Nougat 6

Today’s Holy Nougat is a reminder that even when God builds the house, there are deterrents and detractors to its completion. Yes indeed.

“So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So for perspective, we know that the plan for rebuilding the temple began during King Cyrus’s reign. And he began to rule at around 538 BCE. It’s estimated that work on the temple began in 536; which suggests that almost immediately after Cyrus began; things started to turn around. But Darius began his reign in 521; so by quick Math we realize that work resumed in 520. While we don’t have the exact date of when the work stopped, there’s some seventeen years passing between the ascension of the two kings. And given the dates of resumption in 521, and conclusion in 516 BCE, it is evident that somewhere along the way between start and resumption, a major challenge presented itself.

When we think about yesterday’s nougat, that one labors in vain to build without God being part of the process, it may seem that the ones who initiated the rebuilding process were not authorized or ordained by God. This is strengthened by God’s comments to David when he sought to build the temple (see 2 Samuel 7:1-13; and also 1 Chronicles 22:1-10, especially 6-9 for that story) sometime between 1035 and 970 BCE (the dates are not well known). As it relates to David and his role in the temple, the timing was off.

We know from Isaiah 7 and other texts however, that Cyrus was God’s chosen for the restoration of hope among God’s people during the Exile. The work on the temple was authorized by Cyrus. Those who began the rebuilding were specially selected for the task. Yet, they might not have been the ones who completed it. Why?

I am reminded of, and encouraged by Paul’s exhortation to his people in Corinth – “We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us … For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.” ‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬, 9 NLT‬‬) Those who received the vision for rebuilding did not falter. Even in the face of fake support and subsequent opposition from the same ‘supporters’. They persevered. Theirs was a sacrifice to God, rooted in obedience and love.

Yes, we must check our motives and our authorization for we sometimes are taking on tasks not assigned to us (Like David tried with the temple he was clearly not the man for the job – God told him so!). But what if God has assigned us a task? What if the opposition is a mere test of our faith like Job? That’s exactly where discernment comes in. Our task may be to draft the blueprint, or only to lay the foundation; it isn’t necessarily to build the entire house. Especially if God’s assigned that to someone else. And if we are to build it all, let’s not take workers on willy nilly without God’s direction.

Whether 5 minutes, 15 hours, 50 days, or 15 years, let us not get weary. Press on dear saints!

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May all we seek be found in Christ