Lesson Date The Beginnings of the Temple Ezra 3:1-13; 4:1-24 INTRODUCTION: The first return under Zerubbabel set as its primary goal the rebuilding of the temple. Though the city of Jerusalem was in ruin and the walls were broken down, the first order of business was to reestablish the true worship of the temple. This is true in all returns to God. Men often try to take care of the external items first. They want to clean up their lives or make things right with others. But God requires us to restore our relationship with Him first. Only then can the external failures be properly repaired with His help. I. THE BUILDING OF THE ALTAR (3:1-7) A. The Unity of the People (3:1; Psalm 133:1) 1. They came together a. In the seventh month (1) This was the month of the last three of the seven annual Jewish feasts as taught in Leviticus 23:23-44 The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These are the feasts that foretell of the restoration of Israel and the end of time. They are a very appropriate time for the Israelites to begin restoration of the temple. (2) Seven is also the number of perfection; especially in reference to a perfect work. b. They came from the cities to Jerusalem; the city of Jerusalem was so ruined that they had immediately gone to their ancient cities when they came to the land. They had to be brought specifically to Jerusalem. 2. They gathered together as one man (Nehemiah 8:1; Acts 2:46; 4:32; 1Corinthians 1:10) B. The Setting Up of the Altar (3:2-3) 1. Built at the direction of their leaders (v.2; Ezekiel 22:30) 2. Built by the commandment of the law (v.2; Joshua 1:8) a. As written in the law of Moses (Exodus 20:24-25) b. To offer burnt offerings thereon (Deuteronomy 12:5-7) 3. Built on its original foundation (v.3; Genesis 13:1-4; 26:18) 4. Built for fear of the surrounding enemies (v.3; Proverbs 24:10) 5. Built in order to renew the burnt offerings (v.3) www.learnthebible.org 1
C. The Feast of the Tabernacles (3:4-6) 1. The offerings of the feast (v.4; Leviticus 23:33-44) a. According to what was written b. According to the number required c. According to the custom of offering d. As the duty of every day required e. Note: they were careful to do exactly what God wanted them to do. This carefulness is a sign of true repentance and return to the Lord (2Cornithians 2:9-11). 2. The renewed practice of the altar (v.5) a. The continual burnt offering (Exodus 29:38-39) (1) Of the new moon (2) Of all the set feasts b. The freewill offering (1) Of those who offered it willingly (2) An offering unto the Lord 3. The beginnings of temple worship a. Burnt offerings from the first day of the seventh month b. But the foundation of the temple not yet laid D. The Gifts of the People (3:7) 1. Money to the masons and carpenters (2Kings 12:10-12) 2. Meat, drink, and oil to the workers 3. Cedar trees for the building (1Kings 5:6-10) a. From Lebanon to the sea of Joppa b. By the grant of king Cyrus of Persia II. THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION (3:8-13) A. The Appointing of the Workmen (3:8-9) 1. In the second month of the second year (v.8) 2. By the leaders and returning Jews (v.8) 3. To set forward the work of the house of the Lord (v.8); it was time to get the program started 4. To set workmen to the task of rebuilding (v.9) B. The Rejoicing at the Foundation (3:10-11) 1. By the priests and Levites (v.10-11) a. The priests (1) In their apparel (2) With trumpets www.learnthebible.org 2
b. The Levites (1) The sons of Asaph (1Chronicles 16:4-6) (2) With cymbals c. After the ordinance of David (1Chronicles 25:1-2) d. Singing together by course (cp. 1Corinthians 14:27) e. Praising and giving thanks to God (1) For He is good (2) For His mercy endures forever toward Israel 2. By the people (v.11) a. They shouted with a great shout b. They praised the Lord c. Because the foundation was laid C. The Mixture of Joy and Sorrow (3:12-13) 1. Sorrow at the inferior building (v.12; Haggai 2:3-5) 2. Joy at the laid foundation (v.12) 3. Joy and weeping at the same time (v.13) 4. Note: restoration of a rebellious soul often brings weeping over sin and joy over God s mercy all at the same time. III. THE CEASING OF THE WORK (4:1-24) A. The First Approach of their Enemies (4:1-3) 1. They heard that the temple was being rebuilt (v.1) a. The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin b. They heard of the building of the temple 2. They offered to join in the work (v.2) a. They approached Zerubbabel in peace b. They claimed to be of the same mind (Proverbs 26:24-26; 2Corinthians 11:13-15) c. They were of those who combined pagan practices with the worship of the true God (2Kings 17:27-33, 41) 3. They were not allowed to join with them (v.3) a. The leaders made a stand for God b. The infiltration was stopped c. The Jews renewed their determination to build the temple themselves (Nehemiah 2:20) B. The Hiring of Trouble Makers (4:4-5) 1. Troubled by the people of the land (v.4; John 15:18-21) a. They weakened the hands of the people of Judah b. They troubled them in building www.learnthebible.org 3
2. Frustrated by hired counselors (v.5) a. Hired by the adversaries b. Sent to frustrate their purpose c. Continued to harass the people (1) Throughout the reign of Cyrus (2) Unto the reign of Darius C. An Example of Opposition (4:6-23); the kings mentioned in this passage (v.6-7) and the fact that rebuilding of the walls of the city is the subject of the letter (v.12) show that this letter was sent much later than the time we are now studying. In fact, this section took place between the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, years after our present time. The letter is obviously included here in order to illustrate the kind of oppression the Jews had to deal with in their rebuilding projects. As an application, we must understand that there will always be much opposition when we try to restore our lives back to where they ought to be. This takes territory that has been occupied by the devil away from him. He will certainly oppose any move in this direction. D. The Halting of the Construction (4:24) 1. The cessation of work on the temple 2. The time of cessation until the second year of king Darius, or about 15 years. CONCLUSION: Restoration of what has been lost often requires more effort than the original gains. The devil will fight for territory he has won back. He also knows that the battle has been won before he may very well win it again. Also, the one being restored knows that they have the option of disobedience and will often retreat to their sins at the first major opposition. Restoration must be sought with all diligence. Otherwise, it will not be gained. MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 2Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. www.learnthebible.org 4
STAR [Story, Theme, Application, Resources] STORY The Jews have left the only stability they have known and have made the long and hard trip to Israel. But their work has only begun. Now they must rebuild. They begin in the right place. They begin by restoring the ancient altar and begin work on the foundation of the temple. But opposition comes quickly. First, in the form of compromisers who want to join them for the purpose of defeating their purpose and zeal. Second, in the form of hired counselors who work to frustrate their purpose. For now, the adversaries win and the Jews cease work on the temple. The opposition has been too much for them. The temple lies abandoned. THEME Restoration of a life or restoration of a church must begin with the restoration of a right relationship with God. Until God is put in His proper place, nothing much will happen in the other areas of life. Make sure that you are right with God. APPLICATION o The Jews first rebuilt their altar and began making offerings to God. How can we apply this to our lives when we need to come back to Him? o When you rebel against your parents or other proper authorities, you are first of all in rebellion against God. How does this apply to Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20? o What happens when you are not right with God? o How can you come back to God? o When our heart is right with God, what will cause us joy (make us happy)? What will cause us to weep (make us sad)? See Ezra 3:13. o What people can keep you from doing what you ought to do for the Lord? How can you deal with these people? o Is there something that you have stopped that you should start up again? RESOURCES o Pictures or coloring pages of Old Testament Jews making sacrifices to the Lord. o Picture of Solomon s temple. Try to figure out why the new one did not look as good as the old one. o List: things that make you happy; things that make you sad; things that make you happy and sad at the same time. Discuss the lists. Are the right things in the right places? Which things are important and which are not? o Make a calendar showing the feasts of the seventh month (which occurs around the time of October in our time). Use Leviticus 23:23-44 to make the calendar. www.learnthebible.org 5