Context No. 3232 of 4322 · Ezra

Ezra 5:6-17: in context

6The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows. 7They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace. 8Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 9Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?” 10We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. 11Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. 13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. 14The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’ 16Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed. 17Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

When officials challenge the rebuilding of the temple and write to King Darius about it, they report the Jews' answer. We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, the builders had said, and we are rebuilding the house that a great king of Israel built long ago, which was destroyed when our fathers provoked God to wrath, and which King Cyrus decreed should be rebuilt.

Challenged about their work, the Jews give a bold, honest testimony: we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. They do not hide their identity or shrink their God; they name him, and they recount their history honestly, including their own fathers' sin that brought the destruction. Their confidence rests not on their own greatness but on God's authorization through Cyrus, and they invite the very archives to be searched, so sure are they of the truth. There is integrity here: they tell the whole story, failures and all, and rest their case on what can be checked. When challenged about our faith, honesty and confidence in God can go together.

When challenged about my faith or my calling, can I answer with honest testimony, naming God and telling the truth, resting my case on what is real?

Sources

Ezra 5:11: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago."
Ezra 5:12: "After our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar."
1 Peter 3:15: "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you."