Written by
Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
The Bible
records that the elders of the Jews built and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built
the temple and finished it. Please see Ezra Chapters 5 verses 1 to 2; 6 verse
14, Haggai Chapters 1 and 2, Zechariah Chapter 1 verses 12 to 21, What is
pertinent is what Haggai and Zechariah prophesied (the content of their
prophecies and the Spirit by whom they prophesied). They prophesied by the
Spirit of God; and the words which they spoke by the Holy Spirit were life to
the people, the words quickened the people and helped them to prosper in the
rebuilding of the temple and the temple was completed despite the severe
opposition by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin.
The forms of
opposition include false assistance designed to frustrate the work;
discouragement; use of counselors to frustrate the work, accusation and force
of arms (Ezra Chapter 4 verses 1 to 23). Eventually the work ceased. But
because God had spoken His word and His word does not return unto Him without
accomplishing what the word was sent to do (Isaiah Chapter 55 verses 8 to 13),
He raised the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak hope, strength, confidence
and restoration to His people. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah continued
prophesying to the people in the name of God and the people were strengthened
and encouraged to continue rebuilding the Temple (Ezra Chapter 5). As they
spoke, the people rose up and began to build the house of God, hugely supported
by King Cyrus whom God had purposed to use (Isaiah Chapters 44 verses 26 to 28,
45 verse 13). The fierce opposition to the rebuilding of the Temple in
Jerusalem by the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin was quashed by prophesying.
Additionally, the Bible records that the completion of the temple brought
healing and restoration of dignity, true worship of God as well as restoration
of all things to Judah.
Prophesying the
Word of God into the situation, the people and the land as evidenced in the valley
of dry bones when Ezekiel prophesied the Word of God into the very dry bones in
the valley certainly brings God’s healing to the nations. The very dry bones
represent utter hopelessness – a situation that was probably beyond redemption
because the people had lost all hope and believed that nothing could be done to
redeem the situation. Apart from being very dry, the bones were also very many.
This is symbolic of the mindsets of many people, utter hopelessness for them as
a people and a nation.
