Ezra 4:17-24 Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe… I. THAT MEN ARE CAPABLE OF HINDERING THE WORK OF GOD. "Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded" (ver. 21). 1. Presumptuous. "Then ceased the work of the house of God." How could presumption be greater than to stop the work of God; let men pluck the stars from the heavens, but let them not injure the Church of Christ. 2. Perplexing. Is it not a mystery that the Eternal will allow frail and sinful men to impede the work of his people? 3. Prejudicial. The walls of Jerusalem required restoration. The temple must be built and the old worship restored. This hindrance is injurious to the Jewish commonwealth. How do men prejudice great interests by staying the beneficent ministries of the Church. 4. Permitted. These hindrances were allowed for a time, that new energy might be stimulated, that the mercy of God might be seen in the aid given to the dejected workers, and his glory in the final defeat of all enemies. 5. Preparatory. To greater success; the pent-up stream will soon flow on more rapidly. 6. Patient. The work of the Church is patient; it will outlive all enmity. II. THE METHODS WHICH ARE MOST CALCULATED TO HINDER THE WORK OF GOD. The letter to the king caused the work to cease. The impediments to Church work are - 1. External. The political may hinder the moral; unjust law, civil persecution, and the force of circumstances may sometimes cause the work of God to cease (1) Haste. (2) Force (ver. 23). 2. Internal. The work of God is more often hindered by a low spiritual condition, by a quarrelsome temper, by a critical spirit, by the thoughtless word; it is indeed sad to cause moral work to cease from within. See the responsibility of conduct, when a word may, like this letter to the king, stay the work of God. III. THE CONSEQUENCES WHICH FOLLOW WHEN THE WORK OF GOD IS HINDERED. 1. Disappointment. After the generous edict of Cyrus how disappointing this order to cease work. How often is the Church disappointed in her best efforts. 2. Complaint. No doubt many Israelites would indulge a complaining spirit. The Church should not grumble when its work is hindered, but pray. 3. Sorrow. That the good work should be unfinished. 4. Hope. That God will yet undertake their cause. - E. Parallel Verses KJV: Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. |
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