Getting A Much Needed Jump Start

Some times we just need a jump start, a little push to get us going again or to get us going in the right direction. This is what the Children of Israel needed and got.

Ezra 5:1-5

5:1 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 Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" 4 They also asked, "What are the names of the men 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.

One summer a family took a road trip. At the beginning it wasn't difficult to navigate their way. They pointed their car west, merged with traffic on the interstate, and drove. They buzzed along the tops of Ohio and Indiana, followed the curve of Lake Michigan through Chicago, veered northwest through Wisconsin, and bore a straight line across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. They entered Yellowstone Park and spent the day watching bison and elk, skipping rocks across Yellowstone Lake, and observing geologic curiosities like paint pots, sulfur springs and geysers. They left the park as the sun slipped from the hillsides, pulling the amber of late afternoon westward. In half an hour they would be at their cabin in Ennis, Montana. The dad pulled out the map just to double check their route.

On a horizontal line, they were probably thirty miles from their hotel. But there were no direct roads that linked where they were to where they wanted to go. They had exited the park at the wrong place. In order to travel thirty miles west, they had to drive over one hundred miles out of their way. Waiting to look at the map had cost them. Instead of checking into their cabin, they were winding their way through the mountains in the dark.

The Israelites had spent a number of years on a costly detour, both politically and spiritually. The nation had not yet recovered, but the community of faith had wound its way back through the Judean hills, arriving in Jerusalem. Critical to their faith was the reconstruction of the Temple. But in the process of resettlement, they had veered off course. The Temple foundation lay in the dust like a forgotten idea. For more than a decade the unbuilt temple reminded the residents of Jerusalem that they had failed—in spite of a splendid start.

How, then, would God’s people get back on track? How would they overcome the stigma of a false start in order to complete the building project? How would their priorities be corrected so that God could once again take first place? Chapters 5 and 6 of Ezra show how God revived His people and helped them to start again to rebuild His house. First God sent the people a reminder.

1. The Reminder (vs. 1-2)

God knew that the Israelites needed to be reminded of their original task, the rebuilding of God's Temple. To this end God sent them two prophets – “the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo” (vs. 1), began to prophesy to the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.

prophets: The prophetic office was formalized in Deut 18:15–22, where God revealed that He would raise up individuals who would speak His words to His people (Deut 18:15, 18, 20, 22). The Hebrew term meaning “spokesman,” is the most common word for prophet in the ot. A more complete definition is “one sent by God to announce His Word.”

prophesied: This act of prophesying is likely similar to modern preaching. The prophets were called to preach the divine message to the nation.

The building of the temple was stopped about fifteen years. Then two of God's ministers, urged the people to go on with the work. This was a sign that God had mercy in store for His people.

In Haggai and Zechariah, we see what great things God does by His word. Because we have written records of their prophecies, we know exactly what God said through them. Through Haggai God rebuked the people for their failure to rebuild the temple and called them to a new beginning: “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified” (Hag. 1:8). Through Zechariah God declared, “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it …” (Zech 1:16).

Both prophets distinguished Zerubbabel, “governor of Judah,” and Jeshua, “the high priest” (Hag. 1:1), as leaders who would oversee the work on the temple. “Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,” says the Lord; “and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,” says the Lord, “and work; for I am with you,” says the Lord of hosts. —Haggai 2:4 

 

The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.” —Zechariah 4:9 

 

Ezra 5 shows that Haggai and Zechariah successfully inspired “Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel (sheh-al-tee-ale') and Jeshua the son of Jozadak (yo-taw-dawk').” (vs. 2). After many years of delay they began to rebuild the temple. Verse 2 adds that “the prophets of God were with them, helping them.”

Haggai and Zechariah did not sit far off, shouting their prophecies from a distance; rather, they stood shoulder to shoulder with those whom they had encouraged. 

 

This is how the first-century Jewish historian Josephus interprets these events: Haggai and Zechariah, two prophets who were among them at that time, urged them to take courage and not to be apprehensive of any untoward action by the Persians, for God, they said, fore told this to them. And so, having faith in the prophets, they applied themselves vigorously to the building, without relaxing for a single day. 

 

So the prophets of God successfully stirred up the people and their leaders. Finally, in the second year of Darius, the rebuilding of God’s temple began again God gave His people strength to continue the work through the words of His faithful prophets. It's always so. God’s Word is your immovable anchor in time of storms.

2. Not Again! (vs. 3-5)

As I told you last week, whenever you start to do a work for God, Satan comes around. Once the Israelites began rebuilding the temple, leaders from the surrounding regions become concerned. “Tattenai (tat-ten-ah'-ї) the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai (sheth-ar' bo-zen-ah'-ї) and their companions” came to Jerusalem to ask questions about the project (v. 3).

An ancient tablet mentions Tattenai as governor of the province “Beyond the River.” Apparently Tattenai ruled over a region broader than Judah, of which Zerubbabel was governor. Shethar-Boznai may have been his assistant or ally. Tattenai and those with him asked the Israelites who had commanded them to build the temple “and finish this wall” (v. 3). They may have been referring to the walls of the temple or to the city walls, we can't be sure. 

 

Their question does not necessarily indicate a meanness of spirit, it would not have been out of line for a Persian official to ask the Israelites if they had permission to undertake such a project.

The Aramaic of verse 5 reads simply: “and they did not stop them until the report could go to Darius.”

Did the officials want to stop the Israelites from building or simply wanted to make sure that they had the proper building permits? We can't be sure, but based on passed experiences, I think it is safe to say Satan had his hand in this.

While “the king's eyes” throughout the Persian Empire, were assessing the territories and activities of the people, “the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,” The official inquiry from Tattenai and his companions did not halt the building project (v. 5). The writer of Ezra makes a strong contrast between the protectors of Darius and Judah's God, who ruled over all the earth. Darius had his inspectors, but God watched and reigned over everyone, and He still does. According to Job 36:7, God “does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous.”

Psalm 33 further confesses:Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine. —Psalm 33:18–19

3. How to Get Started Again

After sixteen years of procrastination and delay, finally the Israelites began to rebuild God’s temple again. What enabled them to start again? What broke through their complacency and fear? This question is not merely academic but relates to our personal lives, we all find ourselves like the Israelites at times: worn out, preoccupied, and unwilling to do what God has called us to do. Perhaps we wander from intimacy with the Lord and rarely say a prayer or look at His Word. How do we begin again?

Perhaps we realize that our marriages are lifeless. The stress of a busy life has taken its toll and years of neglect bring us to the brink of divorce. How can we start again? It can be particularly difficult to begin anew when you feel the stigma of a false start. When you have started something before, only to fail, you may approach new beginnings with wariness, even cynicism. A voice in side of you says: “Oh, don’t even try to renew your prayer life or read your Bible daily. You’ve tried before, and failed. It just won’t work.” How can you find the hope to start again with the Lord?

You can find a helpful clue here in Ezra 5. Notice the chain of events in the second year of Darius that caused the Israelites to begin work on the temple project again. First, God called Haggai and Zechariah into prophetic service. They in turn called God’s people to obedience and inspired the leaders of Judah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, to oversee the activities. 

 

Once again we are reminded that restoration begins with God, who is sovereign over all things and who inspires successful new beginnings. Notice also that God did not rebuild the temple Himself; rather, He raised up and used people who would respond to His call. He called Haggai and Zechariah who were ready to be used by God. Then, through these prophets He addressed and encouraged Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the leaders of Judah. Although they could have disregarded the word of the Lord, they chose to obey instead. Thus, God initiated a new beginning that continued as people responded to His call. 

 

What would have happened if Haggai and Zechariah, or Zerubbabel and Jeshua, had been indifferent to God’s leading? What if their response had been, No! We can only speculate, of course, but presumably the work on the temple would not have began again. What new work is God doing or wanting to do that involves you? How are you responding to His prompting?

Starting again begins with God, but it continues as we respond obediently to His initiative.

Take for instance, a couple in a church who were on the verge of divorce. They had filed all the necessary papers, and their divorce was scheduled to become final in a month or so. One Sunday morning they “happened” to attend church (separately, of course) where the pastor spoke on the sanctity of marriage and the dreadfulness of divorce. By God’s grace each of them heard His call to start anew. On Monday morning the pastor received a phone call from the husband, who wanted to talk about a possible restoration of the couple's marriage. Thus began a process of rebuilding. Which led to a renewing of their vows. 

 

What turned that couple around? What gave them the courage to start again? On the one hand, God used the pastor to speak His truth prophetically; yet, more importantly, God spoke to the hearts of this couple, and they responded with openness and obedience.

Your situation may be different, but God is speaking to you, how will you responded?