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Summary

Ezra 3:1–6 – Altar first, then daily worship

What happens: In the seventh month the people gather in Jerusalem. Jeshua and Zerubbabel build the altar on its old site and begin burnt offerings morning and evening. They keep the Feast of Booths and offer as written, even though the temple foundation is not yet laid.

What it means: Worship comes first because God is first. Obedience to Scripture guides how they draw near. Fear around them does not stop them; faith moves them to seek God’s presence. God meets people who honor Him before the work looks complete.

Ezra 3:7–9 – Preparing for the build

What happens: They pay masons and carpenters and bring cedar from Lebanon with permission from Cyrus. Jeshua and Zerubbabel appoint Levites, twenty and older, to oversee the work of the house of the Lord.

What it means: God’s work uses skilled labor, wise contracts, and strong oversight. Leadership and organization are acts of faith, not unbelief. God provides partnerships and open doors to advance His worship.

Ezra 3:10–13 – Foundation laid, mixed response

What happens: When the builders lay the foundation, priests blow trumpets and Levites sing praise, thanking God for His steadfast love. Many older priests and Levites weep as they remember the former temple, while others shout for joy, and the sound mixes so it cannot be distinguished.

What it means: God’s faithfulness stirs both tears and joy. Memory of loss and hope of renewal belong together. True worship faces reality and still praises God. The theme is God’s steadfast love, not the size of the structure.

Application

  • Put worship first in plans and budgets.
  • Organize work with accountability and skill as an act of faith.
  • Honor both grief and joy while praising God’s steadfast love.

Bible

1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

4They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

5And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

6From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

7They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward 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.

12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

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