Former Glory, Coming Glory

“They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” 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. Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy…” Ezra 3:11-12 (NASB)


After two years of difficult work, the returned nation of Israel had been able to lay the foundation stone of the Temple of God, destroyed more than 70 years earlier by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It was a moment of joy and unequalled importance for the nation. The Temple was the center point of Jewish life. The day had been prepared for not only in construction matters but in worship matters. The choirs, orchestras, and crowds gathered in unprecedented array for this monumental event in history. Absolutely nobody there would ever forget the second month of the second year, when the foundation stone was laid. Years later, they would remember every detail.


The young rejoiced. The old men cried. They were tears of joy, no doubt, but also tears of sadness for the loss of the former Temple. The tears said, "We remember how it was." To this day, those tears are shed by the Jewish people on the ninth day of the Hebrew month Av--the day that both the first and second Temples were destroyed.


On the 9th of Av the Jews mourn, but someday the Jewish nation will once again rejoice with the construction of the third Temple. We know this Temple will be rebuilt because it plays a prominent role in the prophecies about end-times. We also know that this Temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist (in an event called the Abomination of Desolation).


The Temple was formerly a place of glory, and is a coming place of glory. The ultimate glory will come when the Son of Man comes and establishes His throne in Jerusalem. For that glory I pray!


Our Father, as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we know that its ultimate peace is found in the coming Messiah. The coming rebuilding of the Temple is exciting, but our real prayer is "Thy Kingdom come!" In Jesus' Name! Amen

Properly Placed Fear

So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. Ezra 3:3 (NASB).

When the Hebrew nation returned from exile in Babylon to rebuild the Temple, they faced local residents who had taken "squatters rights" over the 70 year period of absence.  As you can imagine, these local residents were not happy with the return of the rightful owners.  Regardless of length of absence, the ownership of the land had never been legally removed.  Having no legal basis, the only recourse for the locals was terrorism, not unlike today's situation in Israel.  The Hebrews feared the locals, who would continually be a problem in the building process (see Ezra 4:4, as well as the account of a later return in the book of Nehemiah).


In addition to their legal rights (they not only held title to the land but also had the decree of Cyrus the Great), the Hebrews had two things that helped them overcome their fear.

First, they had an internal unity among themselves.   Ezra 3:1 says "the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem."  In  Matthew 12:25 Jesus says that "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."  This is an easy concept on the surface, but in the midst of conflict it is hard to recognize that "I" might be part of the problem!  Was it Pogo who said, "We have found the enemy, and it is I!"  Groups in conflict can overcome the external enemy only when they gather together as "one man."

Second, they had an overarching desire to please God over man.  In the verses following (vv. 4-6) we are given a clear picture that the people were unified under the banner of the Lord.  Under the Lord their individual differences began to disappear and their focus became obedience to the law and the celebration of the feasts and observances of the festivals and offerings as given in the law.  In other words, they had a properly placed fear, not in the local residents but in the Lord Himself.

Were they afraid of the local residents?  Yes, they were.  But this fear was overcome by internal unity and God-directed devotion.  May it be so with us!

"Our Father, help me to see what divides me from others, place in me a desire to honor You, and give me the courage to act when I am afraid.  In Jesus' Name!  Amen."

Helping the Jewish Remnant

 ‘Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’ ”   (Ezra 1:4 NASB)

After Cyrus the Great recognized that God had placed him on the throne of Persia to help the Jewish people return to their homeland and restore the Temple [see the previous post], he gave two instructions:  First, the instruction to the remnant was to return to rebuild the Temple, but only if “God’s Spirit had stirred” within them (v. 5).  Second, the gentile neighbors of those who return were to help pay the bills!  This is the heart of verse 4, “let the men of that place support him.”

In today’s world, God is calling the Jewish people home a second time (Isaiah 11:11).  By the tens of thousands the Jewish population is returning to Israel to live out their lives in the Promised Land.  So, should the Christian population join as the neighbors of these Jews and help pay the bills for their return?  I believe so!

I believe so for several reasons—

• When God worked through the gentile Cyrus, this was the plan of finance that He used.
• the God worked through the gentile Artexerxes and sent Nehemiah back to rebuilt the walls, this is the plan He used.
• God's word compares the second return to the first, thus allowing us to make the connection of the plan of God for the first to the second.
• The Apostle Paul returned to jerusalem to "bring alms to my nation" (Acts 24:17).
• In Luke 7:1-5 Jesus healed a gentile's servant.  Those around Jesus used the argument that “he [the gentile] is worthy for you to grant this to him, for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”  Jesus honored this by healing the servant.
• Corenelius, a gentile, was chosen to receive a special visitation from God.  The reason given is because his almsgiving to the Jewish people had risen as a memorial before God (Acts 10:1-4).

When Cyrus heard the heart of God that the Jewish people were to return, he not only took action himself, but he said, “let the men of that place support” those who return.  The “men of that place” were gentiles.  Now, in these days, God has called His people home a second time.  Those of us who are “the men of that place” should, a second time, financially support that return.

If you are interested in avenues of support, contact me!

God's Mysterious Choice

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  (Ezra 1:2 NASB)

The King of Persia (Iran) was used of God to release His people from captivity and rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem.  If God can use an enemy King, He can use anyone!

It is fabulous how clearly Cyrus recognized the appointment he had from God.  I am afraid that few of us realize the fantastic and precise plan that God has developed for us.  We wander aimlessly, getting a glimpse of purpose from time to time, but rarely confident in our appointment from God.

Often our appointments from God can be seen in what God has given us, as was the case for Cyrus.  Because he had been given “all the kingdoms of the earth” (do a little research on Cyrus the Great and you will find the truth of this statement), Cyrus had a sacred obligation to build a temple for the God from whom he received his power.

What has God placed into your hands?  In those possessions lie your appointments.  Look over what God has given you and prayerfully ask how to fulfill the appointment that comes with the possession.

Lord, I have not gained resources apart from Your will.  Since you have willed these resources into my hands, I have an obligation to fulfill the purpose for which you gave them.  Today reveal the appointment of my possessions, and I will obey.