Ezra Chapter 3
Please read: Ezra 3 –
With the return of the exiles there was a knowing that their priority needed to be on rebuilding the temple. We find that many who returned did not even remember the temple, but there were those who were older and they remembered. The older people remembered having lived through a very traumatic experience when the temple was destroyed. If you have ever lived through a traumatic experience, you know that there are times or events that trigger memories in your mind and it can be very emotional and harmful. That is why we should not allow our minds to dwell on those past pains but to look to God to direct us forward to what He has in store for us.
Prior to even starting the building project they would have had to clean up all the rubble. A decision was made to begin with building the altar so that they could offer sacrifices. This decision was made with the thought of having the proper fear of the LORD in their minds. They feared the peoples of other lands because they were afraid if they did not consecrate themselves to God, they would be influenced by other people’s idol worship and worship of false gods. There were feasts coming up in their calendar that needed to be celebrated. And there was no better way to start than to offer to God what was His. The Bible tells us that they built the altar on the foundation of where the altar had been, on the very same spot.
Let's Reflect
1. What two men does the Bible say led the rebuilding of the altar?
2. Once the altar had been built how often did they offer sacrifices to the LORD?
3. It is very fitting that the first festival they celebrated back in the land, was the one that was meant as a memorial to the times when the ancient Hebrew people stayed in tents or makeshift houses after their exodus from Egyptian slavery. What was this festival called?
4. Just like when the temple of Solomon was first built, monies were paid to Lebanon to bring cedar trees to build the temple. The people had given money for this project and there was also a grant or a special gift of money given to them by whom?
5. They wasted no time in setting up the organization of the Levites and the priests that would be needed for the sacrifices, festivals and to supervise the rebuilding. Just as David had done, they appointed the young men to this important work. What age was the defining age of someone assigned to this work?
6. Once the foundation of the temple was laid there was great praise and celebration. Instruments were played, people shouted with joy and what does verse 11 say that they did?
7. But for the older people who were there and remembered the former glorious temple, the moment was bitter-sweet. Some cried. What does the Bible say about their loud sounds of weeping over the past hurts?
