Instil A Healthy Rhythm Of Doing And Reflecting
(Daryl Tay, Pastoral Team Member, Children’s Ministry and BeTween Ministry)
READ:
Ezra 6:1-12, Psalm 7 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Ezra 6:1-12 is part of a larger movement of restoration for God’s people and their return from exile to Jerusalem. Across the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we learn that three aspects of the city need rebuilding – the temple, the Law (to guide and guard the hearts of the people) and the city walls. Ezra 6 therefore focuses on the completion of the temple rebuilding efforts. Prior to this, the temple restoration work was ordered to cease because of opposition to God’s work by ‘the people of the land’ (Ezra 4:4).
I observe that a distinctive for not just Ezra 6, but all three major city-rebuilding projects, is that firstly, the restoration is initiated by God prompting the authorities and resourcing the work. King Darius, stumbling upon a scroll by Cyrus the King, decrees that not only is the house of God to be rebuilt, but the cost is also to be paid right out from the royal revenue. Bulls and rams, whatever is needed for burnt offerings, are to be provided to God’s people. Most importantly, the work is ordered to resume without interruption! So this resumption is regarded, first and foremost, as a triumph over opposition!
Secondly, so deliberate is Darius in making this edict in accordance with God’s will that he even institutes the temple’s precise measurements and specifics to be adhered to (Ezra 6:3-4).
Finally, so purposeful is Darius in making this edict that he even institutes punitive measures should anyone choose to alter his instructions. In v11, he states that they will be impaled on a beam pulled out from their house.
Jumping over to Psalm 7, I observe how David takes refuge in God. God is angered by evil and injustice. God judges all peoples according to righteousness and integrity. God establishes the righteous and saves the upright in heart. This is the God that David refers to when he exclaims, “My shield is with God.”
APPLY
From the Ezra account, I might be quick to attribute praises to King Darius for paving the way for the eventual completion of the temple rebuilding project. But I must not forget that God is the sovereign one driving the work in accordance to His will. While Darius knows about what YHWH can do, it is unlikely that as an outsider from God’s covenantal community, he knows YHWH as his own God. Even then, God can still use him for His divine purposes to restore His chosen people.
As I enter into a brand new year of 2022, I see the schools reopening for our children and more families seeking to return to the onsite church.
While God’s church never ceased, even during the pandemic, it is a return of sorts for God’s people. I am aptly reminded of three truths. First, the restoration work is initiated by God. He alone will mobilise and resource the work. As I ponder on what in-person resumption may look like for the ministries I am called to steward, He reminds me to simply trust in Him.
Second, God has a perfect timeline for His own restoration work. Between Ezra 5 and 6, the rebuilding work was made to cease until the second year of the reign of King Darius. This must have been a long time when opposition prevailed over God’s people. Yet many years later, God faithfully sees the work to completion.
From this, I learn that while we may have our own clever timelines to pivot from online to onsite ministry, we must be careful to run in tandem with God’s pace.
Finally, as the seventh Psalm exhorts, ultimately we will find peace and comfort in knowing that a righteous God will prevail. One day, He will judge the wicked, right every wrong and deliver the righteous and upright in heart. That is my hope, which keeps me persevering even in dark times.
DO
Often with many things to do, I lack sufficient space for pause and reflection. As I begin a new year, I want to choose to actively reflect – in fact, to instill a healthy rhythm of doing and reflecting. On both a personal and ministry front, I will carve out time to listen to what God’s will is, and what His timing for this season is. This, I believe, is His challenge for me through this scripture meditation.
PRAY
Dear God, thank you for being the one constant in our ever-changing world. Thank you for the restorative work that you are doing even today for your people and your church. I pray that we will learn to rely fully on you. Be our rock and hope, especially during these uncertain times. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen!
