Ezra 3

In last weeks introduction to the Books of Ezra, Esther and Nehemiah we looked at the 3 phases God set through Nebuchadnezzar of bringing the Nation of Judah into captivity. We talked about how it was the disobedience of the Nation that brought them into captivity, how they had turned a deaf ear to the Prophet Jeremiah, among other prophets to their repeated warnings about the idolatry of the people and their refusal to keep the Sabath rests for the land. We also discussed briefly about the 3 phases of restoration to the Land of Judah. Lastly we looked and the Providential Hand of God and his naming Cyrus in the Book of Isaiah, 150 years before he was even born, and God’s very specific description of what Cyrus would do in defeating the Babylonian Empire 200 years before it took place. Additionally, we looked at God’s providential Hand in preserving His Word by having it brought to Babylon as opposed to leaving it in Jerusalem to be destroyed by fire, He did the same for the utensils used in the Temple as a part of the worship that was set forth by God during the reign of Solomon.

What was clear in last Sunday’s message is that God is in control of all things and even uses pagan kings to accomplish His plans. We closed with 2 important things we need to understand:

1. God’s Patience with us in incredible, but He only gives so many chances before He brings His swift judgement. We need to keep short accounts of sin in our life and be quick to confess and repent.

And we need to:

2. Trust our life into the Providential Hand of God, He’s got this, we don’t!

This morning we will be looking at Ezra chapters 3 & 4. Next Slide

Ezra 3 page 494 in the pew Bibles

Ezra 3:1 ESV

1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem.

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Getting Back to the Heart of Worship.

During Solomon’s 40 year reign as King over Israel, he was privileged to be the one to build the very first Temple to God, it was magnificent in every way and initially the worship that took place there was very special, but something happened over the ensuing years. Somehow the true heart of worship was replaced with more of a ritualistic worship. Oh, they still worshiped God, but not out of a heart of love and devotion to Him, but more from a sense of obligation.

You know we have those same tendencies. We start out with the right intentions, but some how loose sight of the fact that the only worship God desires from us is worship that comes from a heart of love for Him and a sense of deep devotion to Him.

If this has happened to you, or if it’s starting to happen, these first few verses are very important and can hopefully get you back on track.

To begin with, let’s look at: Next Slides

A Significant Month.

When Ezra mentions the 7th month, he is not talking about their 7th month since returning to the land, we actually do not know for certain how long they have been back. Possible a year or so. The 1st thing they did upon returning to the land was to establish homes for their families. Once that was done, they were then free to turn their attention to the rebuilding of the Temple. The 7th month Ezra is referring to is a very special month on the Jewish calendar.

There are 7 Jewish Festivals celebrated annually by the Jews, 3 were celebrated during this month. Next Slides (what follows are 4 slides, please introduce the next slide as I move from feast to feast, thanks)

3 Important Festivals. The Feast of the Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, & The Feasts of the Booths.

The Feast of the Trumpets took place on the first day of this month and marked the Jewish New Year on their calendar, but the significance goes way beyond marking that first day. This feast was a memorial feast that was established to remind them of the day they met Moses at the foot of Mount Sinai and the initial giving of the Ten Commandments. When the Nation of Israel heard the blowing of the trumpets, they gathered at the foot of the mountain, which was completely covered in smoke and fire, the smoke and fire manifested the very presence of God among them and as a result they all trembled in His presence. It was at that time that a covenant was established that could only be maintained if they remained obedient to God. An area they had failed miserably, which led to their captivity.

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The next Festival was the Day of Atonement. This was a day of huge importance to the Jew. It was a day of sacrifice where they prepared their hearts for the New Year, but it could only celebrated in the Temple, when a High Priest would make sacrifices for the sins of the people. This was not something these returning exiles could celebrate at this time.

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The Feast of the Booths. This important feast celebrated the fact that God dwelt among them. It is also called the Feast of Tabernacles and was a picture that God dwelt among them in a tent, a tabernacle. It was first celebrated when they were in the wilderness with Moses heading from Egypt to the Promised Land. Later, after living in the Promised Land, during this one week celebration, they would leave the comfort of their homes and dwell in tents. This feast took place at the close of the harvest and was a time of remembering how God provided for them during the 40 years wandering in the wilderness, as well as giving God the credit for the harvest that was drawing to a close.

“It could be tempting for the Israelites to sit in their houses after a great harvest and say, “Look at what we did and how we have profited.” Living in booths for a week reminded them that their success in Canaan was wholly on account of the Lord’s grace. He had brought them to the good land and could just as easily take them out of it. (Which He had in fact done with their Babylonian captivity.) A tangible reminder of His provision in the wilderness during Sukkot showed the Israelites they must always trust Him alone for their supply.” (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/feast-booths)

Each of these feasts looked forward to the coming Messiah and were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. While Jews still celebrate these Festivals, they do so because they do not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

Now let’s look at their worship. The first thing we see is that there was: Next Slides

Unity In Worship.

In verse 1 of chapter 3 we read: “and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem.”

Upon their return to Judah, they had established homes in the surrounding towns and villages, most likely wherever their families had come from before they were taken into captivity. Evidently there was a point in time, perhaps as they made the 900 mile journey from Babylon back to Judah, where they determined to return specifically to Jerusalem and the Temple mount at the start of the very important 7th month. I would imagine that they had discussed the sin of their forefathers leading up to their captivity and determined that they would meet and worship with unity of mind and purpose. We go on to read in verse 2: Next Slide

Ezra 3:2 ESV

2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

Keep in mind they haven’t even started the construction of the Temple yet, but they understood what their forefathers had forgotten, that: Next Slide

True worship does not need a Temple, it can take place anywhere and starts in the heart.

They found uncut stones from the area, and built an altar where they could, once again, offer sacrifices to the Lord that had led them out of captivity and back to their homeland.

As we read verse 3, I want you to notice part of the purpose for building this altar: Next Slide

Ezra 3:3 ESV

3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.

Did you pick up the purpose? “for fear was on them because of the peoples of the land”. The next thing we see is that “they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening”.

Now I want you to think this through for a moment. Here they are afraid of the people that moved into the land during their captivity and what do they do? They go to the highest point in the entire area, and begin to offer burnt sacrifices in both the morning and the evening.

Now if you are living in fear, wouldn’t it be smart to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Yet here they are at the highest point in the area offering burnt offering in the morning and evening of each day. Talk about sticking out like a sore thumb! But here is the important lesson they had learned as a result of their discussion of the failings of their forefathers; Next Slides

Their only hope for victory came from hearts devoted to worship of God.

Please don’t miss this lesson. So many of us have huge struggles with fear and anxiety, and our tendency is to look for solutions through counseling, through medications, through alcohol, through our friendships, even through our church....now don’t get me wrong here, not all of these are bad things and can provide some help against fear and anxiety, but: Next Slides

Ultimately, Victory over Fear and Anxiety Come from Hearts Completely Dependent Upon God.

This group of people understood that ultimately their victory in the land would not come from remaining inconspicuous, from hiding and quietly worshipping, but from as one person worshipping the God of the Universe.

He would be their protector!

He would be their strength!

He would be their sustenance!

He was Jehovah Jireh, the LORD their Provider!

He was Jehovah Shalom, the LORD their Peace!

He was Jehovah Sabaoth, the LORD a host of fighting Angels!

We have looked at Unity in Worship, now let’s go to verse 5: Next Slide

Ezra 3:5 ESV

5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord.

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Worship in Giving.

We see in verse 5 that they all made “a freewill offering to the Lord.” No one pushed them into giving, this too came from a heart of love and complete devotion to the God Who had done so much for them. The God Who would ultimately be their Victory.

Our giving should be just like theirs, coming from a heart of love and complete devotion to God, and done so with a heart of joy that we would be permitted to be used of God in this way.

Now that they have built an altar and reinstated the sacrifices to God, now that they have given with joyful hearts, they move into the next important task: Next Slides

Setting the Foundation for the Temple

Read verses 8-11

8 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. 9 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.

10 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. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, or 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.

Here they are, they have now been in the land for about 14 months, they have reinstated the part of the sacrificial systems they could do without the Temple and they are ready to lay the foundation stones for the Temple.

In verse 8 we read: Next Slide

Ezra 3:8 ESV

8 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.

This is the exact month Solomon had started building the 1st Temple to the Lord. I don’t believe this was done by accident, they purposely waited for this time.

This brings us to verse 12 & 13: Next Slides

Ezra 3:12–13 ESV

12 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, 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 with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

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The Dangers of Being Stuck in the Past.

This was an incredibly exciting time for the vast majority of the returning exiles, most of whom had been born in Babylon while in captivity. Here they were in their homeland, worshipping God like never before in their lives. They saw the foundation, saw the altar, sang responsively to God as they were building, overflowing with excitement. Almost unnoticed by them, there was weeping. Hard to imagine weeping at a time like this, but there were those among them, older men, older priests and Levites who had seen Solomon’s Temple in all her glory. And now, here they were looking at the foundation stones that had been laid, and their hearts ached for the glory days of the past.

Church family, as we move in to this next era for Grace Christian Fellowship, many may have to fight the same urge. Many here remember not long ago when our services were packed, I’m not talking about special services, I am talking Sunday after Sunday. The tendency could be to look at what is taking place now and think in our minds, or even say out loud, “This ain’t anything! You should have seen...” If this starts to happen inside you, stop it in its track.

When this was happening to the returning exiles, when those who remembered the glory days of the past and wept for them, God sent not 1 but 2 prophets to correct their error.

The first is in Zechariah 4:8-10 where we read: Next Slides

Zechariah 4:8-10

Zechariah 4:8–10 ESV

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”

And in Haggai 2:3-9 we read:

Haggai 2:3-9

“3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 ....My Spirit remains in your midst....7 and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.... 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’”

Simply put, God’s message to those who were stuck in the glory of the past, those who were thinking “This ain’t anything” was “You ain’t seen nothin yet!”

Now, I don’t know what the future holds for us now, we may never see the numbers of the past, but one of the important lessons I have learned in my own personal study time going through the Book of Ezra is, God has a completely different view of what success is than what we have. Had we seen the last days of Solomon’s Temple, the worship that appeared to be taking place, all of the trapping, the gold, the priests, ornate designs, the daily sacrifices....all the stuff....we would have likely stood in awe at the sight. But God looked at it and His heart ached, because He wasn’t a part of it. It was all ritual and no heart. That wasn’t the case for what these returning exiles were doing. They had none of the traditional trappings of worship, yet God said of them; “Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts”. They were pouring their whole hearts into what they were doing, not to check off their worship box, but to bring honor to the Lord of Hosts.

Now please understand me here, I am in no way saying that the Spirit of God wasn’t in what was accomplished in the past at Grace. There is little doubt in my mind that He was moving in a powerful way here. What I am saying is this, we all need to follow the lead of these returning exiles and pour our whole hearts into serving and living for the Lord, our lives, each and every day need to be lived in worship to the Lord. Then the success we accomplish as a body of believers at Grace, will be a great success in the Lord’s eyes, and that is the only success that really matters.

As we close out our time this morning, we will be singing the song “Is He Worthy?” which was written by Andrew Peterson. The 2nd verse of the song really fits well with what the returning exiles were experiencing as the built their raw makeshift altar and as they laid the foundation stones of the temple. it says; Next Slides

“Does the Father truly love us? Does the Spirit move among us? Does our God intend to dwell again with us? ”

I would imagine that these people had to have times where they wondered if God the Father did truly love them, if His Spirit would once again move among them, and if He did intend to dwell with them again. Then God sent the Prophets Haggai and Zechariah to let them know that God was indeed with them each step of the way, and He was pleased with what they were doing.

So, what is the application for us this morning?

Our worship needs to flow from our hearts, not to check off our weekly “To Do List”. Only worship from the heart is pleasing to God.

Worship doesn’t end when the music ends. It also includes giving with a joyful heart and moves into our time in God’s Word.

The foundation of our worship is not a place or a building, our heart felt worship can take place anywhere, even in the midst of danger and trouble.

We must be careful not to be so stuck in the successes of the past, that we miss the move of God in the presence.

Let’s close our time this morning in prayer.

Benediction:

Revelation 5:1–9 NASB95

1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” 6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.