Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your
Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters
Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the chapter today Audio Bible.
Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in Ezra chapter five,
Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the New Living Translation. At
Speaker 1: that time, the prophets Hagai and Zechariah son of Ido,
Speaker 1: prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied
Speaker 1: in the name of the God of Israel, who was
Speaker 1: over them. Zerubbable son of Shieltiel, and Jeshua son of
Speaker 1: Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of
Speaker 1: God in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with
Speaker 1: them and help them. But tat and I, governor of
Speaker 1: the province west of the Euphrates River, and Sheth r
Speaker 1: Bose and I and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem
Speaker 1: and asked, who gave you permission to rebuild this temple
Speaker 1: and restore this structure. They also asked for the names
Speaker 1: of all the men working on the temple. But because
Speaker 1: their God was watching over them, the leaders of the
Speaker 1: Jews were not prevented from building until a report was
Speaker 1: sent to Darius, and he returned his decision. This is
Speaker 1: a copy of the letter that tat and I, the
Speaker 1: governor sheth Ar Bozani, and the other officials of the
Speaker 1: province west of the Euphrates River, sent to King Darius.
Speaker 1: To King Darius, Greetings, the King should know that we
Speaker 1: went to the construction site of the Temple of the
Speaker 1: Great God and the province of Judah. It is being
Speaker 1: rebuilt with specially prepared stones and timber is being laid
Speaker 1: in its walls. The work is going forward with great
Speaker 1: energy and success. We asked the leaders who gave you
Speaker 1: permission to rebuild this temple and restore this structure, and
Speaker 1: we demanded their names so that we could tell you
Speaker 1: who the leaders were. This was their answer. We are
Speaker 1: the servants of the God of Heaven and Earth, and
Speaker 1: we are rebuilding the temple that was built here many
Speaker 1: years ago by a great king of Israel. But because
Speaker 1: our ancestors angered the God of Heaven, he abandoned them
Speaker 1: to King Nebeconezar of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and
Speaker 1: exiled the people to Babylonia. However, King Cyrus of Babylon,
Speaker 1: during the first year of his reign issued a decree
Speaker 1: that the Temple of God should be rebuilt. King Cyrus
Speaker 1: returned the gold and silver cups that Nebeconezer had taken
Speaker 1: from the Temple of God in Jerusalem and had placed
Speaker 1: in the Temple of Babylon. These cups were taken from
Speaker 1: that temple and presented to a man named Shesh Bazar,
Speaker 1: whom King Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah. The king
Speaker 1: instructed him to return the cups to their place in
Speaker 1: Juriderusalem and to rebuild the Temple of God there on
Speaker 1: its original site. So this Shesh Bazaar came and laid
Speaker 1: the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The
Speaker 1: people have been working on it ever since, though it
Speaker 1: is not yet completed. Therefore, if it pleases the King,
Speaker 1: we request that a search be made in the royal
Speaker 1: archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued
Speaker 1: a decree to rebuild God's Temple in Jerusalem, and then
Speaker 1: let the King send us his decision in this matter.
Speaker 1: Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for your word, and
Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege of being able to
Speaker 1: look at this portion of scripture today. And Lord it's
Speaker 1: interesting and refreshing to be able to see the people
Speaker 1: of Judah listening to the encouragement of the prophets. As
Speaker 1: you raised up these prophets to speak, you shared your
Speaker 1: word through them, and the people responded, and the work
Speaker 1: on the temple resumed, and the people worked on it
Speaker 1: earnestly and quickly, and you were giving them much success. Lord. Likewise,
Speaker 1: we pray that when we read the word of your prophets,
Speaker 1: that as we look through the words of your scripture,
Speaker 1: and as we recognize that all these things are ultimately
Speaker 1: pointing us to faith in your son, Jesus Christ, we pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: that we would diligently and faithfully and quickly seek to
Speaker 1: serve you, that we would be obedient to your leading,
Speaker 1: that we would listen to your word, that we would
Speaker 1: put it into practice in our day to day living,
Speaker 1: because we know that this brings glory to your son
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Lord, we're grateful for the fact that you
Speaker 1: have given us access to your word, and we're grateful,
Speaker 1: Lord for the fact that your Holy Spirit lives within us,
Speaker 1: and that you stir us up to hear your voice
Speaker 1: and to listen to what you've proclaimed Lord, we're grateful
Speaker 1: for all these things, and we're grateful for your presence
Speaker 1: with us here today. We thank you for all of
Speaker 1: these things in Jesus's name. Amen,