Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. (Ezra 6:3)
Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:1-3
We live in a world of mouths. Yes, there is a real thing in society called “word of mouth,” which spreads even more swiftly in our day thanks to social media. Another phenomenon has slammed into our information age, and it demands our attention: Everyone is speaking at once. With all the cries for attention infiltrating our minds, you could liken it to a modern-day Babel. Often, trying to drown out all of the overlapping chatter seems beyond our control.
For the Jewish people, it took the decree of King Cyrus for the construction of God’s temple to be completed. It took an order from King Darius to search the records and find Cyrus’ decree. By their authority, God’s temple was finally rebuilt. The authority that King Cyrus had over the Jewish people was not in their control.
Similarly, some have authority today to decree things to us or on us. We cannot control these decrees. But we can ask ourselves: To whom am I listening? Whom have I given permission to speak into my life? Whom or what have I allowed to impact my life? Is it for good? Does it bring about wholesome thoughts and behaviors? In a world that just keeps talking, we must filter through all the voices to recognize the voice of the King of Kings.
Learn how to recognize God’s voice and know his decrees.
Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
