Ezra 5:9 - The Biblical Illustrator

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Bible Comments

The copy of the letter that Tatnai.

The letter of the king concerning the work

This letter has three chief divisions.

I. The inquisition of the Persian authorities.

II. The reply of the Jewish leaders. It presents the following aspects of the work. That it was--

1. Not a mere human enterprise, but a Divine commission.

2. Not an innovation, but a restoration.

3. Not in a spirit of presumption and pride, but of obedience and humility.

4. Not in opposition to, but in conformity with, royal authority.

5. Not political, but religious in its character.

III. The appeal of the Persian authorities to the king. Conclusion: Two things we may well admire and imitate.

1. The fairness of the Persian officials.

2. The faithfulness of the Jewish leaders. (William Jones.)

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.

The supremacy of God

Consider:

I. The universal supremacy of God.

1. Its ground.

(1) The perfections of His being.

(2) All things were created by Him.

(3) All things are sustained by Him.

(4) The benefits He bestows upon us and especially our redemption by Christ.

2. Its extent.

(1) Throughout heaven.

(2) Throughout earth.

(3) Throughout hell (2 Peter 2:4).

II. The great obligation of men to obey Him. Our obedience should be--

1. Complete.

2. Perpetual.

3. Hearty.

4. Joyous.

III. The exalted privilege of men. When the service of God is rightly estimated, it is regarded as a glory and rejoiced in as a privilege. (William Jones.)

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven.--

Arguments against sinning

In this verse we have three weighty reasons against abstaining from sin.

I. It provokes god. This will be more impressively realised if we reflect that He is a being of--

1. Infinite purity.

2. Infinite patience.

II. It deprives the sinner of his protection.

III. It strips the sinner of power to battle with his foes. Guilt robs a man of courage. The consciousness of right action in a righteous cause is the mightiest inspiration in conflict and the surest defence in peril. (William Jones.).

Related Commentaries of Ezra 5:6

Ezra 5:6-17

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

7 They sent a letter unto him, whereinb was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with greatc stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;d

15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.