Let Us Build with You - Ezra 4:2

In the book of Ezra, Ezra referred to, “when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel ...”, and in chapter four and verse two of Ezra, Ezra shared how the adversaries say, “let us build with you” where we read,

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 

The verse reads, “Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you:” Ezra began with the words, “then they came to Zerubbabel” which means “at that time they, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, drew near to and approached Zerubbabel whose name means sown in Babylon and was the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon”, “and to the chief of the fathers” which means “and toward the head, top and highest ranking of the rulers or forefathers”, “and said unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to them, the forefathers”, “let us build with you” which means “allow and permit us, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, to rebuild, establish and cause to continue alongside and accompanying you, the forefathers”. Ezra shared how the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin went to “Zerubbabel” who was the forefather and political leader of Israel and wanted him to allow them to rebuild the temple alongside the people of “Israel”.

The verse continues, “for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.” Ezra added the words, “for we seek your God” or “because, since and on account that we, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, search for your, Zerubbabel's Supreme Deity”, “as you do” which means “similar and in like fashion that you, Zerubbabel and the people of Israel”; “and we do sacrifice unto him” or “and we, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, make offerings and slaughter animals in worship to him, the God of Israel” “since the days of Esarhaddon” which means “from the sunrises to sunsets belonging to Esarhaddon whose name means Ashur has given a brother” “king of Assur” or “the royal ruler and leader of Assyria in the seventh-century B.C. belonging to Assur whose name means a step”, “which brought us up hither” which means “who caused us, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, to ascend, go up and be taken here, in the city of Jerusalem”. Ezra shared how the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin attempted to convince “Zerubbabel” that they were searching for the same “God” as the people of Israel because they made offerings to “God” from the time that “Esarhaddon” who was the royal leader of “Assyria” who brought them to Jerusalem in Judah. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra that the enemies of Judah and Benjamin attempted to convince the royal leader of Israel, Zerubbabel, that they should join the people of Israel in rebuilding their “temple”. This is much like the enemy of our souls, Satan, who desires to “help” us and give us “aid” in our walk with God. There is only one way to have a personal relationship with God and that is through receiving His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life help us by His Holy Spirit to make us aware when our “enemy” attempts to infiltrate our work for God. 

Next time Ezra shares how the leaders of Israel say, “you have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God”, 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".