The Power of Discouragement

OT: Ezra 4-6
NT: Hebrews 12:1-2

-----------------

Ezra 4:1-5 — When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Discouragement can be a real pain, especially when it keeps a person from following the will of God. I remember as a young minister what it felt like to come home from church discouraged. My discouragement came from failed plans and botched Sunday school lessons, from lackluster worship and thwarted intentions. It led me to want to quit many times. When Zerubbabel and Jeshua started to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem, several of Israel's neighbors took exception to this action. At first, it started out with an offer of help and ended with several letters to Darius, king of Persia, the last of which told them to basically shape up or ship out. But the job of rebuilding the temple belonged to the Jews alone and not foreigners, according to Zerubbabel and the elders. So the foreign neighbors sought to discourage the Jewish people. Their plan worked temporarily. A first letter from Darius ordered the temple work stopped.

But then God stepped in. Through the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, God exhorted His people to keep building the temple -- in direct disobedience to Darius' order. Here is a classic example of the only justified civil disobedience in which a believer can partake. When the command of God conflicts with the command of man, the believer should follow God. So the Jews resumed building. They told the truth to Darius about the decree of King Cyrus the Great to rebuild the temple and Darius upheld his predecessor's command. The power of discouragement was defeated. Following God and obeying Him is the best cure for discouragement. Never take your eyes off Jesus (Heb. 12:2). You will find strength in such a sight. A strength that can overcome discouragement. A strength that endures.

Be God's.