Last time we got to read the first part of the Trans-Euphrates officials’ letter to King Darius. The disoriented officials needed to know if they should be stopping the Temple rebuild in Jerusalem. The exiles began to answer about Who they were serving and how captivity had made a rebuild necessary.
Let’s read on.
“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon.
Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’ So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.’
Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”
Ezra 5:13-17
I’m kind of liking this built-in recap. I also appreciate how the officials are making sure they have their information correct before they proceed. Then leaving the matter in the king’s hands.
Because here’s the thing: There were really two sides in this whole ordeal. The officials ruling now didn’t know of King Cyrus’ orders. Nothing had been happening in Jerusalem for years. Suddenly they hear the temple is being rebuilt – and in earnest – and they aren’t sure what to do. They were doing their job.
And our exiles? They had been slacking but now were trying to obey God’s instructions through the prophets.
So what do you do in a situation where everyone is wrong and everyone is right?
You submit the case to the King.
There have been times when my feelings were telling me I was completely a victim in a situation. I had been doing what I knew to be right when someone else was wrong. And it wasn’t acknowledged. I wanted justice.
But what God wanted from me was to own up to 100% of my sin in the situation. 100%. No I’m sorry, but did you see…
One hundred percent.
I remember in one particular situation (that only Jesus and my hubs know about – in case I know you in real life and you’re curious) it was almost physically painful to bow down to His Authority and repent in a smaller area because I was so sure I was right in a bigger area. But only when I moved toward repentance where needed was He freed up to tenderize my heart and teach me how to rely on Him in conflict.
Here is what I’m learning: any area in which I’m tempted to feel like a victim, it is usually because at some level I am thinking, What so-and-so did I would never do.
And you know what my faithful Father has done? He has recreated many of those scenarios in my life where I had the opportunity to “never do it” to someone else. And each time, on some level, I didn’t pass my own standards.
He is absolutely committed to making sure we know it is His righteousness, not ours. Not because He’s mean. Not to beat us down.
But because we choke on our own self-righteousness otherwise.
I know I do. Every time.
Rather than pleading our own case, He seems to prefer we submit the case to Him and say, “If it pleases the King, let a search be made…Then let the King send us His decision in this matter.”
Oh, He is good. There will be no incorrect judgments when He is given control. Because He sees all the way into every single person’s heart involved.
Please hear my heart as a fellow conflict-learner: pride is often the only thing standing between us and complete liberation.
Let’s bow down.