4:1-2 The people of Judah and Benjamin began to rebuild the temple. The establishment that would not only represent their faith but would also host it. We are now the host of the temple (verse) and like the people in Ezra's day, we have to be careful when choosing the material and labor for it. People of a different, false god offered to help rebuild the temple. Yet it was people with idolatrous beliefs who ruined the temple in the first place. Scripture uses the term adversary to describe the people offering to help. They had a contrary lifestyle and thus it was unrighteous.
4:3 Wisely, Zerubbabel refused the "help" from the adversaries. The rebuilding of the temple would be done by faithful children of God and without any additional labor. When you create something, within yourself or in the world, God wants you to do it with righteous help alone. Though Judah had a monumental task ahead of them, they were not tempted to accept help from the wrong sources.
Zerubbabel means born in Babel. He was born in captivity but God ensured that he would not stay there. No matter where we start or land, God will always lead us into the place He designed for us to be.
Zerubbabel means born in Babel. He was born in captivity but God ensured that he would not stay there. No matter where we start or land, God will always lead us into the place He designed for us to be.
4:4-5 The adversaries did not make it easy for Judah. They tormented them with discouragement and trouble. They frustrated their purpose and made cases for their failure. Such is the work of an adversary. Through scripture, God makes us aware of adversity's efforts against us in order that we learn not to be persuaded or thwarted by them. That is why it is imperative that we learn to recognize that fear and frustration cause us to doubt purpose God has already confirmed.
Had Judah given up, their freedom from seventy years of captivity would have been short and wasted. When God releases us from a situation, a physical or emotional state, we must recognize the opportunity and hold onto it with faith. There are many factors in the world that could crush our efforts before they even bloom. We must learn to understand those those worldly factors are powerless when we declare God's power over our lives.
Had Judah given up, their freedom from seventy years of captivity would have been short and wasted. When God releases us from a situation, a physical or emotional state, we must recognize the opportunity and hold onto it with faith. There are many factors in the world that could crush our efforts before they even bloom. We must learn to understand those those worldly factors are powerless when we declare God's power over our lives.
4:6-16 A new king came into power and Judah's enemies seized an opportunity to halt the construction of the temple. Judah had to hold firm to their faith, fight for it. King Artaxerxes listened to the false claims without any investigation. Setbacks, perhaps especially at the onset of a season or project we begin, have the power to stifle our faith if we let them. If Judah wanted a relationship with God, they had to steadfastly pursue it.
4:17-24 With the king's (misguided) permission Judah's adversaries rushed in to stop construction. Artaxerxes listened to the false claims out of fear of losing money and power. He sided with self-interest rather than justice; but if the children of God were willing to trust Him, the termination of the project would be a blip, a pause, and most of all: an instructive lesson in strength of faith.
4:17-24 With the king's (misguided) permission Judah's adversaries rushed in to stop construction. Artaxerxes listened to the false claims out of fear of losing money and power. He sided with self-interest rather than justice; but if the children of God were willing to trust Him, the termination of the project would be a blip, a pause, and most of all: an instructive lesson in strength of faith.
