On Track With God
(Mother and son: Sylvia Yeo, Chairperson, Children’s Ministry and Matthew Chee, Youth Leader, BeTween Ministry)
READ:
OBSERVE:
Zerubbabel was honoured to be appointed to rebuild the great temple in Jerusalem for Yahweh, the God of Israel. He probably did not expect what was to come when he declined the offer of “help” from those who did not experience exile in Babylon (aka ‘enemies of Judah and Benjamin’ in Ezra 4:1).
He was discerning when he rejected their help as their true intentions came to light when these “Samaritans” (quoting EnduringWord.com) stopped at nothing to halt the re-building of the temple and succeeded. Zerubbabel experienced what Psalm 5:9 exclaimed that ‘not a word from their mouth (could) be trusted’ when ‘their heart is filled with malice’.
Ezra 4 as a whole contextualises the wonder of what Ezra and Nehemiah eventually accomplish by God’s grace. In spite of such fierce adversity, when God declares something, it will come to pass. No power can subvert His plans, no matter how bleak things may seem at the moment. For a good overview of the Ezra and Nehemiah story, check out BibleProject.com @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkETkRv9tG8
APPLY
When I am “doing the work of the Lord”, I can be frazzled by those who seem to stand in the way. Did God allow the opposition because I was not following His plans, or that the timing just wasn’t right, or was He trying to grow my faith through hardship that He wanted me to persevere through? How do I know when I am on the right track?
Psalm 5:5 reminds me that God cannot stand arrogance and lies. I echo Psalm 5:8 and ask God to lead me in His righteousness that I may discern His will in all that I do and say.
In Psalm 5:10, David cries out, ‘banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you’. Though life and context may complicate things, at the end of the day, this is what God cries out too. I give thanks that whether in Zerubbabel’s situation of deception and adversity or David’s lament, God’s heart is still the same. God’s will is still unchangeable, and His will will come to pass.
DO
In order to know the Father’s will, I need Him in my thoughts so that I can sense the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction. I yearn to be among the righteous whom God will bless (Psalm 5:12); I yearn for Him to surround me with His favour. The key to having God’s peace and rest is submitting to God as exemplified by Christ. Not my will but thine, O Lord.
PRAY
Lord, ‘you hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. But I,’ in spite of my sin and brokenness, and ‘by your great love, can come into your house.’1 None can oppose you Lord, for your good plans always come to pass. ‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’2 ’Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.’3
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
1 Psalm 5:5b-7a. 2 Psalm 139:23-24. 3 Psalm 5:11a.
