EXTRACT

We must not be afraid of the word exclusive, because it is a very good word, one to be treasured, having its own significance in the minds of the spiritual. This chapter brings out that the brethren, as restored, were exclusive, they were exclusive in the sense that they would not accept unhallowed support. They would not have anything to do with any associations or fellowships that were not divinely accredited. That is a most important item in our position.

Exclusiveness in itself is a negative thought, and what you find in this fourth chapter is that the adversaries continued to harass the saints, and were successful in their efforts, showing that exclusiveness by itself is not sufficient; and so much did the enemy succeed that the work of God actually ceased. The adversaries wrote a letter to the king, saying everything bad they could about the people of God. If we are merely negative and people speak thus of us, they are pretty sure to incite successful opposition. We must have more than exclusiveness if we are to be effective in our service; there must be a positive side to the position or the enemy will have an advantage, and hence what you find here is that the work ceased. The enemy was successful in his great effort to blacken the people of God, by relating what the history of Jerusalem had been, what a rebellious city it had been, and how damaging to the kings, and so on; a long tale of accusation, with the result that the king was persuaded to authorise the adversaries of the people of God to prevent the work by force and power, which they did immediately.

Now, chapter 5 is over against this; it is a prophetic chapter, and that is why I read it, because the Lord, I believe, is encouraging us in regard to this kind of ministry. Prophecy brings God in, as I shall show presently, from Haggai and Zechariah. What we see is the kind of ministry that was given and how effective it was. What we call meetings for ministry may often come very short of ministry that would set in motion the people of God. The intent of prophetic ministry is to set the people of God in spiritual motion. Someone will say, God is not moving, but then perhaps you are not moving and yet work to be done is by your hand; you cannot expect God to move if you do not move, if it is your responsibility to do so. If you should do something, do not say God is not doing it; God is saying you are not doing it. If the thing has to be done, do it. Do not talk sentimentally about waiting on God. Piety is most essential with us, but what we call piety may be merely Judaism, and hence we need the word of exhortation, as here, when the prophetic word stirred up the leaders, and they began to move, the prophets of God helping them. The prophets of God do not start the work, they prophesy, and the responsible persons begin to do something, then the prophets of God work with them.

(From "Glory the end at the work of our Hands", J.Taylor. Vol. 41, pp.456-7).