#597 So You Say

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this:[a] “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

Tattenai's Letter to King Darius

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.7 They sent him a report, in which was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’10 We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders.[b] 11 And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. 13 However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. 14 And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 and he said to him, “Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.” 16 Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’ 17 Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.” Ezra 5 ESV

What did Haggai say to them?

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. Haggai 1: 2-10

Now before someone had blocked you, yet was the temple not a good thing? How have you gone to look into and about this since? The people now have decided "the time has not yet come," there is adversity, it is a sign you say. I don't understand so I stop looking, cease from trying, its only going to tick somebody off if I bring it up again, the people have spoken. A door has closed and surely that was the only door, God has brought us here for some other purpose than to serve Him. My needs are met, my house is built, and so on and so we assume to know the mind of God without His word. We cease to pray because the same door that closed did not open up straight away, the first few times we prayed. Prayer then does not work, you proved that to yourself enough, we do not need to assemble, there is no need for a place of worship. Oh dang, what is this!? God's prophets are saying something else, they are repeating His words and it sounds nothing like our own. "Go build my house."

So now an adversary comes again, someone who has time on their hands, and some bit of authority I suppose. "Hey, who told you that you could do this?" But this time the prophets of God are with them, working with them, supporting them, and God keeps these men from shutting it down themselves. The answer the Jews give to these men, these men pass along to Darius, and it is a wonderful composition, for in it is a testament to the One true God. Just say it, and then pray without ceasing. Look at what they said again.

‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.

They claim God, not of this place, not just Israel, but the God, like Darius is the king but in such a diminutive comparison, for God also made him, he is Creator and over all. We are rebuilding His house that our father's lost, this place of communion and His presence was taken away because of sin. He gave them over to the place that Abraham was first called from. Please check your records from the time of Cyrus and you will see that we were commissioned, that this was not started in rebellion. Some were probably shaking their heads, what a waste of time, it's never going to work, but they forget about the influence of God, and that God gives us such reminders in that Daniel is adviser to these kings. You cannot see everything that is going on, just confess your position in sin, a fallen nature and cry out to God for help. That is your testimony, the truth, I don't deserve to be here building God's house, but oh what an honor, a blessing it is. I think no matter how lost or arrogant a man may be, we do not know for sure that Tattenai did or did not wish them ill will, but God held him certainly from making a knee jerk reaction to cease construction. It is also admirable that he does not send this to Darius with any special spin on it like the governor before. They were doing this and this is the reason they gave as why. "I have set aside to know nothing among you, except Christ and Him crucified and risen from the dead." Sometimes those that are against us, are not for reasons of their own malice or envy, sometimes they are just doing their job, and we should say, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33