Introduction
We saw last week that the threats of the Jews’ enemies resulted in discouragement and capitulation. This chapter presents us with the means that God has chosen in order to jump start His people to faithful action.
The Text
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. […] Ezra 5:1ff
Summary of the Text
Through the schemes of the Jews’ enemies the work ground to a halt (4:24), but God has a way to jump start the project again. The prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah are used by God to motivate the people to resume the building of God’s house, despite the danger (vv1-2). Having resumed the work, the Persian governor, Tatnai, found it necessary to investigate why they had defied orders (v3); he requested the names of everyone involved in this impermissible building project (v4). Clearly, the preaching of the prophets has strengthened the courage of these saints, and they do not cease from the work despite it being called into question; these Persion officers were often called “the kings eyes”, but God’s people take courage in the knowledge that Yahweh’s eyes are upon them (v5, Zech. 3:9, 4:10). They continue the work, even while awaiting Darius’ decision in this matter (v5b).
Tatnai’s letter presents to Darius what he discovered upon inspecting the work of the Jews (vv6-17). His report includes reference to great stones, timber (which was used to strengthen the walls of the great buildings of antiquity), and that the work was going quickly and prosperously (v8). Tatnai also includes the explanation of the Jews as to why they are undertaking this work despite Darius’ earlier command to cease from it (4:21). The Jews argue that as servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building his house like Solomon of old had done (v11); they anticipate an objection as to why this great God’s house had fallen into destruction, and we see that the preaching of the prophets has taken root in their hearts. They answer that it was by the sins of their fathers that this judgement had befallen them (v12). Nevertheless, they appeal to Cyrus’ decree (v13, Cf. 1:1-2), as well as to the record of his actions to restore the temple instruments, and appoint Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar) as governor of Jerusalem (v14-15) to show that they are not at all acting lawlessly. They honestly admit that while they’ve been building it, they aren’t finished (v16). They request that Darius consider Cyrus’ policy and reverse his order commanding the cessation of their work (v17).
Building their Own Houses
This is one of the more unique textual moments in the OT. We have the narrative of the events, but we also have the sermon texts of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. We saw the people discouraged by the harassment of their enemies, and how they gave up the work out of this fear. But we also have the sermons rebuking and exhorting the people.
First, this indicates that faithful preaching is more than just motivational speeches, or intellectual lectures, or poetic recitations. Preaching is the pointed application of God’s Word to God’s people. It is not merely repeating the text, it is aiming the text at sin, at complacency, at negligence. A faithful pastor will take aim at the sins of his flock. He will apply God’s Word to particular moments. He must proclaim it in defiance of earthly opposition and threats.
This is what we see in the ministry of these two prophets. Despite Darius’ decree to cease the work, these men of God compel the people with a few pointed messages.
- Giving way to fears.
- Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. Hag. 2:4–5
- And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong. Zech. 8:13
- Putting the worship of God on the back burner to their own comfort and safety. Zech. 1:3–4)
- Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 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. … 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. Hag. 1:4–9
- Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
- Falling into unbelief, thinking that God wasn’t attentive to their needs.
- Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, ‘I am with you, declares the Lord.’ Hag. 1:13
- Zech. 10:1–2, 3:9, 4:10
- Mistaking this world as being unshakable, instead of looking to the unshakable Kingdom of God which the Messiah would usher in.
- For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. Hag. 2:6–9
The Shepherd Priest-King
Regarding that last point, more should be said. Zechariah’s principle message to God’s people was that they ought to make themselves and Jerusalem ready for the Messiah. He calls them to look in faith for His coming. Satan opposed the work of Zerrubbabel (the kingly figure) and Jeshua (the priestly figure) (Zech. 3:1-2). So all of these events were a part of the cosmic battle between the dragon’s kingdom and Messiah’s Kingdom. The pagan empires, at their zenith, might have seemed unshakeable. But each in turn would be shaken, removed, and replaced, until the unshakeable Kingdom of Christ arrived. This unshakeable kingdom was what Haggai and Zechariah were summoning God’s people to labor towards, understanding that they did so under the loving eye of their heavenly Father.
God promised these exiles that He would anoint a Shepherd as both their King & Priest (Zech. 6:11), and this King would be given universal reign of the world (Zech. 14:9). This Messiah would come riding into the city they were neglecting to build, on the foal of an ass (Zech. 9:9). Before conquering all the heathen nations, their Messiah would be pierced before the very eyes of His own people, the descendants of these saints (Zech. 12:10). But the result of all this would be the universal reign of Messiah’s peace: “he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth (Zech. 9:10).” Thus, all their efforts were not pointless. That brick they were laying, that timber they were sawing, the wall they were constructing, were all preparatory to the coming reign of Messiah.
The Power of Preaching
The rebukes and admonitions of these prophets were helpful. God’s means of supporting you in your faith, and thus continuing His work in and through you, is the clear and visionary teaching of His Word. Preaching does this as it is applied to you, as God’s people, as you are exhorted unto action. The preaching of God’s Word is a help to you. As Matthew Henry put it, “The ministers of the gospel are the master-builders.”
Faithful preaching, then, keeps you in mind of two things. First, God sees everything. His eyes are on the righteous, His ears attentive to their call. All things are before Him. You cannot hide your sin from Him. But your enemies cannot hide you from His sight. When God’s Word is preached in truth and boldness, the result is that your faith is built up. We see here that the preaching of the prophets made the people certain of God’s attentiveness to their plight, and it made them conscientious of their sin. God’s eyes being upon us is both a comfort and a guard.
The second thing which faithful preaching accomplishes, which naturally follows from the first, is this: you are freed from the fear of the gaze of wicked men. How often have you been immobilized in doing what is true, good, and righteous because of how you think others might perceive you? How often have you capitulated to the emotional immaturity of others, failing to do what is right yourself in order to avoid their emotional outbursts? How often have you kept silent about the clear teaching of God’s Word because you think it might hurt your reputation, career, or opportunities? Faith in Christ frees you from all such fears. When the Gospel of Christ crucified, risen, and ascended is preached and believed you are made free. Free from the fear of God’s wrath, free from your shame, free from your guilty conscience, and free from the fear of man’s mockery.
Charge and Benediction
Faithful preaching is basically pointing. It first points to your sin, and then points to Christ. Some point at sin without pointing to the cross, and some preachers point to the cross as if it is a symbol of God’s love without consideration for the sin that necessitated the cross. Some point at sin and then point to self and think that self-righteousness can solve sin. This text points at discouragement and fear, and then it points to your God who watches over you with tender care.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
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