It was not long before the enemies of the people of God came to try and stop the temple from being built. They hated the God of Israel and His people, and they tried to do many things to discourage and stop this wonderful work. These enemies even hired people to talk to the kings who reigned in Babylon and tell them how bad the Israelites were.
For a while they seemed to be successful in their attempts, for king Artaxerxes sent a formal decree commanding the Jews to stop building the temple. Later, however, when king Darius reigned, the work began again under the faithful commandments of Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jozadak. God once again encouraged the people to go ahead with the building and king Darius found the original decree of king Cyrus which granted permission to the Israelites to build the temple.
Not long after this, the temple was finished (see chapter 6 and verse 15). Now all the proper sacrifices and offerings and praise and worship could be given to God. It was a happy time in Judah and Jerusalem.
Let’s rest again while you find the following verses:
1. The Bible very plainly tells us that before we were saved we were ____________ of God. Colossians 1:___
And
2. Ananias was afraid of Saul (Paul) until he was told by the Lord that Saul was going to bear His name before ____________. Acts 9:___
But
3. The Apostle Paul referred to Timothy as his beloved and ____________ son. 1 Corinthians 4:___
For
4. At the end of his life, Paul said that he had fought a good fight and that his course (pathway of life) was ____________. 2 Timothy 4:___
I
5. We learn in the Bible that God took no pleasure in the ____________ offered for the sin of the people. Hebrews 10:___
In