In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared how “Rehum and Shimshai” opposed the children of Israel, and they wrote a letter to “Artaxerxes” who was the royal ruler of Persia. “This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Your servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time”, and in chapter four and verse twelve of Ezra, Ezra shared how the letter said, “be it known unto the king” where we read,
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from you to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
The verse reads, “Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from you to us are come unto Jerusalem, ...”Ezra began with the words, “be it known unto the king” which means “allow and permit the following to inform and certify to the royal ruler and leader”, “that the Jews” which means “that the Judaite or Jehudaited” “which came up from you to us” or “who rose and were carried separate and apart from you, Artaxerxes, to us, Rehum, Shimshai and the other foes of the children of Israel” “are come unto Jerusalem” which means “have entered and ascended to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and was the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Ezra shared how the letter written by “Rehum and Shimshai” referred to how the Jewish people or children of Israel departed from Persia and ascended to “Jerusalem” over which “Artaxerxes” now reigned.
The verse continues, “... building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.” Ezra added the words, “building the rebellious” or “making, erecting and establishing the insubordinate and discontented” “and the bad city” which means “and the wicked and evil dwelling place, habitation and abode”, “and have set up the walls thereof” or “and have erected, fixed in place and established the barrier walls of the city of Jerusalem”, “and joined the foundations” which means “and strung together and repaired the base of the temple and the city of Jerusalem”. Ezra shared how the letter included how the Jewish people were erecting the insubordinate and wicked city of Jerusalem, it's barrier walls and the bases that were being repaired.
When we think through Ezra's words in this verse, we learn how the letter written by “Rehum and Shimshai” included a reference to the way the children of Israel were rebuilding the city, temple and bases of Jerusalem which their enemies considered to be wicked and insubordinate. Their purpose was to put a halt to the rebuilding of anything the Jewish people desired. In other words, they wanted to stop the work of God. The same is true today. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, but there are opposing foes who would keep them from receiving Him. When we yield our lives to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to to resist all false accusations that are meant to thwart our belief and work in the Kingdom of God.
Next time Ezra shares what the foes of Israel declare will happen, “if this city be builded”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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