221106 Ezra 4-6 Stirred Up - Not Shaken

CONTEXT:

An evaluation of the Kings of Judah 5 Good Kings 6 Bad Kings

Ended Well

Josiah

Amaziah Right But Not with a Whole Heart

2 Chron 25:2 “And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, yet not with a whole heart.”

Uzziah Right But Proud

2 Chron 26:4 “And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.”

2 Chron 26:16 “But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to Yahweh his God. And he entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.”

Jotham Right but Did Not Control the People

2 Chron 27:2 “And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of Yahweh. But the people continued acting corruptly.”

Ahaz Did not Do Right

2 Chron 28:1 “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of Yahweh, as David his father had done.”

Hezekiah Right but Proud

2 Chron 29:2 “And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done.”

2 Chron 32:25 “But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.”

Manasseh Evil

2 Chron 33:2 “And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh dispossessed before the sons of Israel.”

Amon Evil

2 Chron 33:22 “And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the graven images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.”

Josiah Right

2 Chron 34:2 “And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”

Joahaz Unknown - assumed Evil

2 Chron 36:2 “Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.”

Jehoiakim Evil

2 Chron 36:5 “Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God.”

Jehoiachin Evil

2 Chron 36:9 “Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.”

Zedekiah Evil

2 Chron 36:12 “And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke from the mouth of Yahweh.”

Opening Account of an Attack

Main Point

The Christian is adequately equipped to resist the world, the flesh and the devil through the good gifts given by God

The Text in Three Movements

Chapter 4 Adversaries

Chapter 5 Appeals

Chapter 6 Approval

Practical steps Ephesians 6

Ezra

Chapter 4

The Adversaries Hear and Attack

We’ll try this the easy way

Rejecting the “go along to get along”

1 Then the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel, 2 so they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”

Why the harsh reaction? - if they are all about obeying and seeking God why this repulsion of these people called the adversaries of Israel

Read 2 Kings 17:41 “So while these nations were fearing Yahweh, they also were serving their graven images; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers acted, so they are acting this way to this day.”

Worth emphasizing that strict segregation is taken seriously at this point because they had been punished for commingling with the nations around them

Note

Read 2 Kings 17:24 “And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.” - that’s who these men are over

2 Kings 19:37 “Now it happened that as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.” Isaiah 37.38 “Now it happened that as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.”

Discouragement and Frustration

4 So the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and dismayed them from building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Adversary’s Accusation

6 Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his colleagues wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the text of the letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.

8 Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes, as follows— 9 then wrote Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their colleagues, the judges and the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations, which the great and honorable Osnappar took away into exile and settled in the city of Samaria and in the rest of the region beyond the River. And now— 11 this is the copy of the letter which they sent to him: “To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the men in the region beyond the River, and now— 12 let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are completing the walls and repairing the foundations. 13 “Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are completed, they will not give tribute, custom, or toll, and it will damage the revenue of the kings. 14 “Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not fitting for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and made known to the king, 15 that a search be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will find in the record books and come to know that that city is a rebellious city and damaging to kings and provinces, and that they have incited revolt within it in past days; therefore that city was laid waste. 16 “We make known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls completed, as a result you will have no portion in the province beyond the River.”

The Decree Issued to Stop Work

17 Then the king sent an edict to Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces beyond the River: “Peace. And now— 18 the document which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19 “So a decree has been issued by me, and a search has been made and it has been found that that city has lifted itself up against the kings in past days, that rebellion and revolt have been perpetrated in it, 20 that strong kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers in all the provinces beyond the River, and that tribute, custom, and toll were given to them. 21 “Now issue a decree to make those men stop, that this city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me. 22 “And beware of being negligent in doing this matter; why should harm increase to damage the kings?”

The Adversaries Stop the House of God

23 Then as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their colleagues, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and stopped them by force and military.

24 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Chapter 5

A Prophecy to the Jews

1 And the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.

The Eyes of God Upon the Jews

3 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?” 4 Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were rebuilding this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a document be returned concerning this.

Let the King Tell Us His Will

6 This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues the officials, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent word to him in which it was written thus: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8 “Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, and it is being built with huge stones, and timber is being put within the walls; and that work is going on with all diligence and is succeeding in their hands. 9 “Then we asked those elders and said to them thus, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?’ 10 “And we also asked them their names in order to make known to you, and that we might write down the names of the men who were at their head. 11 “Thus they responded with a word to us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed. 12 ‘But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and took the people away into exile in Babylon. 13 ‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14 ‘Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor. 15 ‘He said to him, “Take these articles, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its place.” 16 ‘Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it is being rebuilt, and it is not yet finished.’ 17 “So now if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild that house of God in Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his will concerning this matter.”

Chapter 6

Cyrus’ Decree Revisited

1 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were deposited in Babylon. 2 And in Ecbatana in the fortress, which is in the province of Media, a scroll was found and there was written in it as follows: “Memorandum— 3 “In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let that house, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained, its height being 60 cubits and its width 60 cubits; 4 with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. And let the cost be given from the royal treasury. 5 ‘And also let the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall deposit them in the house of God.’

Enemies Beware

6 “Now Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, keep away from there. 7 “Leave that work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild that house of God in its designated place. 8 “Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for those elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be given to those people from the royal treasury out of the tribute of the provinces beyond the River, and that without negligence. 9 “Whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, according to what the priests in Jerusalem say, it is to be given to them daily without negligence, 10 that they may bring sweet-smelling sacrifices near to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 “And I issued a decree that any man who violates this edict, a timber shall be pulled out from his house and he shall be impaled on it and his house shall be made a refuse heap on account of this. 12 “May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who stretches out his hand to change it, so as to destroy that house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree, let it be done with all diligence!”

The Jews Building and Succeeding

13 Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent. 14 And the elders of the Jews were building and succeeding through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. So they built and completed it according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was brought to completion on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

The House Dedicated with Joy

16 And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They brought near for the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 Then they appointed the priests to their sections and the Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

Yahweh Caused the Jews to be Glad

19 And the exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had cleansed themselves together; all of them were clean. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 Then the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate the Passover. 22 And they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with gladness, for Yahweh had caused them to be glad and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

The Reality Behind The Obvious

Ephesians 6.12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Strength Acrostic

Shod with the Gospel of Peace

Ephesians 6:15 “and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.”

Take up the Faith

Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,”

Girded with Truth

Put On Righteousness

Shod Gospel

Receive Salvation

Receive the sword of the Spirit

Truth

Righteousness

Gospel

Faith

Salvation

Word of God

Pray

Giftwrap it for you

Gospel of Peace is what protects our feet as we go

In all things

Faith is to be taken up as a shield - extinguishing flaming arrows

Truth is how we protect ourselves (loins)

Word of God is our one and only weapon

Righteousness is what guards our heart

At all times

Pray in the Spirit

Obedience

Fear God

Rebuild the Temple

Preparing for Persecution

God’s Eyes On Us

Fear God, Honor the King

The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in Yahweh will be established Pr 29.25 “Trembling before man brings a snare, But he who trusts in Yahweh will be set securely on high.”

Persecution is normal and to be expected for those living for Christ 2 Tim 3.12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

We do not wage war according to the flesh, our weapons are divinely powerful 2 Co 10.3-4 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds,”

One of the world’s most successful tool against the kingdom of God is discouragement - it saps life, it impacts others, it hinders and oppresses

3 Sentence Sermon.

King Joash’s death was followed by the rise of 12 other kings, who generally failed to faithfully follow Yahweh.

This downward decline ended with the destruction and deportation of Judah thus beginning 70 years of exile.

A new king, Cyrus, now reigns and has returned the Jews to rebuild the Temple but they have been met with hostility by the foreigners now living in Israel and the Jews have become discouraged.

3 Sentence Sermon

200 years and 12 kings after King Joash, faithless Judah continuously failed to follow Yahweh and was exiled for 70 years until King Cyrus was stirred up by Yahweh to return them to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.

Upon arrival the Jews have been discouraged from rebuilding the Temple because of the hostility of the foreigners now occupying the land

At the good word of the Lord, at the hands of Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews have begun again to rebuild and found that a new King Darius supports them, even at the expense of their persecutors.

Title: Perspectives and Tools: A Biblical Look at Persecution and How to Respond

Title: Stirred Up - Not Shaken: Persevering Under Persecution Unto Perfection

Introduction: 2 Tim 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Persecution Stats

Between the death of Christ and the year 1900 an estimated 14 million Christians have been martyred with 26 million martyred in the last century https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1901-2000/modern-persecution-11630665.html

Open Doors reported 360 Million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination 1/7 Christians worldwide

North Korea has been displaced as the number one persecutor of Christians by Afghanistan.

13 Christians per day have been killed in Nigeria and in China cameras are present in all state authorized religious venues

The Biblical Perspective on Persecution - for the Christian, persecution is:

Normal, to be expected 2 Tim 3.12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Brings about perseverance which brings about completion James 1.2-4

Momentary and light 2 Cor 4.17

The means by which we receive an eternal weight of glory and very great rewards 2 Cor 4.17 / Luke 6.22-23

James 1.2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

2 Co 4.17 “For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,”

2 Corinthians 4:1–5:11 | 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 So then, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we have been made manifest to God; and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences.

Main Point: The Christian can be absolutely assured of three facts, persecution which develops perseverance which ultimately results in the perfection of their faith

Prayer

Yahweh, You are great and gracious and loving as is fitting for the gloriously holy God of the Universe.

You sit above all and no force can withstand You. No fist raised against You will prevail. Your Christ has come and His kingdom is growing and even now persecution is refining Your people, developing perseverance and enhancing their testimony of the truth.

Help us as we look at this instance of persecution to hope on You, to trust You and take every thought captive to the obedience to our King. Help us to love those who hate You and to pray for the salvation of those that harm us. Help us as we continue in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

Prepare us for whatever may come, it is in Christ’s name i pray, amen.

Context

After Joash’s reign collapsed with his rejection of the word of the Lord he was followed by 12 more kings. Some were good, some bad but all but one failed in the end and the people of Judah followed them in their idolatry until they were finally removed by Nebuchadnezzar and the Temple destroyed in 587BC.

2 Chronicles 36:14–21 | 14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of Yahweh which He had set apart as holy in Jerusalem. 15 And Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by the hand of His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His habitation; 16 but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who killed their choice men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on choice man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king and of his officials, he brought them all to Babylon. 19 Then they burned the house of God and tore down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. 20 And those who had escaped from the sword he took away into exile to Babylon; and they were slaves to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were fulfilled.

I. The Lord Stirred Up

Then Cyrus was stirred up by Yahweh to return the Jews back to Judah to rebuild the Temple

Ezra 1.1-4 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to complete the word of Yahweh from the mouth of Jeremiah—Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he had a proclamation pass throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ‘Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. ‘So everyone who remains, at whatever place he may sojourn, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’””

The Leaders spirits stirred up

Ez 1.5 “Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, that is of everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem.”

II. Foundation of the Temple Laid

Ez 3:10-11 “So the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh. Then the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise Yahweh according to the directions of King David of Israel. And they sang, praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness endures forever upon Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised Yahweh because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid.”

III. Three Attacks of the Adversaries

1st Attack: Defilement - rebuffed through purity

Ez 4.1-2 “Then the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel, so they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.””

Ez 4.3 “But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.””

2nd Attack: Discouragement - ultimately rebuffed through obedience to Yahweh

Ez 4.4-5 “So the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and dismayed them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

Haggai 1:13-14 “Then Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh, spoke by the commissioned message of Yahweh to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares Yahweh.” So Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God,”

PROBABLY OMIT EZ 4.6-23 AS NOT SEQUENTIAL / NOT CHRONOLOGICAL AND NOT STRICTLY RELATED TO THE TEMPLE REBUILD 3rd Attack: Dirty Politics - ultimately dealt with by Yahweh

Ez 4.6 “Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.”

3rd Attack: Dirty Politics - ultimately dealt with by Yahweh through Darius

Ez 5.3-5 “At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this house and to complete this structure?” Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were rebuilding this building. But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a document be returned concerning this.”

Ez 6.6-8 ““Now Tattenai, governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues, the officials of the provinces beyond the River, keep away from there. “Leave that work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild that house of God in its designated place. “Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for those elders of Judah in the rebuilding of that house of God: the full cost is to be given to those people from the royal treasury out of the tribute of the provinces beyond the River, and that without negligence.”

Daniel 2.21 ““And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.”

IV. The House Completed

Ezra 6.13-16 “Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent. And the elders of the Jews were building and succeeding through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. So they built and completed it according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was brought to completion on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.”

Application

TLC

Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ / Tear down speculations with Truth / Tear down everything raised up against what God has said

2 Co 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”

What did He command? See below

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you:

Matthew 5.44 ““But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Agape Love/Sacrificial love

How can you pray for them:

Godly sorrow leading to repentance 2 Cor 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death.”

Mercy Acts 7.58-60 “And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.”

Justice Micah 6.8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does Yahweh require of you But to do justice, to love lovingkindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

CONSIDER Continue in the things you learned and remember those whom you learned from

2 Timothy 3:14 “But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them,”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things.”

Conclusion:

1 Peter 5:6–11 | 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished among your brethren who are in the world. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground you. 11 To Him be might forever and ever. Amen.

Put on the Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10–20 | 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 16 In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, 17 also receive THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel— 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains—so that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.