GOD'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS

By Peter Barfoot INTRODUCTION Movers and shakers are people who do the things that others dream of doing. They don't just rock the boat and make waves - they are involved in what God is doing in the world. As a result, they find themselves in the company of other movers and shakers. This study traces the ministries of five men used by God to rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Some of these men lived many years after the destruction of Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The rebuilding itself took place in the year 536 BC, following a journey to Jerusalem from Babylon of almost 50,000 Jews. It followed a decree issued by Cyrus of Persia. Amazingly, the return had been prophesied well before Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, for when prophesying that the Jews would be exiled from Jerusalem, the prophets had added that they would return in 70 years time. More than a study of an Old Testament building project and the events leading up to it, this study gives a glimpse into the heart of a loving God who sees beyond judgement to restoration. It is a study in linkage: how God connected key persons, each with differing gifts, for the purpose of fulfilling His Divine Plan. The links were not always what we might call conscious connections - some of the persons involved never met the others. Moving, instructing, directing and upholding each of these key persons, however, was the Living God. These spiritual connections make me wonder what the Lord may be doing in the world today through ministries that seem unrelated. Are these ministries somehow unknowingly linked to one another in the overall plan of God? May God, through these pages, enable you to discover your spiritual connections - and link up! THE FIRST MOVER AND SHAKER: JEREMIAH Jeremiah began to prophesy in 629 BC, and continued through the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar's army in 606 BC and beyond, until he was forced by a rebel Jewish remnant to accompany them to Egypt.

Jeremiah prophesied the 70-year captivity of the Jews. (Jeremiah 25:11,12; 29:10) Seventy years was a biblical lifetime. Although the prophet himself did not link the prophesied 70-year captivity to the Jew's failure to observe the cyclical seventh-year Sabbath, when the land was to be rested for a year (Leviticus 25:4,5; 26:34), the inspired writer clearly did. (2 Chronicles 36:21) Seventy years of captivity indicates that they had not rested the land for 490 years - from the time of the founding of Israel's monarchy. "The implication is that the sabbatical year was not observed under the monarchy." (New International Bible Commentary, p.393) "A long arrear of sabbatic years had accumulated through the avarice and apostasy of the Israelites, who had deprived their land of its appointed seasons of rest. The number of those sabbatical years seems to have been seventy, as determined by the duration of the captivity." (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary.) Jeremiah was instructed by God to no longer pray for His people, after the prophet's appeals to the Jews to repent were ignored. (Jeremiah 7:16; 14:11; 15:1; 16:5) His greatest opposition came from the false prophets, who told the Jews what they wanted to hear. (Jeremiah 28:11; 29:4-11) In his lifetime, Jeremiah prophesied beyond the 70-year Captivity, and spoke in detail of the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. Jeremiah's prophetic role was to "root out, pull down and destroy." (Jeremiah 1:10; 18:7,9) This referred to the Babylonian invasion of Judah, the destruction of the Jewish temple at Jerusalem, and the removal of the Jews to Babylon. (There were three removals: the first in 606 BC, when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were taken to Babylon.) But Jeremiah's job was also "to build and to plant." So he prophesied the return of the exiled Jews, 70 years after their removal. (Jeremiah 31:28) Jeremiah's faith in God's future dealings with his people was vividly demonstrated in his purchase of a field in his hometown of Anathoth. The purchase was a prophetic pledge. (Jeremiah 32) The prophet experienced family betrayal (Jeremiah 12:5,6), opposition from every group in society (Jeremiah 1:17-19), constant intimidation (Jeremiah 20:10), unjust accusation (Jeremiah 28:8-11), severe imprisonment (Jeremiah 37:11-21) and finally, abduction (Jeremiah 43:4-7) Through it all, he remained true to his calling. To understand the pressures he

experienced, the trials he endured, and the dangers he faced, we would have to imagine what our fellow-citizens might say and do if a Christian prophesied that our country would be successfully invaded by a foreign power, and added that the very God we worship was behind it - for the ultimate good of our descendants! Someone had to tell the people the truth, and God chose Jeremiah. The negative term "prophet of doom" was used to mock this faithful man of God. It should be remembered, however, that although he prophesied doom, he also stated that a true prophet should also be an intercessor. (Jeremiah 27:18) When Daniel was taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, did he know that Jeremiah was prophesying the return of his people, in 70 years? We can only speculate. Even if he did, it's unlikely that the young Daniel knew the important and influential role he would play in that return. THE SECOND MOVER AND SHAKER: DANIEL Taken from Jerusalem to Babylon after the first invasion, Daniel was a paragon of righteousness. (Ezekiel 14:14) Daniel began his prophetic ministry as an interpreter of dreams, when the magicians and astrologers of Babylon were forced to admit to Nebuchadnezzar that they were unable to tell the king the content of his forgotten dream. (Daniel 2:10,11) Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, had already distinguished themselves by their wisdom. (Daniel 1:19,20) The magicians and astrologers could interpret revealed information (much like today's psychiatrists), but Daniel alone could access the forgotten information itself, and then interpret it. He did so through dreams and visions from God. (Daniel 2:19; 7:1; 8:1; 10:1) On two occasions, he was able to interpret on the spot, while wide- awake. (Daniel 4:9; 5:17) Daniel's greatest prophetic revelations, though, followed earnest prayer. (Daniel 2:17,18; 9:3; 10:2,3) Daniel's most far-reaching prophecy was that of the Seventy Weeks. (Daniel 9:24-27) It came only after much prayer, fasting, mourning and confession. (Daniel 9:3) The cause of all this was the discovery by Daniel of Jeremiah's prophecies concerning the exact time of the Jew's captivity. (Daniel 9:2) He "understood by scrolls the number of the years..." Daniel knew that God's Word could be counted on, literally! But to fully understand why Daniel's discovery caused him to fast, mourn, pray and confess, it is necessary for us to read the context of Jeremiah's second

prophecy. This speaks of the duration of the Captivity: how long the Jews were to remain in Babylon. Jeremiah 25:12 simply mentions it as a fact. But Jeremiah 29:10-14 not only restates the fact - it adds the vital information that drove Daniel to his knees! First, there is a God-given promise of a future for his people - a hope for them to hold onto. (Jeremiah 29:11) Second, there is an assurance that God would hear the prayers of those who prayed for Him to end their exile. (Jeremiah 29:12) Third, a condition was laid down in relation to their search for God. (Not their search for freedom itself. Their prayers were to be God-directed, rather than freedom-directed.) Their freedom would follow their rediscovery of Him. (Jeremiah 29:13,14) Daniel took Jeremiah's prophecy very seriously. "I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said...we have sinned..." (Daniel 9:3, 4, 5) The result: "At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I (Gabriel) have come to show you; for you are greatly beloved..." (Daniel 9:23) Daniel, as a result, was given an even greater revelation: a far-reaching prophecy that included the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the coming of the Messiah, His redemptive work, and the ultimate destruction of the yet-to-berebuilt city! (Daniel 9:24-27) This would be dated from "the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem - a date that was to be a matter of intense interest to two men, Zerubbabel and Joshua - and 50,000 others - all of whom would demonstrate their willingness to be on the cutting edge of God's work by returning to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the Temple. THE THIRD MOVER AND SHAKER: ZERUBBABEL Also known as Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1:8; Haggai 1:1), Zerubbabel was a prince of Judah, which means he was a descendant of King David. It was to him that Cyrus, king of Persia, entrusted the priceless vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple at Jerusalem, 70 years previously. (Cyrus had been spoken of by name in a prophecy given by Isaiah, nearly 200 years earlier. (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5) Although a pagan king, he was chosen by God to do His will at the time appointed for the return of the Jews from exile.)

Zerubbabel first built the altar and offered burnt offerings to the Lord. As well as true worship being his chief priority, it was a protective measure. (Ezra 3:1-3) The foundation of the Temple was not yet laid (Ezra 3:6), but the basis for true worship, sacrifice, was clearly established before the rebuilding program began. The laying of the foundation took place a year after the Jews' arrival. It was an emotional experience - joy mingled with sadness. (Ezra 3:10-13) The joy of the young was mingled with the sadness of the aged. The latter remembered the former Temple of Solomon, compared to which this Temple seemed modest, indeed. The enemies of the Jews halted the Temple's construction for 18 years. It would have been sometime toward the latter part of this time period that Zerubbabel began to question within himself whether he would live to see the completion of the project he had started. To whom could he turn for encouragement? Joshua, the high priest, was preoccupied with his own problems. It became increasingly difficult to interest the people in a building project that now seemed a lost cause. Disillusioned with the long-delayed project, the people had redirected their energies into providing for their own creature comforts. What Zerubbabel desperately needed was a fresh message from the LORD, a word that would renew the vision, and, as a consequence, restart the long-stalled work on the House of God. THE FOURTH MOVER AND SHAKER: HAGGAI There are times when God's people need to be shaken, and there are occasions when they need to be moved - aroused, motivated, energized - to finish what they have started. Haggai is called a Minor Prophet. His two-chapter, letter-length book - just 38 verses in all - can be read in a few minutes. But its message has the power to activate those who've lost interest, and move into action those who've been listless for far too long! After pin-pointing the problem - "This people say, 'The time is not come...that the LORD'S house should be built' - Haggai addressed his people's economic problems. They were living on the poverty line: enough food and drink to stay alive but not enough to satisfy them. There was also a clothing shortage, due to an overall lack of income, which in turn was due to a persistent drought. (Haggai 1:1-11) Haggai bluntly informed them that God Himself was responsible for their food

and clothing shortages, and that, rather than just passively permitting the drought - He had actually "called for it"! The fear of the LORD brought swift obedience. The people quickly reported for work on the long-delayed Temple building project, and what had been a dispirited remnant quickly became an energetic body of workers! (Haggai 1:12-15) As well, Zerubbabel, the governor, was "stirred up" spiritually by the LORD. Haggai was "the LORD"S messenger in the LORD'S message." His heart and soul was in his prophecies! (Haggai 1:13) Haggai prophesied for only three months, in 520 BC, but his words of encouragement and reassurance so motivated his people that they completed the Temple in just four years! "And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered (Hebrew: "moved forward") through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia." (Ezra 6:14) It should be noted that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to prophesy while an 18-year-old ban on the rebuilding was in force. The representatives of King Darius soon asked questions, and the names of those responsible for the resumption of the building project were taken. These were included in an official letter to the king - an extremely serious matter! Haggai's name would have been in the letter (Ezra 5:3-17). In which the Jews submitted that their building project had been approved. When King Darius (after checking and finding that Cyrus had issued the original decree) gave his consent to the rebuilding, its completion was assured. (Ezra 6:1-12) The accompanying threat that any person found interfering would be hanged from the timber of his demolished house - which would then be turned into a public toilet - guaranteed its trouble-free completion! The "eye" of their God had been on the elders of the Jews, making their project despite its delay - unstoppable! The king's decree was merely human approval of a project that God had blessed from the beginning. (Ezra 5:5) Haggai's role was completed in the first few months of the Temple's four-year construction period. His prophetic ministry had motivated his people. It had got them back on the job! This done, Haggai disappears from biblical view, and his fellow-prophet (for they were contemporaries) Zechariah, comes more into focus. Like Haggai, Zechariah addressed key issues affecting the building project. But his messages dug deeper - into the hearts of those who were in charge of the

project. The ministries of the two prophets were complementary, but while Haggai renewed the people's desire to build, Zechariah dealt with the heartattitudes and secret problems of their leaders. THE FIFTH MOVER AND SHAKER: ZECHARIAH Zechariah began to prophesy two months after Haggai's first message, late in 520 BC. This prophet's job was to maintain the spiritual momentum of the work that had been kick-started by Haggai. A night vision of a world at peace might to us seem pleasant, but to the LORD of hosts, jealous over Jerusalem and its broken-down Temple, world peace was a great displeasure. (Zechariah 1:11,15) (This study is not a commentary on the Book of Zechariah. It is a theme-study on how certain individuals in the Old Testament did as they were instructed when time and events required that they involve themselves in the work of God. As we have seen, each man's work depended on another's for its effectiveness. Not all lived in the same timeframe, for the completion of the work to which they were called took more than 100 years. In keeping with this theme, our study of Zechariah is limited to chapters three and four, with a brief excursion into chapter six.) Joshua the high priest had a problem: his office required him to offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins of his people. However, in so doing, he was acutely aware of his own personal shortcomings. So, like every high priest before him, he included himself in his prayers and sacrifices. (Hebrews 5:1-3) This practice had the effect of making high priests more compassionate toward others, and less judgemental. We do not know what Joshua had done to make him feel that he was unworthy, and we never will, for his sin was forgiven. (Zechariah 3:1-4) (It is possible that Joshua, as the high priest, stood for the people as a whole; in which case, the "filthy garments" referred to by the angel were not his personally, but represented the sinful condition of his people, the Jews.) Zechariah was a "seer" - he "saw" through spiritual eyes. The LORD showed him the real reasons why things were the way they were. For instance, as they were with Joshua, the high priest. "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." (Zechariah 3:1) The phrase "his right hand" means "in a place of power and authority" in his life the right hand being, in the case of most individuals, the strongest.

It conveys the thought that Joshua had sinned, and in so doing had allowed Satan entry into his life. In his adversarial role, Satan was resisting Joshua's ministry. If this were not stopped, he could prevent the high priest from exercising his ministry on the Jews behalf. And if he could do that, he could make all of them unacceptable to God - perhaps even bring God's judgement down upon them! (Exodus 4:24,25) Blood alone could atone for the sins of the people, and Joshua alone could offer it! How encouraged Joshua must have been, when informed by the prophet Zechariah of his new condition in God's eyes! His "filthy garments" had been removed by God's grace, and replaced with spotless garments. "And the angel of the LORD stood by." (Zechariah 3:5) His message was that if Joshua would walk in God's ways, and keep the commission God had given him, he would rule God's House, and have charge of His courts. Moreover, God would grant him access to His presence, and permit him to walk among the angels! (Zechariah 3:7) What Joshua had not understood, it seems, was that he and those who functioned with him in the priesthood were more than priests: they were "men wondered at" (King James Bible). The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "men who are a sign or omen (types of what is to come)." (Zechariah 3:8) In other words, they stood for far more than they knew. The prophecy of "the BRANCH (the coming Messiah) foretold the birth of Jesus. The "remnant" of Judah was likened to a stump, out of which the promised Branch - descendant of David - would grow. (Isaiah 6:13; 11:1) Zerubbabel, like Joshua before him, wrestled with a personal leadership problem, until Zechariah came to him with news of an extraordinary nighttime experience. Awakened from his sleep by an angel, Zechariah had "seen" a seven-branched candlestick, fully alight. Beside the candlestick were two olive trees, one on each side. From them, a continuous supply of olive oil was fed into the candlestick. The prophet was nonplussed, not knowing what the vision signified, until an angel told him that the flow of oil symbolised the supply of the Spirit of God. The lighted candlestick represented God's Word, which throws light on His will and purpose. The angel stated that the LORD would achieve the work of rebuilding not by human might or power, but by His Spirit. With an unfailing supply of revelation knowledge, Zerabbabel would be able to declare boldly that the "mountain" of military and political oppression would soon be flattened!

The city of Babylon was located on a plain, so the "mountain" represented its proud spirit, absorbed into Persia, the kingdom that succeeded it as a world power. (Daniel 2:34,35,44) Zerubbabel, said Zechariah, would finish the work that he had begun - regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and the final stone of the Temple would be put in place amid loud, joyful shouts by the Jews of "Grace, grace to it!" (Zechariah 4:7) The shouts not only would show that the Temple had been built by God's grace they would also declare that His continuing grace would be vital to His people's future worship and prosperity. Zerubbabel's endeavours had the LORD'S complete attention, the prophet assured him. This was what the "seven eyes" of God represented. (Zechariah 4:10) God's grace would enable the governor-prince of the Jews to finish what he had started. What of the other "olive tree"? Zechariah had seen two, one of each side of the candlestick - "the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth" one Zerubbabel, the governor-prince of the House of David. The other "olive tree" was Joshua, the high priest, who was now fully assured of his "good standing" with God. (Zechariah 4:14) Following later instructions from the LORD, Zechariah asked for donations from two Jewish noblemen for an unusual purpose. Two crowns were to be made, one of which was to be placed on the high priest's head. Moreover, he was to be seated on a throne when the 'coronation' took place! The other crown was to be kept as a memorial to the startling prophetic event. Along with the instruction was a message for Joshua: "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold the man whose name is THE BRANCH; and from his place he shall branch out, and he shall build the Temple of the LORD." (Zechariah 6:12) This was a prophecy of Christ, who would build the true Temple, His Church. A descendant of King David, he would be greater than Zerubbabel, for not only would he build the Temple - he would also bear the glory! "And (he) shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." What a prophecy! These two leaders, Zerubbabel, the governor-prince, and Joshua, the high priest, together portrayed one great royal personage: Jesus Christ! The two different offices - that of king and priest - would come together in

one wonderful ministry - that of a Heavenly Melchizedec! Jesus alone is our mighty King-Priest, ruling from his royal throne as a High Priest after a new and different order than that of the Levites. (Hebrews 6:20; 7:17) The "counsel of peace" between them both refers to the unity that would be between the two offices. Our Lord Jesus is a ruling priest of royal descent! Our study concludes not with the rebuilt Second Temple, but with a prophecy of a "temple" inconceivable at that time to the Jews - a Temple "built not with human hands" - the final and permanent dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit of God. My prayer is that this will have been more than an Old Testament study, but also a study of the guiding hand of God in the rebuilding of what, at that time, was His dwelling-place on earth. Do we see that same guiding hand today in the building of His Church? What has this study said to you about the spiritual links between God's ministers today - not only in the Church but also in the wider Kingdom? We readily acknowledge God's great leaders in History - the ministries of Calvin, Luther, Wesley, Knox, and Booth proved that they were worthy successors to those leaders whose ministries we have studiednotwithstanding their very real shortcomings. We could say the same of more recent men and women of God. God stopped writing the Bible long ago, but He still speaks to us through lives made great through His wonderful grace. My study of church history has revealed spiritual links between established men of God and promising young ministers - the latter receiving a increasing in the anointing, and added spiritual gifts, during powerful encounters. Many successful evangelists, for example, appear to have inherited their "mantle" from great soulwinners who were soon to leave this life. We should reject the ecclesiastical doctrine of apostolic succession, but should willingly embrace the biblical practice of imparting spiritual gifts and establishing ministers through the laying on of hands often accompanied by personal prophecy. (Romans 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6) Sure, exaggerated claims have been made, but why throw the baby out with the bathwater? I pray God that we will more readily acknowledge our dependence on one another, and link up, so that competition will be replaced by co-operation in God's great kingdom! Single issues are important, but we should never allow them to affect our relationship with the Body of Christ as a whole. Many of those who insist on doctrinal correctness fall short in the area of evangelism. Equally, those who sit around praying that God will do miracles in their midst should get out and about, because thats where theyll find those who need them. Are you one of the Lord's movers and shakers? Then recognize and network with the many other ministries the Lord has raised up to do His Kingdom work in the world most of whom are probably outside your own doctrinal comfort zone.

Timeframes of God's Movers and Shakers BC 627 Jeremiah commissioned by the Lord as a prophet. BC 606 Jerusalem captured. First Jewish captives taken to Babylon - Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego among them. BC 605 Prophecy of 70-year Captivity by Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 25:11) Prophecy repeated and amplified in BC 597 (Jeremiah 29:10) Daniel begins his ministry in Babylon (Ends BC 530) BC 588 Jerusalem plundered again, more Jews taken away. BC 586 Jerusalem sacked and ruined by Babylon army. Temple of Solomon totally destroyed. BC 538 Daniel receives Seventy Weeks revelation. (Daniel 9) BC 536 Decree of Cyrus that Jerusalem be rebuilt - issued in his first year as conqueror of Babylonian empire. 50 000 Jews depart for Jerusalem. Foundation of Temple laid amid mixed emotions. (Ezra 6) BC 535 Letter written accusing Jews of plans to revolt. Work ceases. BC 520 Haggai begins his prophetic ministry in Jerusalem. Zechariah begins his prophetic ministry two months later. BC 519 King Darius decrees that the work of rebuilding resume. BC 515 Construction of Temple completed. The time period from the Lord's commissioning of Jeremiah the prophet to the completion of the Temple was about 112 years. Ezra's preaching began in BC 445. This laid the spiritual foundations for true worship. Ezra was a reformer. Nehemiah's later work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, although vitally important, is not included in this study, which is limited to the rebuilding of the Temple.