Ezra 6:10, commentary and pictures

Ezra 6:10 belongs to the decree of Darius for building the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, which allowed the rebuilding work to continue. Darius ordered that supplies for the priests at Jerusalem be provided day by day, so that sacrifices of sweet savours could be offered to the God of heaven and prayer made for the life of the king and of his sons. By thus sustaining the temple service the decree helped the work go forward, and divine providence used it to prepare for the completion of the temple. The rebuilding had begun under Cyrus, who was moved as God's agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself, to grant liberty to the Jewish people, and to furnish the necessary facilities for rebuilding. His successor carried on the work thus begun until it ceased under the prohibition of Smerdis the usurper, which Darius set aside when he came to the throne so that the building of the temple could go forward.

In that sequence Ezra 6 records the second command for the building, issued by Darius. The later Persian decrees continued and completed the work begun under Cyrus, so that the actions of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes together are counted as one decree concerning Jerusalem's restoration.

The verse shows that the Lord moves upon the hearts of kings and rulers in behalf of His people to grant favors and help for the advancement of His cause, and He still moves in the same way. God has resources and His hand is on the machinery, placing His goods in the hands of unbelievers to be used for the work that must be done for a fallen world.

As long as the Spirit of God strives with the world, God's people are to receive as well as to impart favors, receiving what God moves men to do and not cutting off favors or withdrawing from help God has moved men to give. This means giving the world the light of truth while accepting what worldly men are moved to do for the advancement of the cause, including in the religious liberty work, and not refusing their gifts even when the givers have no sympathy with the work and no faith in Christ. They are not to bring on the time of trouble before the time, build a wall of separation between themselves and the world, or come into conflict with authorities and powers over means God would have set free.