Monday 11th May
Read Ezra 5:1-5
“Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, ‘Who authorised you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?’ 4 They also asked, ‘What are the names of those who are constructing this building?’ 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” (NIVUK)
We shift back from the halting of the work on the walls (Nehemiah 4:6-23) to the rebuilding of the temple with Zerubbabel and Joshua. Work was stop-start for a couple of years but then two prophets were sent to support them. It is striking the contrast between these two men, one plain-speaking and one poetically enigmatic, yet between them God was heard and the people responded.
As the wheels were set in motion and larger and larger stones were collected the rulers in the province became increasingly nervous. Lots can be done with large stones after all… The stakes are quite high. The rulers asked for names. One doesn’t have to have watched many movies set in totalitarian regimes to know the significance, and induced fear, of handing over names.
However, when God speaks powerfully by His word, people are emboldened. The eye of God was upon them and the work continued. We will see what their answer is in due course.
“‘When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’” (Luke 12:11-12) (NIVUK)
