Tattenai and the other officials immediately obey the king’s decree. This indicates the degree of order in the Persian Empire at the time. It is amazing how quickly the small community of Jews finishes the temple once they trust God and decide to do it with all their heart. It is less than four and a half years; they began in September of Darius’s second year (520 BC) and finish in March of his sixth year (516 BC).

Again, notice the emphasis on God’s providence in 6:14–15. God uses the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the command of God, the decrees of the Persian king, and the people to complete the work. Again we see an example of Romans 8:28, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Certainly this group of returned exiles rejoiced in what God had do…