Ezra
chapter 3 reminds me that rebuilding requires preparation. Often in
our rush, we don’t do things in order of priority. Sometimes
frantic activity just creates chaos. The small but determined group
of refugees had returned to the ruins of Jerusalem. The walls of
protection were broken down, the homes were destroyed and the Temple
was demolished. The chapter begins with a note of incredible unity.
“When the seventh month came and the
Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one
man in Jerusalem“. Most of
the world focuses on the differences that separate us, but the Holy
Spirit of God unites. What was the first
priority? “Jeshua son of Jozadak
and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his
associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice
burnt offerings“. They understood
they first needed to make atonement for sin because sin separates us
from God. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “without
the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness“.
We read, “Despite their fear of the
peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and
sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord“.
Fear can keep us from putting God first.
Many
times we want to honor God, but we don’t know how. Twice we read
the phrase, “in accordance with
what is written in the Law of Moses“.
They rebuilt the new altar on the same base where the first altar
had been built. They understood that allowing multiple places of
sacrifice originally led to the division of the nation of Israel and
the spread of idolatry. There was only one place where the sacrifice
was to be offered. Again notice the sequence, “They
began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of
the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid“.
Without the remission of sin, the Temple would just be a pretty
building serving no real purpose. Don’t miss the point; this was
all about rebuilding the relationship with God. Any self-improvement
project must start with forgiveness of sin. Is there a relationship
you need to reestablish?
“In
the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house
of God in Jerusalem, (the priests and the Levites and all who had
returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work, appointing
Levites twenty years of age and older to supervise the building of
the house of the Lord“.
Amazingly, after more than two years not one stone had been set.
Following God’s priorities requires patience! Psalm 127 reminds
us, “Unless the Lord builds the
house, they labor in vain who build it“.
Oh, but listen to the result of following God’s plan, “When
the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the
priests in their vestments… And all the people gave a great shout
of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the
Lord was laid“. The chapter ends
with a cool image. The older men who had seen the original Temple
wept perhaps over what had once been. But at this new beginning, “No
one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound
of weeping“. I believe this is
the reaction in heaven at every heart on bended knee that seeks
forgiveness. Perhaps you have been prepared for this day?