Building and Enemies

When the builders completed the foundation of the LORD's Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the LORD, just as King David had prescribed. With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the LORD: "He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!" Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the LORD because the foundation of the LORD's Temple had been laid. (Ezra 3:10-11 NLT)

Last week, we finished with this picture.  The remnant Israelites were returning to Judah, specifically Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple.  They did the hard work and laid the foundation, and a celebration broke out.

But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple's foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance. (Ezra 3:12-13 NLT)

The older members of their group were weeping because the foundation of this new Temple paled in comparison to the previous one built by Solomon.  This Temple was not going to be nearly as great.  To make things worse, they were going to run into construction delays.  Enemies were going to try to stop them.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, "Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to Him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here." (Ezra 4:1-2 NLT)

These enemies tried to come off as friends.  They smiled and offered a hand, but, in reality, they were trying to get close enough to do some real damage.  When faced with an enemy who is working against the building of God’s Church, it’s important to remember what Jesus said about facing such enemies.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45 ESV)

It seems strange that Jesus would instruct us to love enemies rather than fight them.  It’s not strange, though, when we remember how the Scriptures describe “enemies.”  They are human beings, made in the Image of God.  They are fearfully and wonderfully made. When they sin, they are rebelling against God more than us people and God is willing to reconcile with them if they are willing to repent (turn away from their rebellion and return to God). This picture of “enemies” not only matches what Jesus teaches.  It matches what Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy:

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV)

When in battle, we fight enemies.  We set captives free.  It’s important to remember that our real enemies are not the people who we see.  Our real enemy is the one we don’t see who has taken people captive to do his will.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

This enemy wants to turn us against one another.  That’s because God’s design and desire is that we love one another.  The enemy hates that.

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV84)

God calls us to build one another up into Christ who is the head of the Church.  We are called to build up, not tear down.  That’s because every person is a human being made in the image of God – even enemies.  We do not work together with enemies as though they are allies or team members, but we do work to build them up just like everyone else.  We were sent to set captives free.

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, "You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us." (Ezra 4:3 NLT)

How about you?  Do you run into enemies in your daily walk?  Do these enemies try to stop you from building people up into Christ?  Do they slow down or stop your building process?  How do you respond?  Do you treat enemies like enemies to be destroyed or like captives to be set free?