Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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We begin tonight where we left off last Wednesday evening.
The foundation of the temple has been laid.
The young are rejoicing.
The old are grieving.
“It was the best of times it was the worst of time.”
-Charles Dickens
The people who knew before…knew before.
Certainly it is said by historians that the noise of the shouts and the noise of the wailing could be heard for miles.
This in mind, no wonder that the “adversaries” of the people of God would begin to rise.
Tonight we will see the opposition to the movement of The Lord amongst His people.
There are four sectional divisions in chapter 4 which point us to the reigning of four separate Kings.
Let’s begin with our first idea brought forth from the text...
The Enemy Does Not Always Appear As An Enemy.
Vs. 1 calls the people of the land the “adversaries” of Judah & Benjamin.
Notice vs 2 has the people (adversaries) approaching Israel as a friend not a foe.
When we read , what Biblical character and story comes to mind?
The Serpent in the Garden
The enemy often approaches as a friend.
In our context, the enemy is a group of people that some commentators (like Josephus) have called the Samaritans.
Who were the Samaritans?
The Samaritans- The descendants Mediterranean peoples and Jewish women that had been left behind during the exile.
These people did not know the Lord.
They had been taught, by a Jewish priest, but they were still pagans.
These Samaritans did sacrifice in the temple, but they allowed others to sacrifice to a multitude of pagan gods upon the same altar.
They built many of the high places (altars) that are spoken of in the Old Testament.
Notice, in vs. 3, the leaders lead.
They decline the offer of compromise.
But the resolve of all was not yet in place.
When opposition rises, those who are weakest tend to fear and waver.
There are times when God has to give us a push to get us going...
compare what is saying vs
haggai :
The Enemy Does Not Stop After One Failed Attempt
Ezra 1:6
Accusation- a removal of your possession, no taxes, no control
Ahasuerus - Persian King, better known as Xerxes (Book of Esther), reigning from 486 BC to 465 BC.
A third attempt at stopping the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the temple, and the wall.
Notice the king is now Artaxerxes who reigned from 464-424BC.
God Allows Our Resolve to be Tested.
Ezra 4:8-
Ezra 4:
Are we truly willing to stand firm and in the directives of the Lord.
Will we allow that which God commands to be thwarted?
Will we stand when others waiver or are hindered?
God Will Always Bring About His Will
ezra 4;24
A point to acknowledge: vss.
6-23 are a parenthetical insert which gives further revelation of the opposition over a period of years.
There is only about a 15yr pause in the work from vs 5 & vs. 24.
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