How to Answer a Letter

Some correspondence is pleasant - a birthday card, a letter from an old friend, a notice about a financial gift, the resolution to a business complication. Other correspondence is not so nice - a bill, a notice of legal action, a complaint, junk mail, or a request for a contribution. Both positive and negative letters have been around for a very long time.

Ezra was not the recipient of a particular letter (Ezra 5:6-17), but he was the subject of that letter. The letter was written by Tattenai, a governor and adversary of the Jews who were attempting to rebuild the temple. Tattenai wrote his letter to Darius the king for the purpose of stopping the temple construction.

Tattenai had composed his letter well. He made it sound like an objective report designed to protect the king's interests. The letter reported that Tattenai and his colleagues had gone to observe the temple construction, which was proceeding successfully. It conveyed the idea that these men were doing a service for the king. Not only did these men visit for observational purposes, but they also made deliberate inquiries (which called into question the legitimacy of the work). The men inquired about authorization for the project and took down the names of the "conspirators."

The letter recorded the response of Ezra and his fellow workers to this investigation, an answer which the letter tries to call into question. Basically, the letter reported, "They told us Cyrus sent and authorized them." The skepticism bleeds through the page. Tattenai made a bold and confident request, of which he was "sure" of the answer. He asked the king to make a search in the records to see if any such authorization had ever been issued. He was certain this authorization was made up. Even if it had happened, it was probably a casual verbal assent with nothing to back it up. Or if it had perhaps been written down, surely no one would be able now to locate that authorization. Whether it had really happened or not was immaterial if the work could be stopped due to lack of clear documentation.

Much of the content of the letter records the interrogation that took place, and it shows that God's people responded well. First, they acknowledged their relationship with God before anything else. Instead of providing or promoting their own individual names, they identified themselves as "the servants of the God of heaven and earth" (5:11). This project was not about them. It was about God.

Second, they forthrightly acknowledged their weaknesses. Instead of trying to protect their reputations or exalt their positions, they described themselves humbly. They told the reason for the destruction and shame that had led to the need to rebuild: "because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath" (5:12). These men held no pretext that they were anything great.

Third, they provided a simple yet complete answer to the question about authorization. "In the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God" (5:13). They shared the detail (5:14-15) that Cyrus also provided the temple utensils and that he sent the people with the provisions for the purpose of rebuilding. They confirmed that they were following orders that had not yet been completed (5:16).

Having appropriately identified themselves, having humbly declared their position, and having forthrightly detailed their authorization, these men left the rest up to God. God worked it out so that Tattenai and his friends got exactly what they requested. An official search was made of the records, and a scroll was discovered that confirmed exactly what Ezra and the elders had said (6:1-5).

Tattenai's attempt to stop the construction backfired, as he was ordered to "leave this work on the house of God alone" (6:7). Furthermore, he was to provide tax contributions to support the full cost of the building (6:8) and of the sacrifices to follow completion (6:9).

Threat and danger came in the form of a letter. The letter could have been a catastrophe for God's people. The people responded well. They didn't worry or fret. They didn't panic or become upset. They didn't lash out. They responded with humility, calmness, simplicity, and trust. God honored their response by confirming and blessing their work even more.

Mercy for the Vilest

Who were the worst kings of Israel and Judah? The most wicked and godless? Was there any hope of redemption for them? Could God even hear such wicked people?

Ahab, king over Israel, is probably the first name that comes to mind. The Bible confirms this choice. "Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him" (I Kings 16:30). "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him" (I Kings 16:33). "Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD" (I Kings 21:25).

Ahab was so wicked that he became the model or definition of evil from then on. Future kings who were wicked were identified with Ahab in descriptions like "He walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab had done" (II Kings 8:27).

The most wicked king of Judah was probably Manasseh. He was involved in witchcraft and sorcery, and he went so far as to erect heathen altars in the temple itself and to sacrifice his sons to false gods. "Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed" (II Chronicles 33:9).

Manasseh was so wicked that God exercised "the fierceness of His great wrath ... because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him" (II Kings 23:26). God identified Manasseh's wickedness as the final straw that prompted His destruction of Judah (II Kings 24:3, Jeremiah 15:4).

These vile men would seem to have been beyond any favorable consideration from God. Amazingly, as wicked as they were, both men had episodes of receiving mercy from God.

Ahab's moment came after he had seized the vineyard of Naboth. God was so displeased that He sent Elijah with a message of harsh rebuke: "Thus says the LORD, 'Have you murdered and also taken possession?'" (I Kings 21:19). Elijah foretold the wretched death that Ahab would face, the destruction that would come to his household, and the dishonor that would cling to his legacy.

"It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently" (I Kings 21:27). When God observed such a change of heart and such humble contrition, He spoke to Elijah again. God said, "Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son's days" (I Kings 21:29).

Manasseh's moment also came after his response to judgment. Because Manasseh paid no attention to God's warning, God brought the Assyrian army against Judah. Manasseh was captured, bound, and taken into exile in Babylon.

"When [Manasseh] was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (II Chronicles 33:12). Amazingly, God "was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom" (II Chronicles 33:13). Manasseh actually got to be king again and led a revival in Judah.

These two evil men were not beyond the mercy of God. It is easy to think that their wickedness was so great that their opportunities should have been lost forever, but God was still watching them. God saw the humble contrition of both men, and He responded very graciously. God held back His hand of judgment and gave these men another opportunity, one that Manasseh used wisely and well.

What is the message? That man can be as evil and godless as he wants to be, and then repent when he faces God's judgment? Is this a indication that such a practice is acceptable or guaranteed?

Oh, no! God is indeed merciful, even to the worst of sinners, and these passages display that truth in a wonderful way. God does respond to truly humble hearts and often gives a reprieve. Such a response should not be taken for granted, however.

In the first place, there are times when God's judgment is so severe that it is final. Many times, God took people's lives for far less serious acts of evil than these two men did; there was no possibility of redemption for those people. Secondly, there are often consequences that cannot be reversed. Although forgiveness is granted, sometimes irreversible effects have already occurred. Third, man's evil never affects himself alone. As with these two kings, the evil influence of one man negatively affects those around him, and sometimes others are drawn into both the sin and the consequences.

These stories provide hope. Even the worst and most rebellious can return to God and receive His forgiveness. They might be given new opportunities and even be able to do some good. These stories also provide caution. These men did face severe consequences for their evil deeds. Those consequences affected many others, and those consequences could not be completely reversed. Their reputations were forever tarnished.

How much better to live for God from the beginning - to have the maximum blessing of God and the fullest opportunity to serve Him! If it's too late for that, there is still hope. Humbly repent and start fresh.

Offer Reissued

When God began to establish the monarchy in Israel, He desired kings who would lead Israel properly by following Him. God's intention matched the historic expectation for monarchies - that a family would be chosen and that the kingship would follow that family through successive generations. God made statements and promises revealing that intention.

To Saul, the first king, God sent this sad message: "You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever" (I Samuel 13:13). Had Saul done what was right, the kings would have continued to be from Saul's family. Although no specific promise had been given to that extent, it was clearly God's expectation to do so, and that expectation was shattered because Saul did not obey God.

David was the second king, and God actually made promises to him that were not conditional, perhaps because He knew David's heart. God promised, "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever" (II Samuel 7:16). God did, however, give David conditional promises regarding his descendants: "If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel" (I Kings 2:4). God was willing to make the same assurances to David's descendants that He had made to David.

To Solomon, the third king, God personally reiterated His promises: "If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days" (I Kings 3:14). "If you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father" (I Kings 6:12). "If you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever" (I Kings 9:4-5). God made His promises anew to Solomon - the same result He would have given to Saul and the same promise He had made to David. Solomon had the same opportunity the two previous kings had.

Jeroboam, the fourth king and the first king of Israel in the divided kingdom, received a similar offer from God: "If you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house" (11:38). Jeroboam had the same opportunity. His family could have continued ruling the ten tribes perpetually; Jeroboam's legacy could have been established.

Saul failed. Solomon failed. Jeroboam failed. As each man failed, God kept making His offer to the next man in line. God kept looking for a faithful man that He could bless. Just because one man failed did not mean that God was unwilling to interact with and bless someone else.

While these particular promises were specific to these individuals, God does make general promises that apply to each of His followers. Each person has his own opportunity to follow God. The failure of one man does not prevent the next man from choosing God's ways. Failure by one person to obtain God's promises does not negate those promises for someone else. God gives to each Christian his own opportunity.

Christianity is an individual relationship. Each individual accepts God and decides to what extent he will follow God. Each Christian is able to receive the blessings and promises of God based on his own decisions to do what God has asked of him. Each person starts fresh, with no failures yet, no disqualifications, no barriers to God's blessing. He receives anew the same offer that God has given to every believer: "Follow me.

Following God is not a guarantee of a life free from trouble, nor does it guarantee material blessing. It is, however, the pathway to a life of being under God's approval and blessing. It is the way to walk in fellowship with God and to fully experience His help and guidance.

God continues to seek people who will follow Him. He continues to look for men He can use and bless. Each person has an individual invitation to receive Him as Savior and God, and each believer has the individual opportunity to live out his Christianity in a way that will bring God's blessing. God did not find that man in Saul, Solomon, or Jeroboam. Will He find it in you?

"I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30).

David's Heart

When Samuel announced Saul's rejection as king, Samuel revealed that God would seek a new king who had an important distinction from Saul. "The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart" (I Samuel 13:14). The very choosing of David revealed the importance of the heart. "For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7). God later confirmed that David had, in fact, met His heart requirement. "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22).

II Samuel 24 provides some insight into what a man after God's heart looks like. Late in his life, David made the mistake of numbering the people of Israel. God intended for such a census to happen only at His instruction, and with important accompanying offerings in order to avoid serious consequences (Exodus 30:12). The intent seems to be that God wanted His people to rely on Him rather than on their own strength or numbers.

The first insight about a man after God's heart is that he is not perfect. While David was incited by Satan to take the census (I Chronicles 21:1), and while God used the situation to bring His intended wrath on Israel (II Samuel 24:1), still David bears the responsibility for his own action. He did something that he should not have done. Furthermore, he ignored the caution of Joab, who urged David not to perform the census (II Samuel 24:3). Sadly, even the most godly and mature Christian is not perfect. The struggle with the flesh continues. The fact that a Christian sins, however, does not of necessity mean that his heart is not rightly inclined toward God. David, a man after God's heart, sinned greatly even as an aged follower of God.

A second insight about a God-hearted man is that he repented before he was confronted. "Now David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done'" (II Samuel 24:10). David admitted his foolish action and asked for forgiveness. He did this without the prompting of others and without any confrontation by anyone else. Because his heart was in tune with God, his own heart confronted him. This godly man did not suppress his heart promptings. He did not linger in sin. He did not defend himself. He immediately repented. This man with a heart like God's was sensitive to his sin and quick to repent without needing external confrontation.

Third, this man after God's heart believed in the mercy of God. David had to face a punishment, and that punishment would affect all of Israel. God sent a prophet to offer David three choices: famine, enemy attack, or pestilence. David considered the options and answered, "Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man" (II Samuel 24:14). David knew God well enough to know God's heart. He knew that his loving God might take pity and might restrain His hand of judgment. David had no such confidence in men. He chose God's personal hand through pestilence, and it turns out that David was right to believe God's mercy. God did restrain His hand and curtail the judgment (v. 16).

Fourth, the man whose heart beat like God's took personal responsibility for his actions. As David saw the destruction happening around him, he called out, "Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father's house" (II Samuel 24:17). David did not want others to suffer for his mistake. He wanted to personally reap the consequences of his own actions. He did not seek to share the blame or include others when he knew his own actions were wrong.

Fifth, the man after God's heart paid a price for his worship. David was instructed to build an altar so that God could be entreated for the healing of the people. Because of his position as king, David could have appropriated the necessary facilities. In fact, the owner of the land offered to freely give David not only the threshing floor as a location, but also his own oxen to be used in the sacrifice and his own instruments as the fuel for the fire (vs. 22-23). David would not accept this offer. Instead he insisted, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing" (II Samuel 24:24). This offering was serious and heart-felt, and David wanted it to be his personal offering, something that required him to give of himself.

Do men after God's heart sin? Indeed, they do. Their response to that sin reveals the depth of their hearts. A man with a God-like heart repents, throws himself on God's mercy, refrains from implicating others, and offers sincere and even sacrificial worship to God. Such a man's response reveals that his heart is truly in tune with his God; the response shows that he desires to quickly restore the blessed fellowship with which he is accustomed.

Second Chances

The people of Israel wanted a king. When they made this demand, God explained the reality to Samuel: "They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them" (I Samuel 8:7). This was a failure. Israel had the best King already, but they did not want to follow Him. Their lips still gave homage to God, but their hearts rebelled, and they demanded the kind of leader they wanted.

At God's direction and with His guidance, Samuel anointed Saul to be king. The people got want they wanted, and Samuel presented their king to them. "Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, the LORD has set a king over you" (I Samuel 12:13). Even though this was no longer the best situation, Samuel challenged them to do the best in this setting. He called for both the king and the people to follow God.

Although the people were now satisfied, their choice did not come without consequences. God wanted to drive home to these people the absolute importance of following Him in the future. He did not want them to continue making choices that contradicted His plan. God provided a powerful display to remind Israel of their wrong choice. Samuel said, "Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that He may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king" (I Samuel 12:17).

The storm destroyed the crops, and the divine display of power had its impact. "All the people greatly feared the LORD" (v. 18). They asked Samuel to pray for them (v. 19). They acknowledged their sin: "For we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king" (v. 19). They people were repentant and desired to do right going forward.

Samuel encouraged the people that they had a second chance. They could reap the blessings of following God from this point. "Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your hearts'" (v. 20).

The people were not to waste their second chance for several considerations. First, if they turned away from their renewed resolve, they "would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver" (v. 21). They would end up on a frustrating and profitless path.

Second, they should not turn away when they remembered God's faithfulness and love. "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself" (v. 22). They should remain faithful to the God who was faithful to them.

Third, they should not waste their chance when they remembered what God had done for them. "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you" (v. 24). In grateful remembrance, they should serve the One worth serving.

Finally, they should not waste their chance because it would result in deserved judgment. "But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away" (v. 25). The judgment for a future failure would be worse than what they had just witnessed.

When God's people humble themselves and repent, God often gives second chances. Those chances are a precious demonstration of God's mercy and grace. Wasting those second chances is a serious thing. It belittles God's past work and trivializes His great character. Furthermore, it invites a wasted life and future judgment. When God gives a second chance, don't blow it!