The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 65

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. !, 2.-The inspiration of prophecy. Through the hostility of the Samaritans, who obtained authority from Artaxerxes, the work of building the temple was interrupted.. This interruptio1_1 see~s to have commenced u~der Cyrus (eh. iv. 5). It was continued under the bnef reign of an upstart who feigned himself to be the brother of Ahasuerus ; and it was carried on " unto the second year of Darius king of Persia." Thus the work was stopped for about sixteen years. 11 Then the prophets," &c. Here notice that- I. THE INSPIRATION OF PROPHECY IS ROUSING. 1. The people now needed rousing. (1) During the stoppage of the building they had cooled in their zeal for the house of the Lord. Had they examined their hearts they might have seen this and they might have inferred from it that God must be displeased. But they h~d not the courage to do this. Query-Are we not slow to examine our own hearts and to draw faithful inferences from their state? (2) If they looked around they might have seen the tokens of Divine displeasure. For, year after year, the heavens refused their dew, and the scanty harvests were smitten with II blasting and with mildew, and with hail.'' Query-Are we not slow to see the hand of God in our afflictions? Reflect-What greater calamity could befall us than that God should leave us to ourselves I 2. Haggai brought home the truth to them. (1) His first commission was to awaken them to a sense of their growing selfishness and apathy (see Haggai i. 1-5). Query-Bow far are we ever justified in quietly "dwelling in cieled houses" while the work of God is neglected? (2) Then he reminded them that the blast upon their harvests was from God, and incited them to arise and build (see Haggai i. 6-11). (3) This message from God had the desired effect (see Haggai i. 1-12; comp. text). What part Zechariah took at this early date we are not particularly informed. 3. They were sati.s-li,ed with the credentials of the prophet. ( 1) What these were we are not told. Miracles might have authenticated him. This was notably the case with Moses. Or he may have foretold the drought through which they had passed. In this way Samuel " was established to be a prophet of the Lord" (1 Sam. iii. 19, 20). (2) In whatever way it may have been, Haggai so prophesied, 11 in the name of the God of Israel," that there was no doubt about him. Look at this expression (see Exod. iii. 1~20; xxxiii. 19; comp. also Num. xiv. 17), where "power" is put for "name," as in Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6). Reflect, gratefully, that we have the truth of God upon the clearest testimony. The Scriptures are authenticated to us not only by miracles, but by the ever-accumulating evidence of prophecy, and by the deep experiences of the heart. II. THE INSPIRATION OF PROPHECY 18 SUSTAINING. - "And with them were the prophets of God helping them." 1. It sustains under the burdens of the work of God. (1) The work is stupendous. Many interests are involved in it. Many workmen are engaged in it. If all these were loyal, still the work would M heavy. (2) Haggai therefore, four and twenty days after his first commission, again appeared with needed words. "Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord." What a blessed assurance I How spirit stirring ! (Haggai i. 13, 14 ; see also Exod. xx.xiii. 14, 15.) 2. It sustains against the murmuring of God's people. (1) Sons of Belia! will for very perversity cause trouble. There are also crotchety persons among the godly who embarrass their leaders. And there are croakers who have a morbid pleasure in disparaging the good things of the present by comparing them with the things of the past (see eh. iii. 12). (2) Haggai, seven and twent.y days after his former message, again appeared to strengthen the hands of the faithful against these. In doing this he uttered a very glorious prophecy, showing how by the presence of Jesus in this dis- paraged building it should come to exceed the glory of the temple of Solomo? (see Haggai ii. 1-9 ). Note-This prophecy should convince the Jews. They admit that tlie Shekinah never came to the second temple ; that temple is now no more. If the presence of Jesus did not constitute the greater glory of the second house, what did? 3. It sustains against the assaults of enemies. (1) Opposition reappears, now led by Tatnai and Shethar-boznai, who question the right of the Jews to resume ea. v. 1, 2.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 69