the size of the offering matched the size of the struggle—and what you should dedicate today.
- Thad DeBuhr
- Sep 28
- 8 min read
Ezra Chapter 6, verses 13 -18
Imagine a friend telling you about a passion project they just finished: they spent five years restoring an antique car, pouring thousands of hours and dollars into it, facing rusted parts, budget blowouts, and moments when they just wanted to push it off a cliff. When the car finally rolls out of the garage, sparkling and running like new, they call you over. You expect a huge party, a celebratory drive, maybe a champagne toast. Instead, they just hand you the keys, shrug, and say, "Yep, that's done. Now I'm going to start restoring a boat."
You’d think, "Wait, what about the celebration? The victory lap? The moment of triumph?"
We live in a world obsessed with the hustle—always starting, never pausing to savor the finish. We’re quick to put the "trophy on the shelf" and immediately move on to the next demanding thing. But when God helps us complete a project—a difficult goal, a long season of ministry, or even a personal breakthrough—He calls us to a dedication. Ezra chapter 6 verses 13 - 18 shows us the profound joy and spiritual necessity of stopping to recognize God's faithfulness after the hard work is done.
Before you dig into the story, I would encourage you to read through the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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EZRA 6 Setting The Scene: DEDICATING THE 2nd TEMPLE
This passage describes the Dedication of the Second Temple (also known as the Temple of Zerubbabel), an event marking the culmination of the first stage of the Jewish return from Babylonian exile.
I. Chronological and Historical Context 📅
The temple's completion date is explicitly given as the third day of the month Adar in the sixth year of King Darius (Ezra chapter 6 verse 15). This corresponds to March 12, 515 B.C.
70-Year Prophecy: This completion fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah chapter 25 verses 11 - 12) regarding the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem.
Decades of Delay: The foundation was laid in 536 B.C., but construction was quickly halted (Ezra chapter 4 verses 4 - 5) due to opposition. The work did not resume until 520 B.C., meaning the temple took a total of 21 years from its foundation, underscoring the theme of God's patience and the people's ultimate perseverance (Ezra chapter 6 verse 14).
II. Key Figures and Authority 👑
The text attributes the success not only to the returning exiles but also to three Persian monarchs, emphasizing God's sovereign use of geopolitical authority:
King Cyrus (559–530 B.C.): Issued the foundational mandate allowing the Jews to return and rebuild (Ezra chapter 1 verses 1 - 4).
King Darius I (522–486 B.C.): Reaffirmed Cyrus's decree and mandated that the building costs be paid "at the king's expense" (Ezra chapter 6 verse 8), removing the financial obstacle and accelerating the final construction.
Artaxerxes I (465–424 B.C.): His name is included in Ezra chapter 6 verse 14 as a literary summary, affirming that the entire process of restoring Israel was under the sovereign control of the Persian throne, orchestrated by God.
III. The Theological Significance of the Dedication 🏛️
The dedication was a profound theological act that defined the community's identity:
The Sacrifices (Ezra chapter 6 verse 17): The sheer scale of the offerings—700 total animals (100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs) plus 12 goats—demonstrates that the size of the offering matched the size of the struggle and the duration of the delay. The overwhelming number reflects the "great joy" and overwhelming gratitude for God's provision over two decades.
The Twelve Goats as a Sin Offering are crucial, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolized a plea for national reconciliation and purification, affirming the identity of the returning community as the entire covenant people.
Organization and Order (Ezra chapter 6 verse 18): The installation of the priests and Levites was done "according to what is written in the Book of Moses." This shows the dedication was a celebration of the completion, and a rededication to faithful obedience and proper worship according to the Law.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss
Examine the "Great Joy" (Ezra chapter 6 verse 16): Given that this temple was smaller and less grand than the first, what was the source of the people's "great joy"? How does this challenge the modern tendency to base satisfaction on external metrics of size, beauty, or wealth?
The Sovereignty of Success (Ezra chapter 6 verse 14): Verse 14 credits the prophets and the decrees of the kings for the completion. Why does the text mention God's command alongside the commands of human kings? How does this passage challenge the idea that we complete major spiritual tasks solely through our personal drive or effort?
The Scale of Sacrifice: The people’s offering was immense—700 animals—reflecting the immensity of the task and the long wait. What project in your life has required a "large sacrifice" (of time, emotion, or resources)? How should the size of your struggle determine the solemnity and dedication of your celebration?
Journey Group Discussion Starter
Party vs. Purpose
Think about a major goal or task you’ve successfully completed that required significant time and overcoming obstacles (e.g., career transition, paying off a debt, guiding a child through a challenge). Did you truly stop and celebrate it, or did you immediately jump to the next thing?
Take a few minutes to share that completed project with the group and describe what the celebration felt like or, if you didn't celebrate, what the lack of celebration felt like. This will help us connect with the profound, necessary satisfaction of the dedication in Ezra chapter 6.
Applying It Today
The modern application of Ezra chapter 6 verses 13 - 18 is the deep satisfaction and joy that comes not just from finishing a task, but from formally dedicating the successful outcome back to God.
Doing It Wrong (Missing the Point)
The "Next Task" Trap: Immediately moving on to the next major goal (e.g., finishing a degree, then applying for the next one; completing a ministry project, then planning the next one) without taking time to emotionally and spiritually process the victory. This treats life like an endless checklist and leads to burnout.
The Hollow Party: Throwing a celebration (e.g., an expensive dinner, a big trip) that only focuses on self-congratulation ("I earned this") without mentioning or acknowledging God's sustaining grace, provision, or the strength He gave to overcome obstacles. This misses the entire point of the Israelites' dedication sacrifice.
The Pride Trap: Internalizing the success as a proof of one's own skill or righteousness, which often breeds a spiritual superiority complex rather than genuine humility and gratitude.
Doing It Right (The Dedication Principle)
Schedule a "Spiritual Dedication": Just as the Israelites had a formal ceremony, intentionally carve out time for reflection and prayer. This could be a personal retreat, a journal entry, or a moment with family/small group. In this time, name the obstacles and recount God's specific provisions that allowed you to finish.
Tangible Acknowledgment: The dedication offering was proportional to the difficulty. Follow this by making a tangible act of gratitude proportional to your struggle. Dedicate a portion of the "first fruits" of the accomplishment (e.g., donating a percentage of a bonus, committing volunteer hours to a cause related to the struggle, or taking a skill learned and offering it in service).
Re-Orient Your Purpose: Dedication means submitting the use of the finished work to God. If you finished a building, dedicate the space to ministry. If you finished a book, dedicate its message to His truth. If you overcame a personal vice, dedicate your newfound freedom to serving others. The dedication affirms that the struggle and the success were His idea, His strength, and are for His glory.
Your Next Step
The dedication of the temple was a time of joyous culmination. What is one area of your life or faith journey right now where you need to pause, acknowledge God’s faithfulness, and truly dedicate a completed phase or a significant milestone back to Him?
Is God guiding you to: Pray, Forgive, Encourage, Serve, Support, Give, Connect?
Identify one simple action you will take this week to pause and formalize your dedication to God in response to His faithfulness.
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