Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews. (Ezra 5:1)When the returning exiles set about their work to rebuild the temple (as was ordered by King Cyrus), they encountered opposition from their neighbors. Those neighbors sent complaints to the king (Cyrus was dead by now), who ordered work on the temple to stop because of Judah's history as a trouble maker.
Then Haggai and Zechariah (two prophets we'll be hearing from in a about five months) encouraged the people of Jerusalem to get back to work. Another complaint was made to the king (still another king by this time) and further investigation uncovered the documents signed by Cyrus that ordered the people to rebuild the temple, and even guaranteed that the government would pay the construction costs!
At this point, construction continued with the full support of the king, the project was completed, and the people celebrated as their enemies looked on in disbelief.
Doesn't it make a difference to have the support of the King?
No comments:
Post a Comment