ALL WHO OFFER TO HELP ARE NOT SERIOUS

PROCLAMATION

“Now when the adversaries of Judah … heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple … they came … and said unto them, ‘Let us build with you; for we seek your God …’  But … Israel said unto them, ‘Ye have nothing to do with us …’ Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.”  Ezra 4:1-4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition.  After the people of Judah had built the temple and celebrated the Passover, their adversaries came and offered to help them build the wall around Jerusalem.  But the children of Israel told them that they would do it by themselves.  Then their adversaries began to trouble them and frustrate them as they built the wall. (Ezra 4:1-5)  They sent a letter to Artaxerxes king of Persia to turn him against the people of Judah.  The letter contained false accusations against Judah. (Ezra 4:6-16)  The king sent them a reply which basically stated that he had read their letter and that he would search and see if what they claim is true.  The king also commanded that all the work on the wall be halted until he had inspected the city and then issued a command for the to resume building. (Ezra 4:17-21)  When their adversaries heard the king’s reply, they went to Jerusalem and made sure that the work stopped.  The work was halted until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:22-24)

 

APPLICATION

Some people will claim to be our friend, or that they want to help us, when what they really to do is to get close enough to us to cause us to fail.  They may do things themselves to work against us, or they may convince others to oppose us based upon misinformation or lies.  Unfortunately, we cannot believe everything that people tell us.  “Smiling faces sometimes tell lies.” (Song by Undisputed Truth)  The devil is the father of lies. (John 8:44)  He can deceive people and get them to do his will.  The serpent that approached Eve was very crafty. (Genesis 3:1)  Remember, one third of the angels in heaven were with the devil when he was kicked out of heaven. (Revelation 12:9)  Pray for discernment to see people as they really are and not as the pretend to be.