Ezra 6:1-5 - Experiencing divine favor

Following up on Tattenai’s request in his letter, Ezra 6:1 said, that Darius issued a decree to conduct a search in the archive in Babylon, where the treasures of the Kingdom were stored. However, in verse 2 we are told that they found a memorandum issued by Cyrus in Ecbatana.  Where is Ecbatana? This was said to be a province in Media. Apparently, this was the summer palace of the King of Persia. So this implies that the memorandum was not recovered from the archive in Babylon.  

The conclusion must be that Darius extended the search to Ecbatana because he was also interested to find out the truth. He did not just search the archive in Babylon and concluded that the decree was not given just because it could not be found there. But he extended the search to Ecbatana. Using our sanctified imagination, we surmise that unless he was also in favor of the Jews’ rebuilding work, he would not have gone to such far in his search. Therefore, he did not just search in the royal archive in Babylon, he even extended the search to the king’s summer palace in Ecbatana.  It could also possibly be that he had some personal knowledge that the decree did exist.

Why should Darius show so much interest was only known to him. But that Darius took great pain to find out is indicative of divine providence. God was in it all. The content of the memorandum in Ezra 6:3-5 concurred that Cyrus did issue a decree. Without going into the detail of the dimension of the temple, we can see that the Jews had indeed told the truth. This memorandum authenticated it. God’s unseen hand protecting the Jews could be detected in what  the Jews were experiencing here.  

We take comfort that God’s plan cannot be thwarted. Nothing can prevent the fulfillment of His plan, no opposition, no evil intention, yes, not even lies. It is true for God’s people have the privilege of His protection. His promise in Isaiah 54:17 is that “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.