from Exile to Exultation

In the book of Ezra, we read of the people of Judah returning to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Cyrus king of Persia – a year after defeating Babylon – declared that the LORD charged him with seeing that the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem. So Cyrus equipped, resourced, and set the people of Judah free to return and rebuild!

Upon the exiles’ return, they first rebuilt the altar in Jerusalem so they could immediately begin restoring worship to the LORD (Ezra 3:8-9). And then the foundation of the temple was laid… and oh the joy!

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever 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. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Ezra 3:10-13

The joy that comes from diligent preparation for worship and obedience to the LORD is palpable. God designed us for these things specifically – we are to know His joy forever! And laying a sure foundation is essential – whether preparing for individual or corporate ministry and worship. When that foundation is laid, there is indeed great cause for celebration and praise to Almighty God!