July 12, 2022

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons 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 toward 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.

Ezra 3:10-13

Devotional

How similar are the sounds of joy and the sounds of grief. The most basic human sound is a cry; it comes from babies and adults alike. We hear shouts of joy when a sports team achieves an amazing score, and we hear expressions of despair when the score goes terribly wrong.
 
I love the description of this scene from the historical account of Ezra. A celebration is taking place, a dedication of the new foundation laid for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The Israelites have returned from their exile. They have been given assistance in the form of financial aid and supplies by the Persians who had usurped power from the Babylonians, Israel’s original captors.
 
The people didn’t wait to celebrate until the restored temple was completed: they rejoiced in its beginning. They brought out all the formalwear for the priests, all the bells and whistles (and trumpets and cymbals) to officially offer praise and thanks to God.
 
Yet don’t miss the last part of this passage. Those who had lived through the exile and remembered the former temple (now THAT is longevity through hardship!) were weeping out loud; not out of sadness, but for remembrance. That which they loved and valued had been destroyed, and before their eyes they were witnessing younger generations restoring and loving what they had loved.
 
When someone else bestows a blessing too great for a body to sustain, words fail us; tears flow. Thankfulness becomes a cry. The pain of loss transitions into the sting of humble remembrance and unspeakable devotion to the God who is faithful in all His promises.

For Discussion

Who loves what you love? Who values what you value?

Who has actively demonstrated a blessing on your behalf?

Prayer

Gracious God, on our knees we give you thanks. Thanks for the beginnings, the middles and the endings. We praise you for all you’ve done, being with us in times of turmoil and plenty. For sustaining us through our immobilizing fears and revealing Your power, we stand in awe. Loving Lord, remain with us and let us give you glory this day and all our days. AMEN.