THOSE LETTERS. Ezra 4:6-24 From verse six through twenty-three, there is a parenthesis that recounts the types of opposition God’s people had to face in the past. To get a clearer historical picture of the time when these letters were written, it may be helpful to list the Persian kings and their reigns.
Cyrus the Great ordered the rebuilding of the temple in 559, the first year of his reign, which ended in 530. Cambyses reigned from 530 to 522, and Darius I, the Great, from 522 to 486. Ahasuerus (Xerxes) ruled from 486 to 465, followed by Artaxerxes I from 465 to 424. Then Darius II reigned from 423 to 404.
All of this information shows that these letters and the opposition were more about rebuilding the walls and the city of Jerusalem than about rebuilding the temple, which had already been completed by the time these letters of complaint were written. It indicates that opposition persisted even after the temple was rebuilt. The opposition was against God's plans of restoration, and it seems like the powers of darkness had the upper hand for a while.
Our lesson is that “we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers.” There is spiritual wickedness in high places greater than our ability to conquer. God permits discouraging setbacks for His own reasons. He even lets a work come to a painful standstill due to circumstances beyond our control.
Zerubbabel was a good leader as long as progress continued, but he seemed to be intimidated when opposition from those higher in authority grew stronger. The three letters, written at different times to various kings, were distortions of the facts and contained lies. The first letter misrepresented the current work by linking it to past failures of God's people. One of those letters was written when Esther was queen, and ten years later, there was another letter of attack.
The hostility in the letter to Artaxerxes, which is included in this chapter, was a serious challenge that he felt he could not ignore. It also caused assumptions and false impressions that suggested negative outcomes would follow the completion of the house of God. This likely included the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which was on its way to becoming an important city again. Haggai and Zechariah came to encourage Zerubbabel to resume rebuilding.
Because of complaints and intervention by the provincial authorities, the construction of the walls of Jerusalem was halted. Sometimes, people's attitudes and actions have long-lasting effects. It is true that the Israelites were troublesome to kings, and they had a long history of resistance to human authority and even to God. Actions have unavoidable consequences, and inappropriate attitudes must be addressed and changed.
A discouraged leader is a defeated leader. Life's circumstances or challenges in a specific project can lead to discouragement when we lose focus on our Lord. God's work, Zechariah said, "Is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." We must accept that there will be times of unified opposition, especially as efforts to enter Satan's domain are made through preaching the Gospel. This can negatively impact God's people, leading to apathy and loss of faith unless we stay committed to the commission we've received and remember that our calling to this work originates from the highest source in the universe—the Almighty God.
When letters are written to try to deal with differences of opinion or to correct what is perceived as wrong, they are open to misrepresentation. Our Lord indicated that when I have "ought against my brother," I am to go to him personally, not write him a letter. Usually, the issue between two people is settled in that way. However, if the matter isn't settled, we are to take one or two more people who know the situation and go together for a face-to-face conversation to deal with the problem in a way that not many people know about. If it is still creating a problem, then we are to tell it to the church. Letters usually are biased and/or a distortion of the facts written to create a certain impression. It is important we do God's things in God's way.
It doesn’t seem right to make accusations without speaking face-to-face. Or, if after a reasonable dialogue, to spread rumors to those in another place. The damage caused by doing things this way can last a very long time. It might be irreparable if no resolution is reached. The reasons behind opposition may initially seem very small. And after the discussion, you may find there was nothing to it at all. One person might do things differently from how you choose to do them. But through conversation, the problem will likely be resolved quickly.
However, when complaints are written against someone, they are difficult to undo. Explanations might be attempted, but usually they make things worse. To stop the surge of opinion sparked by an accusatory letter, something drastic may be needed before things can get better. Written accusations read by others can halt a work for God in its tracks. The damage caused by such statements of opinion can never be completely repaired. A project that has begun may falter and die, never to be restarted, because those making the written accusations weren’t involved when the work initially started.
If something is obviously wrong or evil about a person's work, it is right to address the issue before more problems develop. The correction method is simple: go directly to that person or those people alone. If they listen and fix the problem, then the work is already corrected. If, for some reason, they refuse to listen, bring along someone else—someone who recognizes the serious issue and wants to make it right. This approach almost always solves the problem, and no one is accused later. Sometimes, a sincere conversation helps diffuse an issue, and it is forgotten. Words spoken carelessly, as one wrote, are like caged birds that are let loose; once sent, you cannot take back what was written. A letter can be very helpful if its purpose is to offer help and information. But once an accusatory letter leaves your hand, what you have said cannot be undone.
After the long digression between verses six and twenty-three, the writer of Ezra returns to the topic of rebuilding the temple in verse twenty-four. There were various rebellions in the Persian Empire at that time, and it was only after about sixteen years, when authority and stability were restored, that the effort to rebuild the temple continued.
TWO GOOD MEN. Ezra 5:-3 Sometimes, in work for the Lord or even long-term projects we do for ourselves, we become tired and decide to take a break for a while, fully intending to return soon. But for some reason, other things come up and push out the time, and if we're honest, they give us an excuse to avoid going back to such a big task. This happened to those who returned to build the house of God in Jerusalem. The pressures against them and the tensions that arose apparently overwhelmed them, and for many years, the work of building the temple was halted. That is when leaders of God's people need to recognize their own need for close fellowship with God. If leadership cools off and gets sidetracked, it will influence those who follow them.
But God gives power to His people during times of opposition, enabling them to press forward and persevere through periods of uncertainty. God’s perspective is revealed to those with experience and leadership, and He uses His Word to guide and motivate those in leadership roles, so they must act on divine instruction.
God had His men suited for the needs of that time. Haggai and Zechariah, two prophets sent by God, came to reignite the work. They prophesied in God's name and conveyed His mind and will to the people. A prophet is someone who speaks to God for people and to people for God. They are responsible for giving God's judgment on a work and often predicting the results that will follow. Both of them ministered the word of God to the people and worked with their hands to meet needs where they saw them. Personal involvement in a work, physically, lends weight to the messages they deliver.
Haggai and Zechariah arrived in Jerusalem about 18 years after the first exiles returned to the promised land. Nothing had been done to rebuild the temple for 15 or 16 years, so Haggai challenged the people whose lives had not changed because their hearts were not right with God. There may have been several reasons for this lack of commitment to continue rebuilding the temple.
The years of captivity in Babylon had changed their view of the world, and perhaps the destruction of Jerusalem 70 years earlier had shaken their faith in God. The covenant God had with Israel apparently wasn’t as important to the new generation as it was to the older people. The promises the earlier prophets made about a bright future hadn’t come to pass in their time. They may also have become accustomed to the Persians' attitude that all religions had equal value. They either forgot or ignored the uniqueness of the covenantal promises God had made to the nation through their forefathers.
Haggai needed to bring them back to the most basic level. Until the temple was built and the law reestablished, the priesthood and the purpose of the offerings couldn’t be carried out in God’s way. He had to make the people see how shallow their devotion to God was and why it was essential to their lives. Then he had to encourage Zerubbabel and Joshua to go against the tide of indifference and resume work on the temple. He also had to convince the people in general that rebuilding the temple was in their best interests. He had to show them that God’s interest in them depended on their obedience to Him and the leadership He had appointed. Haggai likely remembered the original temple and was eager for a return to the true public worship of the Lord.
Zechariah was also a prophet, but he came from the priestly line. He was younger than Haggai, yet both served as the Lord’s messengers with His message. Haggai was older, steady, and reliable, and he faced facts honestly. He carried a measuring rod to ensure everything was correct. His messages were profound and impactful because they touched people's consciences. He was unlikely to be very popular, even though he was considered the leader; however, both men were essential.
Zechariah was younger and often lost in visions that appealed to the people's emotions. His messages reflected that, offering a glimpse of a bright future that motivated them to resume rebuilding. Both types of men were necessary: one to challenge the people's conscience and the other to reach their emotions and speak to their hearts.
Preachers and teachers are not above others in the sense of being excused from taking responsibility to act in fellowship with God and men in all aspects of their work. Often, we are the answer to our own prayer for laborers to go into the harvest. The division of people into clergy and laity is not a biblical practice in a scripturally gathered New Testament assembly.
Someone who works for the Lord in spreading the Gospel can support themselves, at least in part. It is true that "they who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel," but that does not mean we are doing anything wrong when we labor with our hands to meet our own needs and those of others. Paul is an example of someone who preached the Gospel, taught the believers at Corinth, and also made tents to cover his expenses and help others.
Haggai and Zechariah connected with Zerubbabel and Jeshua to strengthen, encourage, and comfort them and others. That is the work of a prophet—speaking to the people for God. On the other hand, we who have been helped by their efforts need to encourage those who speak God's truth to us. The two books in the Bible named after them provide a lot of background information about the people, their mindset, and the work of the Lord happening in Jerusalem at that time. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Both Haggai and Zechariah were used by God in Judah at the same time, working together, yet each was different. Haggai seemed more straightforward and made it clear that the work on the temple did not stop because of the enemies' opposition. It actually stopped due to a lack of interest from the Jews.
Preaching and teaching are not always easy, and sometimes there is little interest or visible results. There will always be opposition to an active work of God in some form. Sometimes we see a hindrance as a reason to stop what we're doing for God. However, the real issue behind complacency and apathy that halts the work is often self-interest and a lack of spiritual desire. It's not to be expected that we will always do God's work in a completely godly way—that goes against what the world stands for. Pressure against divine matters is to be expected.
Haggai's message focused on the work itself and the outward failure of God's people to commit to the reason they were there in the first place. They were sent there to build a house for the Lord. Zechariah spoke to the hearts of the people, aiming to awaken their consciences so that God’s work could move forward. His message emphasized the need for holiness and fellowship with the Lord as its core. He reached into the hearts of the people to motivate their devotion to the Lord. He said to Zerubbabel, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord." Both messages are essential for our day. That is what we are called to do today. The Lord is building the church, and He has commissioned us to continue that work in His name, empowered by His Spirit working in us and through us. Two different brethren, with two different styles of preaching and two different areas of focus, can be used by God to spark a revival of interest among the Lord's people. We need to be challenged inwardly to get right with God — in our devotion to Him, in our thought life, and in our personal fellowship with our Lord. We must be on good terms with Him so that we understand His will through His word and are prepared to act on it.
We also need to be consistent in our outward lives, earnestly seeking to represent our Lord Jesus Christ in both our words and deeds. An impression is created that influences others as they hear the words we choose. "Let your 'Yes' be Yes, and your 'No' be No." Slang expressions that are suggestive or inappropriate must not be used. Even the clothes we wear show either modesty or immodesty. The way we do our work reflects what is important to us. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to man."