It was dangerous times but the proceeded anyway with great courage. The Israelites had returned to their land after 70 years of exile in Babylon (modern day Iraq). Before the temple as finished and the walls of protection were up, they bravely worshiped the Lord. The danger was that most assuredly the enemies of the land would not receive well a people coming back to reclaim what was theirs.
But they worshiped the Lord and once again resumed the sacrifices, offerings and festivals. The people gave generously and so the rebuilding of the temple began.
When the foundation of the temple had been laid, they called a great celebration of all the people. The priests and Levites sounded trumpets and cymbals in praise and worship to the Lord. They sang songs and celebrated mightily before the Lord. “Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the LORD’s house had been laid” (Ezra 3:11).
It was a new day. A new start. And a new season to unfold.
For the elderly they wept loudly because they remembered the glories of the former temple. It was painful to realize how much they had lost and the meager beginnings. For the younger generation who hadn’t seen the previous temple, they shouted loudly in joy. For them it was the start of a new beginning. Weeping and wailing in sorrow and shouting and singing in joy.
“The people could not distinguish the sound of joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away” (Ezra 3:13).
It was a bittersweet moment.
What’s remarkable about this was the statement it was making to the world. They were there to worship the Lord and they were now home. They knew the enemies of the land would be furious but they were not going to cower in fear. Yes, they were afraid (3:3), but that fear wasn’t going to define them. Nor was it going to compromise, diminish or dilute their faith.
They had learned their lesson.
