The Resistance

Oct. 19

Ezra: 4:17-5:17

The Resistance

“Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease (building the Temple), and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me… and by force and power (they) made them cease… and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia…(but) Then Zerubbabel… and Jeshua arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.” (v.4:21,23-24, 5:2)

The disposition of the world’s leaders towards the people of God will always ebb and flow through time. This is why it is so precarious to place your hope in the governments and leaders of this world. Why are we so surprised when the “system” turns against us? Why do we think things will be “magically” resolved if we can just get (fill in the blank) leader into office ? Has not history shown us what a fickle mistress the rulers of this world can be!?!

God always remains in control , even during the times when it seems as though the rulers of this world are frustrating the progress of his people. As exciting as it was to have Cyrus endorse and empower the people of God to come back to Jerusalem and start rebuilding the temple, it must have been just as discouraging to have a new king (Artaxerxes) put a stop to the project. For three years the people of God were in limbo, waiting for the Lord to speak and tell them what was next. This must hav let like an eternity. I am sure there were so many questions, such as: Why has God let this happen? Should we just keep on working anyways? Is this all really worth it? Remember that the people had been forcefully stopped in the first place - “by force and power they made them cease”. I am sure they felt weak, afraid, frustrated, and unsure about how to move forward. I anticipate we have felt / will feel the same way when our own “rulers” press back against us today.

So for three years, they wait. Then something happens… “Haggai and Zechariah…prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.” (5:1) God sent word to his people that it was time to start rebuilding again. He spoke through his prophets. The prophets reminded the people who they were TRULY ruled by when the spoke “in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.” They had been to think that it was Artaxerxes who was over them… forgetting that there was another layer of authority… that there was one who even ruled over the king of Persia. God basically said “enough is enough” and the people of God went back to work. Notice that saying “enough is enough” does not equal going to war with Persia… it means continuing on in the worshipful and good work of preparing the Temple for the Lord. No matter who is in power over US as God’s people, we must never cease the work of preparing God’s temple which today is his people. The rules of the world can never stop God’s work on US… our hearts… our minds… our desires… us- the people of God who are God’s Temple and dwelling place today. How did this work out in the time of Ezra?

“Then Zerubbabel… and Jeshua…arose and began to rebuild the house of God” (5:2) Two brave individuals were bold enough to hear the words being delivered from God and go back to work! That is all it took… 2 brave people trusting the word of the Lord that came through his prophets. The prophets supported them and cheered them on. Work began again. After three years of waiting the Temple rebuilding was back underway. The naysayers and enemies of Israel were still surrounding them… but could no longer with threat of “force or power” stop them from the work that God was calling them to do. The adversaries send yet another letter to the new king of Persia (Darius) to pester him, anticipating retribution for the project restarting. What happens? The total opposite - Darius AFFIRMS the work of the people of God… and even ropes the naysayers into having to fund it and encourage it! (What poetic justice for sure.) I believe God was as much a part of softening Darius’ heart as he was Cyrus and his son after him. God was never out of control of these Persian leaders.

There will be times when the “progress” of God’s people seems frustrated by the rulers of this world… times when we will feel “hamstrung” by the authority over us. Do not lose heart - God has not abandoned his people or forgotten them. This time never lasts forever. There always comes a time for the people of God to stand up and get back to work. There is a time for a Spirit- filled and God-guided resistance against the “forces and powers” that war against the work of the Lord. This resistance is NOT militaristic in nature, it is a willingness to pursue the Lord in the ways he has called his people. This is the building / rebuilding of us as the current dwelling place of God. These movements will begin with just a handful of brave souls. Courage “prophets” who speak on God’s behalf like Haggai and Zechariah. Stalwart leaders who listen and get to work like Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Where do you find yourself today? How are you responding to the current environment? Where have you placed your hope - in the steadfast love and direction of the Lord or in the fleeting stability of earthly “kings”? May we appreciate the time when leaders “endorse” the work of God’s people, yet never be surprised when they turn on us. We serve one greater than the “rulers of this world”. Take heart! Love you guys. - JDP