Pam Padgett ... teacher
When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin tried to stop the work being
done in Jerusalem to build the house of God, they sent a letter to
Artaxerxes king of Persia accusing those doing the work ...
Ezra 4:12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up
from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the
bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the
foundations. 13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be
builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll,
tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the
kings. 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it
was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent
and certified the king; 15 That search may be made in the book of the
records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records,
and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and
provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old
time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16 We certify the king
that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by
this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.
Artaxerxes commanded that the building cease until he gave another commandment ...
Ezra 4:18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read
before me. 19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is
found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings,
and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have
been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all
countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto
them. 21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that
this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from
me.
When Artaxerxes's commandment was told to the Jews, they stopped the work ...
Ezra 4:23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read
before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went
up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force
and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at
Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king
of Persia.
But then God sent prophets to the Jews, causing them to
start building the house of God, and the prophets also helped them in
the building ...
Ezra 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the
son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem
in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2 Then rose up
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and
began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them
were the prophets of God helping them.
When the governor Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and the Apharsachites questioned why the work was being done,
the Jews told them they were doing this work as Cyrus had decreed. Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and the Apharasachites sent a letter to the Darius, who was then king of Persia,
asking that a search be made to see if Cyrus had indeed decreed this.
Cyrus' decree was found, and the king sent the following message ...
Ezra 6:6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the
river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are
beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of
God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews
build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what ye
shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of
God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river,
forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and
lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine,
and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at
Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they
may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray
for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree,
that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from
his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his
house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his
name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to
their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at
Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
The prophets sent by God spoke as led by God, causing the Jews to
continue the work they had started before being stopped by their
adversaries. As they continued the work, it caused their a letter to be written to Darius which resulted in Darius telling them to
let the work of building the house of God continue. Darius also decreed
that expenses and what the Jews needed should be provided of the king's
goods so they would not be hindered from completing the work. The Jews were protected in the way
God had called them to go, and the work they were called to do moved forward, as they heeded the message sent by God through the prophets.
While considering these things, I was reminded of how God sometimes chooses to use prophets today as well to help us get and stay free from snares of the devil and the flesh that would hinder us, as they
deliver messages as led by the Holy Spirit, helping us continue in the ways of God.
Hosea 12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
Comments by Joan Boney
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Jesus.
But even in this case, God used prophets.
God could have spoken directly to the apostle Paul but God chose to send Agabus (a NT prophet) to Paul to tell Paul that which was to come upon him.
Acts 21 ... And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Prophets are part of the ministry of the New Testament church. Eph. 4 ... After Jesus arose, after the crucifixion, HE gave gifts to the church ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph. 4
We of the New Testament church today, do not have to go to a New Testament prophet to hear from God. We go directly to God in prayer. God might choose to deliver the answer through that NT prophet. Or God might choose to speak directly to you by HIS Spirit to give the answer.
(See 10-19-12 ... apostles & prophets in the New Testament Church)