Chapter
5 takes us back to the chronological narrative of Ezra. No work has been done
on the temple for 15 years, and three kings have passed briefly through the
Persian monarchy. Darius I is now two years into his reign as king of Persia. Haggai
and Zechariah were prophets during this time, and chapter 1 of the book of
Haggai gives us some telling backstory. It seems that the people of Israel had
easily given up the fight to their adversaries in Ezra 4:1-5. They had dropped
their commitment to rebuild the temple and started to focus on their own houses
instead. They put their own personal comfort before their commitment to the
Lord. According to Haggai 1:2, the people had ignored God’s clear calling,
through Cyrus, to rebuild the temple, and were saying that this just wasn’t the
right time to be building. Haggai was sent as a warning voice to the people,
who had ignored the warning God had already given by way of a drought. Even
after 70 years of captivity and a miraculous return, we see, sadly, that the
people are still lazy and disobedient.
In
repentant response to the prophets, Zerubbabel and Jeshua decide to resume the
temple project. Their assignment had
been given through official proclamation by King Cyrus. The temple work had
only stopped because of oppression from the local people, but the Jews still
had an official right to rebuild the temple of the Lord. With this in mind, the
people boldly begin building again. The validity of the work is questioned and
a letter is sent to King Darius, urging him to investigate what is happening –
if indeed the testimony of the Jews is true (see Ezra 5:11-16).
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. It is easy to put our personal comfort
before our commitment to the Lord. When we receive a calling or a directional
step from God, it is often exciting at first! But when we are in the middle of
walking out what He has called us to, the excitement can die down quickly.
Where we were once expectant we become bored, what excited us causes us dread,
what sounded like a great adventure is no longer appealing. How many times we
have jumped ship for these reasons! But remember, again, Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began
a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus.” This promise requires a partnership. He won’t do in us what we
won’t allow Him to do. In listening prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how you
may have put your personal comfort before your commitment to the Lord. Take
time to repent of any disobedience. Is there any comfort you must set aside to
fulfil the commitment you made?
2. Throughout the Bible, the people of
Israel seem caught in habitual disobedience. Is there an area of habitual
disobedience, or habitual sin in your life? Spend some time talking to God
about this area. What steps do you need to take to conquer this area? How can
you fully rely on God in this? Ask God for His grace to help you say “no” to
sin and “YES” to righteousness.
3. Zerubbabel and Jeshua remembered that
they had a legal right to continue the building project. As Christians, we also
have legal rights to God’s promises. Often these promises are conditional: they
require a heart that desires to follow God and a heart that is quick to confess
sin. We need to remember the promises of God and the authority we have as His
children. When temptation comes, we can tell the enemy to leave because we have
been given a seat with Christ in the heavenlies (see Eph 2:6-7). Thank God for
specific promises in His Word. Thank God that He keeps His Word, and that He is
always faithful. Ask Him to keep your heart soft and submissive to Him.
