May 18th, 2025: Worship is Restored | Ezra 3:1-6, 10-13

The book of Ezra picks up where the book of  2 Chronicles leaves off. The Jewish nation had been in Babylonian captivity for 70 years.  A lot of things can happen in 70 years! For comparison, 70 years ago for us was 1955! A visitor from 1955 might find it very difficult to navigate the challenges of 2025. For the people of Judah, a new generation has lived through and has been indoctrinated in the idolatrous ways of Babylon. A second and third generation of Jews has been born that know the God of Israel from stories, but have been separated from their land and culture for their entire lives. 

This lesson is about restoring worship for a new generation. How did you revive what has been lost; how does the next generation start over with God?

And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

Cyrus, the King of Persia, decreed that, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (Ezra 1:2).

Just as prophesied by Isaiah 150 years prior, Cyrus will allow, though not force, those willing to travel home to Jerusalem to rebuild. Not everyone returns. In fact, in total, around 60,000 will make the 800-mile trip out of the several million Jews living in Babylon at the time.  

It is important to note that scripture doesn’t say exactly how long they were back in Jerusalem before they assembled to focus on temple construction in the seventh month. We know from the prophet Haggai that they had built a few homes before they became concerned with building the temple. Just how long it took to begin constructing the temple foundation is uncertain. Those returning worked together as they started by reading the word of God (back to the basics). They had been exposed to much cultural change and false religious beliefs in the 70-year diaspora; however, God’s word never changes. They agreed to follow the instructions given by God. A great lesson for our generation as well. 

Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

They built an altar. The majority returning from Babylon were from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Jeshua was a grandson of Seraiah the high priest, who was killed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25). Jeshua becomes the first high priest after returning from captivity. They are going back to the point where their relationship was broken and starting from there to move forward. If you find yourself a long way away from where you know you should be in your walk with the Lord, go back to where things fell apart. Acknowledge your sin, repent, and start fresh. Sometimes the way forward is to deal with what’s behind you.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:9).

 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

They build the altar first. They start with what matters most.

The starting place is sacrifice- which, as New Testament believers, we understand that those sacrifices represent not what we do for God, but what God, through his Son Jesus, has done for us. The ultimate sacrifice and the only place to start over again is at the foot of the cross.  This offering on the altar is the foundation for everything else. King Cyrus, had even gone so far as to return the items from the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had removed. He sent them back through a Persian man, Sheshbazzar, who most biblical scholars agree is better known as the prince of Judah, Zerubbabel. 

 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred.All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:7-11).

They were using the vessels and instruments dedicated by their fathers in or near the place of Solomon’s temple. They were walking in the old paths. Notice that there is an element of fear because of opposition from the people of those countries. While they had been gone, other nations had come in to take advantage of this area. After all, it is unusual for a nation to be gone for over half a century and then just come back in and presume to pick up where they left off. For the nation of Judah, this was their land - God had given it to them. Their altar could not be built just anywhere - its location was based on historic encounters with God. Jerusalem was their inheritance from Him. They purposefully placed it on the new construction on the old foundation, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  At the place where God stopped the destruction of the people because of David’s sin.  

 So, to recap, the model for rebuilding a godly generation is as follows: start with reading and believing God’s word, repent and acknowledge your sin, and then find the path of righteousness and do those things you know to be right because they have stood the test of time, even if those around you cause you to fear and tremble.  Have confidence in God.  

The kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.

Despite any fear and opposition, the remnant of believers performed the offerings and sacrifices that God had given Moses. They recognized the feasts and retaught the history that accompanied them. They pursued the blessing and protection of God while celebrating His faithfulness. Similarly, we face opposition today, especially when you live the Word of God, instead of just carrying it. We often find ourselves in a similar situation as those who remained in Babylon. Worldly wisdom and comfort can be enticed. It is time that we go back to the Word, reject the compromises we’ve accepted that violate His will, and find the old paths again. We need to start where we know the foundations lay; at the cross and the empty tomb, where Jesus proved eternally that He is Lord and Savior of all.

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever 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.

At this point, they had only laid the foundation, but there was great joy in this accomplishment.  They praised! They sang! They give thanks!  Why?  Because God is good and His mercy endureth for ever.  

But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

The old men, who lived through the captivity, have a tender and solemn point of view. The new generation is enthusiastic about their accomplishment, but they have no clue how much has been lost because of disobedience. The older men remember and grieve. The older generation, those who had seen the first temple, most likely when it was destroyed, look at this foundation and realize that the new temple will never match the grandness of Solomon’s. The joy comes from those younger, who have only heard of the first temple. They have been obedient to God, and this is praiseworthy.  Sin has a cost, make no mistake.  When we walk away from God, we forfeit many blessings, but don’t lose hope. God tells the older men: 

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9).

In summary, where are you living? Take a good, hard look. Are you living like Babylonian captives in a comfortable lifestyle that has almost nothing to do with who you are called by God to be?  Or, are you stepping out in faith and obedience, growing in His word, living a life of repentance and praise, and doing, not just saying, what you know to be right? The generations following us don’t know what we know about the goodness of God; they know only what they have seen in us. The ungodly world calls to them powerfully, it is hard for them to trust that God is wiser, kinder, and far far better than anything the world has to offer. 

It is time to stop where we are and get back to the basics. God is faithful. God is Good. His mercy endures forever. The elders may have wept, recognizing there was no ark of the covenant. There was no Shekinah glory. There were no signs of the abundant blessing God had poured out to Solomon, but the next generation could still rejoice, knowing that God wasn’t finished. The future temple’s glory will be greater and give lasting protection and peace, for Christ is greater than the temple.

The message is about the path to restoring worship. There will always be opposition. Obey the word.  We lose our way through compromise and laziness.  Go back to where you broke fellowship and repent, then get back to the basics with God.  It is not complicated, but it is not popular.  Not everybody went back to the promised land after captivity, and not everyone who says “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven.” God’s word is forever true. Blessings come from God. The people who had come back to rebuild the city and the temple were in unity. They had traveled far.  They were not seeking wealth and fame. They were seeking God.  God can use any of us to restore worship and witness to the generation coming after us. Wealth, prestige, and status are not required, just a heart trusting in God and submitted to His will.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!