The Book of Ezra is dominated by correspondence, by letters. Mostly written from Israel’s enemies back to the Persian authorities (particularly Persian Kings) … seeking to question (at best) or even halt (the true goal) the work of building the Temple, rebuilding it anyway.

Here are the two prime examples.

Back in Ezra chapter 4 some haters of the Jews wrote King Artaxerxes and asked him to stop the Jewish construction Project, primarily (they said) because it was anti-government, harming the Persian government! (A lie, by the way.) Ezra 4:6 tells us … “And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him AN ACCUSATION AGAINST the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.”

So that King made a search of the books and decided against the Jews, based on the “facts” he no doubt would have  said. He decided the (false) charges against Judah were true! “And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.” Ezra 4:19! So … look what he commanded: “Cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded.” Yes, he authoritatively ruled against the Jews. Stop the building, so says Ezra 4:21.

His record books (historical annals) were interpreted AGAINST Israel!

Now in Ezra chapter 5 another group of detractors (hinderers, agents of the devil) have appeared and want to question (to do the Jews even more harm) this building effort! Ezra 5:3 … “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?”

So a second Persian King is involved, this time Darius. “The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto DARIUS THE KING: They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, WHO COMMANDED YOU TO BUILD THIS HOUSE, AND TO MAKE UP THESE WALLS? We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.”

Wow!

So now King Darius (not any longer King Artaxerxes, who ruled AGAINST Judah) makes a search (of virtually the same history books, mind you) and decides IN FAVOR OF the people of God! Read please Ezra 6:1-3, and say “Hallelujah!” This is thrilling! “Then DARIUS the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the ROLLS (BOOKS, SCROLLS), where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a ROLL, and therein was a RECORD thus written: in the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, LET THE HOUSE BE BUILDED, the place where they offered sacrifices, and LET THE FOUNDATIONS BE STRONGLY LAID …” That’s all King Darius needed, historical precedent! His decree then … pro-Jewish! (Build, build, build!)

Here’s the “point” today …

Two different Kings (and their aides no doubt) reading the same records … but arriving at totally different interpretations!

Artaxerxes … the Jews are rebels!

Darius … the Jews are God’s people!

Wow again!

And folks, this is happening every day in our world, too.

Christian men and women who are highly trained scientists read the fossil records (and other data) and say, THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN, A CREATOR!

But non-Christian men and women read those same records and say, THERE IS NO GOD, CREATION IS A STROKE OF LUCK, NOTHING ELSE!

Artaxerxes “wanted” to hurt the Jews and his “reading” of the books allowed him to proceed in that direction!

Darius “wanted” to help the Jews (as did King Cyrus long before him) and his “reading” of the same books moved him to do so!

It is not always the bare FACTS … but how one interprets those facts … that lead to personal (and life-altering) conclusions!

Remember today’s Lesson well, please.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Maybe Titus 1:15 applies … “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

Amen!

 

Most of the Prophets of Israel or Judah exercised their ministries prior to the so-called Babylonian Captivity, before 586 BC. Then two of the Old Testament Prophets (Ezekiel and Daniel) wrote and preached during that sad 70 year span of time. But then again, a few men (Prophets indeed) led Judah after the (Babylonian but had eventually become Persian) Exile.

This last group would be known as “post-captivity” servants of God, Prophets.

Ezra 5:1 mentions two of these “heroes.” Notice with me … “Then the prophets, HAGGAI the prophet, and ZECHARIAH the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel (sort of like the governor) the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and WITH THEM WERE THE PROPHETS OF GOD HELPING THEM.” Well, I’ve included verse 2 also. Note the capitalized words. They need emphasis as you read.

There they are, two of them anyway, “post-captivity” men of God. (Actually there are three such Prophets, Malachi being considered in this category too.)

And then remember they (their sermons, their writings) are precisely placed at the end of the Old Testament … “Haggai and Zechariah and Malachi.” Exactly where they should be located, I might add. “Post exile” or sometimes called “post exilic” as they are.

Yes, Haggai is the same man as wrote the Book that bears his name. As a quick perusal of his little 2 chaptered (only 38 verses) Book shows. (The man was a virtual cheerleader for the building project at hand, the very Temple of Almighty God!)

And Zechariah? “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of IDDO the prophet, saying …” Zechariah 1:1, question asked … question answered! (Grown children and even much younger grandchildren too, all fell under the category of “sons” or “descendants” in those days. You could add great-grandchildren to that list as well.)

What’s the point in all this minutiae, you might be asking?

Simply this fact.

GOD ALWAYS HAS A PREACHER, A PROPHET, TO DELIVER HIS MESSAGE, TO DECLARE HIS WORD … AT ANY GIVEN TIME! PRE-CAPTIVITY … MID-CAPTIVITY … AND POST CAPTIVITY, THE PEOPLE OF GOD HAD A PROCLAIMER TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH!

Many believe (me included) that the 12 Old Testament “Minor Prophets” (Hosea through Malachi) are generally arranged in chronological order! With Hosea and Amos (the first two) being earlier and Zechariah and Malachi (the last two) being later.

See?

A Prophet for all times, for all occasions!

Hebrews 1:1-2 further illustrates. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Wow!

Look at your Preacher carefully this coming Sunday! Shake his hand. Get his autograph! Make a quick photo. After all, if he’s a true God-called Man … he is in that long line of Servants of the Lord who were born … “for such a time as this!”

Preachers, my role models.

The ones who have stood true to God through the years.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Soon as you finish reading the Lesson today … pray for 3 dear Preachers you know and love. Who have been a help to you through the years.

Is the Bible a history textbook?

No, not per se, at least it was not designed specifically for that reason.

But when the Bible does address matters of history … it is accurate. I tend to say “infallible, inerrant!” Without mistake, in other words!

But still, one will not find a detailed summary of the lives of the Vikings in Scripture. Or the Mayflower voyage across the Atlantic!

But one does find history … as it involves God’s people, either Israel or the Church … as it involves God’s Will on the earth! (Maybe in the heavens, too!)

And that brings me to today’s Text, Bible Text … Ezra chapter 5.

It is nearly 100% history!

Babylonian, Medo-Persian history, Jewish history!

Wow!

In it’s relatively short 17 verse “path” (Ezra 5 being the subject now) one finds mentioned King after King … Darius and Nebuchadnezzar (posthumously) and Cyrus (with Ezra 4 having already mentioned Artaxerxes, 3 times in fact)! Plus the chapters refers to several Prophets of God, two to be specific, Haggai and Zechariah! Not counting the governor of the “across the river” territory, a man named Tatnai!

Yes, history!

But only as it played a role in the life of Judah, God’s “chosen people,” or as Deuteronomy 32:10 calls the Jews, “the apple of His Eye!”

More about chapter 5 tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Looks like, truth be told, several lessons from that part of Ezra are upcoming!

But the “point” today, still talking about history …

I remember one day in class, history class, years ago now (high school really) that our teacher began the school year (the first class of the first week) by calling us to order … then walking to the chalkboard (that long ago) and writing there this word … “HISTORY.” The immediately he (I can still remember his name, Mr. Youstra) re-wrote the word as “HIS” then, with a space between the letters … “STORY!”

Then he turned to us and proclaimed that HISTORY is merely the revelation (the review) of HIS STORY, God’s Story in his dealing with mankind! Hence, from the Christian perspective, a working definition of history!

That’s the idea embedded in Ezra chapter 5, in all the Book of Ezra actually.

Ah, why not say it … in all the Bible!

“HIS STORY!”

And the Bible is “full” of his-story as well!

From Genesis to Revelation, lots of history. (Some divinely inspired Prophecy too, let there be no doubt!) But tons of history!

God involved in history?

Almost God controlling history, in a sense!

One more supporting verse today … “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1, God running His universe!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, through a wicked letter (filled with malice and half-truth) the enemy (mostly Samarians) was able to bring about a halt to the work of reconstructing the Jewish Temple, back in the days of Zerubbabel.

Here’s the Text: “Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in SAMARIA, and unto the rest beyond the river (the Euphrates), Peace, and at such a time.  The LETTER which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city (Jerusalem) of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now commandment to CAUSE THESE MEN TO CEASE, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ LETTER was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, THEY WENT UP IN HASTE to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and MADE THEM CEASE BY FORCE AND POWER. Then CEASED THE WORK OF THE HOUSE OF GOD which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Ezra 4:17-24

I hope you’ve read this sad story, completely.

God’s work … stopped!

But the heart of the Lesson this Monday morning is that last verse … “So the work ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

It ceased, clearly … but only … “unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

Temporary cessation!

The Jews will be back, hammers in hand!

I’ve tried to do the math here. Darius began his reign in Persia in 522 BC. That means the work resumed in 520 BC, sixteen years after it was stopped! (It was forcefully suspended in 536 BC, best I can tell.)

Sixteen years of delay!

Looks like … wasted time!

BUT STILL … THE DEVIL HERE ONLY WON A TEMPORARY VICTORY!

The Temple was ultimately built!

The Jews, under the encouragement of some godly Prophets (Haggai, for example) returned to the task at hand! To building God’s House!

Oh, what solace we might find herein!

Defeats do NOT have to be permanent!

They (in Christ) can be reversed!

In fact, our great God can … “restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm.” Joel 2:25, restoring “lost” time! This must be the God of all the ages!

Wow!

Isaiah tell us also that God can … “give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3

Take our “ashes” and give us beauty?

Take our “sadness” (mourning) and give us joy?

Take our “pressures” (heaviness) and give us praise?

YES!

YES!

YES!

And such is called … reversing former loses!

Making defeat into merely something temporary!

Folks, indeed there is victory in Jesus!

And what Jesus did for them … He can still do for you and me!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Listen to our Lord talk to His Disciples in John 16:33 … “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

The “defeated” become “conquerors” through Christ our Lord!

Actually Paul says God can make us “more than conquerors!” Romans 8:37

Hallelujah!

 

We’re only in the 4th chapter of Ezra (4 of 10 chapters) and an enemy has already appeared on the horizon. (I had no idea we would be studying the “tactics” of the evil one in this little Book of Scripture!)

In fact, this is the third day of studying these dangerous “ways of the devil.”

First the adversaries of Judah (actually people of the Tribes of both Judah and Benjamin) had tried “to join” them in their work of building the Temple, rebuilding it really. (“To join” them to do them harm, to sabotage the work, no doubt.) The Jewish leaders (Zerubbabel, for example) wisely rejected this dangerous offer!

Then the enemies tried “to weaken” the resolve of the workers (yesterday’s Lesson). The devil delights in robbing us of the strength we need to serve God.

Now today, these “devils” write a letter criticizing the Jews … a letter to the King of Persia, seeking to bring a legal “halt” to the work!

Here’s our Text: “This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.” Ezra 4:11-16

Lies!

Really, lie after lie!

Or at best, the truth s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d beyond one’s wildest imagination! A perversion of history! (It is called “revisionism” and is being practiced in modern America every day! For example our “heroes” of the past being recast into “villains!”)

But so fights the enemy!

They (in the letter) called Jerusalem a “bad city!”

Further calling them “tax evaders!”

Insinuating they are “enemies” of the government, of Persian rule!

Lies, again I affirm!

But they were HEARD by the ears of those in authority!

What a practical point today … BE CAREFUL LITTLE TONGUE WHAT YOU SAY! Or better yet in this case: BE CAREFUL LITTLE FINGERS WHAT YOU WRITE!

Proverbs 18:21 still says (truthfully) … “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Satan and his crowd have always been pretty good with their tongues!

Jesus labeled them and their ilk correctly: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is NO TRUTH in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for HE IS A LIAR, and the father of it.” John 8:44

I close (with a bit of self-reflection and trepidation) with these words from Paul: “Speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15

Someone once even defined slander (for the Christian anyway) as … “Sometimes even telling the truth WITH THE DESIGN OF HURTING ANOTHER PERSON!”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The wicked, Psalm 64:3 says … “Whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words.”

I want to live a godly life, giving my whole body to God … including my tongue!