What happened? Everything was so similar, yet the outcome was so different! What happened to the Jews who returned? Same Trip – from Babylon back to their original towns and villages and now they had all returned back to Jerusalem! They had One, Unified Same Purpose (Ezra 3:1)! They were operating under the Same Truth – Law of Moses (Ezra 3:2)! They were faced with and overcame Same Trouble in order to start the Same Task – rebuilding the altars for sacrifice (Ezra 3:3)! They celebrated the Same Feasts (Three for that seventh month – Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles/Shelters/Booth)
(Ezra 3:4) They started the Same Project – laying the foundation (Ezra 3:7)! They enjoyed the Same In Person Worship (Ezra 3:10). They were Singing the Same Song (Ezra 3:11)! Yet, we hear DIFFERENT NOISES (Ezra 3:12-13)! Wow! Everything was so similar, yet the outcome was so different. What a Different
Noise – some singing Gospel and others singing the Blues; some Shouting and others Pouting; some filled with Happiness and others filled with Sadness; some making a Joyful noise and others making a Jaded Noise! The Difference was because some was comparing the present temple with the past temple. Instead of being thankful for the present success, they were tripping about the past splendor. Instead of seeing the glass half full, they only saw it as half empty. Instead of being glad about all that was going right, they were sad about the one thing they thought was wrong! Since Comparison ends only in Disappointment, COMPLETE and don’t COMPETE!