Ezra 6

I have to start today’s blog with a quote from a hymn written by William Cowper:

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

I love that idea: The clouds we dread are big with mercy. There is an absolutely beautiful example of this in this chapter of Ezra. But first, let’s review what happened in the previous chapter: "At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to [the Israelites] and asked, 'Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?' They also asked, 'What are the names of those who are constructing this building?'" (Ezra 5:3-4)

So, Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai decided they were going to shut down the work on God’s temple. First, they threatened the Israelites. Next, they went to the king and complained to such an extent that the king ordered an investigation. Wow, talk about storm clouds! To be met with such adversity and opposition must have been discouraging to the Israelites. I imagine they must have wondered if they would ever be able to finish the temple.

But then we turn to Ezra 6 and see what King Darius told those guys after he discovered the decree that had been issued by King Cyrus: "Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail." (vs 6-9)

That’s incredible! God took what those gentlemen meant for harm and used it to actually further the work on the temple. Instead of being hindered in their work, the Israelites ended up better off than before the two men had opposed them. The king not only told the men not to hinder the construction, but he actually ordered them to finance the work with local funds! Thus, the very opposition that threatened to end the work on the temple was used by God to make the work easier than it had been in the first place.

So, the next time the clouds gather around you, don’t be discouraged. Don’t let those clouds box in your vision. Remember that our God blesses us through adversity. He doesn’t bless us by removing obstacles. He blesses us by taking the obstacles others throw at us and turning them on their heads—bringing us out better on the other end than we were before the obstacle appeared.

William Cowper was right: The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy!