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| Source: christianitymalaysia.com |
Ezra 5:1-5
Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
3 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?" 4 They also asked them this: "What are the names of the men who are building this building?" 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.
We return to the scene at Jerusalem when the returned post-exilic Jews were rebuilding the temple and city as per the instructions of King Cyrus of Persia (God Is In Control). Chapter 4, it would seem was a side note of happenings off to one side, that led to the halt of the temple and city rebuild in God is Challenged. But now, we return to the rebuild in the second year of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:24).
Haggai and Zechariah are two prophets with different backgrounds and styles, yet they both have one thing in common, the God of Israel...was over them (v1). God spoke through these two prophets who came together with the high priest, Jeshua and king descendant, Zerubbabel (son of King David) to rebuild the temple and city walls.
Notice, there is still some opposition to the rebuilding, Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai and their associates demanded why the Jews had resumed rebuilding the temple and wanted the names of those who were building, no doubt for some sinister reason.
God's people were going to need prophet, priest and king to succeed in rebuilding the house of God. The prophets (Zechariah and Haggai) spoke God's word, the priest (Jeshua) would represent the people to God and the king (Zerubbabel) to represent God to the people.
These three attributes are completely met in Christ Jesus. He is a prophet, high priest and king. He is the word of God made flesh and sits on the right hand of God the Father to mediate between the Father and man. We have nothing to fear.
With God on the side of the Jews, he was always watching (v5), his plan started in Ezra 1:1 would not fail. He would see it through to completion. At this stage of the construction, the only stumbling block the Jews would experience would be fear of those who oppose them.
It is the same with us, the only thing that causes us to stumble is fear of what others think, do or say. If you believe, God has started a good work in you, a work he intends on seeing through to completion. Christ Jesus is that good work, his death and resurrection allow you to live a life saved by God's grace.
Christ is rebuilding the temple walls within your own heart and he alone is faithful to complete it. There will be opposition to our way of life, our beliefs and our standards, yet God has promised he will never leave us, just as he was over the Israelites (v1), he will remain with us until Christ returns to complete our salvation.
