Ezra 5 … Consider Him Who Is Over All

Originally posted: 6/27/2020

When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, ² then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them, (5:1-2).

They came “in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.” And as the people heard His prophets declaring His Will, they were actually listening to a message directly from God Himself, the Ruler Over All. His Word was delivered to All, underscored by All He Is.

Not everyone will listen to His Word; not everyone will obey His Word; and not everyone will believe His Word; but that does not change the fact. When He Sends His Word, it is by the authority of Him Who Is Over All; Over every created being; Over every situation; Over every outcome.

Consider Him Who Is Over All

• Over prophets:
  • When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them; (5:1).

• Over workers:
  • then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; (5:2).

• Over governors:
  • At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus… (5:3).

• Over servants:
  • …“Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” ⁴ Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building, (5:3-4).

• Over decrees:
  • “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?” … ⁵ But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it, (5:3, 5).

• Over conspiracies and schemes:
  • This is the copy of the letter…⁸ Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with huge stones, and beams are being laid in the walls; and this work is going on with great care and is succeeding in their hands, (5:6, 8).

• Over history:
  • Thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. ¹² But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon. ¹³ However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God,” (5:11-13).

• Over kings’ decisions:
  • “Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter,” (5:17).
    

How do we respond to Him Who Is Over All?

How often do find ourselves wringing our hands in fear of the future? Wondering if God will ever vindicate Himself, or us for that matter. Worrying that things are so far gone that there is now no hope.

There is so much going on in our nation today that these kinds of thoughts can easily fill our heads. But they are just that, thoughts; the thoughts of man. What we must do is fix our minds on the Truth of Him Who Is Over All.

• He Is Over All.
  • Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone, (1 Chronicles 29:12).

• He Is Over All gods.
  • For the Lord is a great God
    And a great King above all gods, (Psalm 95:3).

• He Is Over All the earth.
  • For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth;
    You are exalted far above all gods, (Psalm 97:9).

• He Is Over the ruler of this world.
  • “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³² And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself,” (John 12:31-32).

And when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, Who was lifted up from the earth to be hung on a cross as the payment for our sins, we are adopted as His own and He is then to be the Lord Over All our life.

For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; ⁸ for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s, (Romans 14:7-8).

For He Is Over All.

one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all, (Ephesians 4:6).

He Is Over All. There is not one created thing above Him; and yet He has chosen to be our God and to make His dwelling with us.

“I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God,” (Numbers 15:41).

“Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.” Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you, (Zechariah 2:11 NET).

How can we worry about the future when we know the One Who Is Over All?

“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth,” (Psalm 46:10).

And in light of All that He Is, of All that He has done, how can we not respond by loving Him with All that we are?

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; ³⁰ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,'” (Mark 12:28-30).

Oh, that we would grow to have such a love for Him Who Is Over All, that we would truly obey His greatest and foremost commandment with All our heart, All our soul, All our mind, and All our strength.

Let’s Grow Together!