A New Beginning

KEY VERSE: “All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” —Ezra 3:11

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ezra 3:1, 6-8, 10-12

THE NAME ZERUBBABEL means ‘born at Babel, that is Babylon’. While among the Hebrews who took advantage of Cyrus’ decree to return to Israel there were many of the original captives, Zerubbabel was not one of them. Born in Babylon he would be a younger man, although old enough to be head of the tribe of Judah. Later he was called the ‘prince of the captivity’.

Zerubbabel was an ardent servant of the Lord, and under his leadership the work of rebuilding the Temple was soon begun. In the seventh month after the captives had arrived safely in their own land, the priests, together with Zerubbabel, “builded the altar of the Lord God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.” (Ezra 3:1,2) They also “kept the feast of tabernacles as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.”—Ezra 3:4

“But the foundation of the Temple of the Lord was not yet laid,” although much had been contributed for this purpose. (Ezra 3:57) It was in the second year after the return from captivity that Zerubbabel, with Jeshua, and “the remnant of their brethren, the priests and the Levites, and all they that came out of captivity unto Jerusalem, appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.”—vs. 8

Some of the chief elders made liberal donations toward the work. “They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.” (Ezra 2:69) This suggests that although there were many who did not return from Babylon, those who did were deeply moved by the mercy of the Lord which had released them from captivity, and given them an opportunity to worship God as they desired to do.

There was a great celebration when the foundation of the new Temple had been laid, the priests and the Levites leading the songs of praise on trumpets and cymbals. The people “shouted with a great shout, when they, praised the Lord.” But there were some who were not so filled with joy—many of the priests and Levites and chiefs of the fathers, who were ancient men, had seen and remembered the original Temple built by Solomon. These were now old men, but not so feeble that they could not journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezra 3:12,13) So there was a mingling of nostalgic tears on the part of these ancient men, as they remembered the greater glory of the past, with the joy and hope of the younger people as they anticipated the completion of the new Temple.

The Lord’s people of the Christian era worship God in spirit and in truth. While many costly edifices are built in which to worship God, these are but buildings made with hands. The church itself—that is, the congregation of Christ’s followers—is now being built as a spiritual house, and through these the Lord will reveal himself to mankind during the Millennial Age.—I Pet. 2:5

The various temples raised up for Israel were temporary, and were meant to illustrate the greater, spiritual temple—a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.—II Cor. 5:1

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