'Appreciating God's Love'
A) Medes Conquered Babylon
Dan 5:30-31 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Darius the Mede conquered Babylon and it was normal for the victorious party to kill all officials of the defeated nation. However, he spared the life of Daniel, who by then, was an old man and possibly in his sixties.
Not only that he did not kill Daniel, but instead made him to be one of the three most powerful satraps in the land. He was also considering of making Daniel to be the most powerful satrap or Prime minister.
Dan 6:1-3 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
Loyal and Faithful Jews
Before the conquest of Babylon, Darius, who was sixty two then, must have have heard of the many miracles of the Almighty God of the Jews - Daniel's ability to interpret dreams and visions, and the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace, resulting to King Nebuchadnezzar proclaiming that the God of the Jews is really the Almighty God.
He knew that the Jews were convinced that God had sent them into exile in order to preserve them, so they surrendered themselves to serve God. They believed the words of Prophet Jeremiah by diligently and faithfully serving their conquerors as though serving God. Thus, they carried out their duty with high integrity - no corruption, lies, bribery, partially nor evil practices but with righteousness, justice, truth, mercy, compassion and love.
These great qualities of the Jews made Darius to spare and preserve the Jews during his conquest of Babylon.
B) Second Beast - A Bear
Dan 7:5 "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'
The first Beast was identified as the Babylonian Empire. The Babylonian Empire was conquered by Darius the Mede representing the Mede-Persian Empire the second Beast.
According to the image in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, this second kingdom of the chest and two arms (representing Medes and Persians) of silver is the same second Beast.
This second Beast is also the ram with two horns, which was unstoppable for it conquered all its surrounding neighbouring nations.
Dan 8:3-4 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.
King Cyrus Rebuilt the Temple
Ezra 6:3-5 In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: "Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber. Let the expenses be paid from the king's treasury. Also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple which is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and taken back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; and deposit them in the house of God"—
God raised up King Cyrus to sent the Israelites to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild and refurnish the temple of God which was ransacked by King Nebuchadnezzar.
C) Dedication of Temple of God
Ezra 6:15-16 Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.
When the Israelites were sent to exile they were wicked, stiff-necked, rebellious and even idolaters. On their return to Israel, they were devout Jews keeping the law of Moses.
They witnessed God's enablement in the supports and encouragements given by the various kings to build and complete the temple.
They kept themselves cleansed so that they could seek God and could also celebrate the feast of the unleavened bread.
Ezra 6:21-22 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Repented of their Sins
Ezra 10:10-12 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives." Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, "Yes! As you have said, so we must do."
They repented of all their sins and abominations and even be separated from their pagan wives.
