“犹大和便雅悯的敌人”与上帝的子民作对的历史悠久而复杂（见列王纪下 17章）。尽管看起来很友好的姿态，但犹太领袖们很清楚，敌人的意图并不是真的要与流亡者建立良好的关系，他们回来是为了在耶路撒冷重建上帝的圣殿。相反，敌人竭力阻挠重建圣殿和恢复社群生活的计划。
教会长期以来一直教导我们，世界、魔鬼甚至我们自己的肉体都会与我们作对。即使是好的、敬畏上帝的决定，也可能得不到周围人的肯定和欢迎。因此，我们需要抵制灰心、诱惑和恐惧，我们需要专注于增进与神的关系。
《圣经》提醒我们，我们有一位救主，祂“忍受罪人的......顶撞”，我们应该“专心仰望耶稣”，这样就不会“疲倦灰心”（希伯来书 12:2-3）。
世界可能不欢迎我们回归基督，不希望我们努力建立上帝的国度，但我们的主和救赎主会永远欢迎我们回家，并坚固我们继续工作。
主啊，当我们周围的人轻视和离弃我们时，请帮助我们来到你面前祷告。但愿我们记得“耶稣是我至好朋友”（译者注：原文引用的是恩友歌的诗句）。求你引导我们，帮助我们为耶稣的缘故忠心事奉你。阿们。
以斯拉记 4:1-8
1犹大和便雅悯的敌人，听说被掳归回的人为耶和华以色列的神建造殿宇，
2就去见所罗巴伯和以色列的族长，对他们说：“请容我们与你们一同建造，因为我们寻求你们的神，与你们一样。自从亚述王以撒哈顿带我们上这地以来，我们常祭祀神。”
3但所罗巴伯、耶书亚和其余以色列的族长对他们说：“我们建造神的殿与你们无干，我们自己为耶和华以色列的神协力建造，是照波斯王居鲁士所吩咐的。”
4那地的民就在犹大人建造的时候，使他们的手发软，扰乱他们。
5从波斯王居鲁士年间直到波斯王大流士登基的时候，贿买谋士，要败坏他们的谋算。
6在亚哈随鲁才登基的时候，上本控告犹大和耶路撒冷的居民。
7亚达薛西年间，比施兰、米特利达、他别和他们的同党上本奏告波斯王亚达薛西，本章是用亚兰文字亚兰方言。
8省长利宏、书记伸帅要控告耶路撒冷人，也上本奏告亚达薛西王：
"The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building." - Ezra 4:4
The "enemies of Judah and Benjamin" had a long and complex history of opposition to God's people (see 2 Kings 17). Despite what may have seemed to be friendly overtures, it was clear to the Jewish leaders that their enemies' intention was not really to foster a good relationship with the exiles who had come back to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. Instead, the enemies made every effort to frustrate the plans of rebuilding the temple and restoring community life.
The church has long taught that the world, the devil, and even our own flesh will fight against us. Even good, God-honoring decisions may not be affirmed and welcomed by the people around us. So we need to resist discouragement, temptation, and fear, and we need to focus on growing our relationship with God.
The Bible reminds us that we have a Savior who "endured . . . opposition from sinners" and that we should focus "our eyes on Jesus" so that we will "not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3).
The world may not welcome our return to Christ and our attempts to build up God's kingdom, but our Lord and Savior will always welcome us home and strengthen us to keep working.
When people around us despise and forsake us, Lord, help us to come to you in prayer. May we remember "what a friend we have in Jesus." Guide us and help us to serve you faithfully for Jesus' sake. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
