Ezra 4:17-24; Ezra 5:1-5
In order to stop the work of the children of Judah, their enemies have in turn used trickery (v. 2), intimidation (vv. 4, 5) and accusation (vv. 6-16). Now they have received from the king the support they wanted, they use a fourth weapon: violence. They rushed to the Jews to compel them "by force and power" to stop their work. But the true cause for the task being stopped is different. The prophet Haggai makes us aware of it in his first chapter: it is the people’s own lack of faith and their carelessness. During the years (about fifteen) which have elapsed since the foundations were laid, the concern for the house of God has gradually lessened and each one has begun to be occupied with his own house. Alas! do not we as believers also experience such periods of spiritual decline? The LORD and His house (the Assembly) no longer attract our hearts. The care with which we pursue our own affairs increases proportionately. Yet God does not want to leave us in that condition. He addresses us in the same way as He speaks to Judah here. At the call of Haggai and Zechariah, the people wake up from their indifference and resume the work.