以斯拉记第4章：建殿的考验

 
GK611晨祷生命读经
18/07/2025
主讲: 陈炎明牧师


引言：

生命之花   萌芽自熊熊的火炼
在艰难中升华   困苦中绽放
生命之花   含包着重重的考验
在忍耐中伸展    失败中成长

一、选民归回为建殿（拉4:1-3）

1.属王族支派先归回

犹大支派是王族的派系，当年他们最先被虏，如今他们也是成为首批归回的人。这表明神的时间是很精准的，祂的处事是绝对公义的。他们的“被管教”刑期是70年，于是也就成为首批“刑满获释放”的人。

2.归回的首要是建殿

归回到荒凉的废墟中，他们要怎样过活呢？按照常理，应当是先安顿好个人的家园，开始工作、稳定收入、安顿了家人孩子。才有机会去建造圣殿不是吗？这又让我们看到一个合乎神旨意的次序，《先神、后人、再大地！》

3.建殿过程必有拦阻

建殿是关乎神的事，神岂不是全然顾念，而且凡事顺利吗？原来神要锻炼我们的信心，往往好事也会有考验。大事的考验就越大，我们都没有例外！

回归是为要回到神的殿，回到以神为中心的生活方式啊！

二、混种居民竟拦阻（拉4:4-5）

“那地的民”是指混杂了的撒马利亚人，他们本为犹太人，但是因着与外族人通婚而被视为污染了。尤其是跟随了外邦偶像，而失去了信仰上的单纯性。他们起来反对刚回归的犹太人，并以恐吓、阻挠、贿赂帝国官长，使神的子民犹大百姓的手发软，扰乱他们建造，贿买谋士。”

敌人以心理战、政治战、贿赂战，持续多年施压。这说明神的工作常遭遇敌人的长期攻击，这正要显明属灵恒心的重要性。另外也表明属灵工作不能只靠情绪热忱，还要有坚定信心和对神的依靠。

三、外邦君王被误导（拉4:6-24）

1.当时君王被误导（V6）

亚哈随鲁王登基的时候不但不认识耶和华神，而且还被哈曼误导，要下令屠杀犹太人。幸好神预备了末底改和以斯帖，成为王身旁的亲信，而让当地的犹太人得以反败为胜。只是回归的犹太人就仍然有考验。（参《以斯帖记》的内容记载）

有史以来有多少帝国君王，都被“恶者”所误导而想抵挡和攻击神都选民。我们如果不是相信神的计划与保守，犹太早就从地上消失了。

2.敌人多方误导王（V7-24）

从这记载可以引发以下属灵信息的反省：

（1） 属灵工作常伴随敌对

仇敌最初以“合作”的方式进入，但真实动机是破坏。我们必须像所罗巴伯一样有辨别力和属灵坚决决心。仇敌的拦阻迫使我们不得不放下，但是神的应许叫我们用不放弃。我们只是要等候神出手帮助。

（2） 忠心并不代表无阻碍

即便是在神旨意中的圣工（建圣殿），也会遭遇外在政治、社会、属灵阻力。我们也想过要快快为神再建立新殿，但是原来这只是人的一厢情愿，我们还有更多要去建设的“生命之殿”。阻碍反而是为了提升我们的对神“忠心信赖”的程度。

（3） 仇敌的控告拦阻神旨

仇敌写信控告，王下令停工，但这并不代表神改变计划。神允许停顿，为的是炼净祂的百姓，并预备复兴。工程中断了，但并未失败。神会再兴起人继续工作。

总结：如何建好生命之殿？

真正的建造，不只是石头和城墙，而是对神计划的持守与忠心。
我们都喜欢做事，怎么把事情做好。
但是神更看重的是怎么做人？
如何把“人”做好才是更大的目的。


    
  

Ezra Chapter 4: The Test of Building the Temple 
GK611 Morning Devotion
18/07/2025
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev. David Tan 

 Introduction:

The flower of life sprouts from the blazing fire. 
It sublimates in hardship and blooms in adversity. 
The flower of life contains many tests. 
It stretches in patience and grows in failure.

I. The chosen people return to build the temple (Ezra 4:1-3) 

1. The royal tribes returned first

The tribe of Judah was a royal faction. They were the first to be taken captive, and now they are the first to return. This shows that God's timing is very accurate, and His dealings are absolutely righteous. Their "disciplinary" sentence is 70 years, so they are the first to be "released after serving their sentence."

2. The first thing to do after returning is to build the temple

How will they live after returning to the desolate ruins? According to logic, they should first settle their homes, start working, stabilize their income, and settle their families and children. Only then will they have the opportunity to build the temple, right? This shows us another order that conforms to God's will, "First God, then people, then the earth!"

3. There will be obstacles in the process of building the temple

Building the temple is related to God. Doesn’t God care about it completely and everything should go smoothly? It turns out that God wants to train our faith, and good things often have tests. The bigger the matter, the greater the test, and we are no exception!

Returning is to return to God’s temple and return to a God-centred lifestyle!

II. The mixed-race residents actually blocked the way (Ezra 4:4-5) 

"The people of the land" refers to the mixed Samaritans, who were originally Jews, but were considered polluted because of intermarriage with foreigners. In particular, they followed pagan idols and lost the purity of their faith. They rose up against the newly returned Jews, and used intimidation, obstruction, and bribery of imperial officials to weaken the hands of God's people Judah, disrupting their construction and bribing counselors.

The enemy has been exerting pressure for many years through psychological warfare, political warfare, and bribery. This shows that God’s work often encounters long-term attacks from the enemy, which shows the importance of spiritual perseverance. It also shows that spiritual work cannot rely solely on emotional enthusiasm, but also requires firm faith and reliance on God.

III. The Gentile Kings Were Misled (Ezra 4:6-24) 

1. The King Was Misled (V6)

When King Ahasuerus ascended the throne, he not only did not know Jehovah God, but was also misled by Haman to order the massacre of the Jews. Fortunately, God prepared Mordecai and Esther to become the king's confidants, allowing the local Jews to turn defeat into victory. However, the Jews who returned still faced tests. (See the content of the Book of Esther)

How many imperial kings throughout history have been misled by the "evil one" and wanted to resist and attack God's chosen people. If we did not believe in God's plan and protection, the Jews would have disappeared from the earth long ago.

2. The enemy misled the king in many ways (V7-24)

This record can lead to the following spiritual reflections:

(1) Spiritual work is often accompanied by hostility

The enemy initially enters in a "cooperative" manner, but the real motive is to destroy. We must have discernment and spiritual determination like Zerubbabel. The enemy's obstruction forces us to give up, but God's promise tells us not to give up. We just have to wait for God to help.

(2) Loyalty does not mean no obstacles

Even in the holy work of God’s will (building the temple), there will be external political, social, and spiritual resistance. We also thought about quickly building a new temple for God, but it turns out that this is just wishful thinking. We still have more "temples of life" to build. Obstacles are actually to enhance our "loyalty and trust" in God.

(3) The enemy’s accusation hindered God’s purpose

The enemy wrote letters of accusation, and the king ordered the work to stop, but this did not mean that God changed his plan. God allowed the pause in order to purify His people and prepare for revival. The project was interrupted, but it did not fail. God would raise up people to continue the work.

Conclusion: How to build a temple of life? 

True construction is not just about stones and walls, but about perseverance and loyalty to God’s plan.
We all like to do things and do them well.
But what God cares more about is how to be a good person?
How to do well as a “person” is the greater purpose.