Pray for the Life of the King

Let the Work Alone

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Paul told Timothy to pray “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2). Hundreds of years earlier, a Persian king asked God’s people to pray for him and his family.

Home again. God’s people had come back home after many years in Babylon. They wanted to rebuild God’s house, the temple in Jerusalem.

Trouble. Some people tried hard to stop the building. Then a governor named Tattenai wrote to King Darius of Persia to ask whether the work was allowed.

The search. Darius had his records searched. His helpers found an old order from King Cyrus: “Let the house be rebuilt” (Ezra 6:3).

Keep away (6:6). Darius wrote back to Tattenai and his helpers: “keep yourselves far from there.”

Leave it alone (6:7). “Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.”

The elders. The elders were the older leaders of God’s people. They led the building work and kept the people going.

The king pays (6:8). Darius ordered, “Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River.” Money from Tattenai’s own area would now pay for God’s house!

No more slowing down. The money was to be given right away, “so that they are not hindered.” Hindered means held back or slowed down.

A big surprise. The officials who had questioned the work now had to help pay for it.

God at work. Darius was not one of God’s people, but God used him to help them. Every king is under God’s rule.

Back to quiet work. Paul wrote that prayer for kings helps God’s people “lead a quiet and peaceable life” (1 Timothy 2:2). The king’s letter let God’s people get back to their work in peace.

Leaders today. God can still work through leaders, even ones who do not know Him. That is one reason we pray for them.

Keep building. God’s people kept working while they waited for the king’s answer. We can keep doing what is right while we pray and wait.

The greatest rescue. We have all sinned, and no king’s order can take sin away. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven.

What this means for you. When something good you are doing gets hard, ask God for help. Pray for the leaders who make decisions in your town and at your school.

Paul urged prayer “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2). Ezra 6 shows a Persian king asking God’s people for exactly that kind of prayer.

The setting. After the exile, God’s people returned and began rebuilding the temple. Opponents slowed the work, and Tattenai, a Persian governor, wrote to Darius to ask whether it had been allowed.

The record (6:1-3). A search of the royal archives turned up the decree of Cyrus: “Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices.” The building had been approved all along.

In Aramaic. The king’s reply is recorded in Aramaic, the language the Persian empire used for its official letters.

Hands off (6:6-7). “Keep yourselves far from there. Let the work of this house of God alone.” The officials who had questioned the work are told to step back.

On its site. “Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site.” The temple would stand where it had stood before.

Paid by the king (6:8). “Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered.” The region beyond the River was the land west of the Euphrates.

A reversal. Taxes gathered in the very region whose officials had raised questions now paid for the work they had questioned.

God’s rule over rulers. Darius acted to protect a lawful decree, yet behind his decision stood the God of heaven. God works through rulers who do not know Him.

Providence. God guides all that happens, even the choices of kings; that is His providence. Because God rules over rulers, praying for them is never wasted.

Faithful in the waiting. The builders kept working before the reply came. Prayer does not replace faithful work; it goes with it.

The deeper problem. A royal letter could rebuild a temple, but it could not remove sin. No one is free from sin; everyone has turned against God.

The answer. “Christ died for our sins” and “He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because He died on the cross in our place, everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, whatever any ruler decides.

Application. Think of a decision a leader in your town or school will make soon. Pray specifically for that leader this week.

For the King and His Sons

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Paul wrote that praying for leaders is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:3). King Darius also wanted God’s people to pray for him.

Whatever they need (6:9). Darius ordered that the priests be given “whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil.”

Offerings. In those days God’s people brought animals and food to God’s house as offerings, just as God’s law told them to.

Every day. The supplies were to be given “day by day without fail.” The worship at God’s house would never run short.

The God of heaven. Darius called the Lord “the God of heaven.” Darius was not one of God’s people, yet he honored the God of heaven.

The reason (6:10). Darius gave the supplies “that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.”

Sweet aroma. A sweet aroma is a pleasing smell. The words picture worship that pleases God.

Pray for me. One of the most powerful men in the world wanted God’s people to pray for him!

The king and his sons. Darius asked for prayer for his children too. Leaders have families, and they need God’s help just like everyone else.

A long way back. Darius asked for prayer for kings long before Paul wrote to Timothy. Praying for leaders has always pleased God.

Praying without agreeing. God’s people did not have to agree with everything the king believed in order to pray for him. They could ask God to bless him and his family.

Leaders who ask. Sometimes leaders ask people to pray for them. When they do, we can gladly say yes.

Again and again. The offerings at the temple had to be brought over and over. They could never take sin away for good.

Once for all. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and everyone who trusts Him is forgiven.

What this means for you. Pray for a leader and that leader’s family this week. Ask God to keep them safe and to help them know Him.

Paul calls prayer for rulers “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:3). Darius, a Persian king, asked the Jews to pray for him.

Supplied in full (6:9). “And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail.” The king’s own resources would keep the daily worship going.

The God of heaven. The title is Elah shemaya (say: eh-LAH sheh-mah-YAH), the God of heaven, a name for the Lord often used with Persian rulers. Darius used the title with respect, and he paid for worship at God’s house.

Sweet aroma (6:10). “That they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven.” Sweet aroma is nichochin (say: nee-khoh-KHEEN), offerings that are pleasing and soothing. The word pictures worship that God accepts.

And pray (6:10). “And pray for the life of the king and his sons.” Darius wanted more than sacrifices; he wanted God’s people praying for him.

His sons. The request reaches the king’s family and the future of his rule. Leaders carry the weight of their families as well as their nations.

An old request. Long before Paul wrote to Timothy, a foreign ruler asked God’s people for their prayers. Paul’s instruction stands in that same line.

Prayer without approval. Praying for a ruler is not the same as approving everything he does. God’s people could pray for Darius without approving all he did.

Repeated offerings. The daily offerings had to be repeated because they could not remove sin for good.

Once for all. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). His sacrifice on the cross never needs repeating.

Raised. He “rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). Through Him, sinners who trust Him are forgiven and brought to God.

Access. Darius sent supplies so that others would pray for him. Through Christ, every believer may come to God directly, every day.

Application. Pray this week for a leader’s family as well as the leader. Ask God for their safety and for their salvation.

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