A Gift of God
9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.
10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house, in the ears of all the people.
Jeremiah 36:9-10
Then the next month starts up, that of the ninth month of our Lord. The historical texts open the mention of this month with somewhat of an unknown scroll. I certainly love being read to the words of the Lord, don't you? Here though the text and the source of the scroll is a bit of a mystery. It could be anywhere from blessing to cursing and all in between. We're back again in the times of the kings. Therefore, it's before the Babylonian captivity and in the setting of Judah. Josiah was one of the good kings that came after those two sons Jeroboam and Rehoboam which tore the kingdom apart. Jehoiakim, Josaiah's son, followed after him, and unlike his father, his presence was something of a mystery as seen in the text. Thus it was neither good nor bad as of just yet. Funny thing is, I think that's how most gifts start out.
Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Jeremiah 36:22-23
It's early yet in this new king's reign, being only five years in. Already though he is proving to be something of a pest. Jehudi was a prophet, a priest, or a servant of God. It just so happened that he was called in to read unto the king one day. Back in those times, everything was recorded on scrolls kept rolled up and well treated with care in the house of the Lord. There's a fire burning on the hearth when Jehudi enters. The king is seated, he has gotten all nice and comfortable. Then what does he do, but grab his pocketknife and begin tearing the scroll apart. In fact, so vigorous was his dislike of what was read, that it was burnt with fire until not a trace thereof remained. Here we have a gift destroying a gift borne in by another gift. Let's see what, if anything, will come of it.
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
Ezra 10:9
We are now in the times of Ezra where it has been raining very much and the people are all afraid. There are no houses in which to go just yet, so they sit together in the midst of the street. Ezra, if you will recall, was the counterpart to Nehemiah who rebuilt the walls of the city. These returned from Babylon at the words of the king and the mouth of the Lord. It seems they also led some people back along with them, though it is unclear exactly how much. Now we have gifts brought together in the month of the gift although very lacking in some other gifts which would have brought them great joy.
In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying
Haggai 2:10-11
Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
Haggai 2:18-19
The Lord it seems is speaking now to Haggai concerning the words to his people. Haggai was one of the prophets which also preached among the days which Darius had set up. Remember as I said before that a lot of the prophets had preached all together. It seems then that some people went back with Nehemiah and some with Ezra until a handful more remained. Of those that remained then, these are their stories. The temple has already been built back in Jerusalem way on back home. Sometimes I wonder how Haggai and the others must have felt at being left all alone. Then again, I don't have to wonder, I already know. Still, to them that remained and the ones which had gone on back home was there a gift waiting to be sent from the Lord. The gift was that of the increase, the harvest, promised as at the end of the world. It sure would have been the end had he not sent it, would it not?
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
Zechariah 7:1-2
More time has passed then until the years of Darius numbered but four. How like Nebuchadnezzar he is but also so different. Like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius is all action. More thing have been done in his reign that have not been seen ever before. Then again, have the men come to pray to the Lord. Sherezer and Regemmelech are foreign names, aren't they. I know, you don't have to know much if any of the tongues of Media Persia nor yet ancient Babylonia. Just a look at the names is enough to tell. Darius it seems has grown quite religious indeed to be sending his men back to the temple to worship in what his predecessor had once destroyed. Times they sure are a changing and with them your will. Let's look at the star shape first though. You've got a point here and there for the ends twice repeated just to be sure. Sure enough, it's a gift. What's that they always say, the past's history, the present's blistery, and the future's a mystery.
Chisleu (9th) / June, Gemini, gift