Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed
January 31, 2022
Commentary
Every attempt to revive true worship stirs up opposition from Satan and from those through whom he works. The adversaries in this passage were the Samaritans, people who had been settled in the land of Israel. It was clear that they did not want to worship the Lord according to His Word. Those who try to discourage good work and weaken those engaged in it often become examples for others to follow (vv. 6–16). A strong effort to stop the rebuilding came through a letter sent to King Artaxerxes that was filled with false accusations. Earlier, in the first year of King Xerxes, the enemies had also written an accusation against the returned people of Judah and Jerusalem (vv. 6–10). In their letter, they claimed that if the city were rebuilt and its walls completed, the Jews would refuse to pay taxes, resulting in financial loss to the empire (vv. 11–13). These words were designed to create fear and suspicion in the king’s mind.
The enemies intended to suggest that the growth of God’s people would threaten kings and rulers (vv. 14–16). Nothing could be further from the truth, because true godliness teaches respect, honor, and obedience to rightful authority. However, when God’s commands conflict with human laws, believers must obey God rather than people and accept the consequences with patience. Those who love the gospel should avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing, so they do not give opportunity to God’s enemies. The world is often quick to believe accusations against God’s people and slow to listen to their defense. In this case, the king allowed himself to be misled by false reports. Rulers some-times judge situations based only on what others tell them, even when those reports are dishonest or unfair.
Application
Opposition makes me examine how I live out my faith before others. I want to obey God with wisdom and humility. Am I careful not to give reason for accusation? Do I respect authority while staying true to God’s Word? Where do I need courage to obey God? Will I trust Him when lies slow His work?
Ezra 4:6–16 (NET)
6 At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And during the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter was first written in Aramaic but then translated. [What follows is in Aramaic]
8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: 9 From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues—the judges, the rulers, the officials, the secretaries, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites), 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates. 11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him.)
12 Now let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer loss. 14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information 15 so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”
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