Shabbat Shalom! I'd like you please to open your Bibles to the Book of Ezra today. We have arrived to the fifth chapter of the Book of Ezra. And I'd like to read to you Ezra chapter 5, and I'm reading from verse 1. Then the prophets, Chagai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Edo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel even unto them. Then rose up Zerubavel, the son of Sha'altiel, and Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and began to build the house of God, which is at Jerusalem. And with them were the prophets of God helping them.

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shtar Boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who has commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them, After this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 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, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor of this side of the river, and Shetar Boznai, and his companions, the Apar Shachaits, which were on this side of the river, sent unto Darius the king.

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones and timber, is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prosperous in their hands. Then ask we those elders, and said unto them thus: Who commended you to build this house, and to make up these walls? We ask their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. And thus they return, us answer saying: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaladins, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God, and the vessels also of gold and of silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Shesh Batzar, whom he had made governor.

And said unto him, Take these vessels, go carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. Then came the same Shesh Batzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God, which is in Jerusalem. And since that time, even until now, has it been in building. And yet it is not finished. Now, therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be such made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so that the decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

I stop in verse 17 here at the end of chapter 5 of Ezra. Those of you that have been with us through this book of Ezra so far, notice the theme in this book of Ezra is the restoration of our Jewish people back to the city of Yerushalayim. Number one. And secondly, the rebuilding of the temple in the city of Jerusalem. In typology, in a picture for us, it teaches us the importance of a restoration of the people of God into the place where God set his name, and the building of the house of God, the body of Messiah in this present time in which we live in.

We don't build any temples, per se, with gold and silver and precious stones. We build the body of Messiah, the house of God, a composition of believers in Yeshua. We are to encourage and to build the house of God today in a day of decline. Now the Jewish people were in Babylon not because they were obeying the Lord, but because they disobeyed the Lord, and God sent them to Babel to discipline them for 70 years, and then he promised the Jewish people restoration to the temple, the restoration to the land, and surely he does so in the book of Ezra. Well, when we get to chapter 5 now, we discovered in the previous chapter that they were opposed by their enemies to stop to build a temple.

You remember at the end of chapter 4, it says in verse 24, Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. Because they had experienced the enemies who by force stopped them to build the house, then they stopped to build the house. And now, brothers and sisters, between chapter 4 and chapter 5 of the book of Ezra, there is about 14, 15 years where the temple stood there without to be built. This Jewish remnant of Israel that came from Babel was so discouraged because of the opposition that they have had, so they stopped building. And they have stopped building. And if you know from history, from the records that we have in the word of God, nearly 15 years nothing was done.

The temple was still wasted. There was only that foundation that they had placed together in the end of chapter 3 and chapter 4. But the building remained unbuilt. The house of God was not built. The house of God was not built. Discouragement came in. And therefore the people became lax. They just simply said, well, if we're not going to have help to build the temple, we are going to just continue on now to build things for ourselves. And if you will notice, and I'm going to point to it in a moment, there were 15 years that they didn't do anything with the house of God. And everyone took care of his own personal family business.

Now, this is rather sad because to see this happening, this exercise that they had in the beginning was so precious. They devoted themselves to build the house of God. But discouragement comes, like in your life and in mine. When discouragement comes, we take those things to our hearts and we say, okay, I tried, I worked, I did my best, and now I'm not going to continue anymore. Because after all, there is so much opposition. So many enemies we have that discourage us from to build the house of the Lord. But the Lord did not appreciate that. He wanted his house to be built. He wanted to be the center among the people of Israel.

He wanted that a nation would be gathered around him. Jerusalem going to be the city of the great king. The Messiah was going to come in a future day. How can you let the house of God remain in such a condition? God wanted them to build the temple in Jerusalem. Do you know what he did? And it's going to happen in your life and in mine. When there is decline in spiritual exercise, when there is an inclination to get away from the things of the Lord, God graciously raised those that will give us the message, the sincere word of God. You know that in your life, and I know it in my life, when we have turned away from the things of the Lord and we have been so discouraged, somehow God raises a person that come into our life and says, dear brother Gideon, I want to tell you what the word of God is saying.

You need to come back to the principles that are taught in the word of God. You got to continue to build the house of God. I want you to notice that in chapter 5 verses 1 and 2, the construction of the house of God is resumes. But how it is being resumes. Not without the word of God sinking into the heart and the conscience of the people of Judah and Benjamin who are there in the land. And look what God does. It's beautiful to see. It says in verse 1 and 2 of Ezra chapter 5, Then the prophets Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Edo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.

Even unto them, then rose up Zubabel, the son of Shaltiel, and Yeshua, the son of Yotzadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem, and with them the prophets of God helping them. Now, beloved brothers and sisters, when God speaks and the word of God convicts, the spirit of God is using the word of God to appropriate to the heart and the conscience of the men and women of God, then the construction begins. Now, I don't know if you caught this, but I was so impressed when I read those two verses. There are three representations of the three offices throughout the history of Israel that were anointed by oil to be servants of the Lord.

The first one we find the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The prophets of Israel had to be anointed by oil as ministers and servants of the Lord. Then you have Zubabel who is actually representing the kings of Israel. If you look in Matthew chapter 1 verse 12 and 13, he was in the line of the Messiah, the kingly line. And thirdly, Yeshua here in verse 2, he was in the priestly line. He was a priest. What we really see here in verses 1 and 2, the prophet, the kings and the priests. Now, this is fascinating. When I've heard this message being shared by someone and read some material on that and read the text itself and with the help of the spirit of God, you could really see here, beloved brothers and sisters, anticipation for the messianic kingdom.

You have the prophets, you have the king, and you have the priest. All these three officers together are in one person by the name of Yeshua from Nazareth. Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah is called the Messiah, the son of the living God. The Lord Jesus the Messiah is the anointed one. In fact, what we really see here together, all those three officers speak to us of the future day when this one single one person by the name of Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, he is going to reign and rule and he is going to sit in this house of God in the millennial age in the messianic kingdom.

And I want you to see that, beloved brothers and sisters, not because I say it, because the Bible said that they had a messianic anticipation. You know, throughout the ages, our Jewish people had anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. Even today, if you're going to Israel today, you will hear a song that is being sung and the song says, "Ani ma'amin be'emuna shlema" I believe with a full faith, Be'bi'at HaMashiach, in the coming of the Messiah. And even though he will delay his coming, I'm still going to believe in the coming of the Messiah. The messianic anticipation. Now notice that it says so beautifully that the prophet Haggai and the prophet Zechariah, they were the ones that were preaching to Zerubabel, to Yeshua, and to the rest of the nation of Israel.

Now these two names, but the name of Haggai and Zechariah are beautiful names. The word Haggai means my feasts. And the name Zechariah means Jehovah remembered. The Lord remembered. In those two messengers, who gave two types of messages to the people of Judah, we really see that God is saying to Israel, He says listen, I want you to understand that in this temple you are going to celebrate my feasts. And I want you to understand that I remember you and I want you to come into my presence and enjoy the presence of the Lord, all my people Israel. And so Haggai and Zechariah was preaching to these discouraged remnant and was presenting to them the necessity to go back and to build the house.

So go with me for a moment to the prophet Haggai for a second. Haggai was preaching to these remnant of Israel that were so discouraged and they stopped to build the house of God. And look what Haggai is saying to them. In chapter 1 of the prophet Haggai there, it says in verse 3, Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai, the prophet saying, Is it time for you to dwell in your sealed houses? And this house lay waste? Verse 5, Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. And then look what he's telling them in verse 6, You so much, but bring little. You eat and have not enough.

You drink, but ye are not filled with drink. Ye clothes you, but there is none warm. And he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. Go up, verse 8, to the mountain. Bring wood. Build a house. And I will take pleasure in it. And I will be glorified, says the Lord. You see, God said to Judah and Benjamin, who were already in the city of Jerusalem. He says, Listen, why are you stopping to build the house of the Lord? Why is it? He says, Is it nothing to you that the house is being wasted?

You build your own house. You take care of your own self. But the house of the Lord is standing wasted. And then he tells them, Consider your ways. Brothers and sisters, He appealed to them. When God spoke to Israel through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 1, He says, Come, let us reason together. I want you to reason with me. Is it right for you to spend time only for yourself and neglect to build the house of the Lord? He might say to you and I today, when we are a time away from the Lord. Is it fair? I have saved you. I've gave my son for you.

He died for you on a tree and gave you forgiveness of sin. And you don't have time to spend in building the body of Messiah. This is convicting. This is really challenging. And God used Haggai to preach such a convicting message to the people of Israel. But he didn't only simply convicted them in order to make them feel bad. No. Because God wanted his people with him. He wanted to enjoy their fellowship. He knew that when they set him aside, they lose out. Like when we set the Lord out, away from our life. We are the losers. Not God. Well, of course, he wants to have his people around him.

But the greater losers, those that really feel the loss and really experience the loss, it's not so much God, but it is us who are saved, who are forgiven, who have a hope to be in heaven. What do you think we're going to do when we're going to go to heaven? We are going to be with Yeshua eternally. We are going to worship him all the time. Consider your ways, he's saying to them through Haggai. Look at chapter 2 of the prophet Haggai. I want you to see the messianic anticipation. Haggai chapter 2 in verse 6. "For thus says the Lord of hosts, Yet once it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land, and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.

The silver is mine, the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts." But then notice what he says in verse 9. "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former house, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place will I give shalom, says the Lord of hosts." In other words, what he's really telling them. "Or you look at this house that seems to be so little, that you were discouraged from building and you stop building it. But do you know he's saying that the glory of this house is going to be greater than the glory of the former house which King Solomon had built?" Now they might say, "Well, how is it possible?" Well, you see what Haggai and Zechariah were pointing to, to the future messianic kingdom.

They were anticipating the Messiah to come. And they were anticipating the glory day when it says this house will be filled with glory, says the Lord of hosts found in verse 7 of Haggai chapter 2. And you know indeed, beloved brothers and sisters, of course we know that this particular house that they were going to build actually have been destroyed later on. The Messiah came to this house, enlarged house, you remember? Herod enlarged the temple in Jerusalem. And when Yeshua the Messiah came in his first coming, he was rejected, he was not accepted. But in the future day when he is going to come, in his second coming, he will truly be accepted by our nation, the nation of Israel.

And he will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Wonderful anticipation. Now go to the prophet Zechariah for a moment. Zechariah or Zechariah in Hebrew. And notice what he's saying in anticipation of the Messiah to come. And listen what Zechariah is saying in his ministry as he prophesied to these Jewish remnants in chapter 6 of Zechariah in verse 12. Speak unto them, God is saying. Saying thus speaketh the Lord of hosts. Saying behold the man whose name is the branch. And he shall grow out of his place. And he shall build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall build the temple of the Lord.

And he shall bear the glory. And he shall sit and rule upon his throne. And he shall be a priest upon his throne. And the council of peace, of shalom, shall be between them both. You see, Zechariah is speaking to these remnants of Judah. And he says, listen. Not only that the glory of the Lord is going to be there. And this house will be greater than the house that was built by Solomon. But listen. One that is called the branch. The Tzemach in Hebrew. This is the Messiah. He will come. He will build the temple of the Lord. And he will be the one that will rule.

And he will be a ruler, a king, and a priest at the same time in the future day. When he is going to come. So there was a messianic anticipation. Beloved brothers and sisters. And now back to Ezra chapter 5 and verses 1 and 2. And you can see the whole three offices working together. And we can say in type and in picture. We can see all those who were anointed serving the Lord together. The prophet Chagai and Zechariah. The king Zerub Avel. And the priest Yeshua. All ministering together and serving. In a sense what we really learn here. That they were working together. But in their mind and in their hearts.

There was a messianic anticipation. I believe with a full assurance of faith. In the coming of the Messiah. Even though he will tarry. Yet I will wait for him. Now how does that apply for us today? We can see the leadership working together. You notice what it says in verse 2. Then rose up Zubabel. The son of Shaltiel. And Yeshua the son of Yotzadak. And they began to build the house of God. Which is a Jerusalem. And with them the prophets of God. Helping them. An aspect that I would like to apply this to us today. If we are going to see a house working together.

And being built. If we want to see the body of Messiah growing. We have to work together. And especially the leadership. Because here in verse 1 and 2. You don't even see the people working here. You only see the leaders are mentioned. Zechariah is mentioned. Haggai is mentioned. Zubabel is mentioned. Yeshua is mentioned. All these were the leaders of Israel. Now this is very important. I believe and I understand from scripture. To have a godly leaders. In the midst of the body of Messiah. You know when we have a godly leaders. Then we will have an influence upon the rest of the flock. And every one of us have to be so thankful.

I know in my life. There were those that I have learned from. And have been under. What an example they have been in my life. The consistency. The ongoing faithfulness. Even if there are problems. They are like pillars. They are moving on. Doesn't matter. Their problems come. And problems go. Issues arise. But they are moving on to build. They are carrying on. They were not always right. They are not perfect. But they are an example to the flock. To the people of God. And we need to pray for our leaders. That the Lord will help them. Because they are human beings. They have failure in their life.

Look at Zerubabel and Yeshua. Where they were for 15 years. They were not building. Because they were discouraged. Because of the opposition of the enemies. Of the Samaritans. And then later on. Like the rest of the nation. Everybody went. And they started to take care of themselves. And neglected the building of the house of the Lord. Where we don't read of Zerubabel and Yeshua. For 15 years. They needed encouragement as well. They needed the word of the Lord. Like you and I need the word of the Lord. Today. Unless the Lord speaks to us. Unless the spirit of God convicts us. Unless the word of God is alive.

And piercing asunder. As a sword. That's speaking to us. We would be no different. Than our forefathers. The people of Judah. And Benjamin. And not to talk down upon them. Because look at the condition of the church as well. The church failed tremendously. Over the years. We see the dark ages. Of the professing church. And the time. That there was so much decline. And only in the 1800s. Just about 150 years ago. When there was a revival. To come back to the word of God. And to return to the principles that are taught. In the word of God. Just the same. Like Zerubabel and Yeshua. You and I are called the same thing to do.

To come back to the principles that are taught. In the word of God. So we see the prophet. The Navi. We see the priest. The Kohen. The Kohen. We see the king. The Melech. Working together. In order to build the house of the Lord. The leadership is extremely important. Well now notice what it says in the next verses. Because in verses 3, 4 and 5. We see again opposition. You know it is amazing. That you would think. Well things are moving along. And here we are growing. And here we are going to start to build the house of the Lord. Build the house of the Lord. And here we go.

Here we go. We see some fruit. Something is going on. Do you think that Satan is going to stand by. And say wow. Let them carry on and build something for God. No. Beloved brothers and sisters. I am also saying that even for our ministry. Holy Scriptures in Israel. Do you think when things are growing. Do you think the enemy does not see an opportunity to stop the ministry of the things of the Lord. He will always seek to find something in order to cause friction among the people of God. To cause the work of the Lord to cease. And so notice what happened here.

Just the same like it happened in chapter 4. Now time passes by. And then we see the opposition rising again. And so verse 3. The question came by one by the name of Tatnai. He was a governor of Samaria. A governor in the Shomron area. It says in verse 3. At the same time came to them Tatnai the governor. On this side of the river. And Shtar Boznai. And their companions. And they said unto them. Who has commanded you to build this house. And to make up this wall. They came and challenged them. And said who has commanded you. What are you doing. What are you going to build now this house.

Who commanded you to build this house. Now they didn't know. Anything of what Haggai and Zechariah. Was preaching to the people of Judah. They had no idea. They could probably go and turn them to the story. That Haggai had said. And what Zechariah. They could have bring them to these two prophets. And said here listen. It is God who said to us. To build the temple. It is God who stirred us up. To build the house of the Lord. But they didn't mention at all. To them that it was from the Lord. In fact. They should have known. That these people. And these Jewish remnant.

Who came back. They were already there. For more than 15 years. 16 years. They knew very well. And their question. Was really an unacceptable question. They didn't ask. Because they wanted to know. The God of Israel. They didn't ask. Who is the one who told you to build. Why we want to know about him. No. They were asking this question. In a careless way. Who told you to build this place. What do you think you're doing. How dare you. Putting this house together. Who told you to do that. And you know. That when the people of Israel. Respond to them. Respond to them. They respond to them.

In the same way. In which they asked them. That question. You know. There is a verse. That is found. In the book of Proverbs. Chapter 26. In verse 4 and 5. He says. Answer a fool. According to his folly. You see. I want you to listen. To what they say to them. In verse 4. Then said. We. Unto them. After this manner. What are the names of the men. That make. This. Building. You know. It's funny. The way they answer them. They didn't answer them. They say. Oh. You know. God told us to come. To build it. He raised two prophets. To bring before us. So we can. Be stirred up.

To build the house. Of the Lord. No. They didn't answer them. This way. You know. How they answer them. They answer them. He said. What are the names of the men. To make this building. In other words. They answered. A fool. According to his folly. You know. Turn with me. To Proverbs. Chapter 26. For a moment. And I remember this. From years ago. When I was. Helping a ministry. To do street. Evangelization. We were in the streets. Of New York. It was working. With ministering. With Jews. For Jesus. Years ago. And I remember. We were in the streets. Of New York. And we learned this. That was very helpful.

Sometimes. People come to us. On the streets. And ask us. Some questions. That really. Shows. That they really. Have no interest. In the things. Of the Lord. Whatsoever. But they ask. Us questions. In order to take our time. In order to cause us. To stop. To do the ministry. That the Lord. Have given us to do. To share the message. Of the gospel. In chapter. 26. Of the book. Of Proverbs. Verses 4. And 5. This is the wisdom. Of King Solomon. He says. In verse 4. Answer not. A fool. According to his. Folly. Lest thou. Also. Be like. Unto him. Answer. A fool. According to his. Folly. Lest he.

Be wise. In his own. Conceit. You see. The one of them. In verse 4. Says. Answer not. A fool. According to his. Folly. And verse 5. Says. Answer a fool. According to his. Folly. There are two types. Of fools. The one kind of fool. Is a fool. That is simply. Misinformed. You remember. The Lord. Yeshua said. To the disciples. That went away. To Emmaus. He said. Oh ye fools. He didn't mean it. In a derogatory way. He just simply meant. To them. Misinformed. Oh you. Fools. You don't have. Sufficient enough. Understanding. This is the one kind. Of fool. But there is another kind. Of fool. Which is found.

In verse 5. Who is really not. Interested. At all. To know. And he. Or she. Or they. Simply want. To stumble you. They are. Challenging you. They are. Rejecting. What you say. And what you do. They are really not. Interested. Before them. And that is why. Shlomo. The king. Solomon said. In verse 5. Of chapter 26. Answer a fool. According to his folly. Lest he be wise. In his own. Conceit. And therefore. You answer him. Accordingly. If you ask questions. And putting a person down. And rejecting. What he or she. Has to say. Well. You will receive. The same kind. Of answer. So. Zerub Havel. And Yeshua. And I am back.

In Ezra. Chapter 5. And verse 4. Then said. We unto them. After this manner. What are the names. Of the men. That make. This building. It seems like. Kind of a question. Out of nowhere. Well. They were asking them. Such a question. Who told you. To build this. Asking from you. To build this building. So. They were answering them. In the same way. As they. Were asking them. That question. Now. They are not going. To go. And tell them. About the beauty. Of the word of God. That were presented. To them. Through the two prophets. Haggai. And Zechariah. If they were going. To do so. Knowing the people.

Who came. And asked them. This question. They would be. Casting pearls. To the swine. To remind us. What Yeshua said. In Matthew chapter 7. In verse 6. He says. Give not that. Which is holy. Unto the dogs. Neither cast ye. Your pearls. Before swine. Lest they trample them. Under their feet. And turn again. And rend you. The natural man. Receiveth not the things. Of the spirit. Because they are. Foolishness unto him. Shaul Paul said. In 1st Corinthians. Chapter 2. And verse 14. And the Lord says. Don't cast pearls. Before the swine. They were not going. To share. What God. Have given to them. Through the prophets. Haggai. And Zechariah.

So these people. Are going to mock. At it. And laugh. At it. And cause them. To stop. To build. The house. Of God. God. Which was so precious. To their own hearts. And that's why. They gave them. Such an answer. That is found. In this. Verse 4. They did not. Share with them. The word of the Lord. The truth. Of the word of God. They did not. Cast a pearl. Before them. They answered them. According to. The question. That they. Have asked. They understood. What was going on. Behind. That. And brothers. And sisters. At times. We get. Those. Who are really. Not interested. In the things.

Of the Lord. They want to take. Our time. They want to take. Our effort. They want to take. Everything. That has to do. With our walk. With the Lord. So we can. Spend time. With them. And they play. With the people. Of God. So we need. Wisdom. Like. And Yeshua. In those days. Well now. Notice. That brothers. And sisters. In verse. Five. We have. An exclamation. Of the Holy Spirit. Of God. Placed here. In this passage. Because verse. Five. Shows. Us. That the faithful. Ongoing. Of the building. Of the house. Of God. Was under. The care. Of the eyes. Of the Lord. It says in verse.

Five. But the eyes. Of the God. Upon. The elders. Of the Jews. That they. Could not. Cause them. To cease. Until. The matter. Came. To Darius. And then. They return. Answer. By letter. Concerning. This matter. So what we learn. Here. That. They did not. Succeed. In stopping. Them. Then. To build. The house. Previous. Fifteen years. Earlier. There were. Successful. Those. That came. Against. Them. Fifteen. Years. Ago. They. By force. Stopped. Them. From. Building. The house. They. Accused. Them. They. First of all. Tried. To trick. Them. Then. They. Were. Going. Against. In. Stopping. The building. Of the house. Of God. But. Here. Beloved. Brothers. And sisters.

The Lord. Stirred. Them. Using. The prophets. Of the Lord. And. Those. Men. Did not. Succeed. To stop. Them. From. Building. The house. Of. The. God. Was. Upon. The elders. Of. The Jews. Do you know. Brothers. And sisters. God. Is. A spirit. In. John. 4. But. In order. To help. Us. Thoughts. Concerning. Us. Concerning. Every. Believer. God. Presents. Before. Us. His. Eyes. His. His. Face. Well. God. Is. A spirit. He. Doesn't. Have. A human. Body. Well. Of course. When. God. The sun. And. The humanity. He. Took. Upon. Himself. Humanity. Became. Truly. Spirit. Soul. And. Body. Human. Being. But. God. Himself. In general. Is. A spirit. But. His eyes.

His. His. Ears. His. Face. He's. Always. Watching. His. Own. People. And. It's. So. Precious. To. See. The eye. Of. Their. God. Was. Upon. The elders. Of. The Jewish. People. Tells. Us. That God. Care. For. Exactly. What. They were. Experiencing. As. They were. Facing. The enemies. There. In. The city. Of. Jerusalem. He. Understood. That. They were. Discouraged. For. 15 years. And. Now. He. Stirred. Them. Up. And. To. Bring. Them. To. These. Jewish. People. And. It's. Precious. Do you know. Brothers. And. Sisters. Everything. That. Going. On. In. Our. Life. Do you know. That. God. Even. Now. As we are. Sitting here. And. We are. Hearing. Seeing. Believers. Gather.

To. Meet. Around. The. Word. Of. God. You know. It. Gives. Him. Such. A. Joy. To. See. His. People. Meet. And. Glorify. His. Name. It. Gives. Him. Joy. In. His. Heart. And. His. Eyes. Upon. His. People. And. It's. Not. Only. For. Us. He that keepeth Israel, neither slumbers nor sleep. He doesn't sleep. He watches of his own. He cares for his own people. And sometimes when we get discouraged, we have to realize that God does care for us. He watches over us. He knows our challenges. And also he knows when we go astray, when sin creeps into our lives, he knows it more than you and I even know it.

David said in Psalm 139, Search me, O Lord, and know my heart. Try me and know my thought. And see if there is any wicked way in me, David said. And lead me in a way everlasting. The Lord is searching us and he's watching over us. I want you to turn with me to the book of Psalms for a moment. Psalm 33 and verse 18. It says, Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him. Upon them that hope in his mercy. You see, he sees the needs of his people. And he watches over us. And he sees that we need his grace and his mercy in our own life.

He sees every trial we experience in our life. And he watches over us and his eyes are upon them that fear him. In Hebrew we say, Yirei Adonai. Those that have reverential hearts towards God. And then it says, Those that hope in his mercy. You know, we needed his mercy and his grace when we were unbelievers. We needed forgiveness of sins. But we also need his mercy every day. As we face the world and its opposition and its hatred towards the believers. We need the mercy of the Lord every day of our life. Look at the next chapter 34 of Psalm 34 and verse 15. You see, not only that his eyes are upon those that belong to him.

But his ears are open to their cry. You know, brothers and sisters, Sometimes we feel like as if God doesn't listen. And he doesn't hear us. But according to the word of God, His ears are open unto their cry. When you sometimes go through problems in your life. And you cry to him, Oh Lord, I don't know how I'm going to handle this problem right now in my life. And you cry towards him. He listened. And he also, his eyes are upon you and I, Beloved brothers and sisters, Just the same like we read by the Holy Spirit of God, That the eye of their God, The God of the Jewish people, The God of Israel, Was upon the elders of the Jews.

God saw everything that was going on. He loved them and he wanted to minister to them and encourage them. Turn to the next book, The book of Proverbs this time. Proverbs chapter 5, Verse 21. This is Shlomo, Solomon, the king of Israel, Wrote and he said, For the ways of men are before the eyes of the Lord. And he pondereth all his doing. You know, Sometimes we think that God doesn't see my heart. He doesn't see what I do. He doesn't see where I go. But the Bible tells us the ways of men are before his eyes. There's nothing hidden from him. And then it says, And he ponders his going.

In other words, God is wondering, You know, When I think about the goings, You know, Sometimes we have done things in our lives as believers that we are ashamed of. And we would say, I wish I've never done that. God pondering it. He knows that. And when you think in connection with the Jewish people of the time of Ezra, Of the time of Zubabel and Yeshua, They were discouraged. So they stopped to build a house. And they carry on to take it only of themselves. And to build for themselves. And they neglected to build the house of God. The Bible said, The ways of men are before the eyes of the Lord.

And he pondereth all his goings. What does he do? Why doesn't he turn back to me? Moving his life in God's direction. It's amazing to think when we think of these verses. Look at chapter 15 of Proverbs. And look at verse 3. What we read there again. King Solomon is writing. And King Solomon says in verse 3 of Proverbs chapter 15. The eyes of the Lord are in every place. Beholding the evil and the good. Do you think God doesn't see the evil that is going on in this world? I'm thinking about what's going on today in Iraq and in Syria and in Lebanon and in Yemen. And in all the Middle Eastern countries where there is so much evil that is going on against believers.

People losing their lives. People kill others without seems to be any concern for lives. You think the Lord doesn't see it? Well, he sees everything. The eye of the Lord is in every place. Beholding both the evil but also the good. And everything that we do for the Lord in our life, he can see. He sees it. And he definitely is thankful for what we do for the Lord. Whatever is going to be done for the Messiah will ultimately last. Now, one more verse I want to read in the Berit HaKadashah, in the New Covenant. Remember that Shimon Petos was writing to Hebrew believers of first century.

They believed in Yeshua the Messiah and they needed to be encouraged because they were going through trials and persecution. So Peter wanted to encourage them and he said to them in 1 Peter chapter 3, he's saying to them in 1 Peter 3.10, For he that will love life and seek good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace, seek shalom and ensue it. Why, verse 12, for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Again, you see the eyes, the ears, the face, but the eyes of the Lord. Peter is now talking to believers of the church age, of the body of Messiah. Their brethren did not accept the Messiah, but they have accepted that Yeshua was the Messiah. They were persecuted and misunderstood. And he reminded them exactly what the psalmist of Israel said, The eye of the Lord on those that belong to him. And now please go back to the book of Ezra in chapter 5 and verse 5. 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.

And then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. So now, beloved brothers and sisters, the remaining part of this chapter is simply a letter that they were writing. So verses 1 and 2, the construction of the house of the Lord resumed. Verses 3, 4, and 5, the second opposition that these Jewish people are now experiencing by the Samaritans, the enemies of Judah, Benjamin, the enemies of Israel. They have been assured that the eyes of the Lord is watching over them, like the eyes of the Lord watching over us today. And now we find out that the letter was written again. The letter is from verse 6 all the way to the end.

But it is so beautiful. And this time it was written to Darius, the king of Persia. When Cyrus died, Darius became the king. And so I just want to highlight a few things about this letter as we sum up this fifth chapter. First of all, in verse 6, we see the copy of the letter. In verse 7, they sent the letter unto Darius, the king. Then in verse 8, Tatnai points to the ongoing work of the house of God. And then from verse 11 to 16, there is an answer that is mentioned here that actually the elders never even gave to Tatnai, the one from Samaria. Look at this. First of all, verse 6, copy of the letter, that Tatnai, the governor, on this side of the river, and Shatar-Boznai and his companions and so on, which were on this side of the river, sent unto Darius the king.

Then verse 7, they sent this letter to king Darius. In verse 8, they said to the king, Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones and timber, is laid in the walls. And this work goes fast on and prosperous in their hands. Now notice that they say something like this. He says, look, it really happened, king Darius, that we just went into the province of Judah and we kind of saw this house being built. Well, they were not telling the truth because they didn't go just, it didn't happen that they have gone to the province of Judah.

They have intended to go there to stop the building of the house, then in verse 9 and 10 they mentioned that they requested an answer. It says in verse 9, And we asked those elders, and we said unto them, Who commended you to build this house? Now it sounds like he's kind of was interested. Who really commended? Tell us about him. But actually, they were really challenging Zubbabel and Yeshua. Who commended you to build this house? Who asked you to do this? What are you doing? In other words, in verse 9 and then verse 10, We ask for their names also to certify thee that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

And so in verses 9 and 10, The request is for the names of the leaders of Israel who built the temple, the house there. But you notice that from their own, from verse 11 to verse 16, It seems to be that God in his grace have allowed them to put into this letter some things That they actually did not say to them at that particular time. You remember in verse 4, They answered a fool according to his folly. But now Tatnai in his letter, Somehow the Holy Spirit of God allowed him to write of the history Of why the Jewish people had to be carried away and then be restored back to the land.

And so from verse 11 to verse 16, Let me just quickly highlight some of the things that they were writing in this letter. Look, in verse 11, He's writing about the response of the Jewish people. And so in verse 11, We read, And thus they returned us an answer, And they said, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, And build the house that was builted these many years ago, Which a great king of Israel builded and set up. You see, The writings in this letter was about the history of how it came about. That the house needed to be rebuilt again. There was a man that built this house.

A king, this great king, Is King Solomon. In 1st King chapter 6, He began to build the house. In 1st King chapter 7, He ended to build the house. And the house was built. It was the great temple that Solomon, the king of Israel, had built. But, Something happened, beloved brothers and sisters, That caused the temple to be destroyed. Verse 12, But after that our fathers had provoked the Lord God of heaven unto wrath. He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, The king of Babylon. The Chaladins who destroyed the house, And carried the people away to Babylon. Now remember, beloved brothers and sisters, The three times Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, And took Jewish people away to Babylon.

At 605 BC, He came the first time. And he took some of the Jewish people down to Babel. In 597, He came again. And he took a second group to Babel. And then the third time, In 586, He took the remaining Jewish people, And brought them to Babel, And destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Burned it to the ground. So, Here we have Tatnai, This Samaritan, Writing this letter to the king Darius. But, It seems to be that he is inserting there, Things that actually were not told to him, By those men, Through Babel and Yeshua in verse 4. They didn't give him this information. But they learned this, Because they knew the history of the Jewish people.

King Solomon built the temple. It was a magnificent temple. Then the Jewish people rebelled against God. In 720, God took the northern tribes to Assyria. In 586, He took the Jewish people down to Babylon, And he destroyed the temple of the city of Jerusalem. Notice verse 13, But, In the first years of Cyrus, The king of Babylon, The same king Cyrus, Made a decree to build the house of God. They're telling them the whole story. You see, Cyrus, We read it in chapter 1 of the book of Ezra, Verses 1 and 2, How Cyrus called to rebuild the temple in the city of Jerusalem. Look what Cyrus says in verse 14, The vessel of the gold and silver, Of the house of God, Which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple, Which was in Jerusalem, And he brought them to the temple in Babylon, Those did Cyrus the king took out from the temple of Babylon, And they were delivered unto one by the name of Shesh Batsar, Whom he had made governor.

This man by the name of Shesh Batsar, Is none else but Zerubabel. He was the one that was made a governor by Cyrus, By Koresh. And all these furniture, All these vessels that were taken to Babylon now, Were given to Zerubabel, And Zerubabel brought them to Jerusalem, To situate them in the temple in the city of Jerusalem. And notice that now, Just to close this letter, In verse 15, And he said unto him, Take these vessels, And then bring them now to the house in Jerusalem. Verse 16, Then came Shesh Batsar, And he laid the foundation of the house of God, Which is in Jerusalem. Since that time, Since that time, Even until now, It has been in building, And yet, It's not finished.

Now again, He's saying something that was not really right, Because the temple was not built since that time. The temple was stopped to be in building for 15 years. But he's kind of adding certain things, Put those things in that letter, To write to Darius, The king of Persia, In order to stop the Jewish people In building the temple in Jerusalem. But brothers and sisters, The conclusion, Of course, Is in verse 17. And what is the conclusion? The request, To find out whether these things were truly so. Darius, Look in the record. Look in your place. Make a search, And see if it is actually so, That Cyrus gave the permission, Of the restoration of the house.

And look at this. Verse 17, And I'm going to conclude this. Now therefore, If it seem good into the king, Let there be search made, In the king's treasure's house, Which is there at Babylon, Whether it be so, That a decree was made of Cyrus the king, To build this house of God at Jerusalem. And let the king send his pleasure to us, Concerning this matter. And the chapter concludes, With this request from the king, Darius, To whom they wrote that letter. You search to see, In your treasure house, To see if it's true, Whether those Jewish people, Actually received this command from Cyrus, The king of Persia, To build this house.

Well in the next chapter, We'll find out, That yes, They have received a command from Cyrus, To build the house of the Lord, In the city of Jerusalem. Now brothers and sisters, In conclusion, In conclusion, Let me ask you, And let me ask all of us today, In closing, Are we participating, In the building, Of the house of the Lord today? Are we taking part, And united, As we see here, Zechariah, Haggai, Zubbabel and Yeshua, Working together, If we are going to work together, To build the house of the Lord, The body of Messiah, I can assure you, That the Lord will be so pleased with it, He is going to bless any work, Any effort, That is being done for His glory, And for the edification of believers today, Paul is saying to the Corinthians, At the end, In the conclusion, Of the book of Corinthians, He is saying to them, In 1st Corinthians, Chapter 15, And the last verse, He said, Therefore, My beloved brethren, Be ye steadfast, Unmovable, Always abounding, In the work of the Lord.

Why should we, Always be abounding, In the work of the Lord? And Paul gives them an answer. For as much as you know, That your labor, Is not in vain, In the Lord. So beloved brothers and sisters, If we are going to be, Part of those builders, Encouragers, In building the body of Messiah, The labor that we put into it, Will not be in vain. There will be fruit for God, There will be blessing, For each and every one of us, And God is going to receive, The glory that He deserves, To receive. May God bless us, And encourage us, To build, And to move on.