The Promise of Temporal Prosperity

With repentance and willingness to advance by faith came the promise of temporal prosperity: “From this day I will bless you.” Verse 19. God gave a precious message to Zerubbabel their leader, who had been so severely tested through all the years since their return from Babylon. The day was coming when the enemies of God’s people would be thrown down. “In that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will take you, Zerubbabel, My servant, ... and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you.” Verse 23.RR 202.6

Now the governor of Israel could see how God had led him through discouragement and perplexity. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose that they are fulfilling.RR 202.7

Haggai and Zechariah rallied the people to put forth every possible effort for rebuilding the temple, but the Samaritans and others devised many roadblocks. On one occasion the provincial officers of Medo-Persia visited Jerusalem and requested the name of the person who had authorized restoring the building. If the Jews had not been trusting in the Lord for guidance, this inquiry might have had disastrous results. But the Jews answered so wisely that the officers decided to write to Darius Hystaspes, directing his attention to Cyrus’s original decree, which commanded that the house of God at Jerusalem be rebuilt and the expenses be paid from the king’s treasury.RR 202.8

Darius searched for this decree and found it, and then he directed the inquirers to allow the rebuilding of the temple to proceed. “Let the work of this house of God alone,” he commanded; “let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.RR 203.1

“Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from the taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered.” Ezra 6:7, 8.RR 203.2

The king further decreed severe penalties for any who would alter the decree, and he closed with the remarkable statement: “May the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem.” Verse 12. For months before the king issued this decree, the Israelites had kept on working by faith, with the prophets helping them by means of timely messages.RR 203.3