Oh, how shrewd the Devil is!

How “wily,” meaning “skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.” A word that reached its peak use about a hundred years ago, and now must be defined.

And today’s Text, Ezra 4:1-3, illustrates what I mean. How the devil himself is “transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14.

Here’s our Lesson today …

“Now when the adversaries (enemies, trouble makers) of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.” Ezra 4:1-3

Ever heard this maxim? “If you can’t ‘lick’ them … ‘join’ them!”

That’s precisely what these enemies (“adversaries”) did in regard to the Jews who were building the Temple!

Now go back and read the Text carefully. Get the gist of the story.

These people literally “hated” the Jews … yet now they are offering to become “confederate” with them in their construction project! “Can we help you?” But they were lying in their hearts!

Listen: “Let us build with you.”

Then they prevaricate even more, say untrue things. ““For we seek your God, as ye do.” Not so. They had worshipped heathen gods for many years. (Or at least worshipped heathen gods along with Jehovah God. “Syncretism” it’s called.)

But Zerubbabel and his “cabinet” refused this (false) offer!

Wisely so!

Listen again: “They said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God.” The House of OUR God, see it?

Today the spirit of ecumenicity would have overruled this big NO!

“Lets lay aside our differences,” we’re being now told! Let’s not emphasize our “distinctives!” Let’s “cut corners” on any doctrine that might be offensive!

These bold men of old would have said, “NOTHING DOING!”

“NAY!”

Why?

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

And Proverbs 22:25 tells us one of the main reasons to avoid the wicked … “Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” Wow!

Do not let the devil attack you “from within!”

Here (today’s Lesson) is an Old Testament principle that still is critically important today.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6 again, but verse 17 this time.

I think enough has been said.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Nearly anytime God’s people inch forward, make progress … there will be opposition!

And the Book of Ezra has carefully recorded for us how a handful of Jews, returning from Babylon, built an altar to Almighty God. And how they immediately thereafter started to (re)build the Temple (so far just the foundation, but still advancing toward the goal). Progress indeed!

THEN … came the trouble!

“Now when the ADVERSARIES of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel ….” Ezra 4:1

The noun used here for “adversary” is “tzsar” in Hebrew. It is also translated “enemy” 37 different times in the King James Version of Scripture, to give you a synonym.

The root of “tzsar” is a verb meaning “to tighten one’s grip” on a person. “To bind, to make narrow,” thus “to cause pain!” In other words, “to besiege.” Maybe even including the idea of “applying pressure!”

So clearly the devil has begun to0 fight the work!

Yes, because of evil … good will be opposed.

Listen to Jesus on this subject.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18

Let me stop right here this morning and try to encourage some saint who is facing such difficulty (or difficulties)!

If the devil is fighting … that might be a sign the work you are doing is significant!

Such manifold trials might mean that you have “hurt” him and his nefarious cause … in your recent advances for the Lord!

Jesus again in John 16:33 … “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation (pressure): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Wow!

I either read or heard a Preacher say this once:

“You can often tell a man’s character not only by the friends he keeps, but by the enemies who fight him!”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Jews’ Temple (the one history now calls “Zerubbabel’s Temple”) is not yet complete. Not by a long shot, as we will see in a few lessons.

BUT … the foundation has been laid! At least it had by the time Ezra 3:11-13 pronounces this new development: “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WAS LAID. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, WEPT WITH A LOUD VOICE; and many SHOUTED ALOUD FOR JOY. So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.”

Wow!

Once that foundation was complete … different reactions were recorded!

The old men loudly wept!

The other people rejoiced and shouted!

This is interesting.

I can see both points of view, I think.

This new temple would be so much less grand than the older one Nebuchadnezzar had virtually destroyed. And the “ancient” men, the elderly Jews, would have personally seen all that glory, majesty!

But the younger men would not have had that perspective, having been born in Babylon. They were just thankful for a place (on Jewish soil, in the Holy Land) where they could finally worship. They no longer had to hang their harps upon foreign willow trees! See Psalm 137:2.

Yet, I must add …

Such crying (so loudly, and almost as if this attitude prevailed: “We’ve seen greater things that you’ve ever seen!”) could have been detrimental to the general congregation!

Maybe crying in private would have been better, at least acceptable!

But not such crying that so bemoaned bygone days! Not in public!

“Things aren’t what they used to be” … that syndrome!

Why not thank God for what He is currently doing … present tense?

Instead of grieving over what (now missing) greater things He had done in the past?

Yes indeed … tell me about God’s great works of history! Think about them too. “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done.” Psalm 40:5a, likely they very words of Jesus, prophesied a thousand years in advance!

But do not use them to discourage those (in the present, right now) who are rejoicing over a victory (even if small) in their lives, a God-sent victory!

If you Church has a Revival and 1 soul is saved!

Don’t stand up in the testimony meeting and tell about the “old days” when 75 souls got saved!

Rejoice in God’s Goodness today!

I’ll close today with these verses from Lamentations. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are NEW EVERY MORNING: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Did you see it?

God’s MERCIES are NEW EVERY MORNING!

Not just new LAST YEAR!

Amen.

“GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, O LORD!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

A phrase in Ezra 3:8 has caught my attention … “ALL they that were come out of the captivity.”

Here are those words again, in their context, in their proper verse setting. “Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and ALL THAT WERE COME OUT OF THE CAPTIVITY unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, TO SET FORWARD THE WORK OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.” Look at the cooperation here!

“All,” in Hebrew “kol,” meaning “the whole” of a group, no exceptions!

This scenario reminds me of a situation in the Book of Nehemiah (chapter 3) … when 42 different work groups labored so harmoniously to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Just a few years later than our Text today, in fact.

“All that were come out of the captivity … set forward the work of the House of the Lord!”

Wow!

Wouldn’t it be great if our local Church families worked that well (in unity) next year, this fresh year I mean. (I am writing this particular lesson Monday morning, January 1st, 2018.)

And our families lived in such peace the next year as well?

That we would all (who believe in Jesus our Lord and Saviour) would seek to serve His Cause, without “murmurings and disputings?”

That the GOAL would be (in our hearts) GREATER than our lesser personal differences!!!

The Goal of magnifying Christ!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Forty-two thousand Jews, nearly forty-three thousand have returned home from Babylon, a land by then ruled by Persia. (Others will follow, this is the first returning “wave” of Israelites under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, a little known hero.)

And their first order of business … building an altar where God can be worshipped, sacrifice made in His name, atoning for sin!

Then, and only then, they attempted to build (rebuild really) the Temple of God!

That’s where today’s Verse, today’s Bible Study “thought” comes in …

“Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, BEGAN Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.” Ezra 3:8, I have purposely capitalized one verb in the verse.

Do you see that verb?

“Began,” in Hebrew spelled “chalal,” is translated just that, “began,” 52 different times in the King James Version of the Bible. (One other time it is translated “men began.“)

Just getting started.

This new work of rebuilding such a holy Structure will meet many obstacles.

Delays even!

But at least now it is begun!

What this is, to Judah, is an exciting “new beginning!”

And today I am writing you on December 30, 2017, the next-to-last day of the year. I’ll be preaching, Lord willing tomorrow (several times in Revival, it being Sunday) on the 31st. (Not writing here on the Website … so I need to say this to you all right now.)

Look at 2018 (the Lord willing) as a “beginning,” rather a “new beginning,” for you in your walk with the Lord!

Serve Him the next 52 weeks with fresh energy!

With all your heart … like a runner who was just handed a cool glass of water on a hot day! A second burst of enthusiasm!

Furthermore, BEGIN some new this coming year for your (our) Lord.

A new Bible Study project.

Fresh resolve to read through your whole Bible, all 1189 chapters.

Determination to pray for that missionary every day the sun rises!

(Right now I am trying to obey Hebrews 10:24 … “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” Wow!)

A new habit … not missing a single Church Service all year long … unless sick … in other words, not missing due to some lame excuse!

I need write no more.

Surely the Holy Spirit has “taken over” in your heart by now, offering His Own (though similar, I suspect) suggestions as well.

They (in Ezra’s day) BEGAN to set forward the work of the House of the Lord.

We (in our day) should also BEGIN some great things for the Glory of the very same God!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell