A search having been made, the decree of Cyrus is located in the province of the Medes. The enemy, who had hoped to stop the work of the Jews, is now compelled by the king to assist them in their efforts. Darius decreed that they were to leave the work alone (Ezra 6:7), that the expenses for the building were to be taken from the tribute exacted from that side of the river (v. 8), and that they were to provide for the daily sacrifices, day by day without fail (v. 9)! This theme is to be found often in Scripture: the enemy seeks to overthrow only to find himself overthrown. The supreme example of this is to be seen, of course, at Calvary — all the forces of evil conspired against the Son of God, only to find themselves utterly defeated. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:31-32).
By weakness and defeat,
He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet
By being trodden down.
The king, who by historic accounts was Zoroastrian, believed in a supreme being and was fiercely opposed to idolatry. He seemed to value these Jews praying to the God of heaven for his life and that of his sons (Ezra 6:10). He even appears to recognize that God had caused His name to dwell at Jerusalem (v. 12). Man’s heart has not changed throughout the centuries. It is not unusual to find those who value spiritual things, and who may even accept the prayers of another. The vast majority of Americans believe in a supreme being; sadly, that being is very often a god of their own making — in effect, intellectual idolatry. Scripture tells us that God can alone be known through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Without the Son, there is no life; man is lost. In John’s Gospel we also read, “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). This expression is used by people to mean many things, but we should keep in mind, it is the truth as found in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that sets us free. “If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free” (John 8:36 JND).