Whatever is Needed

Our exiles’ answer has been presented to the king and he has responded. Let’s hear the rest of the king’s reply:

“Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of the house of God:

 

The expenses of these men 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 oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem – must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.

 

Furthermore, I decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

 

I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.”

 

(Ezra 6:8-12)

 

Well, the king means business.

I like the “so that” in verse 10: “so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.” It is very likely the king is like most at the time who worship many gods and is hoping to appease the Jewish God as well.

 

But what if? What if the God of Jerusalem had captured King Darius? What if he had heard stories of this God of heaven, who has caused his Name to dwell there?

 

After all, how do you get passion for something? Isn’t it usually when you have a deep need and that something fills it?

 

Our church is in Psalms and our pastor has been talking about how every person on this planet, every day, is becoming a better worshiper of something. What we pursue with our thoughts and time and money and investment, we move toward worshiping more thoroughly.

 

This is good news if the object of your worship is worthy of such devotion. And if that object is the God Who made everything out of nothing, sustains it all by His very Word, and will redeem every part of it for His glory one day and for all eternity, you have found what is worthy.

But you know what’s hard? When that thing you know in your head is not worthy of your worship is still a struggle. If you want that next drink more than life itself. If the effort to pull yourself out of bed is too much because the depression has you paralyzed. If the fire-searing pain of betrayal is more real than love or forgiveness.

 

In those moments we need others who have been there. To testify He came through in that moment when your prayers were just a whispered, “help.” When you walked through the fire and He didn’t let you burn. We need those who will show us that any other thing in this world will fail us – must fail us – but He hasn’t for one second let you down.

 

Then we’re all ears. Then we can find the courage to choose. To confess in this moment He is not supreme, but we want to want Him to be. That we’re weak and poor in spirit and have nothing to offer.

 

That’s exactly the kind of person who can use a Savior.

 

And thank the good goodness we have One.

And He provides the strength to help us move toward Him. To intentionally choose to turn our affections to Him and the Truth of His Word and ask Him to help us overcome. To do the right thing until we feel the right thing.

 

And to ask Him to become the all-consuming passion of our hearts.