The Temple is Dedicated

If you want to be good at playing an instrument, it takes dedication, commitment, and countless hours of practice. An admirer once approached a great pianist and said, “I’d give my life to be able to play like you.” The pianist replied, “I did.” (Source Unknow … More

Dedication

Governor Tattenai, Shethar Bozenai, and their advisors carefully obeyed King Darius (v. 13). With great success the Jewish leaders continued working on the temple, while Haggai and Zechariah encouraged them by their preaching (v. 14). And so, the temple was completed at the command of the God of Israel and by the orders of kings Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes of Persia. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius (v. 15). The Israelites–the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles–celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy (v. 16).

One hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs were offered as sacrifices at the dedication (v. 17). Also twelve goats were sacrificed as sin offerings for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then the priests and Levites were assigned their duties in God’s temple in Jerusalem, according to the instructions Moses had written (v. 18). The returned exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (v. 19). For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean (v. 20). So they killed the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their brother priests, and for themselves.

The sacrifices were eaten by the Israelites who had returned and by the neighboring people who had given up the sinful customs of other nations in order to worship the LORD God of Israel (v. 21). For seven days they celebrated the Festival of Thin Bread. Everyone was happy because the LORD God of Israel had made sure that the king of Assyria would be kind to them and help them build the temple (v. 22).

Application

Ezra carefully pointed out that rebuilding the temple was commanded first by God then by the kings, who where His instruments. God’s will is supreme over all rulers, all historical events and all hostile forces. If I trust in His power and love, with complete dedication to Him, no opposition can stop me.

Ezra 6:13-22 (English Standard Version)


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