Ezra Ch3v1-13 - God's Pattern For His People

If you could turn up your Bibles to Ezra chapter 3, that's on page 474 of the church Bible.

Ezra 3 · chapter mention

!

Reading from verse 1.

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem.

Then Joshua, son of Josedach, and his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and his associates,

began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it in accordance with what is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord,

both the morning and evening sacrifices.

Then, in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the festival of tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.

After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the new moon sacrifices,

and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord.

On the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord,

though the foundation of the Lord's temple had not yet been laid.

Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre,

so they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa as authorized by Cyrus, king of Persia.

In the second month of the second year, after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem,

Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, Joshua, son of Josedach, and the rest of the people,

the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work.

They appointed Levites, 20 years old and older, to supervise the building of the house of the Lord.

Joshua and his sons and brothers and Cadmiel and his sons, descendants of Hodaviah,

and the sons of Hennadad and their sons and brothers, all Levites,

joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord,

the priests in their vestments and with trumpets,

and the Levites, the son of Asaph, with cymbals,

took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David, king of Israel.

With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord,

He is good, His love towards Israel endures forever.

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord,

because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads,

who had seen the former temple,

wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid,

while many others shouted for joy.

No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy

from the sound of weeping,

because the people made so much noise,

and the sound was heard far away.

Thank you, Kirsty.

Keep your Bibles open, please.

That's Ezra chapter 3.

Ezra 3 · chapter mention

Let's bring this down.

Well, let's pray.

This is what God says.

These are the ones I look on with favour,

those who are humble and contrite in spirit,

and who tremble at my word.

Father, we come to your word afresh today,

in humility,

because we need to hear from you,

and for our hearts to be changed.

Do a work amongst us individually,

and together as a church family, we pray.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, after five long months,

and a thousand mile walk,

God's people began to settle back into their homes.

Have a look at verse 1.

So when the seventh month came,

and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

the people assembled together,

as one,

in Jerusalem.

Seventy years of captivity have passed,

and now they are back home.

But all is not well.

Their city had been destroyed,

the temple was in ruins,

and their land was laid bare.

Not only that,

there are others living nearby

who don't seem to be terribly friendly.

There's no big welcoming party.

In fact, verse 3 tells us,

God's people were living in fear.

Life back home was not looking so good.

So the question that they're all asking is,

what are we to do now?

What happens next?

We're back.

But what goes on now?

Now we can find ourselves in similar situations,

can't we?

Circumstances change in our life.

Maybe we need to move.

Future is uncertain.

Fears overwhelm us.

All kinds of things come into our life.

And we ask the same question.

What do I do now?

What happens next?

Well, there's a message here

for the gathered people of God.

And as we gather as God's people,

we want to hear what he has to say.

There's a pattern for God's people to follow.

A pattern for God's people to follow.

And first, if you've been paying attention at all

to the songs we've sung today

and as Sam was leading,

God's word is the foundation for God's people.

The word of God is the foundation

for the people of God.

So under the leadership of Joshua and Zerubbabel,

verse 2,

they began to build the altar of God.

Now, who came up with that idea?

Build an altar.

Well, what about the temple?

Surely that's more important.

Or what about the city?

That's in ruins.

And look at the roads.

They're full of potholes.

And the fields,

the fences need put right again.

No, this wasn't a random thought.

Some bright spark who said,

let's build an altar.

It was because,

look at the end of verse 2,

it was in accordance

with what is written

in the law of Moses,

the man of God.

You see, God had spoken his word.

Moses had written down God's word.

And now the people are gathered together

and are reading or hearing God's word.

Everything was done,

look at verse 4,

in accordance with what is written.

You see, there's a pattern here.

God has spoken his word.

His servants, like Moses,

wrote God's word down.

And now the people gather together

to hear the word of God

spoken afresh to them.

Now as we gather as a local church,

we might ask,

what are we to do?

Well, we always start

with the Bible.

We begin with the word of God.

We do what is in accordance

with what God says.

We don't make things up

and plough our own ways.

You see, the word of God

shapes and directs

how we live

and what we are to do.

So we are to prioritize

listening

to the word of God.

That's why we gather each week.

And if you're wondering

why you're here this morning,

it's primarily

to hear

the word of God

to us

through song,

through prayer,

as we read the Bible,

as we hear it being taught.

You see, there are many voices

seeking our attention.

Think about

all those voices

that we have heard this week.

Not least our own word

telling ourselves

what we want.

Our own inner voice

telling us

you do things

your way.

The problem

with my thoughts are

they're not God's word.

We need to listen

to our creator,

to listen to the God

who redeems us,

who loves us.

The God

who knows

what is best

for you.

And it's so true.

God always knows

what is best for you.

I'm thankful

that when I was

growing up

and if I was

in a difficulty

and wondering

what to do

or what was happening

in life,

my mum and dad

would say,

very simply,

have you read

your Bible

and prayed about it?

Doesn't sound much,

but it's full

of wisdom.

Don't be listening

to your own thoughts.

Listen to what

God has to say.

God's people

always start

with the word

of God.

So what is it

that the word

is telling us?

Well, let's look

at the rest

of the text

and see

what God

has to tell us

his people.

First,

the people of God

are to rely

on the gospel

of God.

The people of God

are to rely

on the gospel

of God.

In obedience

to God's word,

the people

began to offer

sacrifices

and celebrate

festivals.

And what a lot

there were.

Do you see there

in verse 3?

There were morning

and evening

sacrifices.

Verse 4,

there were festivals

and tabernacles.

In verse 5,

there's new moon

sacrifices.

And then at the

end of verse 5,

sacred festivals.

What are all

these sacrifices

and festivals

all about?

Well, it was

all about

relying on

God's mercy

and grace.

We see this

in two ways.

First,

no,

we don't have

a heading.

Let's go back.

the sacrifices.

Look at the

sacrifices

which speak

about the

mercy

of God.

Verse 3,

despite their

fear of the

peoples around

them,

they built

the altar

on its

foundation

and sacrificed

burnt offerings

on it to

the Lord,

both the

morning

and evening

sacrifices.

So at the

beginning of the

day,

can you imagine

all God's

people gathered

together?

At the

beginning of

the day

and at the

end of the

day,

an animal

sacrifice was

made for

all the

people.

The priest

representing

the people

would confess

the sins

and then take

an animal

and slaughter

the animal.

The message

was crystal

clear.

Sin is

serious.

Death is

the penalty

for sin.

This animal

dies in

your place.

It

demonstrated

a need

for God's

mercy,

that God

wouldn't

treat them

as their

sins

deserve.

So they

were to rely

on the

mercy of

God.

But not

only were

these sacrifices,

there were

festivals,

verse 4.

Let's look

at one

of them.

Then in

accordance

with what

is written,

verse 4,

they celebrated

the festival

of tabernacles

with the

required number

of burnt

offerings

prescribed for

each day.

The festival

of tabernacles

was an

annual festival

celebrated

to mark

the time

when God's

people had

come out

of Egypt

and were

heading to

the promised

land,

and how God

had provided

for them

on the

journey.

So every

year,

each family

for about

a week

would set

up a

little

tabernacle.

It was a

makeshift hut

that you would

live in

and sleep in.

It was like

putting a

tent in your

back garden.

And as you

lived there,

so it was

an exercise

of relying

upon God's

grace,

that we

need God

to provide

for all

of our

needs.

So these

sacrifices

and these

festivals

were crucial

in the

life of

God's

people.

They had

a purpose.

They need

God's

mercy.

They need

God's

grace.

Now isn't

that what

we all

so desperately

need?

You see,

as I think

about God's

commands in

his word,

well, I

haven't

listened to

God as

I should.

I have

so often

listened to

the own

inner voice

that says,

Johnny,

you do

what you

want.

You live

as you

please.

I haven't

listened and

loved God's

word as I

should.

So I need

a God who

will look

down upon

me, who

will not

treat me

as my

sins deserve,

who will

shower mercy

upon me.

And I

need a

God who

will give

to me

what I

don't

deserve,

grace and

all that I

need for

living a

life with

God.

Isn't this

the foundation

of our

relationship

with God?

Isn't this

where we

should come

time and

time again,

whatever may

be going

in our

life,

whatever

experiences

or circumstances

or fears,

we come

back to

the gospel

of God.

This is the

pattern for

God's people.

Just as they

celebrated their

festivals annually,

just as they

had their

sacrifices

evening and

morning,

so it's

saying to

us,

all of

life,

all year,

every day,

morning and

evening,

come back

to a

glorious

God who

pours out

his mercy

and his

grace upon

his children.

This is the

pattern for

his people.

So we are

to rely on

the gospel

of God.

Second,

we're to

depend on

the presence

of God.

With the

sacrifices and

festivals kept,

attention now

turns to

this ruined

temple.

The leaders,

verse 8,

gather together

and they

begin the

work of

laying the

foundations.

But notice

how the

temple is

described.

Look at

the end

of verse

8.

They

appointed

Levites,

20 years

old and

older,

to supervise

the building

of the

house of

the Lord.

Or look

down at

the end

of verse

9.

All the

Levites

joined together

in supervising

those working

on the

house of

God.

We see it

again down

in verse

11.

And all

the people

gave a

great shout

of praise

to the

Lord,

because the

foundation

of the

house of

the Lord

was laid.

Yes,

they're building

a temple,

but it's

the house

of the

Lord,

a dwelling

place for

God to

live.

It was a

symbol of

God's

presence

among his

people.

It expressed

God's

desire to

live amongst

his

children.

You see,

the presence

of God

was central.

That's why

they made

the temple

a priority.

Yes,

their homes

needed fixed.

Yes,

the city

needed

rebuilt,

but what

they most

needed was

the power

of God's

presence at

work amongst

them.

So the

leaders began

the work of

building the

foundations of

the temple.

You see,

this is the

story of the

whole Bible,

isn't it?

Think with

me.

The beginning

of the

Bible,

what do we

read about?

The first

human beings,

Adam and

Eve,

living together

with God

in the

Garden of

Eden,

enjoying

God's

presence.

Tragically,

because of

their disobedience,

they're removed

from the

garden.

They're shut

out from

God's

presence because

sinful people

can't live

with God.

And the

rest of the

Bible story

from those

early chapters

in Genesis

right the way

through to the

end is showing

us how

God's

presence can

be restored.

And when we

get to the

end in

Revelation,

what do we

find?

But God

coming down

to dwell

with his

people.

You see,

we need

the presence

of God

in our

lives.

Again,

as I think

about God's

word,

my desire

to read

it,

my love

for it,

I need

the presence

of God,

not just

around about

me,

but in

me,

to enable

me to

love God's

word,

and to

move me

to obey

God's

word.

We need

the presence

of God's

power in

our life.

It's the

pattern for

all God's

people.

Because

whatever

circumstances

we are

going through,

no matter

the trials

and the

hardships,

and we've

prayed about

some of

them today,

if we're

going to

get through,

don't we

need the

presence of

God in

our life

to help

us and

to work

through it?

So,

we rely

on the

gospel of

God,

we depend

on the

presence of

God,

and we

rest in

the

faithfulness

of God.

Look at

verse 10.

When the

builders laid

the foundation

of the

temple of

the Lord,

they gathered

together,

the priests

and the

Levites,

and they

got their

musical

instruments,

in this

case,

some

trumpets

and some

cymbals.

Verse 11,

and with

praise and

thanksgiving,

they sang to

the Lord,

God's

love

God's

love

towards

Israel,

that is,

God's

people,

endures

forever.

Now,

that should

shock us

and surprise

us.

You see,

the story of

God's people

can be

summarised in

one word,

unfaithfulness.

century after

century,

decade after

decade,

year after

year,

God's

people had

promised again

and again

to obey

God and

to love

God,

to follow

his word

and to

do what

he says,

but like

a serial

adulterer,

they just

went after

other gods

and other

lovers.

And despite

warnings of

judgment and

promises of

blessings,

they ignored

God and

rejected God

they were

unfaithful.

That's who

they were.

But in

contrast,

the story

of God

towards

his people

can also

be summarised

in one word,

not unfaithfulness,

but

faithfulness.

Despite

all their

failing and

falling,

God

remained

faithful.

And here

they are,

gathered

together

back home

in their

land,

proof

that God

is loyal

and committed,

that God

is kind

and good,

that he is

long-suffering

and ever-patient,

that he keeps

his promises

and continues

to bless,

that he acts

in grace

and responds

with mercy.

You see,

God's people

are only

where they

are

because,

verse 11,

God is

good.

His love

towards his

people

endures

forever.

ever.

This is the

God we

know.

He never

gives up

on his

people.

He is

steadfast

and

dependable.

The word

there in

verse 11

is that

hesed

word,

the

steadfast,

committed

love

of God,

the faithful

love of

God.

And look

at the

double

response

of the

people

as they

reflect

on the

faithfulness

of God.

Rejoicing

and longing

or songs

of joy

and tears

of longing.

Look at

verse 11.

The end

of verse 11,

and all

the people

gave a

great shout

of praise

to the

Lord

because the

foundation

of the

house of

the Lord

was laid.

The temple

was rebuilt

or being

rebuilt.

The presence

of God

would soon

be a

reality.

God is

so,

so good

to his

people.

And the

only response

is joyful

praise for

all that

God had

done.

But do you

notice they're

not all

rejoicing?

There's also

tears of

longing.

Verse 12.

Many of

the older

priests and

the Levites

and the

family heads

who had

seen the

former

temple.

That was

Solomon's

temple.

Well,

they wept

aloud when

they saw

the foundation

of this

temple being

laid,

while many

others

shouted for

joy.

You see,

the older,

the grey

haired,

they had

seen

something

better,

and they

longed for

the past.

The rebuilding

of the temple

that they saw

now was,

yes,

it was good,

but it

wasn't as

good as

what it

was before.

And so

they wept.

they longed

for something

better and

greater.

So there's

both rejoicing

and longing.

Verse 13.

No one

could distinguish

the sound of

the shouts

of joy from

the sound of

weeping,

because the

people made

so much

noise,

and the

sound was

heard far

away.

You see,

as God's

people

respond

to God's

faithfulness,

there is

both songs

of joy

and tears

of longing.

In fact,

for us

today,

as we

respond to

God's

faithfulness,

we have

a greater

rejoicing

and an

even

deeper

longing.

look at

the greater

rejoicing

that we

have.

The Bible

tells us

that the

sacrifices

and temple

building that

we've just

been looking

at were

only shadows

of the

reality.

The

Apostle

Paul put

it like

this.

he says

these,

that's

the

sacrificial

system

and the

temples

were only

a shadow

of the

things that

were to

come.

The

reality,

however,

is found

in Christ.

So picture

with me

for a

moment

a dad

and it's

a glorious

sunny day

and he's

with his

toddler

daughter.

Behind

the dad

is the

son

which

casts

this

enormous

shadow

right in

front of

him.

Now

wouldn't

it be

strange

for the

daughter

to find

the shadow

of her

father

and wrap

her arms

or at

least try

to wrap

her arms

around

the shadow?

No,

the daughter

follows the

shadow

until she

reaches her

dad and

when she

gets to

the end

of the

shadow

there he

is and

she embraces

him for

she's

safe and

secure

in his

arms

treasured

and loved.

Well the

purpose of

these

sacrifices

in the

temple

is like

a shadow

leading us

to embrace

Jesus.

You see all

these sacrifices

that went on

year after

year,

day after

day,

were just

a reminder

of sin.

They could

actually never

deal with

sin.

How could

an animal

take away

sins of

people?

Every

sacrifice

that was

made was

a constant

reminder,

you're guilty,

you're full

of shame,

you've failed,

you've messed

up,

you've blown

it.

Every festival

was a constant

reminder that

yes we're

trusting in

God to

provide,

but I've

failed again

and I've

messed up.

Day after

day,

morning and

evening,

every year,

and the

temple,

well let's

get real,

how could

the temple

be contained

by God

who is

over the

whole universe?

At best

it was a

symbol of

God's

partial

presence.

They could

never see

him in

the temple,

they could

never be

with him,

in fact

their constant

sin

threatened

his very

presence.

so we

don't want

to be

people who

go on

about

sacrificial

systems or

building

temples.

We

today

have the

reality.

You see,

in Jesus

we find

the true

sacrifice

who dies

in our

place.

Remember

what John

the Baptist

saw or

said when

he saw

Jesus?

look,

the Lamb

of God

who takes

away the

sin of

the world.

It's an

invitation to

come to

Jesus to

confess all

of our

sin,

knowing that

he will

forgive all

of our

sin.

It's a

once and

for all

sacrifice,

a sufficient

sacrifice.

And as

we come

to him,

he washes

away all

our guilt

and all

our shame.

But more

than that,

as we

come to

Jesus,

he makes

a wonderful

promise to

us.

Remember

it?

It's there

on the

screen.

Jesus

says,

anyone who

loves me

will obey

my teaching.

My

Father will

love them

and we

will come

to them

and make

our home

with them.

We don't

need to go

into a

special

building or

a temple.

to find

God.

If we

are trusting

in the

Lord Jesus,

God comes

to dwell

in us

by his

spirit.

Through

the sacrifice

of Jesus,

we are

made clean

and pure

so that

God,

the creator

of the

universe,

would dwell

within

us.

This is

the gospel

in all

its fullness.

this is

why we

rely on

the gospel

of God.

This is

why we

depend on

the presence

of God

who fills

us and

enables us

and moves

us to

obey God's

word and

to follow

his truth.

You see,

this is why

we have a

greater

rejoicing.

Look again

at the middle

of verse

11.

we can

say,

as we

look to

Jesus,

the true

reality,

that he

is good

and his

love towards

his people

endures

forever.

Do you

hear those

words?

If you

today are

relying and

depending on

Jesus,

this is your

song,

this is your

theme tune

for your

life.

Whatever

circumstances

are going

on in

your life,

you can

shout this

out.

God is

good.

His love

towards

you insert

your name.

It

endures

forever.

It

endures

forever.

But we

don't just

have a

greater

rejoicing,

we actually

have a

deeper

longing.

God is

God's

people.

God is

God's

people.

God is

great.

We can

have the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

But you

know what?

The best

is yet to

come.

We don't

long for

the past,

but we

long for

the future,

don't we?

We long

for that

day when

we will

be with

Jesus,

to see

him,

and to

be finally

like him,

to be

rid of

sin once

and for

all,

and to

know his

presence

with us.

We will

see the

risen Lord

Jesus.

That day

is coming.

One day

the Lord

Jesus will

return,

and our

tears of

longing

will be

replaced with

tears of

joy.

As we go

through our

hardships and

our trials,

and we

wonder,

will it

ever end?

hear the

promise that

God will

dwell with

his people,

and we

will enjoy

him

forever.

Together,

all God's

people of

all times

and all

ages will

gather as

one,

and we

will sing

the theme

tune,

that God

is good,

his love

towards his

people

endures

forever.

End of

verse 11.

and all

the people

gave a

great shout

of praise

to the

Lord.

You see,

there are

tears

of longing

and there

are songs

of joy

for God's

people.

The songs

of joy

in all

that Jesus

has done

for us,

but there

are tears

of longing

as we

wait for

what is

to come.

But

praise God,

what we

have today

is good

and what

is coming

is even

better.

Let's

pray

together.

our

Father God,

we thank

you that

you indeed

have not

left us

in the

dark,

but you

have spoken

the truth

of your

word.

Lord,

we pray

that this

will be

the

foundation

of our

life

and that

you would

bring us

back time

and time

again

to rely

on your

mercy and

grace,

to depend

upon your

presence

in us

and to

know the

faithfulness

of our

God,

that he

is good

and his

love towards

us

endures

forever.

Thank you

for what we

have today

in Christ

and we

praise you

for all

that is

to come.

In

Jesus'

name,

Amen.