Rebuilding the Temple

Ezra Chapter 3

In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem. Then Jeshua, son of Jehozadak with his fellow priests and Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel with his family, began to rebuild the altar of the God of Israel so that they could sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the law of Moses.

They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed in the law of Moses and offered burn offerings required for the new moon celebrations and other annual festivals to the Lord. Fifteen days before the Festival of Shelters began, the priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord and this was before they had started to lay the foundation of the Temple.

Masons and carpenters were hired and bought cedar logs from Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine and olive oil. Thus the construction began in midspring and the work force was made up of everyone who had returned from exile including Zerubbabel, Jeshua and all the Levites. Levites who were twenty years old or older were put in charge of rebuilding. The workers at the Temple were supervised by Jeshua and his family and Kadmiel and his family, all descendants of Hodaviah.


When the builders completed the foundation, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites of Asaph clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed and they sang the same song to show the Lord was good and had faithful love for the Israelites. Then they all gave a great shout and many of the older priests wept aloud when they saw the new Temple's foundation and many shouted for joy. And the shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud commotion that could be hard far in the distance.


BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The Jews built the altar as one of their first official acts to symbolize God's presence and protection. And to show their commitment to the Lord. They had learned their lesson and knew God does not offer special protection to people who ignore them.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? How often have you heard shouts of joy and sounds of weeping? Not very often, right? But the celebrations of laying the Temple created a mighty noise. Just as today the Holy Spirit can stimulate us to rejoice over his grace and grieve over sins that we commit. It is possible even today for all of us to come into the presence of God and I hope when it happens, that we all feel the joy and thanksgiving and still be sobered by our mistakes.



Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.