MEDITATIONS FROM EZRA

 

November 21 , 2007

Reading:  Ezra 4:23-5:2

 

"The work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased” Ezra 4:24

 

These words are a sad commentary on the rebuilding of the Temple, the House of God, after a miraculous and triumphal return from the Israelite’s land of captivity. As prophesied, seventy years after being taken captive by the mighty nation of Babylon, the Hebrew people were once again in their land of promise. Their first priority was to rebuild the House of God for, after all, this was the specific order of Cyrus, King of Babylon when he released them. It was also the center of their culture and worship. As it was it took them over a year to begin the work because they were too busy building altars and luxurious homes for themselves.

 

“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.’ Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”

 

However, as soon as they ran into opposition, they ceased working on the House of God, and, it appears, went back to building or remodeling their own homes. It was then that God raised up two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah for the sole purpose of getting the men back to the construction of the Temple. Not only did they speak the words of the Lord to the people, they rolled up their sleeves and joined in the work.

What a lesson for those engaged in the construction of God’s Temple today. The Temple of God today is not made with cedars from Lebanon but of the souls of men and women redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.

 

“Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” Ephesians 2:20-22.

 

How easy it is for us to be dissuaded from the work to which we have been called, for each and every Believer is called to participate in the building of the Body of Christ, His church. He is the Foundation – 1 Corinthians 3:11 - and the Chief Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20. Some are called to prepare mortar, some to lay the bricks and others to oversee the work. To whatever work we are called, we are expected to remain faithful no matter the opposition. Jesus Christ is the Architect and primary Contractor and He has given us the honor of working with Him. To change the analogy:

 

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor” 1 Corinthians 3:5-8.

 

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.

 

Be faithful in that ministry, no matter what it is, to which you have been called.