September 19, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Ezra 4 - Though the Jews had been encouraged to get started rebuilding they ran up against opposition from the local adversaries who were seeking to disrupt the process.  At first these residents acted like they wanted to help, but when their assistance was declined they became enemies to the Jews, verses 1-4.  They would eventually send a letter to the king of Persia to request he stop them from rebuilding because the history of Jerusalem was that it was a city, "...harmful to kings and provinces...they have incited sedition...in former times" verse 15.  The king sent an order for the building to be stopped, verses 21,22.

Ezra 5 - The prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, responded to this opposition by encouraging the Jews to get back to work and rebuild the house of God, verse 1,2.  Though the adversaries complained, God had His eye on the Jews, verse 5, and they continued the work.  Another letter was sent, this time to Darius, verse 5, and sought his help to prove that Cyrus had ordered the work to begin in the first place.

Ezra 6 - Darius issued a decree to have the archives searched to support the Jews' claim that they had been granted permission by king Cyrus to rebuild the temple, verse 1.  The information was corroborated, verses 2-5, and Darius ordered that all opposition to the work immediately cease, verses 6,7.  The Jews rejoiced that God had "turned the heart of the king" in their favor, verse 22.  Note Proverbs 21:1.

Psalm 137 - This is an "imprecatory Psalm."  This means the author cried out for vengeance against one's enemies and that they should be treated as they had treated the Jews.  Only God knows when such vengeance should be administered and He will do so as He sees fit.