Nothing But The Best
Notes
Transcript
They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.
We must give our best to Christ. There should be no expense spared, in the life of the believer, to pursue a life and heart that is pure and Holy before God.
Nothing But The Best
Give our best to God, because we owe it to Him.
The Cedars of Lebanon were known for their pleasant aroma, strength, and longevity (Due to anti-rot characteristics.)
We are the Temple and God deserves our best.
Even though the Jewish community was small and relatively poor, the people set high standards of workmanship in doing God’s work.
Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, electronic ed., vol. 10, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 93.
The cedar of Lebanon was also used by Solomon.
The mindset of the people in Ezras day was no different than it had been in previous generations. The building may have looked different, but the heart was the same.
And we will cut wood from Lebanon, as much as you need; we will bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will carry it up to Jerusalem.
Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.
This verse (v.7) is the pivot point between worship and work. In some ways it bridges the two and shows how they are connected. For the church it displays how worship and work are both aspects necessary for pleasing God.
This is the end of the restoration of worship. Thus, the final act of worship before restoration was a return to the mindset that had built the first temple.
The cedars of Lebanon are tended to by the Lord.
The cedars of Lebanon are tended to by the Lord.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
I. The best of our possessions.
I. The best of our possessions.
Ezra and the people determined to build the new temple with the same quality materials that Solomon had used in the first temple. Thus, they sacrificed to bring in the highest quality wood available in the ancient world.
Although the Israelites did not possess the needed materials, they determined to obtain them.
The Cedars of Lebanon represent the most sought after building materials.
What is the Cedar of Lebanon?
What is the Cedar of Lebanon?
Revered by civilisations for thousands of years, the Cedar of Lebanon is a rare wood with a natural lustre and distinctive, long-lasting odour. In biblical times, this ‘true cedar’ grew extensively all around the mountains of Lebanon, giving the cedar its name. After centuries of deforestation, there are now just a handful of groves remaining, most notably the Cedars of God, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is now under threat from climate change.
For thousands of years, the cedar’s 70-100 foot height and 16-25 foot girth have inspired thoughts of strength and solidarity, with the wood widely used for shipbuilding by various ancient civilizations. Today, the national emblem of Lebanon is equally revered by woodworkers, who find its medium to coarse texture, prominent grain, characteristic knots and high levels of durability perfectly suited to cabinet-making and joinery.
The question must be asked. What would cause Davis, Solomon, and Ezra to seek out such costly wood?
The answer is simply that they desired to give the best to the Lord.
Not the sufficient, not the adequate, and not even the good. They desired to give God their best.
II. The best of our passions.
II. The best of our passions.
The process of obtaining this precious wood was not nearly as simple as going to the hardware store. It required crossing the sea, climbing up the mountains, and felling the timber. After the timber is fell the work continues. Now the timber must be hauled down the mountain, loaded upon a ship carried across the sea, where it would be unloaded in Joppa. Although currently the shores near Joppa have enough sediment that it is difficult for ships to approach its shores, this was not the case in Ezra's time. You would think this was the end, but no, the journey continues. This now requires hauling the massive timber 32 miles across dirt roads from sea level to Jerusalem sitting at 2,575 feet.
Yet, the thought of this was never hesitated. The end result, the glory of the Lord, far outweighed any difficulty.
I am always amazed at those who so easily give up.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
In 2012 a polish lady went into early labor while carrying twins after the third child was born prematurely and died. In a harrowing feet of endurance and tenacity, she lay while in labor, almost upside dow for 75 days. the girl Ina and boy Ignacy both survived. The mother, Joanna Krzysztonek, struggled a little regaining her balance after the ordeal but otherwise was unscathed.
III. The best of our persons.
III. The best of our persons.
Spurgeon said,
In the abundance of their supply. No river, as I have observed, rolls at their feet; no canals keep their leaf from withering; man uses no labour, and employs no skill to irrigate the steeps of Lebanon, and yet do the cedars want? Look at them; stand under their shadow, and see if they want any good thing. The text tells us, that so far from wanting, they are saturated—“The trees of the Lord are full.” Man’s trees may sometimes be ready to perish for lack of moisture, they may be frostbitten and their shoots may be nipped, but the trees of the Lord are full, there is never any want there; there is no want to them that fear him.
Water was a major consideration for the Israelites. It was in scarce supply apart from a few springs and was the most vulnerable aspect of the city of Jerusalem.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
Yet, here we see that cedar trees an the top of the mountains are full of sap, despite no water supply.
Also, we can observe that they are an evergreen tree, who leaf never withers, regardless of the environment in which they are surrounded, they produce because they are full of sap. There is life flowing through them all the time.
Many so called believers fade in and fade away. Just as the seasons change, so does their faithfulness to the Lord. Why, because they are not full of sap. Instead they are like dry bones, with grandeur on the outside, but are hollow on the inside.
They will boast of their lofty branches which stretch towards the stars, yet when the first frost comes, they wither away into dormancy.
If you are here today and you are not connected to the source of life (The Bible) then you are a ticking time bomb that will wither when hardship comes.
