Note: We begin the trilogy of post-exile books that also contain a historical, rather than prophetic and didactic, emphasis. All of these are short books with the first two having frequent references to the the prophetic books.
Cyrus II, the Great, is anointed by God to decree that the Jews can return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding the Temple. This is after approximately 70 years of exile. Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, is appointed governor of Judah and is told be Cyrus that all the gold and silver items taken by the Babylonians, whom Cyrus conquered, will be returned to Jerusalem to be used in service in the rebuilt Temple.
Cyrus and Zerubbabel are types of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who comes to lead the Jews back to worship of the true God of Israel. It is the grace of God, His unmerited favor, that allows the Jews to return and softens the hearts of the Persian kings to not only allow the return, but to also financially and legally assist in their return to Judah and rebuilding of the Temple.
There is no surprise when the current inhabitants of Jerusalem vehemently oppose the rebuilding. After writing the King Artaxerxes when the Jews lay the Temple foundation, the reconstruction is temporarily halted. But God did not inspire Cyrus to only have a subsequent king stop everything. As we will see in tomorrow's reading, once God sets a plan in motion, no devil from Hell can stop it.
May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.
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