In Ezra 5, the detractors of the rebuilding of the Temple expand to include the local governing officials in Judah. They send a letter to King Darius complaining about the project, and asking for the project to be stopped. The problem is in the process they ask King Darius to look back in the annals of King Cyrus to find out what was really supposed to happen. As we read in Ezra 6, The exiles were vindicated and the building of the Temple not only continued, but was completed. The items taken during Nebuchadnezzar’s time were restored. The people who had issued the original complaint against the exiles were required to collect taxes and use them to provide sacrifices for the Temple. Once the Temple was completed the exiles also celebrated the Passover, which had not been done in many decades. The celebration in Judah must have been incredible. As we have seen throughout our reading of the Old Testament, the LORD uses whomever He chooses to carry out His will. The lesson for us is to discern and do His will! It isn’t hard to discern His will, because He has made it so clear to us in His written word. He also speaks to us through His Spirit in prayer. He uses circumstances and other believers to communicate His will to us as well. We don’t want to be like Tatanni and stand against His will, because in the end that doesn’t work out well.
In Ezra 7, we are introduced to Ezra. He was sent by King Artaxerxes to teach the Law of Moses to the people of God, to implement the king’s edicts concerning the Temple worship, and obedience to the God of Heaven and the king, and to let the treasurers of the detractors to provide funds for the Temple worship. At the close of the chapter, Ezra is given the authority from the king to punish those who disobey the laws of the God of Heaven or the king, and to do so through execution, banishment, confiscation of goods or imprisonment. Ezra was given absolute authority from the king to make certain the LORD’s will was known and carried out. Yet another example of how the LORD uses whom He chooses to fulfill His purposes.
As we return to Matthew 4, Jesus spends forty days being tempted in the wilderness. Satan’s temptations include using His power for His own benefit, using His power to attract the crowds to Him, and giving in to the easy way to accomplish His purpose. Each time Jesus quotes Scripture and finally sends the devil away. We’re told Satan leaves until an opportune time. We must always remember, when Satan tempts us and we overcome in the power of the Spirit, he will return again at an opportune time. The opportune times for Satan in our lives are times of victory and defeat. After victories we are prone to pride and after defeats we are prone to despair. In both conditions, Satan has an easier time deceiving or distracting us, with the intention of destroying us. So long as we remember Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us, we will always be ready for the temptations. The remainder of the chapter tells us of Jesus’ initial message of repentance, His calling of the first disciples, and the immediate response of the crowds to follow Him.