The last we left our exiles, the peoples around were setting out to discourage them and frustrate their work.
The Scripture section today inserts a letter about opposition which happened some 80 years later, around 448 BC. The way we know this does not address our current situation is because of the reference to rebuilding the city walls. (Our exiles barely have the temple foundation laid.) Also, in verse 7, the “days of King Artaxerxes” refer to Artaxerxes I who reigned from 465-424 B.C. Our exiles were working on the temple foundation around 536 B.C.
Interesting, isn’t it? Why would the author include it here? Let’s read:
“At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.
Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows…
To King Artaxerxes,
From your servants, the men of Trans-Euphrates:
The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.
Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer. Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.” (vs 6-16)
Whew. That is quite an accusation.
And it worked.
“The king sent this reply:
To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:
Greetings.
The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?
As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.” (17-23)
In the earliest Hebrew manuscripts, Ezra and Nehemiah were combined as one book. Scholars wonder if the author uses the first mention of the peoples around slowing the work in verses 4 & 5 to connect to similar frustrations later experienced by Nehemiah in these verses 6-23.
Either way, the point is clear: the work of God was being stopped. And by terrible accusations.
You know who is called the accuser of our brothers in Revelation, yes? Who is filled with fury because, in light of eternity, he knows he only has a short time to wreak havoc?
I think an easy way for us to get our minds off Kingdom Work and onto ourselves is looking for who to blame. In whatever situation. Marriage, friendships, disagreements between friends or communities or denominations. Shame and blame rule instead of Jesus and the work He longs to do.
Talking to myself here as well, what if we turned those accusations back on the originator? If we stopped pointing fingers at each other and pointed them at the one behind every work-stopping mess? In prayer, if we just let all the hurt and anger and resentment and fear and shame and deep, deep regret out to Him so He is free to be the Only Righteous Judge in our particular situations?
It might slow down the shame and blame cycle. The world really could see we are discipled by Him by how we love each other. Things could be taken care of in the only place we really have control: where we’re bowed down and handing over the control to Him. If we pretend it doesn’t matter, that’s no good. If we hang on and try to set it right ourselves, it only gets worse (ask me how I know).
But if we get gut-level honest with our Creator Who already knows, and release it to Him as many times an hour as it takes, day after day, our hearts could slowly be freed up. To obey the greatest commands.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
This is my command: Love each other.