Ezra 3:1

The Bible says in Ezra 3:1, “And 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.” These people were going to rebuild the temple. This was a great work and a very important work. It was the will of God. God performed miracles by His mercy to set them up and get them ready to do it, but they could not do it without unity. God touched King Cyrus’ heart to give the decree to make it possible. God touched the hearts of many people to get money and valuables to make it possible, but it would not have happened without unity. The key phrase of this verse is “the people gathered themselves together as one man.” If we had unity like that in our Christian congregations, then you would see the Gospel of Christ go forth as never before. That is one reason that Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

The Bible says in Ezra 3:2-6, “Then 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.[3] And 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.[4] They 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;[5] And 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.[6] From 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.” Even though the temple was not yet built, the people served the Lord the best that they could. That is what we do today even though there is so much compromise, falling away, and secularism all around us. Even though many will not join the church to hear the Gospel, to sing the songs of Zion, to pray together, or to be a part of Christian fellowship, we will continue to do what we can to do things God’s way if He gives us the grace to do so.

Notice that verse five says, “every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.” In the Old Testament in addition to tithes and other offerings that were required, the Jews had the option of giving a free-will offering. It was not required. Every person made up their own mind if they would give, how much they would give, and when they would give. That is also the only principle of giving in the New Testament age in which we live. Instead of being told to give a tithe, Christians are told in Second Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

The Bible says in Ezra 3:7-13, “They 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.[8] Now 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.[9] Then 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.[10] And 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.[11] And 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.[12] But 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:[13] So 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.” Verse eight tells us that we are now in the second year after these people returned to Jerusalem to build the temple. They got settled in and organized, they built the altar, they collected and purchased the materials they would need, and as it says in verse ten, they laid the foundation of the temple. This was a great moment for the Jewish people, and they did not miss the moment. It was a moment to thank God for what He had done for them. It says in verse eleven that they “sang together” and gave thanks unto the Lord. It says in verse twelve that “wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy.” Notice in verse eleven that when they gave thanks unto the Lord that they said, “because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel.” The people of Israel had been banished to Babylon because of their sins. But God does not stay angry forever, except to those who reject the Lord Jesus. At this moment they were experiencing the mercy of God. When you understand how great are your sins, and you find forgiveness through the Lord Jesus, then you will understand what the Israelites were experiencing here. God had mercy on them. God blessed them even though they did not deserve it. God was not finished with them. God still had a plan for them. God loved them. God was going to keep His promises to Abraham no matter what. That is the kind of mercy that we have through Jesus. The phrase in verse twelve, “for his mercy endureth for ever,” is also found in Psalm 136 in every verse. Perhaps they sang this Psalm. For example, it says in Psalms 136:1-4, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.[2] O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.[3] O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.[4] To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.” The Lord does many things for all of us daily that are based upon His mercy towards us. God can be so merciful because Jesus took our sins upon Himself. Do not ever think that you have gone too far or failed too much. Think this: “his mercy endureth for ever.”

The Bible says in Ezra 4:1-5, “Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;[2] Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.[3] But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.[4] Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,[5] And hired counsellers against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Everything was working out so well for the children of Israel who had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The Lord had touched the heart of King Cyrus to make the decree. Large sums of money had been given so that the work could be started. They got settled in back in Jerusalem. The foundation of the temple was laid and they had a great celebration. But now opposition came. This life is not a walk in a rose garden, not if you are serving Jesus. It says in verse four, “Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.” That is what the devil tries to do to Christians. Jesus wants your life to be a light to the world, but the devil wants to keep that from happening. The wonderful truth is this: Jesus is much stronger than the devil. Trust in the Lord, and as it says in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The Bible says in Ezra 4:6-16, “And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.[7] And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.[8] Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:[9] Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,[10] And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.[11] This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.[12] Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.[13] Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.[14] Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;[15] That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.[16] We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.” There is now a new king of Persia. The former king, King Cyrus, helped the Jewish people, but the enemies of Israel try to manipulate the new king against Israel. Notice the weapon that the enemies use: accusations. Human nature has not changed much. That is because those who do not know the Lord Jesus are subject to the control of the devil and the devil is called “the accuser of the brethren.” God forgives, but the devil accuses. These accusers tried to get the king to fear losing tax money from the Israelites if the king allowed the building to continue. Here is the reality: good Christians will be the best citizens of any country where they live. We work hard, we are honest, and we honor the leaders whether we agree with them or not. We are told in First Peter 2:17, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

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