Yes, this is a lesson from the Book of Ezra.
But first read with me Psalm 36:6, part of it anyway. The writer there is addressing God … “Thy JUDGMENTS are a great deep: O LORD.”
Wow!
Job 9:10 adds to this line of thought: “Which (God) doeth great THINGS past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.” These “things,” these “wonders,” would include the Lord’s JUDGMENTS, no doubt.
Then Romans 11:33 … “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his JUDGMENTS.” Judgments again!
And even Jeremiah 12:1 … “Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead (pray) with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy JUDGMENTS.” Think of it, God’s “judgments” as a topic of conversation, as a matter of prayer! Wanting to learn more about them!
Now, why today all this “judgment” Scripture?
Because of an event in the Book of Ezra!
In that beautiful little Book (Ezra 5:3) we meet a man (really an adversary of Judah and her building projects) named Tatnai. (A foreign name, not Jewish.) “At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?” (Insinuating the Jews are building illegally!)
Well, this crowd promptly sent a letter to the Persian King, trying to yet again STOP any progress the Jews were making, on the Temple or their City, either one.
Did they, these wicked men, succeed?
Not this time!
“But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they (the enemies) could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to (King) Darius.” Praise the Lord, Ezra 5:5 (Oh, to so have God’s Eye upon us! Divine Protection!)
Now … here is the King’s “ruling” on the matter. Get this now, it relates to God’s judgments! “Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.” Ezra 6:7, let ’em alone!
Uh oh … Tatnai’s plan has backfired!
But watch, there’s more …
From the King, “Moreover I (Darius) make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods (state property), even of the tribute (tax) beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.” Ezra 6:8
Tatnai will now (by law) have to take some of HIS district’s tax money … and GIVE it to the Jews to help with the building of the house of God!
This is called “boomeranging!”
God’s judgment here is fascinating!
A man sought to hurt the Jews.
Instead … he ended up hurting himself!
Proverbs 26:27, written of a wicked man, states: “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” And that, dear readers, is exactly what just happened to Tatnai!
One more time, WOW!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Proverbs 28:10 applies to Tatnai’s situation as well, to God’s judgment on him and his buddies. “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.”
“He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” Ecclesiastes 10:8
Paul wants to add this as I close. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) Reaping what you sow … then some!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell