Scripture Daily

Context No. 2405 of 4322 · Ezra

Context · Reflection

Ezra 5:1-5: in context

1Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel. 2Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them. 3At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?” 4They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building. 5But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.

The rebuilding of the temple had stalled, until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah stirred the people, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua rose and began to build again, with the prophets right there helping. Almost at once the regional governor arrived, demanding to know who authorized the work and taking down the builders' names. But, the text says, the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and the work was not stopped while the question went up to the king.

The reassurance is quiet and concrete: the eye of their God was on them. Opposition came fast, official and intimidating, with names being recorded as if to build a case. Yet the work went on, not because the builders overpowered the governor, but because God was watching over them and let it continue. His oversight did not remove the scrutiny; it kept the scrutiny from halting the work. Sometimes the protection we get is not the absence of opposition but the freedom to keep going in spite of it.

When my good work is questioned and my name is being written down, do I trust that God's eye is on me and keep building?

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