There are nights when I find myself unable to sleep, not because of discomfort or bad dreams, but because my mind clings to a single thought and won’t let go. Sometimes, it's just a single word or phrase that gets stuck. In the early hours of this morning, a peculiar word surfaced in my mind and refused to leave: Ecbatana. Ecbatana.
Ecbatana.
I was certain I had encountered this word before, most likely in the Bible. But where exactly? Why was my mind so fixated on it? At first, I thought it might be connected to the ministry of Jesus Christ. I even wondered if it was the name of the place where Jesus was crucified—the place of the skull—but then I remembered that was Golgotha, not Ecbatana, as John 19:17 says: “And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.” Lord, what is this Ecbatana, and why are you drawing my attention to it? My obsession with the word felt like more than just a random thought.
So, I did the sensible thing when I woke up—I looked it up. As it turns out, Ecbatana is mentioned only once in the entire Bible, in the book of Ezra. How uncanny! I read the passage, and suddenly, I understood why this word had lodged itself in my mind.
The story is found in Ezra 6:1-3:
“Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: ‘A record. In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained.’”
After the Israelites had returned from exile in the Persian Empire to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem, they faced opposition. Years earlier, King Cyrus had issued a decree granting them permission to undertake this work, and they were making good progress. But soon, the local authorities, led by Tattenai, the governor of the region, confronted Zerubbabel and the other leaders, questioning their authority to proceed.
Ezra 5:3-4 describes this confrontation:
“At the same time Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’ They also asked them this: ‘What are the names of the men who are building this building?’”
In response, they cited Cyrus’s decree:
“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.” (Ezra 5:13)
Rather than halting the work, Tattenai decided to write a letter to Emperor Darius, requesting a search of the archives to verify the decree:
“Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” (Ezra 5:17)
Darius ordered the search, and lo and behold, a scroll was found containing the original decree from Cyrus. Where was it found? In none other than Ecbatana!
Ezra 6:2 confirms this:
“And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found…”
Not only was the decree confirmed, but Darius also ordered that the work should not be stopped, and that additional resources should be provided to complete the task:
“Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.” (Ezra 6:8)
Now, the significance of Ecbatana. Late last night, before I fell asleep, I was working on my new blog. I started building my website because I felt a calling to share my insights with the world, and my blog is the tool I’m using to document this journey. It’s as if the Holy Spirit sent me the word “Ecbatana” to remind me of the importance of documentation. If Cyrus’s decree had not been preserved, it would have been difficult to prove its existence years later. The entire rebuilding effort could have been stalled indefinitely, mired in doubt and opposition. The scroll found in Ecbatana was not just a piece of parchment; it was a testament to the power of written records. It was the key to unlocking the resources, the authority, and the momentum needed to fulfill God’s purpose.
Writing things down, documenting our experiences, and cataloging our journey is crucial. These records serve as a beacon of truth in moments of uncertainty, a reminder of God’s faithfulness, and a foundation upon which future generations can build. Just as the decree in Ecbatana safeguarded the Israelites' right to rebuild the temple, our own documentation can protect the integrity of our journey, preserving our insights, our growth, and our testimonies. It anchors us when doubt creeps in, when we are challenged by the circumstances or by others who question our path. In the same way that Ecbatana held the proof needed to continue God's work, our own "Ecbatana" holds the proof of God’s work in our lives.
But more than that, every believer should have an “Ecbatana,” a trustworthy place to store what is documented. This could be a journal, a blog, or even a collection of notes and reflections—whatever form it takes, it should be a place where we consciously and diligently record the journey of our faith. The discipline of writing and preserving our experiences transforms them into a living archive of God’s grace and guidance. And just as the scroll in Ecbatana was uncovered at precisely the right moment, our own records might one day be the key to reigniting our passion, restoring our hope, or even guiding others who find themselves in similar situations.
I feel inspired to continue building my own Ecbatana, knowing that in doing so, I’m not just documenting my journey but also laying down markers for the future—proof that God has been, and will continue to be, at work in my life. My "Ecbatana" is a sacred space, a reservoir of wisdom and experience that I can return to in times of need, and that others might find illuminating as well. This process of documentation is not just a personal exercise but a spiritual discipline, one that affirms the significance of our story within God’s greater narrative.
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