Introduction
Ezra 4:1–5: Enemies of the people offer to help with the rebuilding of the Temple, but their proposal is rejected by the Jewish leaders of the community.
Today’s Key Verse: Ezra 4:3 GNT
Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the heads of the clans told them, “We don’t need your help to build a temple for the LORD our God. We will build it ourselves, just as Emperor Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”
Read
4 The enemies of the people of Judah and Benjamin heard that those who had returned from exile were rebuilding the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 So they went to see Zerubbabel and the heads of the clans and said, “Let us join you in building the Temple. We worship the same God you worship, and we have been offering sacrifices to him ever since Emperor Esarhaddon of Assyria sent us here to live.”
3 Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the heads of the clans told them, “We don’t need your help to build a temple for the Lord our God. We will build it ourselves, just as Emperor Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”
4 Then the people who had been living in the land tried to discourage and frighten the Jews and keep them from building. 5 They also bribed Persian government officials to work against them. They kept on doing this throughout the reign of Emperor Cyrus and into the reign of Emperor Darius.
Reflect
What do you make of the request of the people’s enemies to help with the rebuilding of the Temple? Was there a motive behind their proposal? According to verse 4, these were people who had not been exiled and who were not considered to be Jews. Why was the proposal rejected by the Jewish leaders of the community (verse 3)? In what ways does your community of faith offer to help or be of service to neighbors in your community?
Pray
Lord God, open my heart to the needs of others and teach me to reach out to my neighbors in love. May my words and deeds be a reflection of your love and grace. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Ezra 4:24—5:17: Work on rebuilding the Temple begins again.
