Ezra 4:1-6: a reflection

1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2they came near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have been sacrificing to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” 3But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. 5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

When the returned exiles set about rebuilding the temple, their adversaries come with an offer that sounds helpful: Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do. But Zerubbabel and the leaders discern that this partnership would compromise the work, mixing it with those who did not truly worship the LORD alone; and they refuse: You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build. They would not enter a compromising partnership that would corrupt the work God had given, even though refusing brought opposition. They kept the work pure, undertaking it themselves, rather than joining with those who would have compromised it.

Notice the discernment to refuse a compromising partnership in God's work. The offer seemed helpful, even flattering: let us build with you, we seek your God too. But the leaders discerned that this partnership would compromise the work, mixing the pure worship of the LORD with those who did not truly serve him alone. They refused, choosing to keep the work pure rather than accept a partnership that would corrupt it. It would have been easier to accept the help; but they discerned the compromise and declined it, even at the cost of opposition. To keep the work God had given pure, they refused a partnership that would have mixed it with what did not belong.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may need discernment to refuse compromising partnerships that would corrupt the work God has given us. Offers of partnership can come that sound helpful, even flattering, but would compromise the purity of what God has called us to, mixing it with what does not belong; and we can be tempted to accept them for the help they promise. But the leaders discerned the compromise and refused it, keeping the work pure. There is a place for refusing a compromising partnership to keep God's work pure. Do not accept every offer of partnership in God's work; discern whether it would compromise the work, and be willing to refuse what would corrupt it, as Zerubbabel refused the adversaries' offer. Discern and refuse compromising partnerships that would corrupt the work God has given you, keeping it pure even at the cost of opposition, as Zerubbabel and the leaders refused to let the adversaries build with them; for not every offer of help is to be accepted, and there is a place for keeping God's work pure by refusing partnerships that would compromise it.

Lord, when the returned exiles set about rebuilding the temple, their adversaries come with an offer that sounds helpful: let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do. But Zerubbabel and the leaders discern that this partnership would compromise the work, mixing it with those who did not truly worship you alone; and they refuse: you have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build. They would not enter a compromising partnership that would corrupt the work you had given, even though refusing brought opposition. Show me the discernment to refuse a compromising partnership in your work. The offer seemed helpful, even flattering; but the leaders discerned that this partnership would compromise the work, mixing the pure worship of you with those who did not truly serve you alone. They refused, choosing to keep the work pure. It would have been easier to accept the help; but they discerned the compromise and declined it, even at the cost of opposition. Take that to my heart, for I too may need discernment to refuse compromising partnerships that would corrupt the work you have given me. Offers of partnership can come that sound helpful, even flattering, but would compromise the purity of what you have called me to; and I can be tempted to accept them for the help they promise. But the leaders discerned the compromise and refused it. Keep me from accepting every offer of partnership in your work; help me discern whether it would compromise the work, Lord, and be willing to refuse what would corrupt it, as Zerubbabel refused the adversaries' offer, keeping your work pure even at the cost of opposition.