Lesson 429 - Senior

Memory Verse

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life" (Psalm 27:4).

Cross References

I Opposition

1. The adversaries of the Jews pretended to want to help build the Temple, [EZR:4:1-2].

2. The Jews could not use the help of idolaters, [EZR:4:3].

3. The people of the land weakened the hands of Judah, and wrote false accusations to the king, [EZR:4:4-16].

4. The king granted that work should cease, [EZR:4:17-24].

II Helping Hands

1. When a new king reigned, God sent prophets to encourage the leaders of the people to resume building, [EZR:5:1-2]; [HAG:1:12-14].

2. A governor again came to inquire about the building, [EZR:5:3-4].

3. The work could not be stopped until authority came from Darius, [EZR:5:5-17].

III Darius's Decree

1. Search was made for King Cyrus's decree that the Temple should be rebuilt, [EZR:6:1-5].

2. King Darius approved Cyrus's decree and forbade any to hinder the work, [EZR:6:6-12].

3. The building prospered and the Temple was dedicated, [EZR:6:13-18].

4. The Feast of Passover was kept in its appointed season, [EZR:6:19-22]; [LEV:23:5-8].

Notes

The echoes of the great shout of praise that the people had given to the Lord at the completion of the foundation for the Temple had scarcely died away when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin came to see what was happening. When they saw the foundation laid, these adversaries pretended to be friends, desiring to help build on the Temple with the Jews. They claimed to serve the Lord as the Jews did; but the Bible says of them: "They feared the LORD, and served their own gods" [2KG:17:33]).

The Jews had learned from experience the tragic results of halfhearted service to God. They had just returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon -- exiled because they had tried half-heartedly to serve the Lord, meanwhile tampering more and more with idolatry. The Jews learned their lesson during those years and as a nation were never again guilty of serving idols. God has no pleasure in halfhearted service, even today; but He receives, loves, and blesses the wholehearted service given by anyone.

No Agreement

"What agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" the Word of God asks. The returned exiles knew the true standing of their adversaries in the sight of God, so the plain statement was made that the adversaries could not help in building God's house. This took the mask of friendship off the adversaries' faces, and their true intent soon came to light: "Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building."

The Bible instructs us, "As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" [ROM:12:18]); but a line must be drawn when it comes to sin and idolatry. If the Jews had allowed the idolaters to help build the Temple, then the Jews would have been obligated to allow the idolaters to worship in the Temple, thus defiling God's house. A Christian today cannot compromise with sin and the sinner and be guiltless any more than the Jews could be unequally yoked with the unbelievers of that bygone day.

Misrepresentation

The opposition and hatred of the people of the land toward the Jews reached the point that a letter of accusation was written to the king of Persia. Motivated by anger, envy, and malice, the people wrote much untruth about the Jews. Truth is truth and will stand on its own, but falsehood is weak and needs more lies to prop it up. The letter stated that the Jews were building the whole city of Jerusalem, whereas they were building only the Temple. The people inferred that the city was being built in order that the Jews might rebel against the king's authority, thus depriving the king of his revenue from this part of his realm.

The king did not bother to investigate fully the misrepresentation. He looked into the records to find that Jerusalem had been ruled by some mighty kings, but he did not investigate the work of the Jews or the real reason for their being in Jerusalem. The king answered the letter with a command that the people of the land should go to Jerusalem and compel the Jews to cease their work.

Christian people today are often misrepresented as they labour for the Master. The Lord foretold this condition, saying: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven" [MAT:5:11-12]). The Christian is further enlightened regarding these things in other parts of God's Word: "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" [1PE:2:20-21]). "If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; . . . having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ" [1PE:3:14], [1PE:3:16]).

Need for Zeal

The letter from the Persian king did not state that the building of the Temple should cease, but that the city should not be built. If the Jews had requested to read the letter, or if they had presented their own case to the king, perhaps the delay in building the Temple could have been prevented.

We as Christians today too, often allow the oppositions of sinners and their defiance to God's cause to prevent us from putting our wholehearted zeal into the Gospel of the Kingdom. Spiritual coldness causes as much or more drag on Gospel progress as does the heat of unbelievers' persecutions and accusations. The Lord demands that we be on fire for Him.

Some students of the Bible feel that the building of the Temple was delayed as much as 16 years. However long, it was delayed longer than it should have been. In due time Darius became king; and in the second year of his reign, the Lord sent prophets to the people in Jerusalem to stir them into action. The Jews were saying that it was not yet time to build. They had no "go-ahead" from the king. How could they build without his approval? But God said through the prophet: "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?" [HAG:1:4]). There was a new king on the Persian throne, therefore there was a new opportunity to work on the Lord's building.

Today we should take advantage of every time and occasion that we have to work for the Lord and to further His Kingdom. In fact, the Bible says that we as Christians should redeem the time; in other words, buy an opportunity. If opportunity does not come our way readily, we are instructed to seek that opportunity -- to go into the world and find something to do for the Master. A sick person needs someone to help him; a discouraged person needs someone to speak a word of cheer; the sinner needs someone to tell him the story of Jesus and the way out of sin. There are opportunities for everyone, and if we are watchful for those opportunities we will find them.

Resuming the Work

With the encouragement and help that the prophets of God gave, the people once more took heart and began construction on the Temple. The governor of the land came at this time also to see what was being accomplished; but the Lord prevented him from stopping the work until a letter was sent to Darius, that the king might give his voice in the matter. This governor wrote a more truthful letter, giving the facts as they really were.

King Darius searched the records and found that the Jews had in fact been given a commission to return and to build the Temple. He sent word to the governor: "Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place." The king added that even the expenses of the builders should be paid out of the king's tribute, that sacrifices and burnt offerings should be given: "That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons." Thus we see the Scripture fulfilled: "When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him" [PRO:16:7]).

Completion

With the smile of God upon their efforts, with the co-operation of the king and the governor and the people of the land, the Jews were able to finish the Temple in the third day of Adar in the sixth year of Darius's reign. How happy those people were as they dedicated the House of the Lord, bringing their offerings and sacrifices in great numbers! They had done the will of God, and now they reaped the blessings. So it is with us. There is no greater joy in all the earth than doing the whole will of God with all the heart. "It is joy to the just to do judgment" [PRO:21:15]).

Questions

>1. What did the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin request to do when they saw the Temple being built?

2. Why could not the Children of Israel allow this?

3. What did the adversaries do next?

4. How did the adversaries cause the work on the Temple to cease?

5. How did God get the work on the Temple started again?

6. Who was the new king of Persia who commanded that the work should not be hindered?

7. When was the House of God finished?

8. How did the Jews feel when the Temple was dedicated?

9. What event followed the dedication?