THE LORD’S INSTRUMENTS (PART 2)
“DOING WHAT’S RIGHT IN GOD’S EYES”

The postexilic period (538-400 B.C.) is both the end of Old Testament history and the beginning of the Intertestamental Era. During this time Hebrews were allowed to return to their homeland and rebuilt the temple. Four distinct trips to Judah are mentioned in the Bible: The first was led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:1-8) and Seshbazzar (Ezra 5:1-16), the second by Ezra the scribe (Ezra 7:1-7), and then 100 years later after the return of the first exiles Nehemiah leads the people in repairing the walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:17-18). We can see how God uses different people to accomplish the task of rebuilding his place of worship. These men did not quibble nor complained as to how big this job would be or how long it would take to accomplish. Despite the opposition and threat to their lives they loved God more and wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes.

When we place ourselves in God’s hands and pray for the Lord’s guidance in what we do, things fall into place. It says “And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.” (Nehemiah 2:8) The work got started by Zerubbabel and Seshbazzar then halted, but God raised two more men to finish the project. Ezra and Nehemiah are these two men. These men are examples of being instruments of honor in God’s hands. Ezra provided leadership for his people. He taught the people the law and brought about reforms of their religious lifestyle. He wanted other nations to know that they were God’s chosen people. It says “Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” (Ezra 7:28) Sometimes, what God wants us to do seems in our eyes BIG, but God is there if you call upon him – He will give you strength and give you courage. (Neh.8: 10) Nehemiah was also a man of prayer, in the midst of opposition and insults thrown at him and the workers who were rebuilding, he stopped and prayed and told the people: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, yours sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Neh.4: 14) Both Ezra and Nehemiah remained faithful to God’s demands despite the deceptive pressures of Hellenism and the later faithlessness of the priesthood; they did what was right in God’s eyes. My prayer for us is to learn from these examples and do what is pleasing to the LORD. It says in Romans 12: 2 “Let us not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)