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TEXT: Ezra 3:8-13
SUBJECT: Rebuilding the Temple
This is one of the Bible's most moving narratives. The LORD's people have returned from exile, and begun work on their Temple. This was a large undertaking, of course, and would require many years to complete. But in the second year of that work--in the second month--the foundation of God's House was laid. And over that sacred footing, the people rejoiced as they had never done before. A shout went up--and what a shout it was! The young men were cheering at the top of their lungs; the old men were weeping for joy. The musicians were blowing their trumpets and clashing their cymbals. The choir was singing with new-found enthusiasm. Why, nothing like this had happened in Israel for centuries. And the generation to see it would not be cheated! They would "rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of glory".
But what made them so happy that day?
It wasn't an electrifying speech. A few speakers have incredible power over their hearers. They can calm them with a word or enrage them with a gesture; they can bathe them in tears or split their sides with laughter. George Whitefield, it was said, could bring an assembly to tears by just saying, "oh". And Hitler's hypnotic harangues are well chronicled. An overpowering charisma might have produced the shout that day. But it didn't. All the priest did was chant a Psalm,
"For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever toward Israel".
True and beautiful enough--but not very exciting. Thus it wasn't a rousing sermon that excited the men to praise.
It also was not a matter of personal gain. When the people came home, they found their capital in shambles. Immense work was required to merely survive. Houses had to be built, fields planted, roads cleared, a wall put up. But the Temple's foundation filled no one's belly, put a roof over nobody's head, made no commerce possible, and kept out no enemy. Yet the people "shouted with a loud shout". No self-interest produced this joy.
Nor did patriotism evoke that shout. It is true that the Temple was a symbol of Jewish nationalism. But the "nation" it symbolized did not exist. Israel was at home, all right; but still a race of slaves. It had no king, no parliament, no military. It was ruled from abroad and was a part of the Medo-Persian Empire. If, then, it was patriotism that excited the people that day, it was grossly premature. Centuries would pass before Israel would achieve independence, and only then for a few years, till it was swallowed up by the Roman Empire.
The joy those people felt that day was of a religious sort. When the Temple's foundation was laid, the long pent-up gratitude to God burst forth in a torrent of praise.
The rebuilding of the Temple had a deep significance for those people. It meant:
1.The curse was removed. Seventy years before, Israel had gone into Babylonian captivity. But this was not the normal conquest of one nation by another. It was a judgment of God upon a disobedient people. Long before, the LORD had threatened to scatter His people if they forsook Him for idols. They did and the judgment fell at last. Thus, in granting their return, God was removing His curse and abating His anger. Thus the "people shouted with a loud shout".
2.It also meant that their sins would be covered at last. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission". But the sacrificial system was made impossible in the exile. For the LORD's people could only offer their gifts on the altars of Jerusalem. But they were far from the ruined capital and the altars were ground to powder. Thus, "no shedding of blood" and hence, "no remission of sins". This must have weighed heavily on the Hebrew conscience. It's no wonder then, that they "sat down by the rivers of Babylon, wept, and hung their harps on the willows thereof". They were guilt-ridden and filled with shame; thus had "no song to sing". But in rebuilding the Temple, the sacrifices would be revived; the Day of Atonement return; and the load of sin be lifted at last!
3.It meant that God would dwell with them once again. God is omnipresent and is, therefore, "everywhere at all times". But, in a special way, He dwelt in the Temple--and there alone. In all the earth, it was only there that He "set His Name" and "dwelt between the Cherubim". Thus, when the Temple was swept away, God went with it. And for seventy years, He was nowhere to be found. But now, with the laying of that sacred footing, the people fervently prayed, "Arise, O LORD, into Your rest; into the ark of Your strength".
4.It also bode well for the future. God's cause was linked to that Holy Place. As it lay in rubble, the kingdom languished with it. But now, as the Temple was being rebuilt, the people looked forward to a new advance of God's Kingdom. And they were right. "The glory of this second house would be greater than the first". It would become "the desire of all nations", for it was there that "The Lord, whom you seek would suddenly come...even the Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight".
In light of these things: the curse removed, atonement made, God returned, and the future bright, it is no wonder that "the people shouted with a great shout...and the noise was heard afar off".
But what does this mean to us? It is right--I suppose--to feel for these ancient people and enter into their joy. But is that all? Does it say nothing more to us? I think it does. For we too, live in a day of "joy unspeakable and full of glory". A day, like theirs--only better.
For the Temple was never meant to be an end in itself. It pointed to something better by far: Christ. And if thee Jews so rejoiced in their "shadow"--we should all the more glory in our "substance". For whatever the Temple meant to them (partially and for a while), Christ means to us--fully and forever!
1.Did the Temple signify the removal of God's curse? Then so does Christ. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'". But He did more than the Temple ever could. It could only lift the curse in this world--and only for a time. It cleansed only the "flesh" and had no effect beyond the grave. But Christ did more. He "purges the conscience" and grants everlasting life.
2.Did the Temple atone for sins? Then so does Christ. Atonement consists of two parts: covering human sin and appeasing Divine wrath. The Temple did both, but again, only outwardly and for a time. But Christ "once, at the end of the world appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself". With sin "put away", God's anger is too.
3.Did the Temple signify the Divine Presence? Then how much more does Christ? "He took upon Himself the seed of Abraham"--thus joined us in our humanity. And by dying for us and making intercession on our behalf, He secures our communion with God. Even now, believers are "seated in the heavenly places" and have known "Christ in them, the hope of glory".
4.Did the Temple bode well for the future? Then so does Christ. The work of Christ secures salvation for the believer. This includes: a happy death, an entrance to heaven, a glorious resurrection, a full conformity to Christ, and eternal and full communion with God. But His work does more than save the believer; it redeems the universe! It "removes everything that offends" and leaves us with "all things new". What a place that will be, one that needs no "sun or moon, for the glory of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof".
Thus, we ought to be far happier that those ancient Jews. They rejoiced in a promise; we, in its fulfilment.
1.We ought always to rejoice in our Savior. For whatever our problems are, we are still saved: the curse is removed; our sins are atoned for; Christ is in us; we will go to heaven. How can we, then, do anything less? "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice".
2.We ought to express our joy. The Jews did it "with a loud shout". Dare we do less? But how do we manifest our "joy in the Lord"? Many ways: by singing with exuberance; by giving thanks with feeling; by loving the brethren with a fervent love; by becoming a "cheerful giver".
3.We ought to be content with what we have. No murmuring was heard on that day. The people lacked much; but so what? The foundation of God's House was laid! They were content with that and that alone! Thus, what we lack in this life is trifling compared to what we have. We have the forgiveness of sin; a clear conscience; the Spirit of adoption; the promises of God; the hope of heaven. But more--we have Christ. Having Him, what more can we need? How dare we complain! For "He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you".
4.We ought to share our joy with others. The Jews did--although, it would seem, unintentionally. "The noise was hear afar off". The Gentiles knew that God had done great things for His people. Our unsaved friends ought to think the same of us. They ought to see the delight we take in serving our God and the hope that He so amply provides.
I pray that God will work this joy in us. We cannot function effectively without it. "The joy of the LORD is your strength...A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a broken spirit, who can bear?" Sinners are repelled unless we have it. God is dishonored by a morose, unhappy people.
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