Ezra 5:2 KJV The Preacher’s Best Function

Ezra 5:2 (KJV)
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

I have long contended that the prophets of the Old Testament had ministries comparable to that of the New Testament preacher.

• They were not priests (though they could be from priestly families)
• They were not regulated 
• They were not employees but Servants of God
• They were often contemporaries and worked side by side
• They sometimes were contemporaries but had little to no relationship with one another

Here we find two prophets who were contemporaries, knew each other and worked together for a common purpose. Could this be viewed as a rudimentary fellowship?

The Bible says these prophets instructed the people to begin work on the Temple again and that they helped them build. I have my suspicions that they picked up tools from time to time. I doubt that they were afraid to get dirty. But the most valuable help they could give, and that help that all of the commentaries point to, is help to:

• Inspire
• Motivate
• Guide and 
• Maintain focus on the work

No preacher should mind picking up a hammer and saw. But the preacher’s best function (and probably most challenging) is in keeping others at the work.

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Ezra 5:2 The Preacher’s Best Function

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