May 23
Ezra 2:43–Ezra
6:3
THE
ANCIENT MEN WEPT
Ezra 3:12-13
"Many of the . .
.ancient men. . .wept with a loud voice."
This a very
exciting, fast moving narrative in today reading.
KING CYRUS of the Medea
and Persia kingdoms encouraged and promoted those
Jewish captives, who wanted to return to Jerusalem to
re-build the Temple. If you recall, the Jewish people
were in CAPTIVITY in Babylon for seventy years.
For some "seventy years" is a very long time; but
for others seventy years is just a wink of the
eye. It depends how old one is to view seventy years
as a long time or a short time.
In our reading
today, we catch up with the children of Israel back in
their land. Now, you must
remember that all of them did not leave Babylon to
return "home" to re-build the temple. In some
ways, the ones who did were like missionaries returning
to their home-towns to re-establish a long, lost
"faith." As we further read into the book of EZRA
and NEHEMIAH, we will be persuaded that many people who
lived in the land, during that seventy-year captivity
period, were without the true God.
After being in THE
LAND seven months, the Jews traveled to JERUSALEM to
celebrate THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLE.
This was one of the seven feasts that
the Israelites practiced every year. I think it was on
October 15th. (Their first month was April.)
The celebration lasted for seven days every year
(Leviticus 23:34c). They offered one hundred,
ninety-nine offerings during that week. What an exciting
time!
The two main
priests, JESHUA and ZERUBBABEL, encouraged such a
gathering. What a glorious
day! Over and over we read in the history of God’s
chosen people building altars. The purpose of the
altars was for animal blood sacrifices. Animals
would be slain, flayed, and burned on the BRAZEN ALTAR,
which was rebuilt for the occasion. Blood shedding may
sound gory to you and me–and it probably is. The
purpose of all the sacrifices was looking forward to the
shedding of Jesus’ blood at the cross of Calvary many
centuries in the future. The blood of bulls and
goats only "covered" the sins of the people.
Jesus blood sacrifice removed the sin. Only those who
"receive HIM" are "saved" (John 1:12.)
That day there was
much singing and praising. The
foundation of the new House of God was laid. The people
rejoiced. The priests stood in their priestly garments
ministering to the people. A strange thing happened that
day. While the young people rejoiced, the older folk
wept.
The Bible tells us
that the "ancient men" who had seen SOLOMON’S
TEMPLE previously wept in a loud voice.
Those old men had witnessed the
grandeur of the first Temple. They remembered its
beauty, its pillars, and gold. By looking at the new
foundation that day, the "ancient" knew
intuitively that the Temple would be only a shadow
of its original splendor. Their hearts were broken!
Memories of what used to be hurt! This is the way with
older people. They have cherished memories of many
things and events–people, relatives, special days, and
buildings. They remember. It is good to remember, but
sometimes we must move on and forget because
remembering hurts too much.
The younger people
who gathered that week in Jerusalem were rejoicing.
They only knew the present
foundation of the House of God. If they saw their elders
weeping, they were mystified, "Why were these old men
crying?" Yet, their joy was great. They shouted
praise with thanksgiving so
"THE
NAME OF THE LORD"
(Proverbs 18:10)
The name of the
Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth
into it and is safe.
SAY HIS NAME
OVER AND OVR AGAIN TO SOOTHE YOUR HEART.
"Precious name,
Oh how sweet,
Hope of earth
And JOY of
Heaven."
NO OTHER NAME
Run to His dear
name!
Hide in te
Precious Holy Name!
His name says
all He is.
How often, I
have hidden in the tender, beautiful name of the Lord
Jesus Christ!
