As we have noted, the Jews obedience in resuming the work does not go unchallenged; a second letter is written, this time to Darius the king. The enemy’s new letter appears to be a somewhat more accurate presentation of the truth. It describes the state of the work and the response of those carrying it out. Unless exaggerated to provoke the king, it is truly a commendation of their progress.
It is evident from the contents of this new letter that the Jews had faithfully acknowledged the government of God upon their fathers. “We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon” (Ezra 5:10-12). Faith in such a day is not pretentious but acknowledges the true state of things; on the other hand, it is not easily overcome by circumstances.
Might we answer as boldly as these men: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth” (Ezra 5:11). Indeed, if we can’t fearlessly confess whose servants we are, how can we do His work? Having given the heavenly authority upon which they acted, they next give the earthly: “in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God” (Ezra 5:13).
It is also good to see that the remnant recognized that they were neither building a new house nor a different house, but “We ... build the house that was builded these many years ago. ... Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon ... destroyed this house . ... Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God” (Ezra 5:11-13). Despite the destruction of Solomon’s temple, God views all the buildings — Zerubbabel’s and also the millennial temple — as the same house. “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former” (Hag. 2:9 JND). There was one house in God’s sight.
In this present dispensation, God’s house is no longer a physical building but it is the church of the living God. “If I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). There is still only one house — the church of the living God. It may have become a great house (2 Tim. 2:20) — taking in things it should not have — but it is still viewed as the house of God, and there is a conduct suited to that house.
It is equally important to recognize that when we are gathered on the ground of the one body, we give testimony to that which is, and always has been, true in God’s sight. It is not a new church, but a testimony to the true character of the church.
As courageous and diligent as these men were, there was, however, still work to be done. Likewise, as long as we live in a world that has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, there is still work to be done. It is important to understand, that although the truth concerning the true character of the church, and the ground on which the saints of God are to gather, was recovered some 185 years ago, there is still work to be done. The enemy never ceases to hinder the work of building up the house of God.
Interestingly, upon receipt of the king’s reply, the adversaries agree to submit to the will of the king, but as to God’s will, that they do not acknowledge (Ezra 5:17).