Ezra 4

“Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.” (Ezra 4:4, NLT)

The exiles who returned from Babylon were on a mission. They were determined to rebuild the temple for the glory of God. Jerusalem was the nation’s capital, and the temple was the spiritual epicenter. King Cyrus had given them orders and materials to do the work. But no sooner did they lay the foundation of the temple than the enemy began to attack. The initial attack was subtle. The Samaritan neighbors wanted to join them in the work, saying that they worshiped the same God. But the Samaritans also worshiped other gods. It was this mixture of pagan worship with the worship of Yahweh that had ruined the nation of Judah to begin with. Therefore, Zerubbabel the governor, Jeshua the priest, and the other leaders refused their help. So the Samaritans opposed them, seeking to discourage them from the work. They began a smear campaign against the Jews that would last for the next seventy-five years!

Whenever the people of God rise to build, Satan rises to oppose. His tactics are many. His most common “fiery arrows” are doubt, discouragement, distraction, dissension, deception and accusation. Often he uses the people closest to us to resist us. Usually our immediate response is to react against these people. But a better strategy is to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle and that the real enemy is the principalities and powers of the unseen heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12). If we expect this opposition, then we will be ready for it. We will arm ourselves with our spiritual munitions—the full armor of God and prayer in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:13-18). These are the weapons of our warfare that are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

The good news is that we have a wonderful promise from God:

“‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV)

We must pray for spiritual discernment and power to overcome. Jesus warned His disciples:

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV)

Remember, the devil wants to discourage you from doing the work that God has given you to do. Resist him, and he will flee from you. Don’t become weary in well-doing, for in due season you will reap God’s reward if you don’t quit. And it is always too early to quit!

“Heavenly Father, help us to recognize the spiritual battle we are in and the enemy’s tactics to oppose us. Help us put on the full armor of God, pray always in the Spirit, and resist the devil. Give us your grace and strength to endure and finish the work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”