Doing God's Work: The Protection and Prosperity from the LORD

Ezra  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  52:34
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Introduction
Title: Doing God's Work: The Protection and Prosperity from the LORD
(5:1-5) The Situation
(5:6-17) The Complaint
(6:1-12) The Response
(6:13-22) The Result
Exposition 1 (5:1-5) The Situation

The Situation (5:1-5)

Ezra 5:1–2 ESV
1 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.
Prophets
God authorizes this temple
Ezra 5:3–4 ESV
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: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”
Opposition
Sound of the questions
Ezra 5:5 ESV
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.
God was with them

I. God is fully capable of protecting His work from the opposition of the world so work for God confidently

Exposition 2 (5:6-17) The Complaint

The Complaint (5:6-17)

I am not going to work through each of these verses.
In verse 6 was we are introduced to the content of this section of Scripture
Ezra 5:6 ESV
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.
Remember, Ezra has already included the letter that was sent to the king in His own day. Now he includes this historical letter.
Notice how the letter begins...
Ezra 5:8 ESV
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.
It begins exactly how the other did “Be it known to the king”
The accusation is that they are prospering in their efforts and are successfully building the temple
Notice the attitude that even comes across in this letter...
Ezra 5:11–12 ESV
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.
This seems to be genuine repentance
The people of Judah are being faithful to God, yet there is opposition

II. There is a pattern in the world of opposition to those seeking to do the work of God so don’t be surprised when you face it.

Exposition 3 (6:1-12) The Response

The Response (6:1-12)

In verses 1-12 of Chapter 6, we read Darius’ response to the opposing leaders
He does what they ask and searches the records
Remember, Darius wants to be like Cyrus
When he confirms that what the leaders of Judah claimed was true, his response was great. Look with me at verse 8
Ezra 6:8–10 ESV
8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
Darius goes on to make his decree absolute with devastating consequences.
Ezra is reminding his people of God’s ability to influence kings and earthly powers.
This brings us to our 3rd point.

III. God can use even the opposing forces to bring about His plan so don’t think you know how He will accomplish His will.

Exposition 4 (6:13-22) The Result

The Result (6:13-22)

Ezra 6:13–22 ESV
13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. 19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Verse 13-15, We see that God is indeed prospering this work through these means and that the temple is completed
Verses 16-18 They followed the law and dedicated the temple
Verses 19-22 Finally, the people were able to keep all the festivals, especially passover. This is significant because it agains reminds the people of the exodus and God’s faithfulness to deliver.

IV. God has proven himself faithful to deliver so celebrate rather than fear.

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