Ezra Chapter 6
The shenanigans of the people in the land were thwarted when King Darius made a search on the archives of Cyrus. In fact, he made a decree, that anyone who tries to stop the work be severely punished (verses 11-12)
And thus the temple rebuilding was completed and dedicated. And then they celebrated the Passover.
21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.
~ Ezra 6:21 ~
Now despite King Darius issuing a decree that the people of the land should not disturb the Israelites in their work, the Jews who returned were very careful to separate themselves from the filth of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.
It reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 15:19…
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
That was exactly what the exiled Jews who returned went through. When they came back to rebuild, the people of the land tried to work with them and be with them. But when their advances were rejected, they hated them and sought to find all ways and means to oppose them.
Now when God helped them to be able to rebuild the temple, the Jews remembered that they are to be sanctified and be separate from the filth of the land. Elder Peter gives us this encouragement:
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
~ 1 Peter 2:11-12 ~
This is a very good reminder for us today as well. But Elder Peter brings it one step further by telling us to conduct ourselves in such a way among the Gentiles that even our enemies will observe that we are different and glorify God in the future because of what we are.
This echoes what Jesus said in Matthew 5:16…
“our light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
May we remember our status in the world and be separate from the world.