Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16
Today I am in the Book of Ezra and I am soaking in the rich history and the modern-day applications; the parallels are stimulating, varied, and most significantly they are pertinent to the born-again believer. I am reminded that we must appreciate this reality, lest we only capture the historical portion of the ever-expansive tapestry God is creating. Seek Jesus as you go through these narratives.
Observe that Babylon was a brutal place and is likened to our sinful condition. Israel was led off into Babylonian captivity and we were once held captive to sin. Israel’s temple lie in ruins (as did ours) and like Israel, our temple would be rebuilt. See the similarities–every Old Testament account points us to a New Testament promise we have discovered in Christ Jesus.
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. . Psalm 126:1-3
Chapter four of Ezra begins with the rebuilding of the temple and wouldn’t you know it, satan shows up. Isn’t that always the case; as we’re committed and submitted to Christian service, the next thing you know the enemy throws a curve ball, creates an obstacle, and seemingly wins the battle. Check out the story:
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” Ezra 4:1-2
Now at first glance we might suppose that the enemy was seeking to make reconciliation.
“Let us help you,” they say, “our god is your God.”
‘We worship the same god,’ ever heard that before? Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the leaders of Israel were not fooled. Oh, they weren’t being rude; they were just adhering to the word of the Lord that they had received. We could say that in their obedience they were given discernment. Good thing, because the adversary would soon reveal his true colors.
Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. Ezra 4:4-6
As a result, the temple building mission was stalled for ten years.
If this was the enemy’s reaction to not being able to help Israel, what can we imagine would have been the result if they had helped? We know it would have been disastrous because the Old Testament provides us with countless stories of calamity; of what occurs when believers ally themselves with non-believers in order to serve the Lord. And in case we missed it in the Old Testament, the Apostle Paul warns us again in the New Testament…
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
There are a few things I wanted to point out in the narrative that have profound relevance to our Christian walk. The first two are covered in these NT passages:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night… Revelation 12:10b
Be Inedible
It’s true; the devil is doggedly on the prowl for those he can gobble up. Who does he go after? The weak in faith; those who don’t know the word, those who hang out on the perimeters of the church, the disobedient, the partially committed and moderately submitted; these are his easy pickins. The key is to become inedible. Those in the Word are foul-tasting to satan. Those in the center-of-the-action (as opposed to those on the fringes) are inaccessible. The obedient are unappetizing. These will still be attacked, but they will never be consumed.
Also know that satan currently has heavenly access; he is up there right now accusing some Christian; maybe you or me, of some vile act. What do we do? We concur with him, that’s what; we do so because Jesus told us to.
Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Matthew 5:25
What’s the alternative, lie to God?
“God,” I might protest, “satan is lying. I didn’t sin.”
The enemy might not be telling the whole truth to God, but we can rest assured he likely has the sinning part down. Our best rejoinder is to acknowledge our sin and claim the blood of Christ Jesus. To do anything else is pointless and ineffectual. It’s always a good thing to confess and freely receive His mercy and unmerited favor.
I would also like to point out that despite the fact God told Zerubbabel and the other leaders to rebuild the temple themselves, He allowed the adversary to thwart their efforts. Why would God allow such a thing; wouldn’t that be considered counterproductive?
We’re reminded that our Father is a multi-tasker; He is able to create the masterpieces He does by operating and orchestrating outside the box in which everyone strives to contain Him. God’s methodology resulted in at least three things: Israel’s leadership being proven faithful, the enemy being identified, and the temple being financed. I find it incredibly satisfying that although satan won a small victory initially, ultimately he wound up paying for the entire project!
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, and your companions the Persians who are beyond the River, keep yourselves far from there. Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God on its site. Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. Ezra 6:6-8
Bringing it Home
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
We are being built into God’s holy temple, to be joined with Him forever and ever. We know in this life we are promised tribulations; our Father in Heaven will allow satan a short rope to operate in order that we might be moved towards perfection. All the chiseling, all the hammering, all the chipping away, is occurring this side of Heaven so there will not be one sound of construction once we have arrived home. Let us endeavor in our obedience to God, our awareness of a lurking enemy, and in fully trusting in God’s sovereignty in every situation.
And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. 1 Kings 6:7
These ramblings are typically (but not always) a byproduct inspired by God through my personal Bible study at SearchLight with Pastor Jon Courson and with my pastor at Calvary Chapel Coastlands.
He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 