Ezra 5:13














I. THAT IT IS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF HEAVEN. "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth" (ver. 11).

1. An exalted service. It is the service of God.

2. An extensive service. It reaches in its influence throughout heaven and earth.

3. An arduous service. It is to rebuild a ruined temple in the midst of enemies.

4. A humble service. At best the Church is but a servant.

II. THAT IT HAS SUFFERED MUCH THROUGH THE COMMISSION OF SIN. "But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon" (ver. 12). This is the best confession a Church can have; the Church is alone responsible for its weakness.

1. Its degradation. Israel is subject to a heathen power.

2. Its suffering. Israel is in captivity.

3. Its destruction. "Who destroyed this house." All this was attributable -

(1) Not to the Divine inability to help.

(2) Not to the Divine lack of interest.

(3) But to the Divine displeasure on account of sin.

Let the Church understand and acknowledge that her sad condition before the world is due to her lack of fidelity; she must take the discredit of her broken temples.

III. THAT IT IS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF A WONDROUS REDEMPTION. "But in the first year of Cyrus" (ver. 13).

1. The fact of redemption. The Israelites were delivered from Babylonian captivity. The Church has been set free by Christ.

2. The history of redemption. The history of Israel's deliverance was written in the records of Babylon. The history of redemption by Christ is written in the Bible; it is an earthly record as well as a heavenly history. It is in the annals of Babylon as well as in the annals of God.

3. The research of redemption. "Let there be search made" (ver. 17; 1 Peter 1:12).

4. The pleasure of redemption. "And let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter." God's pleasure is man's freedom.

IV. THAT IT IS ENGAGED IN A YET UNFINISHED ENTERPRISE. "And since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished" (ver. 16). It is indeed true that the Church is as yet engaged in an unfinished enterprise; all its temples are not built; its walls are not erected; Jesus does not yet see all things put under him.

1. The reason. Why is the work of the Church unfinished - is it from lack of energy or fidelity?

2. The duration. How long is it to remain unfinished? only God can tell. How long, O Lord?

3. The reproach. With so many workmen, and with the aid received, the work of the Church ought to be more advanced. The half finished walls are a rebuke to us.

4. The requirement. We must go with new determination and more fervent prayer to complete the work of the Church.

5. Caution. We cannot judge the temple till it is finished; the work of God will appear best at the end.

6. The anticipation. When the top stone of the great temple shall be brought on with joy. Let us build to completion. - E.

Then the prophets, Haggai.
The best commentary on these verses is the first chapter of Haggai.

I. THE INCITERS TO THE WEST.

1. Want of interest in the work is implied.

2. Obligation to perform the work is implied.

3. Exhortations to resume the work were given.

II. THE LEADERS IN THE WORK. "Then rose up Zerubbabel," etc.

1. They resumed the work readily.

2. They led the work appropriately. "Those that are in places of dignity and power, ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their power to put life into every good work."

3. They led work influentially. The example of those who occupy high stations is —

(1)Most conspicuous.

(2)Most attractive.

III. THE HELPERS IN THE WORK. "The prophets." They assisted by their —

1. Exhortations to vigorous prosecution of the work.

2. Assurances of the presence of God with them.

3. Promises of future blessings from God to them.

IV. THE GREAT FIRST CAUSE OF THE WORK. " The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel," etc. "All holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed" from Him. "I will build My Church," said our Lord to Peter. All the inspiration, wisdom, etc., of the under-builders come from him. Learn —

1. The insidious nature of worldliness.

2. The value of faithful ministers.

3. The solemn obligation of men in eminent stations.

(William Jones.)

The Hebrew prophets came when the circumstances of society were least favourable. Like painters arising to adorn a dingy city, like poets singing of summer in the winter of discontent, like flowers in the wilderness, like wells in the desert, they brought life and strength and gladness to the helpless and despondent, because they came from God. The literary form of their work reflected the civilisation of their day, but there was on it a light that never shone on sea or shore, and this they knew to be the light of God. We never find a true religious revival springing from the spirit of the age. Such a revival always begins in one or two choice souls — in a Moses, a Samuel, a John the Baptist, a St. Bernard, a Jonathan-Edwards, a Wesley, a Newman.

(W. F. Adeney, M. A.)

People
Apharesachites, Apharsachites, Cyrus, Darius, Haggai, Iddo, Jeshua, Jozadak, Nebuchadnezzar, Shealtiel, Sheshbazzar, Shethar, Shetharboznai, Tatnai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel
Places
Babylon, Babylonia, Beyond the River, Jerusalem
Topics
Babylon, Build, Building, Cyrus, Decree, However, Issued, Order, Orders, Rebuild, Rebuilt
Outline
1. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building
3. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews
6. Their letter to Darius against the Jews

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezra 5:13

     5463   proclamations
     7382   house of God
     7468   temple, rebuilding

Ezra 5:12-17

     5305   empires

Ezra 5:13-6:5

     5366   king

Ezra 5:13-16

     4215   Babylon
     5340   house

Library
Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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