Ezr 3:2-3, Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel …, AROSE AND BUILT THE ALTAR OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL, TO OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS ON IT, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES THE MAN OF GOD. … THEY SET THE ALTAR ON ITS BASES; AND THEY OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS ON IT TO THE LORD, …
Perfect place to start building the temple of GOD, the alter! OUR ALTER IS THE CROSS OF CALVARY. YOU CAN’T BE A CHRISTIAN OR HAVE A CHURCH WITHOUT THE CROSS, BUT THAT ALTER IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT THE CHURCH; FOR HE MEETS US WHERE WERE AT!
Ezr 3:10-11, WHEN THE BUILDERS LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with TRUMPETS, … WITH CYMBALS, TO PRAISE THE LORD, …. 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.
GREAT JOY CAME FROM JUST LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE! YET NOT ALL WERE CELEBRATING!
Ezr 3:12, … OLD MEN WHO HAD SEEN THE FIRST TEMPLE, WEPT WITH A LOUD VOICE WHEN THE FOUNDATION OF THIS TEMPLE WAS LAID BEFORE THEIR EYES. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,
It’s estimated that the first Temple cost 5 billion dollars to build, Yet the foundation of this temple didn’t compare in their eyes!
Hag 2:3,7,9, ‘WHO IS LEFT AMONG YOU WHO SAW THIS TEMPLE IN ITS FORMER GLORY? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? … AND I WILL FILL THIS TEMPLE WITH GLORY,’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS…. ‘THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER TEMPLE SHALL BE GREATER THAN THE FORMER,’ …
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GOLD AND THE RICHES THAT THE FIRST TEMPLE HAD; IT’S ABOUT GOD! FOR THE SECOND TEMPLE WAS VISITED BY GOD JESUS HIMSELF. WITHOUT HIM IT’S JUST A BUILDING, BUT IN HIS PRESENCE, WE FIND GLORY!