Ezra 1, 2:1-3, 3:8-13, 6:13-22

Memory Verse: Ezra 3:11 - “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, ‘For He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever towards Israel’ And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” 

Song: Shout to the Lord by Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane

Here is a little history lesson for you: a Persian King named King Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian army and gave back to those whom the Babylonians enslaved after taking over what the Babylonians had pillaged. This is important as it is not just pure luck that the one that took over from the Babylonians was gracious- God intended this. You see, the Israelites were one of the people groups enslaved by the Babylonians. They were taken from their homes, and everything they held dear was taken from them. Isaiah 44:28 says, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”. This piece of scripture was written years before Cyrus was even born. God, in His divine sovereignty, promised His people exactly what would happen. Cyrus sent the people back to Jerusalem, where they could begin to rebuild what was once theirs. The temple building was good news because they were rebuilding where the Lord could dwell with His people again; it was a sign of hope and return.

Imagine the only way you could commune with God was by visiting a specific town building. It’s beautifully built and resembles the beauty of God as it is the way for you to worship. Now imagine you watch it burn to the ground and then are sent far away from the place where you could commune with God. You have no hope of talking to God, no way of giving Him the worship He deserves. You are left alone. This is what the Israelites felt when they watched their temple be burned to the ground and were exiled by the Babylonians. For decades, they experienced a feeling of hopelessness as they had no access to their Creator. That is until we enter the book of Ezra. 

“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 towards 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” (Ezra 3:10-11). 

The Israelites were joyful because they could dwell with God again in the temple. There was a sense of restoration with God and the ability to dwell with Him. They saw the fruits of God’s promises to restore as he laid down the foundation. 

This foundation would generations later turn into a cornerstone- the cornerstone, where we as believers would be “built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5).  We, as believers, have become the temple with Jesus as our cornerstone. We have a sense of restoration in our hearts that is made new when we follow Christ. We have joy now as we carry the dwelling spirit of God with us everywhere. We are not bound to a temple, but we have God dwelling in us always. 

If the people of Israel were stoked to be able to dwell with God in a building, why do we struggle to have a joyful heart knowing that we have the Spirit dwelling in us daily? Why do we act as though we are separated from God when we cannot be closer to Him? 

Returning to Israel to rebuild the temple was the people’s way to restore their relationship with God. It took them four years to do it. Jesus was torn down and rebuilt the temple in three days (John 2:19) to restore our relationship with God. We needed Him to do this because we need the ultimate builder. May we live in joy knowing that we are filled with His presence and are not subjected to a building to experience the love and grace of our Father all because of Jesus.