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| Source: Darby Dugger Blog |
Ezra 4:6-23
6 At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabell and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language. 8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:
9 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates - the judges, officials and administrators over the people of Persia, Uruk and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, 10 and the other people whom the great and honourable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.
11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:
12 The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually, the royal revenues will suffer. 14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonoured, we are sending this message to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records, you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed. 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.
17 The king sent this reply:
To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings. 18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issue an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?
23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.
Not being content with the challenge already as written in God is Challenged. Those who are against the rebuilding of Jerusalem and, therefore are against Jerusalem being the centre of the religious world are employing the king in their attack.
Verses 6-8 show that not only one official complaint was lodged, but three. Xerxes I reigned between 486-465 BC (v6), Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabell and the rest of his associates (v7) wrote a letter to Artaxerxes I who reigned from 464-423 BC and in v8, Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote another letter to Artaxerxes. It is only this third attempt that warranted a reply from the king.
Verses 9 & 10 show how Rehum and Shimshai were trying to impress the king with a long list of people and fulsome tributes to the tyrannous king, the great and honourable Ashurbanipal, who reigned between 669-627 BC. Ashurbanipal, although well thought of as a king by those who he ruled over, had a reputation for being harsh and cruel to those he conquered and he conquered a lot of people including those in v9 people of Persia, Uruk and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa.
Notice in verse 12 onwards, the writers are appealing to the king's pride with comments like the royal revenues will suffer (v13), it is not proper for us to see the king dishonoured (v14), city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition (v15) and you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates (v16). They clearly know how to 'win over' this king by inflating his pride and self-importance.
Verse 17-22 show us how these tactics worked on the king and he orders the workers to stop work immediately (v21-22).
It seems to me, along with bribing counsellors to frustrate their purpose (v5), the adversaries were pulling out all the stops to end the rebuilding of the temple and the city. Of course, the temple was the place where God was to reside to be among his people and so these challenges were against God, himself. A letter to the king that inflates his ego was enough to empower their cause even further and as we read in v23, this is exactly what happened, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.
Even today, Christians are faced with adversaries. People who are pulling out all the stops to ensure their plan of attack is successful. It may seem that sometimes, the authorities are against us because their ego has been inflated by those who challenge us. Rules are being made that make it difficult for Christians to express their faith, live the life they are called to live and feel in many ways, persecuted for their faith.
It feels like the enemy has won. I am sure that is what it felt like to the Jews in Ezra 4 when they were forced to stop rebuilding Jerusalem. To many of us, it will feel like Satan has won. But we have to remember...
There is always hope. Amongst the order to stop rebuilding the city walls, Artaxerxes says this...
so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order (v21).
Although this king believes he is in control, we can ascertain from the letters sent to and from him, he is easily influenced. His ego was inflated by mere men and he accommodated their request, how much more, then, can God influence this king, or indeed any future authority to do his will?
Indeed, having just celebrated Easter, we are reminded that God influences the authorities of the day to bring about his plan of salvation and redemption. Here, too, God is working behind the scenes to bring about his plan to his glory.
