RISE AND SHINE (EZRA 5)
There’s a very inspiring poem titled “Somebody Else” I have kept for untold years:
“Somebody Else”
There is a clever young fellow named "Somebody Else",
there is nothing this fellow can't do.
He is busy from morning 'til way late at night, just substituting for you.
You're asked to do this, and asked to do that,
and what is the ready reply?
"Get somebody else, I'm too busy, he can do it much better than I!"
There's so much to do in our service,
so much and the workers so few,
And "Somebody else" is weary and worn,
just substituting for you!
So the next time you're asked to do something worthwhile,
come back with this ready reply.
If "Somebody else" can lend time and support,
you can bet your last dime, so can I.
There were three returns from Babylon to the land of Israel (in 538, 458, and 444 B.C.). The first return was led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6; Hag.; Zech.) in 538 B.C., but their rebuilding plans grounded to a halt after 18 years in 520 B.C. in the second year of King Darius (Ezra 4:24).
What are we as God’s children to do in the years of expected oppression and opposition? Do you shirk from duty, scramble for safety or salvage the loss? Why are we to continually seek for opportunities to serve God in less than sparkling and scintillating days?
Prioritize with Purpose
1 Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
It’s been said:
“For where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.” (Martin Luther)
“It's a fact of earthly life that when God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devil opens the doors of hell to blast us. When God begins moving, the devil fires up all his artillery.” (Adrian Rogers)
“There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.” (C.S. Lewis)
“God always votes for us and Satan always votes against us, and then we are asked to vote to break the tie.”
It was Dwight L. Moody who said, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do.”
The work of God in building the temple was left undone for a long time, around 15 years. Everybody was looking for leadership, looking at one another and looking for a cue. There was no ongoing dialogue, organized meeting nor outside help. Inaction, indifference and intimidation were the order of the day.
At least four men, however, were inspired to take the lead to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem - Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak. Haggai and Zechariah were prophets. Their names reappear in the next chapter (6:14). What was unique about their involvement? First, Haggai and Zechariah were prophets with books under their name. The prophets were to lead. They did not hold back from speaking God’s word. Second, prophets appear for the first time in the book. They were uninvolved previously. Third, they were giants of the faith, so they took the biggest risks.
Bible Knowledge Commentary added, “Haggai prophesied from August to December 520 8.c., and Zechariah prophesied for two years beginning in October-November 520.” They were contemporaries as they locked hands to implore and inspire the Jews to overcome the fear of the unknown, the unexpected and the unforeseen. Haggai kick-started the job for five months and Zechariah kept at it for two full years.
Alongside, Zerubbabel the governor (Hag 2:2) and Joshua the leader were inspired to restart the building project after it was abandoned 15 years ago. They had to motivate people who had lost their passion, purpose and prospects. The years passed by sourly and sadly, strangely and stressfully, slowly and surely, but time did not dim Zerubbabel and Joshua’s interest, dull their senses nor dash their hopes. The leaders had to sort out their political difficulties with neighbors, the practical danger of Jews and their personal determination as leaders.
Proceed with Prudence
3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" 4 They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received. 6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings. 8 The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.
Dennis Rainey had worked with Bill Bright before the Campus Crusade founder died, but early in Rainey’s ministry he had a chance to have kind of an informal time with Bright and he said, “Doctor Bright, have you ever been discouraged and wanted to quit? Rainey said, “I will never forget this as long as I live. I was a young man in my late 20s and early 30s. He looked back at me with steel eyes and he said, “Never!”
Rainey said, “Oh, come on! When those guys walked into your office and demanded your resignation, didn't you think about tossing it in” Bright replied, “Never!”
The young coworker said, “I was beginning to get the point because I was sitting there as a young man facing all kinds of obstacles in my life in my ministry in my marriage and my family and I got to tell you the thought of quitting had crossed my mind but Bill challenged me to step up to embrace the call of God. (DTS Chapel, Dennis Rainey, “Contagious Courage”)
The title “governor” (v 3) appears for the first time in the book. The big guy, bigger than previously Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe (Ezra 4:8), arrived on the scene. The “structure/wall” (v 3) made its debut in the book. What does that mean? The Jews did not just rebuild the house of God, they also erected the wall or structure, or parts of it. That must have shocked the governor, his companions (v 3) and the Apharsachites (v 6) to no end, knowing how audacious, astute and adaptable the Jews were.
The first appearance of the governor was met with the elders (v 5) of the Jews who debuted in the book, too. The phrase “eye of God” appears for the first time in the book. The eye of God represents His wisdom, watchfulness and wonder. God sees, searches, and saves. No danger, disturbance or deceit escapes His eye.
Verse 5’s “stop” is a contrast to how the last chapter ended negatively. The previous king Artaxerxes issued an order to the residents to “stop” work (Ezra 4:21). The local officials went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to “stop” (Ezra 4:23), so the work came to a “standstill/stop” (Ezra 4:24). Into chapter 5, The governor Tatnai, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, however, could not “stop” (v 5) the Jews until a report could go to Darius. The Jews kept on going, kept on guarding and kept on grinding. They did not stop, speculate or scheme, but worked, watched and waited till the window of opportunity closed.
Pause with Patience
9 We questioned the elders and asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information. 11 This is the answer they gave us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. 13 "However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. "Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, 'Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.' 16 So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished." 17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
Here are some wrong ways to say you’re wrong:
“I may not be right, but I am never wrong!”
“I’m not always right, but I’m never wrong!”
“I may be wrong, but I hardly doubt it!’
“I’m not sure I could be wrong!”
“I agree with you, but the we could be both wrong!”
“I can admit when you’re wrong!”
“I am right. I’m always right. Once I thought I was wrong. But I found out I was right!”
“Let’s assume I’m right…and move on!’
The Jews’ confession before others is worth our study. The verb “anger” (v 12, “our fathers angered the God of heaven”) is from the Hebrew emotion equivalent to provoke (KJV, NASB) and rage (2 Kings 19:28). It refers to the motion of tremble (Deut 2:25), quake (Joel 2:10) and shake (Job 9:6). Physically and picturesquely, it’s used for the movement of the depths of the sea (Ps 77:16), earth (Ps 77:18), heavens (Isa 13:13), hell (Isa 14:9) and land (Amos 8:8).
Cyrus released the Jews from exile with three imperatives and one jussive (third person imperative): take, go and deposit (v 15, imperatives) and rebuild (jussive, let IT be built). The Jews were reasonable, responsible and respectable in their approach, attitude and actions. They carried out the command, the commission and the commitment of the king. Their official reply was concise, concrete and conciliatory, not confusing, controversial or contentious.
Verse 11-16 is divided into three periods: Many years ago (v 11), kings Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus (vv 12-15), and Sheshbazzar to “present/now” (v 16). There were imperatives from Cyrus (v 15) and jussives (vv 8, 15) from the governor. The Jews were passionate with hope on hand, switching from addressing the “house” in the days of Nebuchadnezzar to amplifying the “house of God” in the reign of Cyrus.
Timeline V 11 the house that was builded these MANY YEARS AGO V 11 CYRUS made a decree to build this house of God V 16 SHESHBAZZAR, and laid the foundation … until NOW
Imperatives/”Jussives” V 8 Governor: Be it KNOWN unto the king
V 15 Cyrus: TAKE these vessels, GO, CARRY them into the temple V 17 Governor: LET there be “SEARCH” made … LET the king “SEND”
House/House of God V 17 the house (KJV)
V 12 this house
V 13 a decree to build this HOUSE OF GOD
V 14 vessels also of gold and silver of the HOUSE OF GOD
V 15 let the HOUSE OF GOD be builded
V 16 laid the foundation of the HOUSE OF GOD
V 17 a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this HOUSE OF GOD
The last two jussives from the governor were more neutral (v 17): “let search” and “let send.”
Even though the Jews were minorities, they were unabashed, unflinching and unorthodox in their written testimony of their allegiance to the great God (v 8), the God of heaven and earth (v 11) and the God of heaven (v 12), awkwardly and aggressively proclaiming and punctuating, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth” (v 11) to the king.
Conclusion: In this political, patriotic and punitive climate, it is almost insane and impossible to profess our faith, press for change and plead for understanding. All we can do is to stand fast, stand strong and
stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Col 4:12). In the words of Martin Luther:
“A mighty Fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal!”
