Rebuilding the Temple stops

Ezra Chapter 4

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard about the rebuilding of the Temple and they approached Zerubbabel and asked to help and worship their God. But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and other leaders of of Israel decided they should have no part in the rebuilding because they had nothing in common. Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and frustrated them. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.

Years later when Xerxes began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote him a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter which (see verses 11 thru 16) informed him the Jews were rebuilding a rebellious and evil city. And furthermore, it would be to the king's disadvantage to have Jews who would not pay their tribute, customs and tolls. They suggested to the King that he search the ancestor's records and see what a rebellious city it had been in the past and was destroyed because of its long history of sedition against the kings and countries who tried to control it.

King Artaxerxes replied that the letter had been read to him and he ordered a search made of the records and indeed found that in the past, Jerusalem had been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. He issued orders to have the people stop their work and not rebuild.

Thus the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem stopped and remained at a standstill until the second year of King Darius's reign.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: These enemies of Israel claimed to worship the same God, but they worshipped many gods. Their real motive was to disrupt the Temple project. They relied on discouragement and fear to help them stop the rebuilding.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Even in these times today, Christians suffer setbacks and standstills in their work. But we must stand strong for the Lord. We must keep our aim on the right goal and that is the strength of the Lord. He alone can keep us going when times get tough. Use prayer daily to talk with God. He listens and can help us get through any rough patch.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.