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CHAPTER 6 (ESV)

13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

REFLECTION:

The rebuilding of the temple was finally finished. It was about 4 years after the work of Haggai and Zechariah, 21 years after the laying of the foundation, and 23 years after King Darius made the proclamation. Waiting, patience and hope are important lessons for discipline in our faith. Are there some important things that we have prayed about for a long time but remain unanswered, that we begin to be discouraged about and give up our hope on God’s promise? We are not passive when waiting patiently, as we have many ways to seek for God’s help. Has it ever come to your mind that He is the Almighty God who can change everything?  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways. You must first change yourself as the first step, while at the same time you have to keep in mind that God can change and accomplish everything. Do you have such faith and hope?

PRAYER:

Pray for a matter that you have prayed for a long time but still not answered. First ask God to change your attitude so that you can discern if this matter is pleasing to God and in accordance with God’s will.

HYMN:

“Enough” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9RIbaa87I