Ezra 5-6

“Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” (5:3). The returned exiles needed two things to rebuild Jerusalem’s Temple: permission from the reigning Persian empire and faith to complete the task. Moved by God, King Cyrus had granted approval, but later kings listened to troublemakers and revoked permission. Israelite leaders, supported by the prophets, eventually took courage and restarted the work (5:1-2); meanwhile, Cyrus’s original decree was found in the Persian archives (ch 6).

“They finished their building by the decree of the God of Israel (6:14). We know that “all things” – even exile, defeats, and the work of rebuilding – work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).