Satan’s conspiracy

Ezra 4:1-10 (NIV)

Opposition to the Rebuilding

¹ When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, ² they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

³ But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us."

⁴ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. ^{[a] 5} They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, ^[b] they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language. ^[c] , ^[d]

⁸ Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

⁹ Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over the men from Tripolis, Persia, ^[e] Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa, ¹⁰ and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal ^[f] deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.

4:1 猶大和便雅憫人的仇敵一聽說流亡回來的人在重建上主─以色列上帝的聖殿，4:2 就去見所羅巴伯和族長們，說：「讓我們參加你們建殿的 工作吧。我們跟你們敬拜的是同一位上帝。自從亞述皇帝以撒哈頓帶我們到這裏以來，我們一直都向上帝獻 祭。」4:3 所羅巴 伯、耶書亞，和族長們告訴他們：「我們不需要你們的幫助，來為上主─我們的上帝建造聖殿。我們要遵照波斯皇帝塞魯士的吩咐自己建造。」4:4 於是，當地 的居民就想法阻止並恐嚇猶太人，不讓他們建造。4:5 那些人又賄賂波斯的政府官員去阻擋他們，從塞魯士皇帝當政直到大流士皇帝當政期間，一直這樣擾 亂。 4:6 亞哈隨魯皇帝執政之初，猶大和耶路撒冷居民的仇敵曾帶著訴狀去控告他們。4:7 再次，在 波斯的亞達薛西皇帝年間，比施蘭、米特利達、他別，和他的同僚曾經上書給皇帝；奏文是用亞蘭文寫的，讀的時候才翻成波斯語。4:8 省長利宏 和省書記伸帥也擬了以下這樣一封控告耶路撒冷人的奏本，給亞達薛西皇帝：4:9 「省長利宏、省書記伸帥，和我們的同僚─法官們以及其他從以力、巴 比倫、和以攔地的書珊遷來的屬下，4:10 連同那些被那偉大尊貴的亞斯那巴從故鄉移來住在撒馬利亞和河西省的人民，一同奏上。」

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>當地的居民（猶大和便雅憫的仇敵），以「參與建殿」為幌子，企圖破壞建殿之事。（v1-2）Local inhabitants who were enemies of the Israelites, they conspired against the work of building the temple by asking to participate. (V1-2)
2>所羅巴伯、耶書亞，和族長們，堅絕的回絕了他們的要求。（v3）Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel sternly refused their request. (v3)
3>當地居民（仇敵們）就公開恐嚇，以阻擾建殿的工作。（v4）Local inhabitants set out to threaten and discourage the Israelites from working. (v4)
4>當地居民（仇敵們）賄賂波斯的政府官員，阻擋建殿的工作。（v5）Local inhabitants bribed the officials to intervene. (v5)
5>亞哈隨魯皇帝執政之初，當地居民（仇敵們）曾帶著訴狀去控告 他們。（v6-10）In the beginning of the reign of Artaxerxes, the local inhabitants wrote letters of accusation against the Israelites. (v6-10)

主題：
1>撒旦的詭計。 Satan’s conspiracy
2>領袖的智慧。Wisdom of the leaders’

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>配得敬拜的上帝。God is worthy of praise.

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>敵對勢力的謀算the rivals’ conspiracy
猶大和便雅憫人的仇敵一聽說流亡回來的人在重建上主─以色列上帝的聖殿，就 去見所羅巴伯和族長們，說：「讓我們參加你們建殿的工作吧。我們跟你們敬拜的是同一位上帝。自從亞述皇帝以撒哈頓帶我們到這裏以來， 我們一直都向上帝獻祭。」（v1-2）

¹ When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel, ² they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." (v1-2)

第 三章第三節曾經提到「鄰國的民」使歸國的猶大和便 雅憫人懼怕。就當地所謂「鄰國之民」（撒瑪利亞人）來說，因為突然之間，有四、五萬的猶太人，從波斯地浩 浩蕩蕩的到來，又 看到他們立即築祭壇獻祭，並開始動工建造聖殿的地基，同時以極大的聲音呼喊、敬拜、慶祝。此情此景，難免讓他們感受到威脅。所以，就 起來 抵擋他們建殿的工作。

Ezra3:3 mentioned that the people who returned to Jerusalem were threatened by the neighboring people. Those people were the Samaritans who felt threatened by the sudden arrival of the forty to fifty thousands of Israelites. The Israelites built their altar and sacrificed burnt offerings and they built the foundation of the temple and worshipped and celebrated with great loud voices. No doubt, these activities had become a threat to the Samaritans, thus they set out to go against the work of the Israelites’ building of the temple.
他們所採取的策略，可以算是先禮後兵，甚至笑裏藏刀。也就是先去見領袖 所羅巴伯和族長們，而且偽善的以親切態度，攀親引戚的 聲稱：他們（撒瑪利亞人）所敬拜的，跟以色列百姓所敬拜的，其實是同 一位上帝。尤其表明：自從亞述皇帝以撒哈頓帶他們到這裏以來，他們一直都向上帝獻祭。 既然事奉同一位上帝，大家就像自己人一 樣。既然像自己人一樣，就要求讓他們也來參與聖殿重建的工程。

Their tactics were diplomatic talks and conspiracies hidden under friendly smiles. They went to see Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families. With hypocritical friendliness, they presented themselves as people being related to the Israelites. The Samaritans claimed that since the reign of Esarhaddon king of Assyria over them, they had been worshipping the same God as the Israelites had. They suggested that since they worshipped the same God, they should see themselves as one family, thus, they requested to build the temple together with the Israelites.
就表面上來說，他們似乎釋出了善意，也伸出了援手，要一起為建造聖殿的 事工奉獻心力。然而，實際上他們真正的目的，是要監視猶太人的動靜，甚至滲入他們當中，暗中進行破壞的工作，以防止耶路撒冷再度強盛 起來。

Judging from their words, they seemed to be kind and willing to give a helping hand in the work of building the temple. However, their true purpose was to keep a watchful eye on the Israelites, to blend into their work force to destroy their work, to prevent the restoration of the Israelites and to prevent Jerusalem from becoming strong again.
當時以色列百姓為建造聖殿而遭遇攔阻，今天我們事奉上帝，同樣也可能會 遇到攔阻。也就是撒旦會利用各樣的機會、採取各樣的手段來攻擊我們，甚至擺出友善的樣子，以致於我們被迷惑了。

The Israelites encountered obstacles while they were building the temple. As of today, when we serve in a church setting, we may as well encounter obstacles. Satan will take every opportunity and use any tactic to attack us; he will even wear the mask of friendliness to lure us away from our service in the Lord.
反省：我在事奉的過程中，曾經遭遇過什麼樣的敵對的勢力？我是否曾經被 迷惑過？是否曾經被打倒過？我是否知道撒旦的詭計？我要如何防備？
Reflection: Have I ever encountered any rival forces while I serve? Have I ever been lured away from the service? Have I ever been defeated? Do I know any of Satan’s tactics? How can I prepare myself for it?

2>看穿詭計守立場 Recognize the schemes and stand firm
所羅巴伯、耶書亞，和族長們告訴他們：「我們不需要你們的幫助，來為上 主─我 們的上帝建造聖殿。我們要遵照波斯皇帝塞魯士的吩咐自己建造。」（v3）

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us." (V3)
所羅巴伯、耶書亞和其他的族長們，由於能夠明察秋毫，察覺到這些鄰國的 民，動機實在不單純，背地裏存有詭詐，就堅定的拒絕說：我們不需要你們的幫助，來為上主我們的上帝建造聖殿。我們要遵照波 斯皇帝塞魯士的吩咐自己建造。

Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the leaders of the families of Israel recognized their ulterior motives and sternly refused them, saying, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”
這些鄰國的居民，雖然也尋求上帝，但是同時尋求其他神明。他們只不過將 上帝，當作眾神之一來祭拜而已。猶太人的領袖們有智慧、能分辨、不妥協，並且果斷的處置，將這些外族人分別出來，使上帝的工不至於受 到掺雜。

Those people not only worshipped God, they also worshipped other gods. They treated God like they treated one of the gods. The Israelite leaders were wise in discerning and not giving in. They wisely distinguished the pagans from the Israelites lest the work in building the temple be compromised.
顯示：事奉上帝跟屬世志工截然不同，絕對不能隨便，不是有人就好。如果 讓不認識上帝、不敬畏為上帝的人參與，往往會造成擾亂，甚至是破壞。

It shows that the service in the Lord is absolutely different from the secular volunteer work. It should not be taken lightly and not everyone is allowed to serve. If we let someone who does not know nor revere God to serve in the church, it will bring about disturbances and even destruction.
反省：在事奉的過程中，我是否聖俗不分，有人就好？還是謹慎選擇，嚴格 把關，讓真正認識上帝、經歷上帝、敬畏上帝、疼愛上帝的人參與？
Reflection: While I serve, do I distinguish the holy from the secular? Do I choose carefully and let the one who truly knows, experiences, reveres and loves God serve?
3>雙管齊下的阻擾 Deterrence from every side
於是，當地的居民就想法阻止並恐嚇猶太人，不讓他們建造。那些人又賄賂 波斯的政府官員去阻擋他們，從塞魯士皇帝當政直到大流士皇帝當政期間，一直這樣擾亂。（v4-5）

⁴ Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. ⁵ They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. (V4-5)
當暗中的謀算失敗之後，他們就公開站出來擾亂並阻擋，他們的舉動，可用 「雙管齊下、裏外夾攻」來形容。

When their conspiracy failed in the first round, they publicly set out to disturb and to deter the Israelites. They attacked from every side and from the inside out.
一方面：直接出面阻擾，使他們的手發軟。也就是打擊他們的士氣，使他們 灰心喪志。
二方面：收買具有影響力的波斯政府官員去阻擋他們。
顯示：敵人的手段無所不用其極。教會事奉當中，也要面對同樣的情境。因此，我們應該時時防備，不能稍有疏忽。

First, they attacked directly to weaken their hands, to frustrate them.

Secondly, they bribed the influential officials to deter them from working.

It shows that the enemy will do his best to deter our service in the Lord. Therefore, we should stay alert.
反省：在教會事奉過程中，我是否經歷過來自撒旦，各式各樣的干擾與阻 擋？
Reflection: While serving in the church, have I ever experienced any form of intervention and deterrence from Satan?
4>持續不斷的阻擾 continuing disturbance
那 些人又賄賂波斯的政府官員去阻擋他們，從塞魯士皇帝當政，直 到大流士皇帝當政期間，一直這樣擾亂。亞哈隨魯皇帝執政之初，猶大和耶路撒冷居民的仇敵曾帶著 訴狀去控告他們。再次，在波斯的亞達薛 西皇帝年間，比施蘭、米特利達、他別，和他的同僚曾經上書給皇帝；奏文是用亞蘭文寫的，讀的時候才翻成波斯語。省長 利宏和省書記伸 帥也擬了以下這樣一封控告耶路撒冷人的奏本，給亞達薛西皇帝。（v5-8）

⁵ They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. ⁶ At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, ^[b] they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. ⁷ And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language. ⁸ Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king. (v5-8)

這些騷擾的舉動，不是一時而已，而是長期且持續，也就是從塞魯士皇帝當 政直到大流士皇帝當政期間，一直這樣擾亂下去。聖經描述說：
首先：亞哈隨魯皇帝執政之初，猶大和耶路撒冷居民的仇敵曾帶著訴狀去控告他們。
其次：在波斯的亞達薛西皇帝年間，比施蘭、米特利達、他別，和他的同僚曾上書給皇帝。
再來：省長利宏和省書記伸帥也擬了以下這樣一封控告耶路撒冷人的奏本，給亞達薛西皇帝。
顯然，來自撒旦（敵對者）的阻擾，是一而再，再而三，持續不斷的。

The disturbance had been around for a long period of time, from the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia. As described in the Bible:

First, at the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

Secondly, Rehum, the commanding officer and Shimshai, the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king.

It is obvious that deterrence from the enemy Satan is continuous.
反省：面對撒旦迎面而來，一而再，再而三的攻擊、攪擾，我如何防備？如 何應對？
Reflection: How should I prepare and counteract the continuous attacks from Satan?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用