June 7, 2024

Word came from the Lord through Zechariah and Haggai to the people living in Jerusalem and Judah. This chapter of Ezra was incomplete without reading the prophetic word associated with it: Zechariah 1:1-21 and Haggai 1:1-15. The prophets spoke a word from God to the people, telling them that while they were comfortable in their homes, the temple remained unfinished. Previously, they were told to cease and desist, but now it’s been over nine years and time to get moving on rebuilding God’s house. 

The governor, Tatnai, sent a letter to Darius, the king, asking him to pull out the records to find out who told them to rebuild the temple. Tatnai explained to the king that the people of Judah had told him it was Cyrus, king of Babylon. Tatnai wanted to verify if what they said was true. 

When God instructs us to do something, we must act decisively and obey Him. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Why are you leaving it in disrepair? Are you waiting for Jesus to come in with a whip and turn over the tables? Shore up the walls and patch the roof with spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; there is no law against these things. He will help you make the repairs if you stay connected to Him through prayer and hearing His directions by reading your Bible.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. Ezra 5:5