to make provisions to facilitate the work of the Jews by supplying their needs. He however stressed that the actual construction of the temple was to be left to ‘’the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders’’ Ezra 6:7b. It is the Church that builds the Church.
The Lord will, however, stir up help for the building of this Third Temple. While we must own (and not slack) in our responsibilities, and should be watchful and careful of who we yoke ourselves to (as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:14), let us never forget that throughout the history of Israel, YHWH has always used foreigners to bless his chosen people.
As Solomon said in his message to Hiram king of Tyre:
“The temple I am going to build will be great because our God is greater than all other gods. …’’ Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided.’’ 2 Chronicles 2:5,7
YHWH’s Third temple is great because our God is greater than all other gods, he, therefore, has sent men skilled and willing to help in every way. YHWH himself will reward them. Amen
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.’’ - Jesus [Matthew 10:40-41]
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