DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY MAY 12
WORD OF WISDOM
It doesn't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
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DAILY DEVOTION
There Is a Purpose
The LORD has made everything for his own purposes.
(Proverbs 16:4, NLT)
When someone walks out of your life and you don't understand, it's
easy to get discouraged. But when you meet the divine connection He has for
you, somebody better than you ever dreamed, you'll look back and say it was
part of His purpose. Or, what about the supervisor who tried to keep you
down all those years? You didn't realize it at the time, but staying in that
workplace with a good attitude, giving your best, and doing the right thing
when the wrong thing was happening was developing your character,
strengthening your spiritual muscles, and getting you prepared for the next
level. You wouldn't be who you are without that difficulty. You didn't like
it at the time, but you look back now and say that was good.
God's ways are better than our ways. He sees things we can't see. He always
has a purpose in what He's doing. Trust Him. If you keep honoring Him, it's
just a matter of time before God brings it all together.
A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You that You see the big picture for my life, and You use
difficulties for my good. Help me to be patient and trusting when things
happen that I don't understand. I believe that You will bring it all
together for my good. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Ezra 4-6 New King James Version
Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple
4 Now when the [a]adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of
Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and
said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we
have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who
brought us here." 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of
the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, "You may do nothing with us to
build a [b]house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of
Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." 4 Then the
people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled
them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their
purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius
king of Persia.
Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an
accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, [c]Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the
rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter
was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. 8
[d]Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against
Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:
9 [e]From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their
companions-representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the
Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and [f]Shushan, the
Dehavites, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and
noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the
remainder beyond [g]the River-and[h] so forth.
11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him.)
To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the
River, [i]and so forth:
12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come
to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are
finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Let it now be known to
the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not
pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king's treasury will be diminished. 14
Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to
see the king's dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, 15
that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you
will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious
city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition
within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.
16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are
completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the
River.
17 The king sent an answer:
To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their
companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River:
Peace, [j]and so forth.
18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. 19 And
[k]I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that
this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and
sedition have been fostered in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over
Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax,
tribute, and custom were paid to them. 21 Now [l]give the command to make
these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given
by me.
22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase
to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum,
Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to
Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus
the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was
discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Restoration of the Temple Resumed
5 Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets,
prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the
God of Israel, who was over them. 2 So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and
Jeshua the son of [m]Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God
which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond [n]the River
and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them:
"Who has commanded you to build this [o]temple and finish this wall?" 4
Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing
this building. 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,
so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius.
Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter. 6 This is a copy
of the letter that Tattenai sent:
The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and his
companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius
the king.
7 (They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus.)
To Darius the king:
All peace.
8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to
the [p]temple of the great God, which is being built with [q]heavy stones,
and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and
prospers in their hands.
9 Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: "Who commanded you to
build this temple and to finish these walls?" 10 We also asked them their
names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were chief
among them.
11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: "We are the servants of the
God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the [r]temple that was built
many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. 12 But
because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into
the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this
temple and carried the people away to Babylon. 13 However, in the first year
of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this [s]house
of God. 14 Also, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried
into the temple of Babylon-those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon,
and they were given to one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15
And he said to him, 'Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site
that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former
site.' 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the
house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has
been under construction, and it is not finished."
17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the
king's treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a
decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and
let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.
The Decree of Darius
6 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the
[t]archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. 2 And at
[u]Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was
found, and in it a record was written thus:
3 In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the
house of God at Jerusalem: "Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they
offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height
sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, 4 with three rows of heavy stones
and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king's
treasury. 5 Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which
Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to
Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem,
each to its place; and deposit them in the house of God"-
6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and
Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River,
keep yourselves far from there. 7 Let the work of this house of God alone;
let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of
God on its site.
8 Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these
Jews, for the building of this [v]house of God: Let the cost be paid at the
king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be
given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. 9 And
whatever they need-young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of
the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of
the priests who are in Jerusalem-let it be given them day by day without
fail, 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven,
and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
11 Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be
pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his
house be made a refuse heap because of this. 12 And may the God who causes
His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to
alter it, or to destroy this [w]house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius
issue a decree; let it be done diligently.
The Temple Completed and Dedicated
13 Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai,
and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent.
14 So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they
built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel,
and according to the [x]command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of
Persia. 15 Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of
Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 16 Then the
children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the
descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this [y]house of
God with joy. 17 And they offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house
of God, one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a
sin offering for all Israel twelve male goats, according to the number of
the tribes of Israel. 18 They assigned the priests to their divisions and
the Levites to their divisions, over the service of God in Jerusalem, as it
is written in the Book of Moses.
The Passover Celebrated
19 [z]And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the
fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had
purified themselves; all of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered
the Passover lambs for all the descendants of the captivity, for their
brethren the priests, and for themselves. 21 Then the children of Israel who
had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated
themselves from the filth[aa] of the nations of the land in order to seek
the Lord God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven
days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the
king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the
house of God, the God of Israel.
Footnotes
Ezra 4:1 enemies
Ezra 4:3 Temple
Ezra 4:7 Or in peace
Ezra 4:8 The original language of Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 is Aramaic.
Ezra 4:9 Lit. Then
Ezra 4:9 Or Susa
Ezra 4:10 The Euphrates
Ezra 4:10 Lit. and now
Ezra 4:11 Lit. and now
Ezra 4:17 Lit. and now
Ezra 4:19 Lit. by me a decree has been put forth
Ezra 4:21 put forth a decree
Ezra 5:2 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
Ezra 5:3 The Euphrates
Ezra 5:3 Lit. house
Ezra 5:8 Lit. house
Ezra 5:8 Lit. stones of rolling, stones too heavy to be carried
Ezra 5:11 Lit. house
Ezra 5:13 Temple
Ezra 6:1 Lit. house of the scrolls
Ezra 6:2 Probably Ecbatana, the ancient capital of Media
Ezra 6:8 Temple
Ezra 6:12 Temple
Ezra 6:14 decree
Ezra 6:16 Temple
Ezra 6:19 The Hebrew language resumes in Ezra 6:19 and continues through
7:11.
Ezra 6:21 uncleanness
