The Unwritten Rules

 

At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it. (Ezra 5:3–5 ESV).

 

Have you ever been confronted with “unwritten rules” in the church. Throughout history it is a well-known fact that having a reserved pew in church was not all that uncommon. So much so that in the 19^th Century, people would pay to rent their seat to ensure that they had a place to sit every week. While the practice of renting a bench to sit on is no longer practiced, in some congregations it is almost an unwritten rule that everyone tends to sit in the same place week after week. And when this pattern is disrupted, it is almost as though you feel you have broken one of God’s commandments!

 

There were unwritten rules in the region around Israel too, as God’s people rebuilt their temple to the Lord. The neighboring communities thought the rebuilding should stop. They wrote a letter to King Darius, and they were sure the king would see things their way.

 

In the meantime, the Israelites stood their ground, knowing Cyrus had given them permission earlier. They reaffirmed their identity first as God’s people: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth…” In addition, they knew they had been exiled because of their disobedience to God. But now they had permission from King Cyrus to rebuild God’s temple.

 

Today we are authorized to be the witnesses of Jesus in the world. Our identity is in the risen Lord, who is building his kingdom in us, through us, and around us. And by his authority we will build his kingdom by serving him in this world.