The Temple Rebuilt

Despite opposition, God faithfully fulfills His word by completing the temple, restoring a central place for His presence among His people.

• God faithfully keeps His promises by vindicating Cyrus’s original decree and ensuring the temple is completed exactly as He commanded, despite long delays and opposition.
• God sovereignly rules over kings and empires, using rulers like Cyrus and Darius to protect, provide for, and advance His redemptive purposes.
• God’s work prospers through God’s Word, as prophetic encouragement from Haggai and Zechariah leads to faithful obedience and successful completion.
• True restoration results in joyful, obedient worship, marked by proper sacrifices, ordered priestly service, and renewed covenant faithfulness.
• The rebuilt temple points forward to Christ, the true and final Temple, through whom God now dwells permanently with His people and grants lasting joy.

R.E.B.U.I.L.D.

• R — Remember God’s Promises (Ezra 6:1–5). The rebuilding succeeded because God’s earlier word through Cyrus was remembered and honored. God’s promises may seem delayed, but they are never forgotten. Trust God’s promises even when progress feels slow. What God has spoken, He will fulfill—in His time.
   
• E — Expect Opposition, but Do Not Fear It (Ezra 6:6–7). Resistance did not cancel God’s work; it highlighted His power. Opposition became the platform for God’s intervention. Do not interpret opposition as failure. It may be confirmation that God is at work.
• B — Build According to God’s Word (Ezra 6:14). The temple was completed through obedience to God’s command and encouragement from His prophets. Align your service, ministry, and worship with Scripture—not convenience or culture.
• U — Understand God’s Sovereignty Over All Authority (Ezra 6:8–12). God moved the heart of a pagan king to protect and provide for His house. Rest in the truth that God rules over governments, systems, and circumstances beyond your control.
• I — Invest in Worship, Not Just Work (Ezra 6:16–18). The people did not stop at construction; they moved immediately to dedication and sacrifice. Do not let busyness replace devotion. God desires worship more than mere activity.
• L — Live as a Purified People (Ezra 6:19–21). The celebration of Passover required cleansing and separation from defilement. A restored work of God calls for a renewed commitment to holiness.
• D — Delight in the Joy the Lord Gives (Ezra 6:22). Their joy was not circumstantial—it was God-given. True joy flows from God’s presence, not from completed projects or visible success.