Weepiing and Shouting

O. T. #1014  "Weeping and Shouting"
June 29, 2017
Ezra 3-Part 3
With praise and thanks they sang this song to the LORD: "He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!"  Ezra 3:11 NLT

LET IT GLOW

Beginning the second year of the Jews at the old Jerusalem site began with the laying of the new Temple foundation. The Levites ages 20 and up did the work. The Levites were given the responsibility of oversee this task. Can you hear the enthusiasm? There were trumpets playing and the singing of Psalms. The enthused people could not contain their loud shouts of excitement.

Look at our key verse, friend. Insert your name in the place of Israel. Make God's Word personal to us.
God is good! His faithful love for Linda endures forever!

Oh how He loves us! Forever is a very long time. Now that is something to shout about, I'd say.


LET IT GROW

God was doing  the impossible in this situation, as Jeremiah foretold of this in chapter 33.

But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple's foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud nose that could be heard in the distance.  (verses 11-13 NLT)

I cannot imagine what it would have been like those 70 years of having no place of worship.
What mixed emotions there were at this time. The older folks sadly remembered David and Solomon's splendid Temple, which stood over 350 years. The younger folks did not have those memories so they were joyful.

It was like that for our church people whenever we left the old sanctuary and began to worship God in the new sanctuary. (A few never did cross over for the change was too much for them.) Baptisms, weddings, revivals, former pastors, youth groups-all were connected with the old building. However, the younger generation did not have those ties. They were excited to be in the new sanctuary which the Lord had provided. Now we use the old sanctuary as the fellow hall.


LET IT GO

Thank God for His love for me that lasts forever!

Rejoice in all that God has done.