After the rebuilding of the temple had begun people living in the old land of Israel (now called Samaria) came to Zerubbabel and asked to help build the temple claiming to also serve God.
Zerubbabel, Joshua and the leaders of the people saw through them straight away telling them that they had no place to be helping them. As a result they did everything they could to prevent the Jews from building, trying to discourage the people, hiring counsellors against them and writing letters to the kings of Persia, firstly King Ahasuerus, and then King Artaxerxes.
Ahasuerus doesn't appear here to have taken any action, but after they warned Artazerxes to check the historical records about the Jews, he agreed that they were previously rebellious and made insurrection against kings. He ordered that the building should cease until they heard from him again.
The Jews' enemies then immediately went to Jerusalem and forced them to stop building the temple, and no further work was done until the second year of the next King of Persia, Darius.
Today I noticed the seemingly helpful and friendly request from the Jew's enemies, "Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him..." (Verse 2); and then the Jews' almost rude, firm refusal...,"Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel..." (verse 3).
Sometimes, when we notice somebody has taken on a job that looks too big for them we might offer to help, and might feel a bit affronted if they bluntly refused. Equally the person doing the job might feel a bit offended that others think they need help - their pride is wounded. We need to watch ourselves for these natural but sinful responses. But I don't think this is what is going on in this situation.
The Jews' enemies were not true followers of God. They originated from the time when the Assyrians invaded Israel, took many of them captive and then re-populated the land with people brought from foreign countries (2 Kings 17). Because God sent lions among them they spoke to the King of Assyria who sent a priest to teach them 'the manner of the God of the land' (2 Kings 17: 24-28). But the following verses record how they set up idols to all their gods, sacrificed their children by fire and made the lowest people priests. Verse 33 tells us they 'feared the LORD, and served their own gods'. And the next verse tells us 'they fear not the LORD'. I get the impression that these people were simply trying to keep all the 'gods' happy out of a place of fear, and consequently were not recognising that there is one true God, and truly serving him in their hearts.
The Jews recognised that these people were not true followers of God and that letting them help them would not be wise. They were firm in their refusal. They didn't think that they ought to be friendly and show appreciation for their offer - to give them a chance. No, they were fresh from their deliverance from captivity, and were zealous for God and did not want to pollute the building of the temple with those who worshipped other gods. And perhaps they knew that they would actually try to harm the work rather than further it - as their subsequent trying actions proved.
This reminds me how when we have been given a work to do from the Lord, we should treasure it, and do all we can to prayerfully protect it from the enemy, Satan. He may work in different guises to try to stop or harm the Lord's works and turn his people from following him. 2 Peter 2:1 tells us that there will be false teachers in the church who will secretly bring in destructive heresies. Jude tells us that we need to 'earnestly contend for the faith' because of those who have unnoticed crept into the church, 'turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ' (verse 3,4). Paul warns us, 'Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ' (2 Corinthians 7:14).
Each of the Lord's children has been called to serve the Lord in their daily walk. Some of us may feel to be continuing each day in a weekly routine, whilst others have specific burdens and callings. We are each in a different 'season' of life - single, married, looking after children, grandchildren, going out to work or bereaved.... In each of our daily lives, seasons, callings, may we be given discernment to recognise when other people/things suggest they can help us in what we do, to know when to firmly decline, that the Lord's work and following him is not hindered.
As Abraham's servant said, "Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master" (Genesis 24:56).
And in the words of the Apostle Paul - "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).
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