Ezra 3:1-6, 10-13
SS Lesson for 05/18/2025
Devotional Scripture: Heb 10:19-25
The book of Ezra tells how Jews from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned to their homeland from exile in Babylon. That happened shortly after the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Persians in 538 BC (Ezra 1:1-2:1), when the Persian king, Cyrus, issued a decree that allowed the return (Ezra 1:1-4; compare 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 13). The books of Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle the return in three distinct phases. Ezra 2:64-65 reveals about 50,000 people in the first wave, making the arduous trip of over 800 miles. A later wave of returnees, coming under the leadership of Ezra, took exactly four months (Ezra 7:8-9). The primary purpose of the journey was to “[re] build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:5). When that city was destroyed in 586 BC, there remained no nation of Judah, no capital city of Jerusalem, no temple, no royal palace, and no walls (2 Kings 25:8-17; compare 2 Chronicles 36:15-21). Normally, it would be impossible for a nation to come into existence again after an absence of more than half a century. But God was in this situation, and the impossible became not just possible but a reality. As Jeremiah stated, nothing is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:17). The temple’s rebuilding would require much effort, money, time, labor, and good leadership. An easier and quicker task would be to start rebuilding the temple’s altar of burnt offerings (see description in Exodus 38:1-7 and use in Leviticus 1:1-17; 6:8-13). And that’s where we begin our lesson.
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.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers 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.
3 So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day.
5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord.
6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.
22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
119 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts
5 From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel.
11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, " For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." 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.
12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,
13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Construction of the temple began soon after the exiles returned to Jerusalem. However, problems threatened the completion of the project. First, the immigrants contemplated abandoning their religious distinctives to get along with their neighbors (ch. 4). Then, opposition from their enemies threatened to terminate construction.
"The temple was the basis for the postexilic community’s fellowship with God." [Note: John A. Martin, "Ezra," in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, p. 659.]
"In a sense the standing of the furnished Temple of God symbolizes the existence of his covenant with his people. This is why the rebuilding of the Temple occupies so central a place in the Book of Ezra." [Note: J. G. McConville, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, p. 11.]
In view of the temple’s importance, the writer devoted quite a bit of space to narrating the events that accompanied its construction.
The erection of the altar 3:1-6
The text does not record exactly when the exiles arrived in Jerusalem, but it was probably sometime in 537 B.C. since Cyrus issued his decree in 538 B.C. The "seventh month" (Ezra 3:1) of the Jew’s sacred calendar was Tishri (late September through early October). [Note: See the appendix at the end of these notes for the Hebrew Calendar.] The people assembled in Jerusalem then to erect the altar of burnt offerings, the centerpiece of their worship (cf. Genesis 12:7). The seventh month was especially important on the Jewish sacred calendar because in it the Jews celebrated three of their annual festivals. These were the Feast of Trumpets on Tishri 1, the Day of Atonement on Tishri 10, and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) on Tishri 15-22 (Leviticus 23:24-25; Leviticus 27:27-32; Leviticus 27:34-34). Tishri was the first month of the Jewish civil calendar, and the Feast of Trumpets was a kind of New Year celebration. It was on this day that the returned exiles began to offer sacrifices on their altar again (Ezra 3:6).
In presenting burnt offerings to God even before the foundation of the temple was in place, the Jews showed their earnest desire to be living sacrifices to Him. That is what those sacrifices symbolized (Leviticus 1; cf. Romans 12:1). [Note: See Fredrick C. Holmgren, Israel Alive Again, p. 22.] In re-establishing their ancient worship, these Jews, under the leadership of Jeshua and Zerubbabel, were careful to follow the Law of Moses (Ezra 3:2; cf. Exodus 27:1-8; Exodus 38:1-7; Deuteronomy 12:4-14). The absence of reference to Sheshbazzar suggests that he may have died. In any case he passed off the scene.
"From now on, Israel would be viewed (as in the theology of the Chronicler) as that remnant of Judah which had rallied around the law. He would be a member of Israel (i.e., a Jew) who assumed the burden of that law.
"The cult was regulated and supported by the law; to be moral and pious was to keep the law; the grounds of future hope lay in obedience to the law. It was this consistent stress on the law which imparted to Judaism its distinctive character." [Note: Bright, p. 416.]
"Judaism" as a system of worship began during the Babylonian Captivity when the Israelites had no temple, functioning priesthood, or kings.
"Ezra’s work was to reorganize the Jewish community about the law." [Note: Ibid., p. 374.]
The "law" in view is the Mosaic Law. One reason the people began offering sacrifices again was their fear of their neighbors (Ezra 3:2). They called on the Lord to protect them. Normally prayers for the Lord’s blessing on His people accompanied the daily morning and evening sacrifices (cf. Exodus 29:38-42; Numbers 28:3-8).
"Courage is not lack of fear; it is the will to act in spite of fear." [Note: Breneman, p. 91.]
The reconstruction of the temple foundation 3:7-9
As Solomon had done, these Jews contracted with the Phoenicians to the north to supply wood for the temple (cf. 2 Chronicles 2:16). The people needed several months of preparations before actual construction began on the site in 536 B.C. It commenced about 70 years after the first group of exiles had departed for Babylon in 605 B.C. Extensive foundation repair work was necessary because the temple stood on a hilltop and because Babylonian destruction had been extensive.
Under the Mosaic Law, Levites began their service at age 25 (Numbers 8:24). The Mosaic Law did not allow them to carry the tabernacle until they were 30 (Numbers 4:3). David had allowed Levites to begin some service at age 20 (1 Chronicles 23:24; 1 Chronicles 23:27). Zerubbabel and Jeshua also allowed them to begin working on the reconstruction project at age 20 (Ezra 3:8).
The completion of the temple foundation 3:10-13
The people celebrated God’s faithfulness when they had completed phase one of the temple reconstruction: its foundation.
"Principles of praise to be gleaned from these verses include the following: (1) Praise is the act of publicly exalting God’s person and work. (2) Praise can be enhanced through the use of music and songs. (3) Praise is a participating activity, not a spectator sport; it is worship people join in, not a program people watch. Praise involves God’s people in singing and playing, boasting and testifying to the greatness and goodness of the Lord!" [Note: Laney, pp. 32-33.]
Compared with the "first temple" (Ezra 3:12), this second temple was much less impressive. The term "second temple," as biblical scholars commonly use it today, refers to both this restoration temple and the Herodian temple that followed it. The second temple underwent changes occasionally, the major changes taking place as a result of Herod’s renovations. These improvements were still in progress in our Lord’s day (John 2:20). This second temple stood from 515 B.C. (Ezra 6:15) until the Romans destroyed it in A.D. 70. [Note: See Lester L. Grabbe, "The Jewish Theocracy from Cyrus to Titus: A Programmatic Essay," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 37 (February 1987):117-24, for an introduction to the study of the second temple. Anthony J. Tomasino, Judaism Before Jesus, is a good, longer history (345 pages) of the second temple period.]
(Adapted from URL:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcc/ezra-3.html)
Today’s Scripture text points not only to human endeavor but also to God’s mercy. His mercy makes our every endeavor possible and allows results. The story also signals God’s actions, to which humans respond. God had brought the Judeans home in something of a “second exodus,” allowing them to rebuild their world. The key question at that point was: Would their world also be his world? That question rings across the centuries to confront us today: Is your world his world?