Gods Movers and Shakers

8/2/2019 Gods Movers and Shakers

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GOD'S MOVERS AND SHAKERSBy 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 isdoing in the world. As a result, they find themselves in the company of othermovers and shakers.

This study traces the ministries of five men used by God to rebuild the JewishTemple in Jerusalem. Some of these men lived many years after the destructionof Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

The rebuilding itself took place in the year 536 BC, following a journey toJerusalem from Babylon of almost 50,000 Jews. It followed a decree issued byCyrus of Persia. Amazingly, the return had been prophesied well beforeNebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, for when prophesying that the Jews wouldbe exiled from Jerusalem, the prophets had added that they would return in 70years time.

More than a study of an Old Testament building project and the events leadingup to it, this study gives a glimpse into the heart of a loving God who seesbeyond 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 wemight call conscious connections - some of the persons involved never met theothers. 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 theworld today through ministries that seem unrelated. Are these ministriessomehow 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 ofNebuchadnezzar's army in 606 BC and beyond, until he was forced by a rebelJewish remnant to accompany them to Egypt.


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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 notlink the prophesied 70-year captivity to the Jew's failure to observe the cyclicalseventh-year Sabbath, when the land was to be rested for a year (Leviticus25:4,5; 26:34), the inspired writer clearly did. (2 Chronicles 36:21)

Seventy years of captivity indicates that they had not rested the land for 490years - from the time of the founding of Israel's monarchy.

"The implication is that the sabbatical year was not observed under themonarchy." (New International Bible Commentary, p.393)

"A long arrear of sabbatic years had accumulated through the avarice andapostasy of the Israelites, who had deprived their land of its appointed seasonsof rest. The number of those sabbatical years seems to have been seventy, asdetermined by the duration of the captivity." (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown,

Commentary.)

Jeremiah was instructed by God to no longer pray for His people, after theprophet'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 whatthey wanted to hear. (Jeremiah 28:11; 29:4-11) In his lifetime, Jeremiahprophesied beyond the 70-year Captivity, and spoke in detail of the return of theJews to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah's prophetic role was to "root out, pull down and destroy." (Jeremiah1:10; 18:7,9) This referred to the Babylonian invasion of Judah, the destruction ofthe Jewish temple at Jerusalem, and the removal of the Jews to Babylon. (Therewere 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 returnof the exiled Jews, 70 years after their removal. (Jeremiah 31:28)

Jeremiah's faith in God's future dealings with his people was vividlydemonstrated in his purchase of a field in his hometown of Anathoth. Thepurchase was a prophetic pledge. (Jeremiah 32)

The prophet experienced family betrayal (Jeremiah 12:5,6), opposition fromevery group in society (Jeremiah 1:17-19), constant intimidation (Jeremiah20:10), unjust accusation (Jeremiah 28:8-11), severe imprisonment (Jeremiah37:11-21) and finally, abduction (Jeremiah 43:4-7)

Through it all, he remained true to his calling. To understand the pressures he


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experienced, the trials he endured, and the dangers he faced, we would have toimagine what our fellow-citizens might say and do if a Christian prophesied thatour country would be successfully invaded by a foreign power, and added thatthe very God we worship was behind it - for the ultimate good of ourdescendants!

Someone had to tell the people the truth, and God chose Jeremiah. The negativeterm "prophet of doom" was used to mock this faithful man of God. It should beremembered, however, that although he prophesied doom, he also stated that atrue prophet should also be an intercessor. (Jeremiah 27:18)

When Daniel was taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, did he know thatJeremiah was prophesying the return of his people, in 70 years? We can onlyspeculate. Even if he did, it's unlikely that the young Daniel knew the importantand 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 paragonof righteousness. (Ezekiel 14:14)

Daniel began his prophetic ministry as an interpreter of dreams, when themagicians and astrologers of Babylon were forced to admit to Nebuchadnezzarthat they were unable to tell the king the content of his forgotten dream. (Daniel2:10,11)

Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, had

already distinguished themselves by their wisdom. (Daniel 1:19,20) Themagicians and astrologers could interpret revealed information (much like today'spsychiatrists), but Daniel alone could access the forgotten information itself, andthen 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, whilewide- 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. (Daniel9:24-27) 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 propheciesconcerning the exact time of the Jew's captivity. (Daniel 9:2) He "understood byscrolls the number of the years..." Daniel knew that God's Word could be countedon, literally!

But to fully understand why Daniel's discovery caused him to fast, mourn, prayand confess, it is necessary for us to read the context of Jeremiah's second


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prophecy. This speaks of the duration of the Captivity: how long the Jews were toremain in Babylon.

Jeremiah 25:12 simply mentions it as a fact. But Jeremiah 29:10-14 not onlyrestates 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 tohold onto. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Second, there is an assurance that God would hear the prayers of those whoprayed for Him to end their exile. (Jeremiah 29:12)

Third, a condition was laid down in relation to their search for God. (Not theirsearch for freedom itself. Their prayers were to be God-directed, rather thanfreedom-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, withfasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the LORD my God, andmade 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..." (Daniel9:23)

Daniel, as a result, was given an even greater revelation: a far-reachingprophecy 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-be-rebuilt city! (Daniel 9:24-27)

This would be dated from "the going forth of the commandment to restore and tobuild 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 demonstratetheir willingness to be on the cutting edge of God's work by returning toJerusalem 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 ofJudah, which means he was a descendant of King David. It was to him thatCyrus, king of Persia, entrusted the priceless vessels that Nebuchadnezzar hadtaken from the Temple at Jerusalem, 70 years previously.

(Cyrus had been spoken of by name in a prophecy given by Isaiah, nearly 200years earlier. (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5) Although a pagan king, he was chosen byGod to do His will at the time appointed for the return of the Jews from exile.)


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Zerubbabel first built the altar and offered burnt offerings to the Lord. As well astrue worship being his chief priority, it was a protective measure. (Ezra 3:1-3) Thefoundation of the Temple was not yet laid (Ezra 3:6), but the basis for trueworship, sacrifice, was clearly established before the rebuilding program began.

The laying of the foundation took place a year after the Jews' arrival. It was anemotional experience - joy mingled with sadness. (Ezra 3:10-13) The joy of theyoung was mingled with the sadness of the aged. The latter remembered theformer 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 wouldhave been sometime toward the latter part of this time period that Zerubbabelbegan to question within himself whether he would live to see the completion ofthe project he had started.

To whom could he turn for encouragement? Joshua, the high priest, waspreoccupied with his own problems. It became increasingly difficult to interest thepeople in a building project that now seemed a lost cause. Disillusioned with thelong-delayed project, the people had redirected their energies into providing fortheir own creature comforts.

What Zerubbabel desperately needed was a fresh message from the LORD, aword that would renew the vision, and, as a consequence, restart the long-stalledwork 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 occasionswhen they need to be moved - aroused, motivated, energized - to finish whatthey have started.

Haggai is called a Minor Prophet. His two-chapter, letter-length book - just 38verses in all - can be read in a few minutes. But its message has the power toactivate those who've lost interest, and move into action those who've beenlistless for far too long!

After pin-pointing the problem - "This people say, 'The time is not come...that theLORD'S house should be built' - Haggai addressed his people's economicproblems. They were living on the poverty line: enough food and drink to stayalive but not enough to satisfy them. There was also a clothing shortage, due toan overall lack of income, which in turn was due to a persistent drought. (Haggai1:1-11)

Haggai bluntly informed them that God Himself was responsible for their food


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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 forwork 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 andsoul was in his prophecies! (Haggai 1:13)

Haggai prophesied for only three months, in 520 BC, but his words ofencouragement and reassurance so motivated his people that they completedthe 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 sonof Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment ofCyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes, king of Persia." (Ezra 6:14)

It should be noted that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to prophesywhile an 18-year-old ban on the rebuilding was in force. The representatives ofKing Darius soon asked questions, and the names of those responsible for theresumption of the building project were taken. These were included in an officialletter 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 originaldecree) gave his consent to the rebuilding, its completion was assured. (Ezra6:1-12) The accompanying threat that any person found interfering would behanged from the timber of his demolished house - which would then be turnedinto 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 ofa 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-yearconstruction period. His prophetic ministry had motivated his people. It had gotthem back on the job! This done, Haggai disappears from biblical view, and hisfellow-prophet (for they were contemporaries) Zechariah, comes more into focus.

Like Haggai, Zechariah addressed key issues affecting the building project. Buthis messages dug deeper - into the hearts of those who were in charge of the


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project. The ministries of the two prophets were complementary, but whileHaggai renewed the people's desire to build, Zechariah dealt with the heart-attitudes and secret problems of their leaders.

THE FIFTH MOVER AND SHAKER: ZECHARIAH

Zechariah began to prophesy two months after Haggai's first message, late in520 BC. This prophet's job was to maintain the spiritual momentum of the workthat had been kick-started by Haggai.

A night vision of a world at peace might to us seem pleasant, but to the LORD ofhosts, jealous over Jerusalem and its broken-down Temple, world peace was agreat displeasure. (Zechariah 1:11,15)

(This study is not a commentary on the Book of Zechariah. It is a theme-study onhow 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 wehave seen, each man's work depended on another's for its effectiveness. Not alllived in the same timeframe, for the completion of the work to which they werecalled took more than 100 years. In keeping with this theme, our study ofZechariah is limited to chapters three and four, with a brief excursion into chaptersix.)

Joshua the high priest had a problem: his office required him to offer gifts andsacrifices for the sins of his people. However, in so doing, he was acutely awareof his own personal shortcomings. So, like every high priest before him, heincluded himself in his prayers and sacrifices. (Hebrews 5:1-3) This practice had

the effect of making high priests more compassionate toward others, and lessjudgemental.

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 thatJoshua, 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 representedthe sinful condition of his people, the Jews.)

Zechariah was a "seer" - he "saw" through spiritual eyes. The LORD showed himthe real reasons why things were the way they were. For instance, as they werewith Joshua, the high priest.

"And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of theLORD, 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.


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It conveys the thought that Joshua had sinned, and in so doing had allowedSatan entry into his life. In his adversarial role, Satan was resisting Joshua'sministry. If this were not stopped, he could prevent the high priest from exercisinghis ministry on the Jews behalf. And if he could do that, he could make all ofthem 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 offerit!

How encouraged Joshua must have been, when informed by the prophetZechariah of his new condition in God's eyes! His "filthy garments" had beenremoved by God's grace, and replaced with spotless garments.

"And the angel of the LORD stood by." (Zechariah 3:5) His message was that ifJoshua 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 wouldgrant 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 whofunctioned with him in the priesthood were more than priests: they were "menwondered at" (King James Bible). The Amplified Bible puts it this way: "men whoare 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 promisedBranch - 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-branchedcandlestick, fully alight. Beside the candlestick were two olive trees, one on eachside. From them, a continuous supply of olive oil was fed into the candlestick.

The prophet was nonplussed, not knowing what the vision signified, until anangel told him that the flow of oil symbolised the supply of the Spirit of God. Thelighted candlestick represented God's Word, which throws light on His will andpurpose.

The angel stated that the LORD would achieve the work of rebuilding not byhuman might or power, but by His Spirit. With an unfailing supply of revelationknowledge, Zerabbabel would be able to declare boldly that the "mountain" ofmilitary and political oppression would soon be flattened!


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The city of Babylon was located on a plain, so the "mountain" represented itsproud spirit, absorbed into Persia, the kingdom that succeeded it as a worldpower. (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 Templewould 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'sfuture worship and prosperity.

Zerubbabel's endeavours had the LORD'S complete attention, the prophetassured him. This was what the "seven eyes" of God represented. (Zechariah4:10) 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 thecandlestick - "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 "olivetree" was Joshua, the high priest, who was now fully assured of his "goodstanding" with God. (Zechariah 4:14)

Following later instructions from the LORD, Zechariah asked for donations fromtwo Jewish noblemen for an unusual purpose. Two crowns were to be made, oneof 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 bekept 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 theLORD." (Zechariah 6:12)

This was a prophecy of Christ, who would build the true Temple, His Church. Adescendant of King David, he would be greater than Zerubbabel, for not onlywould 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 histhrone; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."

What a prophecy! These two leaders, Zerubbabel, the governor-prince, andJoshua, the high priest, together portrayed one great royal personage: JesusChrist! The two different offices - that of king and priest - would come together in


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one wonderful ministry - that of a Heavenly Melchizedec! Jesus alone is ourmighty King-Priest, ruling from his royal throne as a High Priest after a new anddifferent order than that of the Levites. (Hebrews 6:20; 7:17) The "counsel ofpeace" between them both refers to the unity that would be between the twooffices. 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 humanhands" - 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 alsoa study of the guiding hand of God in the rebuilding of what, at that time, was Hisdwelling-place on earth. Do we see that same guiding hand today in the buildingof His Church? What has this study said to you about the spiritual links betweenGod'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 tothose leaders whose ministries we have studiednotwithstanding their very realshortcomings. 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 livesmade great through His wonderful grace.

My study of church history has revealed spiritual links between established menof God and promising young ministers - the latter receiving a increasing in theanointing, and added spiritual gifts, during powerful encounters. Many successfulevangelists, for example, appear to have inherited their "mantle" from great soul-

winners who were soon to leave this life.

We should reject the ecclesiastical doctrine of apostolic succession, but shouldwillingly embrace the biblical practice of imparting spiritual gifts and establishingministers through the laying on of hands often accompanied by personalprophecy. (Romans 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6) Sure, exaggeratedclaims have been made, but why throw the baby out with the bathwater?

I pray God that we will more readily acknowledge our dependence on oneanother, and link up, so that competition will be replaced by co-operation in God'sgreat kingdom! Single issues are important, but we should never allow them toaffect our relationship with the Body of Christ as a whole. Many of those whoinsist on doctrinal correctness fall short in the area of evangelism. Equally, thosewho sit around praying that God will do miracles in their midst should get out andabout, because thats where theyll find those who need them.

Are you one of the Lord's movers and shakers? Then recognize and network withthe many other ministries the Lord has raised up to do His Kingdom work in theworld most of whom are probably outside your own doctrinal comfort zone.


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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) Prophecyrepeated and amplified in BC 597 (Jeremiah 29:10) Daniel begins his ministry inBabylon (Ends BC 530)

BC 588 Jerusalem plundered again, more Jews taken away.

BC 586 Jerusalem sacked and ruined by Babylon army. Temple of Solomontotally destroyed.

BC 538 Daniel receives Seventy Weeks revelation. (Daniel 9)

BC 536 Decree of Cyrus that Jerusalem be rebuilt - issued in his first year asconqueror of Babylonian empire. 50 000 Jews depart for Jerusalem. Foundationof 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 hisprophetic 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 thecompletion of the Temple was about 112 years.

Ezra's preaching began in BC 445. This laid the spiritual foundations for trueworship. Ezra was a reformer.

Nehemiah's later work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, although vitallyimportant, is not included in this study, which is limited to the rebuilding of theTemple.

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