A king’s search

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, November 2, 2025

 

Title: A king’s search

 

EZR 6:1-22

 

Last week:

Darius is now king

Leaders ask for a decree to the rebuilding

Once a decree is in place, you cannot rescind it

 

Darius found the decree (Ezra 6:1-2), which came from Cyrus years earlier, and he honors it — he has to.

 

In EZR 6:5, we switch back from the reading of the decree to Darius’ directions to Tattenai, a leader. In short, he says to let the work continue (EZR 6:5-12).

 

Darius provides full-throated support for the work of the temple having seen the records. The provinces beyond the river will pay for it, too (EZR 6:8).

 

The prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah came up again (EZR 6:14) because they spurred on the people toward their work.

 

ZEC 1:7-17

 

The people finish the work of rebuilding the temple (Ezra 6:14) during the sixth year of Darius’ reign. The people sacrificed and set Levites + priests accordingly, too (EZR 6:16-18).

 

The people sacrificed many animals and presented a sin offering for all Israel (EZR 6:17). The sin offering we depend is once and for all.

 

Those sacrifices happened as part of the law of Moses (Ezra 6:17-18). We depend on a greater sacrifice, once and for all.

 

HEB 10:10-18

 

Jesus Christ is a Lamb: JOH 1:29-36

 

Again, a Lamb:

REV 5:1-10

REV 15:1-4

 

The exiles observed the Passover (EZR 6:19), and we today recognize something even more important. Christ is our Passover today.

 

EXO 12:1-14

 

1CO 5:6-8

 

The Jews also ate unleavened bread (EZR 6:22) when the temple was back up — another reminder of how God delivered their ancestors.

 

DEU 16:1-4

 

Leaven can be a metaphor for sin, too.

 

GAL 5:6-10

 

Once the temple is finished, the people ate and again rejoiced (EZR 6:21-22) having set themselves apart from the people of the land.

 

The Lord turned the Assyrian king’s heart (EZR 6:22). The Lord can change the heart of a man as He sees fit, for His own purposes.

 

PRO 21:1

 

Remember Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylon of all places.

 

DAN 4:30-37

 

God delivers, which triggered a sacrifice from the people like in in times of old.

 

PSA 51:10-19, PSA 66:8-15

 

Notice how quickly and forthrightly the Israelites turned back to their God when the time came. They were spurred on by prophecies from the prophets — how much do you read?

 

Remember that the customs the Israelites observed point ultimately to Christ. Sacrifices, the priests, sin offerings, etc.

 

Notice how God has moved on the hearts of men (Cyrus, then Darius, Artaxerxes next week) to accomplish His purposes for the people of Israel. All of our resources, tangible or not, come from Him.