With Help From The Prophets (Ezra 5:2)

 


Friday, October 18, 2024


Psalm 107:1-22

Ezra 5

1 Peter 2:11-17


Observance: Luke, evangelist and martyr


With Help From The Prophets (Ezra 5:2)


There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you are doing the right thing, and you know it. So often we get caught up with trying to decide what the right thing to do is, we forget how good it is for the soul to just decide on a path, in good conscience, and march right down it to the end. Rebuilding the temple fits into this category perfectly.


The people had gotten to work rebuilding the temple and the prophets of Jerusalem, who are so often pointing out when people do the wrong thing, are helping them. So it is with the Lord: when we turn away from him, his Holy Spirit speaks to us in strong words, turning us back. But when we follow the Lord, he steps in and gets stuck into the work at hand.


How wonderful as well the confidence of the elders to the interrogation of the Persian governors! Whenever we try and step out of the little box others would like to keep us in, voices pop up with all sorts ways to try and push us back down. There is no clue to the tone in which the governors approached the elders, but even if they spoke nicely, it is always uncomfortable to be asked what you are doing, and why.


But, with a clear conscience and an excellent, valid and noble cause, the elders spoke clearly to the governors. It was not a combative reply; they just laid out the truth in such a way they were shown to be doing the right thing, and that it would be wrong to try and stop them.


If we had an inch of the confidence and honour of these returned exiles, who knows what could be accomplished in our work here today! What path are you currently on? Are you seeking help from the prophetic words of the Holy Spirit? And have you worked out in your heart that you are doing the right thing, so that you may give a confident and honest response to anyone who asks?


Holy Spirit, help us in the work we do to bring about the kingdom of heaven. And give us the right words to speak should anyone come and ask.

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