SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/11/2011 7:47:54 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Stage Two: the work resumed PT-2
(God
used local officials)
Bible Reading
& Meditation Reference: Ezra 5:3-17
Message of the verses: “3 At
that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and
Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus,
"Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this
structure?" 4 Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were
who were reconstructing this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the
elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to
Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it. 6 This is the copy
of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River,
and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the
River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent a report to him in which it was
written thus: "To Darius the king, all peace. 8 “Let it be known to the
king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God,
which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls;
and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands. 9 “Then
we asked those elders and said to them thus, ’Who issued you a decree to
rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’ 10 “We also asked them their
names so as to inform you, and that we might write down the names of the men
who were at their head. 11 “Thus they answered us, saying, ’We are the servants
of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built
many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 ’But
because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into
the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, 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 ’Also the gold and silver utensils of
the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the
temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom
he had appointed governor. 15 ’He said to him, "Take these utensils, go
and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem and let the house of God be rebuilt
in its place." 16 ’Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of
the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under
construction and it is not yet completed.’ 17 "Now if it pleases the king,
let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in
Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house
of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this
matter.’”
I
think that the first thing one has to realize is that the rebuilding of the temple
in Jerusalem was in the plan of the Lord, and nothing was going to stop the
rebuilding of this temple. God spoke
through the prophet Isaiah that Cyrus would let the people go and Cyrus gave
the order and also gave to the returning exiles the gold and silver articles
needed for worship in the temple. These
articles were in the temple of the gods of Babylon. The people during this time period when they
defeated a country would take the gods and place them in the temple of their
gods to show off that their god was stronger than the one they had just
conquered. Another example of this was
when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel: “1Sa 5:2
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon
and set it by Dagon.” This story
continues with the Philistines returning the ark of God to Israel because the
Lord had brought much trouble to the Philistines.
Tattenai
was a governor over the land that included Jerusalem and when he looked at what
the exiles were doing he was rightly concerned about the rebuilding of the
temple for the way it is described in the letter one could mistake it for a
fortress thinking that these exiles were about to go to war with Persia. Tattenai asked two questions: who gave the
orders to rebuild the temple and what are the names of those doing the
rebuilding? The leaders of Israel were
very honest and straightforward in answering Tattenai. They realized that it was the Lord who was
really in charge of this project and their answers gave glory to the Lord, and
they also realized their answers looked like they were rebelling against Persia
and in particular Tattenai that there would be trouble.
At
this time I would like to list some verses that go along with how these exiles
did act towards those who were over them, that is the Persians.
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward
outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. (Col. 4:5)
“-so
that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need (1Thes.
4:12)
“1 Every person is to be in
subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists
authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive
condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good
behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is
good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to
you for good” (Romans 13:1-4a).
“13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s
sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise
of those who do right. 15 For such is
the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish
men” (1Peter 2:13-15).
Dr.
Wiersbe writes the following that shows the good sense these leaders of the
exiles acted towards their Persian leaders: “Both in their words and their
demeanor, they presented a clear witness to this important Persian official,
and God used him to certify their right to build and guarantee supplies from
the king.” As I read these words and how
all of this worked out I can only say that God is great and greatly to be
praised.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As I look at the plan that the Lord had for
the return of Israel to their land and the building of the temple I must then
believe that the Lord has a plan for my life and surely for every believer. I look at Ephesians 2:10 which speaks of the
work that the Lord has planned for His children way back in eternity past I
realize that the Lord has a plan for me and work for me to accomplish for His
glory. My part in all of this is to
abide or remain in the Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ, and by doing this the Lord
will produce the works or fruit that He has planned for me to accomplish for
His glory.
My Steps of
Faith for Today:
1.
Abide in Christ.
2.
Continue to learn contentment.
3.
Give myself to the Lord this day for worship and for
service.
7/11/2011 8:41:43 AM
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