Obstacles in the Way of the Jews, in Building the Temple, on Their Return to Jerusalem, Providentially Thrown in Their Way and Removed

    The house of God cannot be rebuilt without opposition,—opposition that will sometimes prosper, but at last will be completely overcome. For a long time the building of the temple was opposed by the enemies of the Jews, and for a long time it was hindered. "Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia."—Ezra iv. 4, 5. Plausible objections were made to excite the fear of the kings of Persia, and at first had the designed effect. The building of the temple is forbidden. Examine every step of the process in the history, and see how naturally every thing is effected, both in the temporary interruption of the building, and in the final permission to build. When Providence designs that the work of building should for a time be interrupted, the enemies are led to a procedure that is most effectual to secure this event. They advert to the records of the former state of Jerusalem, and this confirms their allegations, and excites the suspicions of the king. When Providence designed to frustrate the opposition of the enemies of his house, they are led to refer the king to a decree of Cyrus, which effectually inclines him to encourage the work. The design of the enemies of God's people is not only frustrated, but the very thing by which they thought to succeed is employed to excite the king to great zeal and ardour in accomplishing the building of the temple of God. So shall it be with the house of God, which is the Church of God.