Ezra 5

“But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building...” (Ezra 5:5, NLT)

Because of opposition, the Jews had stopped working on the temple for fifteen years. So the LORD sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people to get back to work. Zerubbabel and Jeshua responded by starting again to rebuild the temple. But no sooner did they do this, than they attracted opposition. Tattenai, the governor of the province, and his colleagues were deeply concerned. They saw this as a potential rebellion against the king of Persia. So they formally inquired of the Jews, “Who gave you permission to rebuild, and what are the names of your leaders?” After receiving this intelligence, they wrote a letter informing King Darius. However, they were unable to stop the Jews from working because God was watching over them.

Living under the protection of Almighty God isn’t complicated. If we will do what He says, then we can rest assured that He is watching over us.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1–4, NKJV)

God has called us to build. He is fitting us together as living stones in a spiritual house so that we can offer up spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:4-5). We cannot afford to improve our own homes while neglecting the house of God.

“Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.” (Haggai 1:8, ESV)

God wants to be glorified by what we build. This may include a physical building, but it most certainly includes building a spiritual temple where we can offer up praises and do the work of the kingdom. If we will give ourselves to this, then God will watch over us, and no work of the enemy will prevail against us!