The Temple Completed Series

Solomon’s Temple was a major undertaking to complete. It was a multi-generational task. King David made so many preparations. His son Solomon worked to see the temple built and dedicated to the Lord. The temple, we call Solomon’s Temple, was destroyed and laid in ruin during the seventy-year Babylonian captivity.

You will also find that the building of the second temple was a major undertaking. They made building a place to meet God in worship a priority. They did everything according to the instructions laid out by the Lord. This did not just happen. It takes planning. It takes energy. It takes commitment and perseverance to build the Temple.

You can read the first six chapters of Ezra to find just how big of an undertaking rebuilding the temple was. You find in Ezra the children of Israel returning from exile with a vision to rebuild the temple and revive true religion.

In building this temple Israel faced difficulty of organizing workers. They faced opposition to the work and they were sabotaged by those who opposed them. They faced apathy from within. There was a crises in leadership and a lack of commitment that had to be overcome. Zerubbabel, the priests and the elders had to overcome setbacks.

There was long period of inactivity. After all of this they persevered after 24 years the temple is complete.

So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 15 The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. (Ezra 6:14-15)

For those of you who value preaching you will love these verses. It was the preaching of these, so called, “minor prophets” Haggai and Zechariah that the work flourished. The whole time, now under their preaching the people were working with diligence.

Then, because of the decree King Darius had sent, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates carried it out with diligence. (Ezra 6:13)

There was practical work and God’s prophets preached, inspired and instilled God’s principles. Without vision, inspiration from God’s Word the building project for the temple could degenerate to merely mundane material work. Now they are fulfilling Gpd’s purposes and God’s mission.

Let the preachers preach. Their role is significant. They are to continue to remind us that we are talking about more than mundane projects. We do all the work we do for the Glory of God. We are expanding our potential to minister in Jesus’ name. We are to saturate our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth with the gospel.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The children of Israel were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Ironically it was the Samaritans who were opposing them, but we are called to reach them. We all need to remind each other of the true reason of the work we do. It is significant!

The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. (Ezra 6:15)

The Temple was completed!

It was four and a half years after the restart under the prophet’s encouragement. It was 24 years after efforts were first undertaken. The together we build became the together we built. Now we have the dedication of the temple.

Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel. (Ezra 6:16-17)

Finishing the temple was not the end. It was the beginning. Now true worship was restored. The people had the exciting experience of dedicating the temple.

The Hebrew word Hanukah means dedication. They dedicated themselves to God. We need a little Hanukkah too. We need to dedicate ourselves to God.

The Jews celebrate Hanukah because later this temple had to be rededicated. It was rededicated eight days after it was desecrated.

The dedication was a thrilling experience. There were a few catches along with the excitement. This temple was not as big as Solomon’s Temple. The sacrifices were not as dramatic:

The 2nd Temple 100 bulls were sacrificed verses Solomon’s Temple 22,000 oxen sacrificed.