T The Book of Ezra
Study #7
(Ezra 3:8-13)
Rebuilding the Foundation!
INTRODUCTION:
OPEN: If you knew that a murderer were on the loose in your city, what would you do? Buy a gun, read your Bible, pray, or tithe?
QUOTE: Why was the Lord’s temple begun first, even before the city wall? The temple was used for spiritual purposes; the wall, for military and political purposes. God had always been the nation’s protector, and the Jews knew that the strongest stone wall would not protect them if God was not with them. They knew that putting their spiritual lives in order was a far higher priority than assuring the national defense.(LAB)
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
• God raised up a new leader named Cyrus.
• He is led to send to Jews back to their homes.
• At his request, a large offering is given for the rebuilding of the Temple.
• Now, the Jews are back in the land.
• There is a time gap between chapters 2 and 3 (we do not know exactly how long).
• Some estimate that it has been approximately 3 months since their arrival.
• The Jews have settled into their cities, built homes, raised crops.
• Now it is time to get busy in the work of the Lord.
• In last week’s lesson, we saw that the people put a priority on worship!
• Even without a Temple, they returned to observing the offerings and feasts.
• But there was something lacking!
• The Temple work had not begun.
• In the spirit of revival that carried the day, the people begin to order supplies.
• Here is a review of last week’s points:
I. The Fervency Restored (1)
II. The Fire Restored (2-3)
III. The Feasts Restored (4-6)
IV. The Furnishings Retrieved (7)
• Now we see ...
V. The Foundation Rebuilt (8-13)
EXPOSITION:
I. The Work Delegated (8-9)
NOTE: It took from September (Ezra 3:1; September was the seventh month because the year began in March) to June just to prepare to build the temple. The exiles took time to make plans because the project was important to them. Preparation may not feel heroic or spiritual, but it is vital to any project meant to be done well. (LAB)
A. Dating the Work (8A)
Ezra 3:8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month,
• You will remember from our last message, that all Israel met in Jerusalem.
• They met there to rebuild the altar and reestablish the sacrifices and feasts.
• This was on the 7th month (Tishri)
• At that meeting, they ordered materials for the temple.
• It is now a full 7 months later.
• This would be about Apr./May 536 b.c.
• This officially ended the 70 year captivity that began in 605 b.c. (MacArthur)
• This is the exact month in which Solomon began to build the first temple.
B. Dividing the Work (8B-9)
1. The Leaders (8B)
[8B] began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites,
a. Zerubbabel - The appointed governor.
b. Jeshua - The High Priest
c. The Priests and Levites
2. The Laity (8C)
[8C] and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem;
• No church can operate when only the staff carry on the work.
• Rather, they equip the saints for the work of the ministry!
Ephes. 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
3. The Levites (8D-9)
[8D] and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. [9] Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
• Zerubbabel appointed the Levites as supervisors of the construction project.
• Centuries earlier Levites were involved in the tabernacle construction (Ex. 38:21) and in caring for and transporting it (Num. 1:50-51; 3:21-37).
• Now they were involved in the temple construction.
• Three Levite groups of supervisors were mentioned (Ezra 3:9)— Jeshua and his family, Kadmiel (cf. 2:40) and his family, and the family of Henadad. (BKC)
• God is pleased when things are done decently and in order.
II. The Work Dedicated (10-11; Lk. 9:62)
Comments on Completion (10A)
[10] And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord,
• I love to see a project completed!
• If God depended on the “wanna do its” and the “hope to do its” and the “gonna do its”, nothing would ever be done!
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
A. The Setting (10B)
[10B] they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance [1 Chron. 16 and 25] of David king of Israel.
• The priests are in their official garments.
• There are trumpets and cymbals.
• Unrestrained praise of the Lord begins.
• And it is all according to the pattern commanded by God!
B. The Singers (11A)
[11] And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel.
1. The Courses of the Singers (1 Cor. 14:40)
NOTE: Even exuberant, festive worship has order.
ILLUS: Attempted funeral for Yasser Arafat on November 12, 2004.
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
2. The Content of the Singers
• The song of the redeemed is always about the redeemer.
• They are singing the 136th Psalm.
• This was probably a responsive type of singing.
• One group would sing “Praise the Lord for He is good,”
• and Then the other group would answer “For His mercy endureth forever.”
Completing the foundation for the temple required great effort on the part of all involved. But no one tried to get praise for himself and his own hard work. Instead, everyone praised God for what had been done. All good gifts come from God—talents, abilities, strength, and leadership. We should thank God for what has been done in and through us! (LAB)
C. The Shouting (11B; Col. 3:23; Ps. 32:11; 132:9)
[11B] And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
• Note the balance in worship.
• The singers sing by course, but they are lively and Spirit-filled.
• Now, the people give shouts of joy!
• There is nothing whatsoever wrong with an Amen, Hallelujah or Praise the Lord.
• They are all in order at Calvary.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
III. The Work Debated (12-13)
NOTE: It seems to me that the division of opinion that follows is not between young and old but among the old. It could be that the traditional opinion is correct, but study this some more.
A. The Concerned Voices (12A)
[12] But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice;
QUOTE: Because the new temple was built on the foundation of Solomon's temple, the two structures were not that different in size. But the old temple was far more elaborate and ornate, and was surrounded by many buildings and a vast courtyard. Both temples were constructed of imported cedar wood, but Solomon's was decorated with vast amounts of gold and precious stones. Solomon's temple took over seven years to build; Zerubbabel's took about four years. Solomon's temple was at the hub of a thriving city; Zerubbabel's was surrounded by ruins. No wonder the people wept.(LAB)
MacArthur tells us:
• The first temple had been destroyed 50 years earlier.
• The old men, who would have been about 60 years or older, knew that this second temple did not begin to match the splendor of Solomon’s temple nor did the presence of God reside within it (cf. Hag. 2:1-4; Zech. 4:9, 10).
• The nation was small and weak, the temple smaller and less beautiful by far.
• There were no riches as in David and Solomon’s days.
• The ark was gone.
• But most disappointing was the absence of God’s Shekinah glory.
• Thus the weeping.
APPLY: Those who remember prayer and Bible reading in public schools.
APPLY: While it is true that sin can cost us irreparable damage, we must go on with what we have!
B. The Celebrating Voices (12B; Haggai 2:1)
[12B] and many [NOTE: It does not say that these are young] shouted aloud for joy:
• The same sight, and the same memory, cause others to shout for joy!
• For those who did not have a point of comparison, this was a great moment.
• Possibly Ps. 126 was written and sung for this occasion. (MacArthur)
• The prophet Haggai gave divinely inspired encouragement to God’s people.
Haggai 2:1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
• These were right in their rejoicing, for the beauty of the building is not the important thing.
• The beauty of a heart that worships God ... that is what matters.
C. The Confusing Vision (13)
[13] So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
QUOTE: The celebration after laying the temple foundation was marked by contrasts of emotion—shouts of joy and sounds of weeping. Both were appropriate. The Holy Spirit can stimulate us both to rejoice over the goodness of his grace and to grieve over the sins that required him to correct us. When we come into the presence of Almighty God, we may feel full of joy and thanksgiving, yet at the same time feel sobered by our shortcomings. (LAB)
CONCLUSION: (Philippians 3:12-14)
Repeated from last week with one addition.
How do you go about restoring things after God’s chastening hand has been removed?
Put worship first. There was no temple as yet, but that did not hinder them from setting up an altar and sacrificing to God. This is an illustration of Matthew 6:33. They needed to worship God for their own sake as well for a witness to the people around them.
Celebrate God’s goodness. It was time for the Feast of Tabernacles, a joyful feast of thanksgiving. Times were tough, but the people obeyed the Word and praised the Lord. This in itself would be a testimony to the Gentiles, and it would do their own hearts good. It is always the right time to praise the Lord.
Establish the foundations. The Scriptures told them all they needed to know to rebuild the temple, and they followed God’s plan. The foundation is the most important part of the building, for it determines the size, shape, and strength of the structure. Do you have the right foundations for your life?
Look to the future. The old people looked back and wept while the young people looked ahead and rejoiced. Tears and cheers, not too different from what is happening in families and churches today. The men were able to work together but not praise God together. If you concentrate on your past, you are sure to rob yourself of a glorious future (Phil. 3:12-14). Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible Commentary.
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
