In the previous post (“On Rebuilding: Starting from the Ground Up”), we saw how Ezra and the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple—the centerpiece of all Israel. We mentioned that this is not unlike our own struggles to rebuild our lives, especially after things happen that rip life apart. We further mentioned that any such rebuilding must start by rebuilding the altar—turning our heart toward the Lord. We are so prone to run from Him, to try and manage life on our own that we have to turn back to Him for our rebuilding to be successful. What happens, then, after we have done that?

Continuing with the story of Ezra and the rebuilding of the temple, we come to these words:

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here” (Ezra 4:1-2).

Now, notice two things that the text says about these people. First, they were adversaries of Judah and Benjamin. They were enemies of Israel. But secondly, notice that they claimed to worship Yahweh. They said, “Hey, we’re on your side. Let us help you.” Yet, the text identifies them as adversaries, and apparently the Jews recognized them as such. So, the replied,

“You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us” (v. 3).

In this age of tolerance and ecumenism, that reply seems awfully harsh and close-minded. Aren’t we supposed to admit we need help and allow others to help us? Indeed we are. But the adversaries of God’s people are not here to help us. They come to distract us from what we are to be about. And they will use any tactics at their disposal.

We Come in Peace

First, the adversaries came in supposed peace. They acted like, “We’re one of you. We worship your God.” The wanted to get in the midst of the work to slow it down. This is often how Satan works today. People, even “good” people, come into our lives when we start on our journey of rebuilding. They want to help us. Maybe they even claim the name of Christ. Yet, they are put into our lives to distract us from the real work that needs to be done. They might suggest ways for us to cope with life, mask our pain or “just get on with life.” Perhaps they are so encouraging that they say, “You deserve so much better. You need to start living for your hopes and dreams.” The true helpers, however, who are sent by the Lord will always direct us back to Christ and the cross. Not ourselves, not other people. Christ.

Change in Tactics

Having failed to insinuate themselves into the rebuilding, the adversaries now changed their approach. We read,

Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia (vv. 4-5).

What did the adversaries do? They sought to discourage the exiles from their purpose. They bribed people to speak discouragement. In the same way, when we are rebuilding our lives, we’ll see those people who sought to be part of the work begin to discourage us. Perhaps they direct us to a “bribed counselor,” a person that will seem so knowledgeable but who will detour us from the real work of rebuilding and change. This tactic is often less subtle than the first. We hear the discouraging words. You’re just too broken. Nothing you do will ever be good enough. You need more help than your church can provide.

All-Out Assault

Apparently, not even the discouragement worked, for the adversaries decided they needed more extreme measures against the exiles.

“And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem” (v. 6).

They launched an accusation against the exiles. What was the accusation?

[T]he Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king (vv. 12-15).

First, they called Jerusalem a rebellious and wicked city. Second, they warned the king that if the city were rebuilt, there would be a decline in the royal treasury! The letter suggests that the Jews would not pay any type of tribute, toll, or custom. But see where the real motivation of the adversaries lay? “Because we eat the salt of the king’s palace.” What are they saying? “They are messing with my lifestyle! If the royal treasury suffers, then we’re going to suffer too.”

Do we not see the same thing today, in attacks against Christian people and churches? Are not these attacks the work of the same adversaries? Frustrated when they cannot gain ground in the midst of the rebuilding, they turn to discouragement. When that doesn’t work, they pull out the big guns. They file lawsuits, they accuse the faithful of crimes that will make themselves look like the victim.

The Warning

This post isn’t meant to suggest that the church adopt a spirit of isolationism. Many segments of the church have done that for far too long as it is. Nor is it mean tot strike fear into your heart as you discern whom to allow into your life as you continue the journey of rebuilding and healing.

Rather, the message of these chapters of Ezra is to warn us to be mindful of the people we let into our heart in our season of rebuilding. We need people. We were not designed to go it alone. But we need His people. Not just anyone will do. Our closest friends, counselors and confidants should come from the household of faith. Those people that turn us to Christ and His cross are the people who we should allow to come alongside us as we join in His rebuilding.