by Ian McKee (Northern Ireland)
We have already noted that in the fifteen years following the laying of the Temple foundations, Ezra Chapter 3, there was little progress in rebuilding. However lethargy will soon be swept aside.
Renewal of prophet ministry (Ezra 5.1-2)
Two men of God appear suddenly upon the page of inspiration. "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel," Ezra 5.1. These were men who had received weighty words from heaven and who felt the burden of communicating that truth to their fellowmen. The opening verses of Haggai and Zechariah’s prophecies emphasise that the Lord is the source of their ministry. They also provide the time reference. It was "the second year of Darius;" that is Darius I, Hystaspes in BC 520, which is almost 17 years after the decree of Cyrus (Ezra Ch.1) and the return to Jerusalem of the Jewish exiles under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. By Divine power the word of God reached the conscience of a lethargic people. The incisive, forthright, exhortative ministry of Haggai was effective and in 24 days the building of the Temple recommenced, Hag.1.15. The complementary ministry of Zechariah, based upon eight edifying and panoramic visions, assisted this reinvigoration.
It is important to note that the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah represent God’s gracious intervention at a time of spiritual sloth. Their ministry is relevant to contemporary needs. It is given in "the name of the God of Israel" (Ezra 5.1), with His authority and power. Genuine revival must have the Word of God as its foundation and a response, begotten in the power of the Holy Spirit, from those who hear and believe that God has spoken.
The message delivered by Haggai and Zechariah was a powerful expression of the mind of God through the faithful instrumentality of His consecrated servants. This was not sermonising. Nor was it the regular teaching ministry of the Word of God, important though that is. These were words from the sanctuary of God delivered in Spirit guided power by men consecrated to God. They were words of rare value that demanded attention and response. Would that such preaching was heard again in our day!
This ministry encouraged Zerubbabel and Jeshua to build in faith disregarding the prohibitive decree of Psuedo-Smerdis, Ezra 4.21. So they "began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem" upon the foundations earlier laid, Ezra 5.2. They are not building because of the earlier decree of Cyrus, but are directed by the unchanging Word of God as ministered by His two faithful servants, Haggai and Zechariah. Those two prophets continued to encourage by their ministry and to lead by example right through the period of construction, "And with them were the prophets of God helping them," Ezra 5.2.
Scrutiny by unsaved men (Ezra 5.3-17)
Alongside the positive and spiritual we have the ever attendant negative influences as represented by the investigations of "Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions," Ezra 5.3. There was no such interest in the activities of the Lord’s people when they were engaged in building their own houses. But as soon as rebuilding commences on the house of God the Governor of Trans-Euphrates and his entourage appear to seek the builders’ authority and ask their names, Ezra 5.3. Is it not similarly true today that carnality will not incur the interest of the devil? But as soon as there are aspirations toward the Scriptural pattern and principles, whether in an individual life or in assembly experience, opposition is manifest. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," Eph.6.12. Yet it is an encouragement to us to see that God honours the faith of the builders. "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews," Ezra 5.5.
In Divine providence Tatnai did not suspend the work, although he will report to Darius. The text of Tatnai’s communiqué is provided in Ezra 5.7-17. This provides an objective insight to the work in progress. He records that large hewn stones are being laid and timber beams are being built in, which is consistent with the design of Solomon’s Temple, cf. Ezra 5.8, 6.4 with 1 Kings 6.36. And he confirms the energy input to the work and the progress made: "this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands," Ezra 5.8.
The report also records the builders’ assertion of their authority to build, "we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up," Ezra 5.11. This is not mere human endeavour but the carrying into effect of a Divine commission and the seeking to recover something that had been instituted in the reign of Solomon almost 500 years before.
Surprisingly Tatnai also details the builders’ honesty about the sin and guilt of their forebears. Sin had weakened their public position as the people of God, which meant they could no longer stand before their enemies. They had defected from God and He forsook them, Ezra 5.12. However the return of Divine favour is also recounted, which led to Cyrus’ decree to rebuild the house of the Lord.
Finally, Tatnai asks Darius to ascertain the veracity of the builders’ account by authorising a search of the royal records and seeks a decision about the rebuilding, Ezra 5.17. Notwithstanding this investigation, the people continue to build in faith, fortified by the ministry of Haggai and the visions granted to Zechariah.
This report to Darius by an unsaved official raises an interesting question. If such a report were to be completed on the people of God today, what would it say? Would it, like that of Tatnai’s, record earnest endeavour, a consciousness of our place in the purpose of God and an understanding that sin will ruin individual and corporate testimony? Or would it be a testimony to shallow complacency and the pursuit of selfish interests?
—to be continued (D.V.)