Rebuilding the Temple

God Frees and Redeems Liberating Passover Babylonian Captivity Ends Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)  Ezra 3:8-13 The Voice 8 In the second month of the second year after they had begun preparations for the True God’s temple in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), Jeshua (son of Jozadak), and the priests and Levites and all who had been exiled began construction of the Eternal’s temple. The Levites, 20 years old and older, oversaw the construction, 9 and Jeshua and his relatives, Kadmiel and his sons, the descendants of Judah, oversaw the True God’s temple laborers, the descendants of Henadad and their brothers the Levites. 10 After the laborers had laid the Eternal’s temple foundation, the priests and Levites praised the Eternal as their beloved King David of Israel had prescribed. The priests dressed in their vestments and played trumpets, the Levite descendants of Asaph played their cymbals, 11, and together they sang praises and gave thanks to the Eternal. Priests and Levites: We praise Him because He is good and because of His continual and loyal love for Israel. All the people joined in, shouting praises to the Eternal because the foundation of His temple was complete. 12 But in the midst of those praises, the priests, Levites, and tribal leaders who remembered the first temple wept loudly when they saw it because they knew this temple could never be as grand as Solomon’s. 13 There were shouts of joy intermingled with cries of sorrow, and the entire ensemble grew so loud it could be heard a great distance away. For Reflection When Cyrus freed the Hebrews, he gave them money to rebuild the temple. Either they were waiting for a word from God, or they were not following through on what God had called them to do. But they started the temple two years following their return. Some cried for joy when they saw the foundation of the temple being built. Others wept because it was not the grand architecture of the old temple. Some saw a renewal of the symbol of their worship. Others lamented what had been. Is God calling us to rebuild our churches? I'm not talking about the building. Are we too bound to the faith styles of the past to be perceived relevant in today's world? So many people have left the church. So many remain spiritual, confessing that they believe in God, but they are not drawn to religion. Perhaps it is time for an honest civil discussion of how our faith is played out in practice. We must ask the question How can we remain true to our faith and still attract those who have left the church or those who are not "churched" to be part of the family of God? Pray Pray and let the Holy Spirit guide your life. Pray and meditate on the way our faiths are practiced. Finally, pray for the revival of the Church Universal.