Rebuilding and Restoration Completed

The injunction of the prophet to arise and build, would naturally call to mind the royal decree from the king of Persia, and the punishment that would result if they were to disobey. As if in answer to this fear, the following words were addressed to the governor:AGP 156.3

“This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Chapter 4:6, 7.

No sooner was work on the temple resumed than the Samaritans appeared and protested. They demanded the names of the men who were responsible for this plain act of rebellion against the king of Persia.AGP 156.4

“But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.” Ezra 5:5.AGP 156.5

In response to this letter of complaint sent by the Samaritans, Darius gave commandment to search the record of the royal decrees. When he was shown the proclamation issued by Cyrus, he issued a proclamation in confirmation of it. To the complainants he said:AGP 156.6

“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 in his place.” Ezra 6:7.

Thus, in this crisis, when there seemed no human way out of the difficulties before them, when the people had become disheartened and had abandoned the work of God, He sent them, through His prophets, messages of encouragement. He sent them prophetic assurances to quiet their fears. He who turns the hearts of kings, wrought for them, as they went forward in faithful obedience to His word. In recording this event in history, the completion of the work is thus stated:AGP 157.1

“The elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” Ezra 6:14.

Thus the mountains of difficulty were removed. The power of God to make possible the fulfillment of His commands and the importance of the work of His prophets as the medium of His communication to His people were once more demonstrated.AGP 157.2