Surely the Lord's hand was in this, for otherwise when the decree of Cyrus was not found in Babylon, what could have prompted the mind of Darius to have had search made for it in another of his provinces, especially as no doubt Tatnai and the enemies of the cause would have been very forward to have prevented it, had not some overruling power led on to the enquiry. How precious is it, dearest Lord, to trace thy steps going before thy church and people everywhere? And indeed must it not be so? Didst thou not sing to thy church, A vineyard of red wine? And didst thou not say, I the Lord do keep it. I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night, and day. Isaiah 27:3. Reader! let us seek grace never to lose sight of this in all the circumstances of the church; and in all our own private trials.
Ezra 6:1-5
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls,a where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha,b in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought againc unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.