The New Foundation And The Old Foundation

The book of Ezra is a book in the Bible that is overlooked in the scriptures by many.

Some refer to as one of the Minor prophets. This gives some the idea perhaps it not as important as one of Major prophets.

Just because it is not as big as Isaiah or Jeremiah in size does not mean it is less significant.

We can learn a great deal from this small book in the scriptures.

For example, let us look at Ezra 3: 10-13, we read, And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, 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 of David king of Israel. 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. 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. 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; and many shouted aloud for joy: 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.

This passage of scripture is an interesting passage of scriptures. It has to do with:

(1) Two different generation of people (Old and the Young)

(2) Two different temples (Old temple and the New Temple)

(3) Two different responses

Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 B.C.

Look at 2 Kings 25:8-9 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.

When the Syrians defeated the Babylonians in war, King Cyrus gave Israel permission to go back and rebuild the temple. (see Ezra 1).

This passage has to do with the Building of the New temple and the Old Temple.

First, let us look at the NEW FOUNDATION that was beling laid for the NEW TEMPLE.

Again, look at Ezra 3:10-12, we read, and when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, 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 of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel. 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.

• Because of the foundation being laid for the new temple these young people were ecstatic.

The Bible tells us---their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy.

• But now let us look at the OLD FOLKS when the NEW FOUNDATIION was being laid.

They were sad when the NEW FOUNDATION WAS BEING LAID.

WHY?

• They remembered when the FIRST FOUNDATION was laid for Solomon’s Temple.

• They rememberd when the temple was built that God came down and filled the temple with His GLORY.

Look at Ezr 3:12-13 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; and many shouted aloud for joy: 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.

WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE?

Two things:

(1) The young are shouting because of the new temple foundation was being laid.

(2) The old folks were saddened because they remember Solomon’s Temple.

Solomon’s temple was one of the most attractive building ever been built.

• The cost of Solomon’s Temple was high because it took over 30 years to build.

• More than 1,000 people were employed to build it.

• They used different types of materials like gold, silver and bronze.

The cost of building this temple today has been estimated at about one million dollars then which is equivalent to about $200 billion today.