Ezra 3:8-13Lesson for Week of July 7

Call to Worship

Sing praises to God, O faithful ones.Give thanks and proclaim God’s holy name.

Weeping or joyful, mourning or dancing, come as you are, for all are welcome here.

Open your hearts to healing, to life restored.Let us worship God. Amen.

Prayer of Invocation

O God of people and nations, we are ignorant and arrogant about our own prosperity and might.

When we forget how much we have, remind us of our abundance.

When we take pride in our status and think ourselves better than others, grant us humility.

When we use wealth and power to get our own way at the expense of others, correct us.

Heal us, we pray, that we may be a force for wholeness.With all that we have, we pray for your forgiveness. Amen.

Introduction

"Zerubbabel" and "Jeshua" are the two main men behind the building of the Temple. The name

"Zerubbabel" means "sown in Babylon." He was the grandson of King Jehoiachin and a descendant of King

David. He is the civil ruler in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:2).

Introduction

In the first year of Cyrus, he was living at Babylon, and was the recognized prince of Judah in the captivity, --

what, in later times, was called "the prince of the captivity," or "the prince."

Introduction

It is probable that he was in the king of Babylon's service, both from his having, like Daniel and the

three children, received a Chaldean name, Sheshbazzar, and from the fact that he was appointed by the Persian king to the office of governor of Judea.

Introduction

The name "Jeshua" means "he is saved." "Jeshua" is called "Joshua" by the prophet Haggai and Zechariah. He is the high priest, a descendant of Aaron, and the

grandson of Seraiah, the priest who was killed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 26:18-21; 1 Chronicles 6:14;

Haggai 1:1). "Jeshua" is the religious authority in Jerusalem.

Introduction

Prior to being carried off to Babylon to serve 70 years of captivity the nation had received repeated

warnings from God's prophets. Those warnings went unheeded and punishment was inevitable.

As God's people were carried away from their homeland in 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar wiped out the city of Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple of Solomon,

and left their sacred homeland in ruins.

Introduction

In 538 BC, the Persian army, led by Cyrus the Great captured Babylon. He ordered all those who had been held by Nebuchadnezzar to return to their homelands and rebuild their cities and temples.

The Jews were part of those he set free. Cyrus also ordered that all the treasures that had been taken

from all the world's temples be returned.

Introduction

The first group of Jews to return home numbered around 50,000.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, they built an altar and began to once again offer sacrifices to God (Ezra 3:1-7). Now the time for rebuilding the Temple had

come.

Ezra 3:8

In the second year after their arrival at the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak made a

beginning, together with the rest of their people, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to

Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work on the house of the LORD.

Ezra 3:8

After they had visited their respective cities, and settled their affairs there, they came to Jerusalem on the seventh month, or September, and kept the feast of tabernacles, and then they returned to their cities again, the winter season being an improper time to

begin the building of the temple.

Ezra 3:8

It is now April or part of May, for in the meantime they had provided for things needed for the work.

Their time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and

transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the

building.

Ezra 3:8

Ezra did not arrive with the first returnees to Jerusalem, but as an important scribe he had access to all the temple records regarding the return of the Jews in their first return from exile in Babylon and

what they did upon their return.

Ezra 3:8

In chapter 2, Ezra included the names or family names of those who first returned, numbering almost

50,000. Their return could be compared to the Israelites’

exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses: they brought much wealth with them given by the

Babylonians.

Ezra 3:8

Ezra named some of the names and the qualifications of those responsible for rebuilding the temple of the

LORD. Some descendants of King David and the Levites returned.

Read I Chronicles 23:4They were used as overseers of the workmen, and to

direct and animate the laborers in the various departments.

Ezra 3:9

And Jeshua with his sons and his kin, and Kadmiel and his sons, Binnui and Hodaviah along with the sons of

Henadad, the Levites, their sons and kin, together took charge of the workers in the house of God.

Ezra 3:9

The return was of such monumental importance under the hand of the LORD that careful, formal

records were made that described the organization of leaders and workers.

To these, as probably distinguished for their mechanical skill, the duty of acting as overseers was

particularly committed.

Ezra 3:9

These sons of Henadad, as they attended upon the temple work, so themselves were as the polished

corners of the temple as described in Psalms 144:12.

Ezra 3:9

Ezra recorded both the names of those who obeyed God and made a positive difference and the names of

some who disobeyed God by marriage to foreign, pagan wives.

These foreign wives had not come to love and obey the LORD, as Ruth had done, and they misled their

families away from total faithfulness to God and sincere obedience and worship according to the Law

of Moses.

Ezra 3:9

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments were

stationed to praise the LORD with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to

the directions of King David of Israel;

Ezra 3:10

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments were

stationed to praise the LORD with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to

the directions of King David of Israel;

Ezra 3:10

The returned exiles may have simply repaired the foundations of Solomon’s temple rather than build new ones from scratch. Second Kings 25:9 indicates

only that the temple was burned, which makes it possible that the original foundation remained intact.

Ezra 3:10

King Cyrus of Persia returned many, if not all, of the items to the temple that the Babylonians had carried

away into captivity. Though not specifically listed, these items no doubt included cymbals and trumpets,

along with vestments for the priests.

Ezra 3:10

They praised God for helping them begin well by rebuilding their temple foundation. They also began well by following the directions of King David, who

praised God with psalms (songs) and dancing as described in I Chronicles 13:8 and 15:16.

The laying of the foundation was accompanied by festivity and singing. The priests were dressed in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites with cymbals,

to praise the LORD.

Ezra 3:10

The clashing of cymbals might be used to symbolize the clapping of thunder or as a means of marking time for the procession. Trumpets functioned as signaling devices on the battlefield and on occasions of great

importance.Trumpets probably refers to long, straight, metallic

Instruments such as those used for musical assemblies. The trumpets here are probably not the

ram’s horn often used for signal calls.

Ezra 3:10

The Hebrew phrase “according to the directions of” translates literally as “according to the hands of.” David initiated music as an indispensable part of

Jewish religious worship.

Ezra 3:11

…and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast

love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the

LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Ezra 3:11

Using David’s psalms, they also followed his directions in praising the LORD.

In worship, the Israelites used musical instruments, recited the psalms responsively, thanked the LORD for His love, mercy, and forgiveness as they offered their sacrifices, declared the nature and moral character of

God in their responsive praise, and shouted enthusiastically for all to hear about their love for

God.

Ezra 3:11

King David had praised God, saying, “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his

faithfulness to all generations” (Psalms 100:5) and “Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me; let

your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever” (Psalms 40:11).

Ezra 3:11

The Hebrew term for “steadfast love,” chesed, is also translated “grace.” It denotes loving favor and is tied

to the covenants.They sang together. The enthusiasm of the people could not be contained. They were uninhibited in

their praise for God.

Ezra 3:12

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on

its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many shouted aloud for joy,

Ezra 3:12

The first temple was destroyed in 586 BC. The date is now 537 BC, meaning that these men are well over 50

years old.The priests, Levites, and people who remembered King Solomon’s beautiful temple would be quite

elderly by this time. When some remembered their former temple, and probably their sins that led to

God’s just judgment, they wept.

Ezra 3:12

Perhaps, the chief cause of grief was that the second temple would be destitute of those things which

formed the great and distinguishing glory of the first; namely, the Ark of the Covenant, the Shekinah and

the Urim and Thummim.Yet the glory of the second far outshone that of the first temple in another and more important point of

view, namely, the receiving within its walls the incarnate Savior (Hag 2:9).

Ezra 3:12

Those who wept could encourage those who shouted with joy to remain faithful in the coming years. Those who shouted with joy praised God for leading them

back to Judea and for helping them to begin the temple’s reconstruction.

Both weeping and joyful shouts can be expressions of love and thanksgiving to God.

Ezra 3:13

…so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's

weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.

Ezra 3:13

Among Eastern people, expressions of sorrow are always very loud and vehement. It is indicated by wailing, the howl of which is sometimes not easily

distinguishable from joyful acclamations.Some, no doubt, wept for joy, but the great shouting multitude present that day of new beginnings could

be heard far away, even as far as 5 miles to Bethlehem.

Ezra 3:13

Nothing more important in the religious and spiritual life of the people up to that time of laying the

temple’s foundation had happened in Judea since the temple’s destruction.

Ezra 3:13

They had good reasons for their joyful shouts, and their praises to God probably included thanks to God for freeing them from exile in Babylon, for King Cyrus’

return of the items stolen from the temple by the Babylonians, for King Cyrus and the people giving

funds to them to return, for animals given to them to sacrifice to the LORD, and for God’s help in rebuilding

the temple.

Conclusions

The first being that we need to be careful with our attitude about the things that God has called us to do.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that we are wasting our time on things that don't seem too

important or as productive as they were years ago. Remember that it was the second temple that

received our Lord.

Conclusions

There is room for shouting and weeping in God's work.

Those of us who remember by gone days when the church was united, filled with God's power and reaching out to a lost world can't help but be

saddened by the spiritual climate of this hour.

Conclusions

Those who have just been introduced to God's saving grace are excited about a fresh new life and can't help

but be glad over the life they now have in Christ. Somehow in God's wisdom and plan He can take the joyful shouters and the weeping patriarchs and bring

glory to Himself.

Conclusions

Doing the work of God does not preclude proper preparation and organization (Ezra 3:8)

God's work requires God's people to be united in purpose and goal (Ezra 3:9; cf. Phil. 2:2)

Praise to God should be the daily activity and response of every believer (Ezra 3:10)

Conclusions

While doing God's work, be sure to take time to celebrate His faithfulness (vs. 11)

Never allow the memories of the past to overshadow God's present blessings (vs. 12)

The praise of God's people should often reach the ears of those around them (vs. 13)

Blessing

Do not grow weary in doing what is right for you will reap a great harvest if you do not give up.

Sow in the Spirit and reap the blessings of God. Amen.