A Little Bit at a Time

Introduction

Sunday Nite Power: your story/His story. Evangelistic/Apologetic. Share with the unbelievers. A tool.

We are continuing with the series “Praisedemic.” Finding our praise in the midst of a pandemic.

A pandemic is when a disease or plague spreads over a large territory.

In the territory of the earth, we deal with a variety of pandemics. Some medical, some emotional, some spiritual. In that they are felt by human beings all over the world.

COVID-19, but so is disappointment, betrayal, sin, so is any problematic situation that is common to man.

But…if you know King Jesus…you can find praise in the midst of it.

In the midst of sickness; grief; disappointment; betrayal; stress; heartache; worry; spiritual warfare and satanic attack…there is some praise to be found.

And since that is the case, we - who are children of God- due to our relationship with King Jesus - should resist these common pandemics with a pandemic of praise.

What we call a praisedemic. We want to start a praisedemic.

We began last week, encouraging you to “Wait for it.” Sometimes resolution and deliverance take a while to come, but as you wait…praise God, knowing that His steadfast love renews every morning.

Today…what I want to build upon that thought, while going a bit deeper.

To start a praisedemic, you don’t have to wait until the moment of resolution and deliverance in order to praise. Perhaps we believe that we have to wait for full deliverance to praise God.

Sometimes the God of the Bible starts answering and moving, a little bit at a time. Even the big things of the Bible are done a little bit at a time.

To start a praisedemic, you have to train your eyes to see the things in which God is doing a little bit at a time.

As a child of God, you have to have faith in how the situation will end, and praise Him along the way when He starts to answers a little bit at a time.

For every little bit we see, we offer praise.

Ezra 3:8-13

The book of Ezra chronicles the return of the exiles of ancient Judah to their homeland, after being taken into Babylonian exile in 586 BC by King Nebuchadnezzer.

He didn’t just take them into exile, but he destroyed their majestic temple as well. So much of their identity was wrapped into the temple and their holy city of Jerusalem. No temple - no identity. They have neither.

This is their grand problem when we meet them in the text. But God is going to allow resolution…but He will do it a little bit at a time.

We meet them as they are returning from captivity back to Jerusalem, with their mind on restoring their worship practices and rebuilding their temple. Their mind is on regaining their identity.

Everything Has a Beginning

Ezra 3:8-9

The second year after this expedition began, we see that Zerubbabel, Jeshua, their kinsmen, the priests and Levites - made a beginning. - he -lel - take the first steps.

They were taking the first steps toward rebuilding the temple.

The first step has to do with being faithful and obedient to God in rebuilding and reestablishing the centerpiece of their worship.

Every moment of resolution and deliverance has a beginning. The start of your resolution and deliverance is often found in a step of faith and obedience to God. This makes the statement differ from a worldly view of faith. Its more than just “things will work out,” but God is going to allow it to work out, through my obedience to Him!

Just be faithful and obedient. The conversation with the elders.

v.9 is merely an elaboration of v.8.

But before they took a step, God had already been at work. That’s why we can meet a pandemic of problems with a praisedemic, because, you have to assume God may have already been at work to bring about a solution before the problem even started.

God had already been doing a little bit, before they even made a move.

God sets us up for praise.

Their current problem is they have no temple/they have no identity. But God had been at work long before this to bring a solution.

Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10-14 - At least 70 years prior, God was already seeing what He was going to do. He was already at work.

Ezra 1:1-4

I want you to know how unbelievable this is. How unprecedented this is. God stirred up the spirit of a foreign king to let His people go back.

If God wants to fulfill a promise, He is going to fulfill a promise. This is God, not only answering a promise, but moving people who might seem impossible to move.

God has been moving before the problem was a problem and before the solution was unveiled.

Troy’s manager.

There are things happening behind the scenes that you don’t always know about. You have to believe that things like this are possible.

Praise God for the promises He will keep and for the things He is doing you have no idea He is doing.

1 Kings 8:56 - “Blessed (Praise) be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.

Proverbs 30:5 - every word of God proves true.

A child of God is a child of a promise keeping God.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Romans 8:28 - the good with the bad work together for your good.

As a child of God there are promises available to us. He will fulfill them, but sometimes He does it a little bit at a time.

The Praise Begins

When the pandemic of problems hit, remember that God is working and He will keep every promise that He has given. Praise Him because of it.

To start a praisedemic, praise God at the first sign of resolution and deliverance.

v.10-13

All they have is a foundation. No columns, no courts, no gates. A foundation is but a flat slab of rock. But, it represents a beginning of a resolution.

This isn’t ordinary worship and praise. This is official!!

This is according to the directions of King David.

To praise - to extol greatness as an act of worship.

They sang responsively. It is the spreading of praise....this is a praisedemic.

Why praise?

v.11 - For He is good. Is there ever a time when God isn’t good? There may be evil in the world, but there is never a time when God isn’t good. It is always time to praise Him.

Steadfast love - hesed. The covenantal love. We have a covenant. This is the love that renews every morning.

This is the love that is expressed through Jesus.

They praised even though the resolution hasn’t been brought about completely. They are praising God like their work is done.

True faith invites praises to God even before the answer has materialized.

The great shout (v.11, 13).

The sound of shouting was heard from far away.

Other people who were not of their community knew something was taking place.

To start a praisedemic, other people should recognize our praise!!!

The praise is because the hope of their temple was being re-established.

The Identity in Jesus

The beginning of the temple would have meant a lot to them, because this would have given them a taste of their identity. That was reason alone to praise!

People today often struggle with an identity crisis. Searching for who they are and who they want to be. The child of God, however has an identity.

Like Israel, the child of God today also finds itself in the identity of the temple. All because of King Jesus.

Jesus was the living temple of God.

John 2:19-21 -- Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

When we are baptized into Christ Jesus; into His body, that temple now resides in our lives as the dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

We are intertwined with the temple. Our identity is wrapped in it!

2 Corinthians 6:16 - For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

As His people we have been given His steadfast love endures over us forever.

As His people we’ve been given promises not open to everyone else.

This is why it is necessary that you come to the moment of decision to follow after Jesus Christ and allow Him to reign over your life. These promises are for those who do.

You want to live life knowing that you have promises despite the problems you face.

Life promises you problems; Jesus promises you life.

The praisedemic begins with the identity in Jesus, but continues when we slow down enough to see the things that God is doing a little bit at a time to resolve and deliver. .

Ezra 3:8–13 ESV

Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, 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 supervise the work of the house of the Lord. And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 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 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 heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 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 with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

What Jumps Out?

1. v.8 seems to indicate that this rebuilding of the temple didn't occur until the second year after their return to Jerusalem. If that is the case...why did it take so long?

2. Based on other items within the chapter, they seemed to have kept the priesthood during their time in captivity. 

3. Why are the names, Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Kadmiel given?

4. What does it mean in v.8 when it says that they "made a beginning?"

5. They saw the need to come forward for praise when the foundation was laid. 

6. Our foundation is baptism. There should be praise!

7. They offered praise according the pattern that David had set for them. 

Subject: How and Why Did Judah praise God? C1: They praised Him because the foundation to the temple was laid; C2: They praised Him according to the pattern of King David; C3: They praised Him with a great shout and responsive singing; C4: They praised Him because of His "hesed" love. 

One Sentence Main Point: Judah praised God through shouting and responsive singing, because His steadfast love allowed the foundation of the temple to be laid. 

How does this passage communicate the gospel? There is a longing for the temple. Jesus came as the true and final temple. He is the place where people may enjoy fellowship with God. He is the place where heaven meets earth. God dwelt with His people on earth through Jesus. B

What do we share in common with the ancient audience? We too search for identity. We find it in things, sports teams, jobs, money, etc. 

What difference should the passage make in the lives of the audience? It says that God has given us an identity and it is because of that identity that we can praise Him. 

Modified One Sentence Main Point: God has given us a new identity in Jesus Christ, because of that we can always praise Him.

Basic Facts of Ezra:

Chapters 1-6 chronicle the return of the first wave of exiles, who came with their leaders, Zerubbabel and the priest Jeshua. The events in Ezra cover about 100 years. 

The Jews had been taken into exile in Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. In 539 King Cyrus of Persia overthrew the Babylonian king, Nabonidus. By doing so, he took control of a vast empire, including the territory of the former kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In 538, Cyurs issued a decree that the Jewish exiles were free to return to their ancestral home. 

Chapters 7-10 cover a time more than half a century later beginning with Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem in 458BC. 

The theme is faithfulness to the Lord, both in worship and in keeping the law. 

Theme:

The people were struggling for identity. Seventy years of captivity - likely counted from the destruction of the temple in 586 to the rebuilding of the temple in 516. So much of their identity is tied to the temple. 

Allegiance to the Lord is demonstrated by due attention to worship. It is shown by the building of the temple and doing things according to David's instruction. 

Key Words:

house - bayit - dwelling house; temple

made a beginning - he lel - took the first steps

vestments - lavash - put on clothes

praise - he lel - to extol greatness as an act of worship. 

steadfast love - hesed - loyalty; faithfulness

For Consideration:

Judah doesn't really have an identity without the temple. Thus, I can see why they would rejoice even when the foundation was laid. 

Propositional Outline Insights

1. v.8-9 speak essentially about the same thing. The action is the "made a beginning" toward rebuilding the temple of God. v.9 simply elaborates what is started in v.8. 

2. Based upon the action being completed, a different action takes place - a praising of God. 

3. The reason for the action is that God is good and His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel. 

4. v.11 elaborates the new action - a great shout through praise. 

Cross References: 

2 Chronicles 5:13-14; Haggai 2:1-6; 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 136:1; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Jeremiah 33:11; 1 Chronicles 23:24 - these were the one who were supposed to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord, according to David the king. 

Commentary Summary:

The work began through appointing people to oversee it. What correlations can there be made for the church. 

They perhaps sang such songs as Psalm 106, 107, or 118. These commence with an invitation to praise the Lord because He is good. They raised a loud shout of joy!

Worship is the center of community life and emphasized God's goodness and love. Although there was not yet a temple, God was enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 

Nevertheless, as McConville has written, “The worship of Israel was no dull affair, nor any model for dry formality in Christian worship today.” As on other occasions when the people shouted in praise to God (e.g., Josh 6:16–20; 1 Sam 4:5–6; 2 Sam 6:15; 2 Chr 15:14), the great shout indicates that the people expressed their emotions in their praise to God, for they praised him with all their hearts. Their shouts of praise were fitting for this historic moment as the Jews saw the restored temple beginning to become a reality. Their hearts were full of praise to God, even though the construction had just begun. True faith praises God even before the answer has materialized. Although Abraham had to wait many years for the realization of God’s seemingly impossible promise, “he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God

Breneman, M. (1993). Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed., Vol. 10, pp. 95–96). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

 Nevertheless, God was glorified, and “the sound was heard far away.” Other people who were not of their community knew that something was happening. The celebration made an impact on the whole vicinity.

Breneman, M. (1993). Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed., Vol. 10, p. 96). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

God was doing the impossible in this situation

Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Ezr 3). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

In Chapter One:

The seventy years of Israel's captivity had expired, exactly as Jeremiah had prophesied; and one of the most unbelievable events in human history promptly occurred, when, during the very first year of Cyrus' authority over the Chaldean kingdom (which at that time included Israel), the great ruler of Persia not only granted Israel permission to return to Palestine, but aided them very substantially in other ways also. There was no precedent whatever for such a thing. Where, in all the wretched history of the human race, was there ever anything that could be compared with a development like this? The very uniqueness of this return of Israel to their homeland is the only proof needed that it was accomplished by the direct intervention of God Himself in the sordid affairs of sinful men.

Isaiah had prophesied the end of Israel's captivity, even foretelling the very name of the key instrument of God in the accomplishment of it, declaring emphatically that Cyrus would accomplish the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple (Isaiah 44:28-45:7). Only those who are blinded by the false axiom of radical critics who deny the possibility of predictive prophecy can accept their unfounded, passionate, and vehement denials of this passage in Isaiah. There it stands! And here in Ezra, as well as in the final verses of Second Chronicles, we have the record of God's fulfillment of his sacred word. (See my discussion of Isaiah's prophecy on pp. 421-423 in my commentary at that place.)

Exegetical Outline:

I. Introduction

A. Purpose/Aim of the Sermon. 

B. Like I mentioned at the end of last week, so often we think we must wait until something is over before we offer praise. No - we can praise now. Now is always the time for a praisedemic.

C. The background of the text. 

D. What is the problem in the text? 

E. 70 years of captivity, the temple, the temple and their identity. 

II. The Beginning of the Beginning

A. v.8-9

B. "Made a beginning." Every solution has its start. The start is often a step of faith and obedience. Sometimes it is a move of the Lord. Here we have both.

C. How did they get here?

D. 1:1-5

E. How often do we overlook the very promises of God over our lives?

F. List some promises for the church...Surely I am coming soon; I will never leave you or forsake you; don't think it strange concerning the fiery trial...

G. This is not only God answering a promise, but moving folks who might seem impossible to move. (Troy's manager).

H. The stirring up. Stuff happening behind the scenes that you don't always know about. You have to believe that stuff like that is possible. 

I. Praise God for the promises He will keep and the things He is doing that you have no idea He is doing. 

III. The Praise Begins

A. v.10-13

B. As soon as the foundation was laid, the priests and the Levites came to praise the Lord. 

C. The corresponding psalms.

D. Hesed.

E. The people also praised because of the laying of the foundation.

G. The praising was so loud it would have made other people notice. 

H. That's what a praisedemic should do. Others should notice. 

IV. The Jesus

A. What this would have meant to them?

B. Why would it have meant this? Identity in the temple.

C. We find our identity in the living temple - Jesus.

D. So much is the connection between us and Jesus that the Spirit lives inside of the child of God.

E. Look at all the things that cover us. 

F. His steadfast love endures over us forever!

G. We praise Him at the beginning because of our faith in the ending.