Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed

A new preacher at the local church walked into the auditorium of His new church. He thought it would be best to move the piano from the right side of the stage to the left side of the stage, so he moved it. Soon after he was fired for the disruption caused by the new placement of … More

Disruption

Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. The adversaries were the Samaritans, who had been planted in the land of Israel. It was plain that they did not mean to unite in the worship of the Lord, according to His word. Those who discourage a good work, and weaken them that are employed in it often make a pattern to follow (vv. 6-16). The third effort to stop the rebuilding of the temple is a letter sent by the enemy to Artaxerxes  with false accusations. In the first year that Xerxes was king, [the Samaritans] wrote to him an accusation against the [returned] inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem (vv. 6-10). The contents of the letter states that if the walls are completed and the city is rebuilt, the Jews won’t pay any kind of taxes, and there will be less money in the treasury (vv. 11-13).

It was intended to mean that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes (vv 14-16). Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honor and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king allowed himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes often see and hear with other men’s eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely.

Application

I need to be careful not to let other people get me sidetracked from what God wants me to do.

Ezra 4:6-16 (English Standard Version)


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