Ezra 4
Judah's Enemies' Plot
A Letter Sent to King Artaxerxes
Work is Stopped
Ezra 5
Haggai and Zechariah Encourage the People
Temple Rebuild Resumes
A Letter Sent to King Darius
Ezra 6
Darius Endorses the Work
Temple Completed, Dedicated
Passover Celebrated
Ezra 7
Ezra Travels to Jerusalem
The King's Decree and Support for the Work
In chapter 4 we read about the adversaries who ask to join in the construction of the temple. They are rejected by the builders. They get upset and appeal to the king. In chapter 6 the king clears up the issue: let the people God choose to build the house build the house, and you do everything you can to support them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful picture we have at the end of chapter 6: the people God choose to be a light to the nations are communing with him and are united with those from the nations who call upon him and submit to walk in his Way.
The word back in chapter 4 that's translated as adversaries can mean narrow or tight. Could it be showing us from the beginning that to walk right on the narrow way we have to submit to the teachings given to Judah and Benjamin?
The men from the nations who participated weren't playing around. They were committed. They were determined to have right relationship with the God of Israel.
Exo 12:48 When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
-Stacy