Day 45 – Celebration

Ezra 6:1 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.

 2 At Achmetha, in the palace in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus: 3 In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of Elohiym at Jerusalem: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, 4 with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid by the king’s treasury. 5 Also, let the gold and silver articles of the house of Elohiym, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple, in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of Elohiym” — 6 Now, therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there. 7 Let the work of this house of Elohiym alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of Elohiym on its site. 8 Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you will do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of Elohiym: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. 9 Whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the Elohiym of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the Elohiym of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 Also, I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this. 12 May the Elohiym 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 Elohiym which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.

 13 Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai, and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had sent.

 14 Then the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the Elohiym of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

 15 Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

 16 Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of Elohiym with joy.

 17 They offered sacrifices at the dedication of this house of Elohiym, one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for Israel twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They assigned the priests to their divisions and the Levites to their divisions, over the service of Elohiym in Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

 19 The descendants of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; they were ritually clean. They slaughtered the Passover lambs for the descendants of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

 21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with everyone who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land to seek JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel.

 22 They kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for JEHOVAH made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of Elohiym, the Elohiym of Israel.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Holy

You work hard despite the opposition against you, and one day, everything comes together. Your opposition no longer opposes you but helps you with everything you need to complete the work. How do you respond? You celebrate.

At the request of the governor, Darius made a search of the archives and found the proclamation made by King Cyrus, stating that the people of the land were to help the Jews with the supplies they needed in building the temple in Jerusalem. They were also to supply them with the livestock needed in the daily sacrifices.

When the Jews completed the temple, they celebrated the Passover according to the Law in the Book of Moses.

When Yeshuwa gives you a task, Satan will do everything he can to oppose the work. However, when you stand your ground and not give in to his schemes, Yeshuwa will cause those who opposed you to help you complete your task. Then defeated, Satan will leave, and you will have complete victory as you celebrate everything Yeshuwa did for you in the work He gave you to do.

What looks impossible? What problems have you faced in the work Yeshuwa gave you? Are you still in the middle of the battle? Every work Yeshuwa gives you to do will come with a battle. Satan will attempt to stop, delay, shut down, destroy Yeshuwa’s work in your life. However, when you trust Yeshuwa with the work He gave you, Satan will flee, and you will celebrate.

The Jewish people never stopped working on the temple, even with the opposition and threats from Tattenai the governor and Shethar-Boznai to end the work. Instead, they helped with the work when they got the letter from Darius, and the people celebrated the Passover.

Get ready to celebrate. Victory is on its way. Satan will flee in defeat and Yeshuwa will receive the honor for everything He accomplished through you.

Let’s pray: Father, let me see Your victory in my life in the work You gave me to do. Let me celebrate with joy and thanksgiving, knowing You stood beside me in the battle. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 4 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux