After a good start in Ezra 3, and a pause in Ezra 4, they finish, chop-chop, in Ezra 5 and 6. Why? It took a prophet to get them in gear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo were preaching to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the authority of the God of Israel who ruled them. And so Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak started again, rebuilding The Temple of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were right there helping them. (Ezra 5.1, 2, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “But I thought the prophets’ job was to foretell the future!” Nope. Their primary job is to get people in gear today<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King Darius of Persia, GOD\u2019s Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: \u201cThe people procrastinate. They say this isn\u2019t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of GOD.\u201d Shortly after that, GOD said more and Haggai spoke it: \u201cHow is it that it\u2019s the \u2018right time\u2019 for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, GOD\u2019s Temple, is in ruins?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n …Then GOD said: \u201cHere\u2019s what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You\u2019ve had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I\u2019ve blown away\u2014there was nothing to it. \u201cAnd why?\u201d (This is a Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) \u201cBecause while you\u2019ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. (Haggai 1.1 – 4, 8, 9, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oops. The people had their priorities mixed up. I’ve written about Haggai’s challenge before<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent<\/strong>, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1.9 – 11, ESV, emphasis mine)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a good start in Ezra 3, and a pause in Ezra 4, they finish, chop-chop, in Ezra 5 and 6. Why? It took a prophet to get them in gear: Meanwhile the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo were preaching to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the authority of the God … Continue reading A Matter of Priorities<\/span>