Gold and Silver Vessels - Ezra 6:5

In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared how “Darius the king of Persia” called for a search to be made of the record books concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and “there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written. In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits. With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house”, and in chapter six and verse five of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the golden and silver vessels of the house of God”where we read,

And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

The verse reads, “And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and also let the golden and silver vessels” which means “and even so and indeed allow and permit the utensils made with gold and silver metals” “of the house of God”which means “belonging to the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity” “which Nebuchadnezzar” or “that Nebuchadnezzar whose name means may Nebo protect the crown and was the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive” “took forth out of the temple” which means “carried out from the sacred worship place” “which is at Jerusalem” or “that is located in the city of Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Ezra shared how “Cyrus” also ordered that the utensils made with “silver and gold metals” which “Nebuchadnezzar” removed from the sacred worship place in “Jerusalem” be cared for in the following manner. 

The verse continues, “... and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.” Ezra added the words, “and brought unto Babylon” or “and carried to Babylon whose name means confusion (by mixing) and was known as Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates”, “be restored” which means “be given back and returned”, “and brought again” or “and carried once more” “unto the temple” which means “to the sacred worship place” “which is at Jerusalem” or “that exists within the city of Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”, “every one to his place” which means “each, the whole and all in their location”, “and place them in the house of God” or “and put, set and establish them, the silver and gold utensils, within the habitation, abode and dwelling place belonging to the Supreme Deity”. Ezra shared how “Cyrus” directed every one of the “silver and gold utensils” which were removed from the temple in Jerusalem and taken to “Babylon” to be given back and set within the sacred worship place in “Jerusalem” and established within the dwelling place of the “Supreme Deity”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how “Darius” confirmed that “Cyrus” did indeed order that the “silver and gold utensils” which were taken by “Nebuchadnezzar” from the sacred worship place in“Jerusalem” and placed in “Babylon” to be given back to the people of Israel where they would be placed in the sacred worship place of the Supreme Deity Jehovah God. God was restoring the place and utensils of the “temple at Jerusalem”, and soon not only would the people of Israel be back in “Jerusalem”, but their worship implements would be there as well. God loves to restore and rebuild that which has been broken, and He knows we are separated from Him because our sins. Those sins have brought “brokenness” into our lives, so He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and rebuild and restore us according to His perfect will and plan for our lives. 

Next time Ezra shares how Darius tells, “Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites” what to do, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".