Close by the Israelites who had set themselves to the
task of rebuilding the temple, dwelt the Samaritans,
a mixed race that had sprung up through the intermarriage
of heathen colonists from the provinces of Assyria with the
remnant of the ten tribes which had been left in Samaria and
Galilee. In later years the Samaritans claimed to worship
the true God, but in heart and practice they were idolaters.
It is true, they held that their idols were but to remind them
of the living God, the Ruler of the universe; nevertheless
the people were prone to reverence graven images.
During the period of the restoration, these Samaritans
came to be known as "the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin."
Hearing that "the children of the captivity builded
the temple unto the Lord God of Israel," "they came to
Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers," and expressed
a desire to unite with them in its erection. "Let us build
with you," they proposed; "for we seek your God, as ye do;
and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esarhaddon
king of Assur, which brought us up hither." But the privilege
they asked was refused them. "Ye have nothing to
do with us to build an house unto our God," the leaders of
the Israelites declared; "but we ourselves together will build
unto the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of
Persia hath commanded us." Ezra 4:1-3.
Only a remnant had chosen to return from Babylon;
and now, as they undertake a work seemingly beyond their
strength, their nearest neighbors come with an offer of
help. The Samaritans refer to their worship of the true
God, and express a desire to share the privileges and
blessings connected with the temple service. "We seek your
God, as ye do," they declare. "Let us build with you." But
had the Jewish leaders accepted this offer of assistance, they
would have opened a door for the entrance of idolatry.
They discerned the insincerity of the Samaritans. They
realized that help gained through an alliance with these men
would be as nothing in comparison with the blessing they
might expect to receive by following the plain commands
of Jehovah.
Regarding the relation that Israel should sustain to
surrounding peoples, the Lord had declared through Moses:
"Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy
unto them: neither shalt thou make marriages with them;
. . . for they will turn away thy son from following Me,
that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord
be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly." "Thou
art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath
chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above
all the nations that are upon the earth." Deuteronomy
7:2-4; 14:2.
The result that would follow an entrance into covenant
relation with surrounding nations was plainly foretold. "The
Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end
of the earth even unto the other," Moses had declared; "and
there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor
thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among
these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole
of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there
a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt
fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy
life: in the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were
even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!
for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear,
and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see."
Deuteronomy 28:64-67. "But if from thence thou shalt seek the
Lord thy God," the promise had been, "thou shalt find
Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all
thy soul." Deuteronomy 4:29.
Zerubbabel and his associates were familiar with these
and many like scriptures; and in the recent captivity they
had evidence after evidence of their fulfillment. And now,
having repented of the evils that had brought upon them
and their fathers the judgments foretold so plainly through
Moses; having turned with all the heart to God, and renewed
their covenant relationship with Him, they had been
permitted to return to Judea, that they might restore that
which had been destroyed. Should they, at the very beginning
of their undertaking, enter into a covenant with
idolaters?
"Thou shalt make no covenant with them," God had
said; and those who had recently rededicated themselves
to the Lord at the altar set up before the ruins of His temple,
realized that the line of demarcation between His people
and the world is ever to be kept unmistakably distinct. They
refused to enter into alliance with those who, though familiar
with the requirements of God's law, would not yield to its
claims.
The principles set forth in Deuteronomy for the instruction
of Israel are to be followed by God's people to the end
of time. True prosperity is dependent on the continuance
of our covenant relationship with God. Never can we afford
to compromise principle by entering into alliance with those
who do not fear Him.
There is constant danger that professing Christians will
come to think that in order to have influence with
worldlings, they must to a certain extent conform to the world.
But though such a course may appear to afford great
advantages, it always ends in spiritual loss. Against every subtle
influence that seeks entrance by means of flattering inducements
from the enemies of truth, God's people must strictly
guard. They are pilgrims and strangers in this world,
traveling a path beset with danger. To the ingenious
subterfuges and alluring inducements held out to tempt from
allegiance, they must give no heed.
It is not the open and avowed enemies of the cause of
God that are most to be feared. Those who, like the
adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, come with smooth words
and fair speeches, apparently seeking for friendly alliance
with God's children, have greater power to deceive. Against
such every soul should be on the alert, lest some carefully
concealed and masterly snare take him unaware. And
especially today, while earth's history is closing, the Lord requires
of His children a vigilance that knows no relaxation. But
though the conflict is a ceaseless one, none are left to struggle
alone. Angels help and protect those who walk humbly
before God. Never will our Lord betray one who trusts
in Him. As His children draw near to Him for protection
from evil, in pity and love He lifts up for them a standard
against the enemy. Touch them not, He says; for they
are Mine. I have graven them upon the palms of My
hands.
Untiring in their opposition, the Samaritans "weakened
the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in
building, and hired counselors against them, to frustrate
their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until
the reign of Darius." Ezra 4:4, 5. By false reports they
aroused suspicion in minds easily led to suspect. But for
many years the powers of evil were held in check, and the
people in Judea had liberty to continue their work.
While Satan was striving to influence the highest powers
in the kingdom of Medo-Persia to show disfavor to God's
people, angels worked in behalf of the exiles. The controversy
was one in which all heaven was interested. Through
the prophet Daniel we are given a glimpse of this mighty
struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil.
For three weeks Gabriel wrestled with the powers of
darkness, seeking to counteract the influences at work on the
mind of Cyrus; and before the contest closed, Christ
Himself came to Gabriel's aid. "The prince of the kingdom of
Persia withstood me one and twenty days," Gabriel declares;
"but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me;
and I remained there with the kings of Persia." Daniel
10:13. All that heaven could do in behalf of the people of
God was done. The victory was finally gained; the forces of
the enemy were held in check all the days of Cyrus, and all
the days of his son Cambyses, who reigned about seven and
a half years.
This was a time of wonderful opportunity for the Jews.
The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts
of kings, and it was for the people of God to labor with
the utmost activity to carry out the decree of Cyrus. They
should have spared no effort to restore the temple and its
services, and to re-establish themselves in their Judean homes.
But in the day of God's power many proved unwilling. The
opposition of their enemies was strong and determined, and
gradually the builders lost heart. Some could not forget the
scene at the laying of the cornerstone, when many had given
expression to their lack of confidence in the enterprise. And
as the Samaritans grew more bold, many of the Jews
questioned whether, after all, the time had come to rebuild. The
feeling soon became widespread. Many of the workmen,
discouraged and disheartened, returned to their homes to
take up the ordinary pursuits of life.
During the reign of Cambyses the work on the temple
progressed slowly. And during the reign of the false Smerdis
(called Artaxerxes in Ezra 4:7) the Samaritans induced the
unscrupulous impostor to issue a decree forbidding the Jews
to rebuild their temple and city.
For over a year the temple was neglected and well-nigh
forsaken. The people dwelt in their homes and strove to
attain temporal prosperity, but their situation was deplorable.
Work as they might they did not prosper. The very
elements of nature seemed to conspire against them. Because
they had let the temple lie waste, the Lord sent upon their
substance a wasting drought. God had bestowed upon them
the fruits of field and garden, the corn and the wine and
the oil, as a token of His favor; but because they had used
these bountiful gifts so selfishly, the blessings were removed.
Such were the conditions existing during the early part
of the reign of Darius Hystaspes. Spiritually as well as
temporally, the Israelites were in a pitiable state. So long had
they murmured and doubted; so long had they chosen to
make personal interests first, while viewing with apathy
the Lord's temple in ruins, that many had lost sight of God's
purpose in restoring them to Judea; and these were saying,
"The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house
should be built." Haggai 1:2.
But even this dark hour was not without hope for those
whose trust was in God. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah
were raised up to meet the crisis. In stirring testimonies
these appointed messengers revealed to the people the cause
of their troubles. The lack of temporal prosperity was the
result of a neglect to put God's interests first, the prophets
declared. Had the Israelites honored God, had they shown
Him due respect and courtesy, by making the building of
His house their first work, they would have invited His
presence and blessing.
To those who had become discouraged, Haggai addressed
the searching inquiry, "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell
in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore
thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways."
Why have you done so little? Why do you feel concern for
your own buildings and unconcern for the Lord's building?
Where is the zeal you once felt for the restoration of the
Lord's house? What have you gained by serving self? The
desire to escape poverty has led you to neglect the temple,
but this neglect has brought upon you that which you feared.
"Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have
not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye
clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth
wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."
Verses 4-6.
And then, in words that they could not fail to
understand, the Lord revealed the cause that had brought them
to want: "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little;
and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why?
saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste,
and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the
heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed
from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land,
and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the
new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground
bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon
all the labor of the hands." Verses 9-11.
"Consider your ways," the Lord urged. "Go up to the
mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I
will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified." Verses 7, 8.
The message of counsel and reproof given through Haggai
was taken to heart by the leaders and people of Israel. They
felt that God was in earnest with them. They dared not
disregard the repeated instruction sent them--that their
prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, was dependent on
faithful obedience to God's commands. Aroused by the
warnings of the prophet, Zerubbabel and Joshua, "with all
the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord
their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet." Verse 12.
As soon as Israel decided to obey, the words of reproof
were followed by a message of encouragement. "Then
spake Haggai . . . unto the people, saying, I am with you,
saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel"
and of Joshua, and "of all the remnant of the people;
and they came and did work in the house of the Lord
of hosts, their God." Verses 13, 14.
In less than a month after the work on the temple was
resumed, the builders received another comforting message.
"Be strong, O Zerubbabel," the Lord Himself urged through
His prophet; "be strong, O Joshua; . . . and be strong, all
ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am
with you, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:4.
To Israel encamped before Mount Sinai the Lord had
declared: "I will dwell among the children of Israel, and
will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord
their God, that brought them forth out of the land of
Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their
God." Exodus 29:45, 46. And now, notwithstanding the
fact that they had repeatedly "rebelled, and vexed His Holy
Spirit" (Isaiah 63:10), God once more, through the messages
of His prophet, was stretching out His hand to save.
As a recognition of their co-operation with His purpose,
He was renewing His covenant that His Spirit should remain
among them; and He bade them, "Fear not."
To His children today the Lord declares, "Be strong,
. . . and work: for I am with you." The Christian always
has a strong helper in the Lord. The way of the Lord's
helping we may not know; but this we do know: He will
never fail those who put their trust in Him. Could Christians
realize how many times the Lord has ordered their
way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might
not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly.
Their faith would be stayed on God, and no
trial would have power to move them. They would
acknowledge Him as their wisdom and efficiency, and He
would bring to pass that which He desires to work out
through them.
The earnest pleadings and the encouragements given
through Haggai were emphasized and added to by Zechariah,
whom God raised up to stand by his side in urging
Israel to carry out the command to arise and build. Zechariah's
first message was an assurance that God's word never
fails and a promise of blessing to those who would hearken
to the sure word of prophecy.
With fields lying waste, with their scant store of provisions
rapidly failing, and surrounded as they were by
unfriendly peoples, the Israelites nevertheless moved forward
by faith in response to the call of God's messengers,
and labored diligently to restore the ruined temple. It was
a work requiring firm reliance upon God. As the people
endeavored to do their part, and sought for a renewal of
God's grace in heart and life, message after message was
given them through Haggai and Zechariah, with assurances
that their faith would be richly rewarded and that the word
of God concerning the future glory of the temple whose
walls they were rearing would not fail. In this very building
would appear, in the fullness of time, the Desire of all
nations as the Teacher and Saviour of mankind.
Thus the builders were not left to struggle alone; "with
them were the prophets of God helping them;" and the Lord
of hosts Himself had declared, "Be strong, . . . and work:
for I am with you." Ezra 5:2; Haggai 2:4.
With heartfelt repentance and a willingness to advance
by faith, came the promise of temporal prosperity. "From
this day," the Lord declared, "will I bless you." Verse 19.
To Zerubbabel their leader--he who, through all the
years since their return from Babylon, had been so sorely
tried--was given a most precious message. The day was
coming, the Lord declared, when all the enemies of His
chosen people would be cast down. "In that day, saith the
Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant,
. . . and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee."
Verse 23. Now the governor of Israel could see the meaning
of the providence that had led him through discouragement
and perplexity; he could discern God's purpose in it all.
This personal word to Zerubbabel has been left on record
for the encouragement of God's children in every age. God
has a purpose in sending trial to His children. He never
leads them otherwise than they would choose to be led if
they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the
glory of the purpose that they are fulfilling. All that He
brings upon them in test and trial comes that they may be
strong to do and to suffer for Him.
The messages delivered by Haggai and Zechariah roused
the people to put forth every possible effort for the rebuilding
of the temple; but, as they worked, they were sadly
harassed by the Samaritans and others who devised many
hindrances. On one occasion the provincial officers of the
Medo-Persian realm visited Jerusalem and requested the
name of the one who had authorized the restoration of the
building. If at that time the Jews had not been trusting in
the Lord for guidance, this inquiry might have resulted
disastrously to them. "But the eye of their God was upon
the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to
cease, till the matter came to Darius." Ezra 5:5. The
officers were answered so wisely that they decided to write
a letter to Darius Hystaspes, then the ruler of Medo-Persia,
directing his attention to the original decree made by Cyrus,
which commanded that the house of God at Jerusalem
be rebuilt, and that the expenses for the same be paid from
the king's treasury.
Darius searched for this decree, and found it; whereupon
he directed those who had made the inquiry to allow the
rebuilding of the temple to proceed. "Let the work of this
house of God alone," he commanded; "let the governor of
the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God
in his place.
"Moreover," Darius continued, "I make a decree what ye
shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this
house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute
beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these
men, that they be not hindered. And that which they have
need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the
burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and
oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are
at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors unto the God
of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his
sons." Ezra 6:7-10.
The king further decreed that severe penalties be meted
out to those who should in any wise alter the decree; and
he closed with the remarkable statement: "The God that
hath caused His name to dwell there destroy all kings and
people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy
this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made
a decree; let it be done with the speed." Verse 12. Thus the
Lord prepared the way for the completion of the temple.
For months before this decree was made, the Israelites
had kept on working by faith, the prophets of God still
helping them by means of timely messages, through which
the divine purpose for Israel was kept before the workers.
Two months after Haggai's last recorded message was
delivered, Zechariah had a series of visions regarding the
work of God in the earth. These messages, given in the form
of parables and symbols, came at a time of great uncertainty
and anxiety, and were of peculiar significance to the men
who were advancing in the name of the God of Israel. It
seemed to the leaders as if the permission granted the Jews
to rebuild was about to be withdrawn; the future appeared
very dark. God saw that His people were in need of being
sustained and cheered by a revelation of His infinite
compassion and love.
In vision Zechariah heard the angel of the Lord inquiring,
"O Lord of hosts, how long wilt Thou not have mercy
on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which
Thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me,"
Zechariah declared, "with good words and comfortable
words.
"So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry
thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for
Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am
very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for
I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the
affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to
Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, . . .
and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." Zechariah
1:12-16.
The prophet was now directed to predict, "Thus saith the
Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be
spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and
shall yet choose Jerusalem." Verse 17.
Zechariah then saw the powers that had "scattered Judah,
Israel, and Jerusalem," symbolized by four horns. Immediately
afterward he saw four carpenters, representing the
agencies used by the Lord in restoring His people and the
house of His worship. See verses 18-21.
"I lifted up mine eyes again," Zechariah said, "and looked,
and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then
said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To
measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and
what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that
talked with me went forth, and another angel went out
to meet him, and said unto him, Run, speak to this young
man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without
walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: for I,
saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about,
and will be the glory in the midst of her." Zechariah 2:1-5.
God had commanded that Jerusalem be rebuilt; the vision
of the measuring of the city was an assurance that He would
give comfort and strength to His afflicted ones, and fulfill
to them the promises of His everlasting covenant. His
protecting care, He declared, would be like "a wall of fire
round about;" and through them His glory would be
revealed to all the sons of men. That which He was accomplishing
for His people was to be known in all the earth.
"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is
the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." Isaiah 12:6.