God’s Work Through Unbelieving Rulers (Ezra 6:12)

May the God who has established his name there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem.

Just as God used King Cyrus of Persia to further his plans for the Jews, and Cyrus offered a prayer to him, King Darius of Persia did the same, many years later. What do these prayers by unbelievers teach us about prayer and the work of God? How should a believer live under a State that does not share that faith?

Background

After the last prayer, the Jews begin rebuilding the Temple. Not without problems, though: twice they had to stop because of opposition from people who were still living in the land. These were probably descendants of people whom the Assyrians had moved into the land, perhaps also intermarried with the Israelites who had never been taken into Exile. They wanted to help build the Temple, but the Returnees refused. This might seem harsh, but it was based on Israel’s history. They remembered how Joshua had allowed people to stay in the promised land, and their pagan-influenced culture caused problems until the Exile. They would not make the same mistake again.

The people of the land took action against them, and caused the reconstruction to stop. But years later, they began again, and a local governor write to King Darius, the current king of the Persians, asking him if they had the authority to do so. He searched the archives and found King Cyrus’ order that they rebuild the Temple. Darius sent a letter back, saying that they had authority. He went further—the governor was to help them with anything they needed, out of the royal funds, just as Cyrus had decreed. Darius closes the letter with the prayer above.

Meaning