Ezra 6:19-22 ESV

19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

THE PASSOVER.

Passover is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays. Along with the feast of Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles, the Passover is one of the three “pilgrimage” festivals. As such, the Jews had been commanded to travel back to Jerusalem in order to observe theses feasts. Thus, after they were able to finish the temple, they observed the Passover right away.

It is to celebrate the exodus from Egypt and their freedom from slavery to the Egyptians. It is the first festival commanded to be observed and is accompanied with the Feast of Unleavened Bread (see Exodus 12). As God had promised to redeem His people (Exodus 6:6), God sent Moses to demand from Pharaoh, saying to him, “let my people go” (Exodus 8:1). When Pharaoh refused, God had brought ten plagues on the land of Egypt. And, it was the tenth that was the worst. It led to the death of all the firstborn all over Egypt.

The night of the Passover was the very night of the tenth plague. On that tragic night, God had instructed His people to sacrifice a spotless male lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood with lintels (Exodus 12:21–22). Then, when the angel of the Lord passed by and see the blood, He would “pass over” those households. (verse 23). In the true sense, the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from death, that is, their firstborn children. However, none of the Egyptians did so. All through Egypt, behind the unmarked, bloodless doorways of Egypt homes, the firstborn children died at midnight (Exodus 12:21–29). “There was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead” (verse 30). This ultimate plague finally melted the Egyptian king’s heart, so that he released the Israelite slaves (verses 31–32). Thereafter, the Lord had required every firstborn son of the Israelites to belong to Him and had to be redeemed with a sacrifice (Exodus 13:1–2, 12; Luke 2:22–24).

Along with the instruction to apply the Passover lamb’s blood to their doorposts and lintels, God instituted a commemorative meal: fire-roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8). The Lord told the Israelites to “observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever” (Exodus 12:24, ESV), even when in a foreign land.

Indeed, the Passover and the story of the exodus have great significance to the Jews. But it is for the believers too. Jesus Christ had fulfilled the Law, so that it included the symbolism of the Passover (see Matthew 5:17). Even the apostle Paul had said that Jesus is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:12). It wasn’t neither accidental nor incidental that He was crucified [sacrificed] at Passover time, and the Last Supper He did with the disciples was a Passover meal (Luke 22:7–8). In a similar fashion, the applying of His blood by faith into our lives had brought salvation or deliverance to our souls. What they did during the first passover was a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice for our salvation. Let’s remember that It was not their ancestry or good works or amiable nature that delivered them. Very clearly, it was only through the blood of the lamb as Jesus’ blood is to us as the Lamb of God.

Ezra 6:13-18  ESV

13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

THE TEMPLE IS FINISHED.

At long last, they finished the building of the temple during the sixth year of King Darius. But, it was not without some hiccups. They needed the encouragements from the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. Haggai has had three messages within the space of four months. [see book of Haggai]

“The three causes which are apt to hinder our faithful zeal in building for the Lord—selfish sloth, unbelieving despondency, and carnal security—are they not the bane also of our own spiritual life? The Lord will not, He cannot, bless us personally while we yield to these temptations to slackness in the business in which He would engage us: the business of seeking out from amid the world's ruins stones for His living temple, doing what in us lies to build up Christ's spiritual house, to win souls to Him, to feed His sheep and His lambs, helping them to abide in Him.” [R. S. Candish]

Similarly, has not God called our spiritual leaders to edify the body of Christ? Paul said, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” [Eph 4:11-13]

Consequently, the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. [v.16] It was marked with festive celebration of offering animal and burnt sacrifices. Having the temple and altar been restored, there is no stopping anymore to the fire at the altar. As Moses had instructed, ““The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” [Lev 6:13]

“The continuously burning, divine fire at the altar of burnt offering helped remind the Israelites of the reality of God’s presence and of their need for God. The sacred fire endured throughout the 40 years in the desert and likely beyond that, as tabernacle worship continued until the time of King Solomon and the building of the Jewish temple. When the temple was dedicated, God once again lit the fire on the altar (2 Chronicles 7:1).” [https://www.gotquestions.org/altar-fire.html]

Thus, the finishing of the temple was not the end. It was the start of the new beginning. Similarly, our spiritual ‘perfection’ isn’t an attainment but a lifestyle of consistent worship unto our God.

Ezra 6:8-12 ESV

8 Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. 9 And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. 11 Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. 12 May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

THE KING’S HEART BELONGS TO THE LORD.

The intimidation that the enemies had mounted against God’s people had backfired. Instead of discontinuing the work, King Darius had strongly supported the building of the temple. They must be devastated for their expectations did not happen. In fact, King Darius had made a strong warning against their adversaries. He decreed, “Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.” [v.11]

It was Solomon who said, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” [Prov 21:1] As God did to King Cyrus, He had touched King Darius significantly. In the advent of national elections, we as believers could spend in prayers serenely. In our communion with God, we should cease from our strivings and trust that God will “tell us great and hidden things that we have not known.”[Jer 33:3] Isn’t our God “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”?

Nobody could go against the fulfilment to the purposes of God and be successful. Even, the psalmist wrote amazingly, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you [God]”[Psa 76:10]. Moreover, Solomon also had written,” The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”[Prov 16:4] Thus, everything will be for His glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” [Rom 11:36]

At the early days of the church, the Pharisee named Gamaliel was wise to counsel the leaders not to continue in persecuting the disciples. He said to them, “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” [Acts 5:38,39]

Today, may we be encouraged to seek His will and pursue it. Let’s lay our plans and purposes subservient to His. As Solomon had admonished us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” [Prov 16:9] That is, He will touch or change everyone should they are needed in the fulfilment to His will at one point in your journey in fulfilling His will.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”[Rom 11:33]

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Ezra 5:3-5 ESV

3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this:[a] “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

BEING UNDER GOD’S WATCHFUL EYE.

When they rose up and continue to build the temple, the enemies in no less than the governor Tattenai and his associates had opposed them immediately. Our enemy Satan, similarly, isn’t concerned with us until we rise up again and fulfill His will. Thus, we should not be surprised why there are difficulties or hardships in doing His will.

We must resist our enemy.[ 1 Pet 5:9] In what way?

As the Jews had stood firmly under the watchful eye of God, so we should rest in God’s abiding presence and sovereign power. Like the Jews, are we not the apple of His eye as believers.[Deut 32:10] Moreover, His decrees are immutable. What the word of God has declared, it is as stable as the character of God. As Num 23:19 says,

“God is not man, that he should lie,

or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?” [Num 23:19]

What the enemy can only do is intimidation. Jesus had promised to advance His kingdom despite resistance. He assured Peter and us by saying,” And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”[Matt 16:18]

Thus, let’s not be passive or defensive as His soldiers today. As the apostle John said, “Let’s believe that God is with us even when oppositions mount. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Thus, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” [Rom 8:31] “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”[Rom 8:37]

Moving forward despite oppositions will give God the greater glory as God’s people through Moses had broken to freedom against the stubbornness of Pharaoh's heart. Undeniably, it was God who brought them out of Egypt and should be given all the glory. Then and only then, people couldn’t deny that it’s God alone and nobody else could be attributed to the exploits and advancements to His kingdom. God uses people and not the other way around.

It was God who assured Moses, saying, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. [Ex 33:14,15] Therefore, let’s stay foot until God signals us to move with Him. And firmly, let’s obey God’s clear command for He will pave the way through the difficulties.

Our spiritual advancements shouldn’t be determined by the degree of oppositions but by the clarity of God’s instructions in our lives.

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Ezra 5:1-2 ESV

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH.

These two prophets were used greatly by God to encourage the governor Zerubbabel and the rest of the Jews to continue the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem. As God’s spokesmen, they heralded the words of God that awakened God’s people unto repentance.

Perhaps, the people’s lethargic attitude had deepened as the years gone by. Simply said, they had settled down so that they had to be awakened. In the same manner, many of us might had become spiritually complacent. The Holy Spirit has to use godly people to prod us.

They could be pastors and teachers who faithfully proclaimed the truth. It’s not them but the word of God that God had used as a sharp sword to our soul. As Heb 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” It’s the word of God that can build us up. [Acts 20:32] Any teaching against and not in subscription to the biblical principles will tear us down.

We don’t need to become pastors or bible experts in order to encourage others today, do we? We could be a ‘Haggai and Zechariah’ to them who need a little push from their spiritual apathy. After all, Heb 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Encouraging others is not by our manipulative skills but through the ministry of prayer and the word. As Paul had admonished us, saying, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”[Col 3:16]

Only the words of God can build us up. But, He uses people to speak up for it.

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Ezra 4:23-24 ESV

23 Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. 24 Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

THE WORK ON THE HOUSE OF GOD THAT IS IN JERUSALEM STOPPED.

It is said that the Lord who guides our ‘steps’ also permits our ‘stops.’ Their rejoicings were cut short because of the enemy’s slanderous accusations before the King Artaxerxes. The most sovereign God had allowed it for a reason. We may have setbacks but this doesn’t mean God isn’t on top of everything.

Have you wondered why there are ‘stops’ in your life. Everything went well in your life until an unexpected thing happened. You have approached a ‘dead end’. But, as you listened to God and looked around, you saw a ‘bend’. Our lives are governed neither by luck nor chances. We believe on a loving God who directs our every step. “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” [Psa 37:23]. Didn’t Solomon admonish us, saying;

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.”? [Prov 3:5,6]

Did not Satan hinder Paul to go to Thessalonica? He said, “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.” [1 Thess 2:17,18] Just that it did not hinder Paul from being a blessing through his epistle to them, we should not allow Covid-19 to hinder us as instruments of blessings by ministering with one another through virtual platforms.

Think about Elijah’s experiences. He hid himself by the brook of Cherith only to see the water of the brook drying up. He went to Zarepath to ask food from a widow reparing her last meal with her son. These all he did everytime ‘the word of the Lord came to him’ before he faced King Ahab boldly. [see 1 Kings 17:1-16] There is a time to hide and grow in our faith before the show of it.

The silence of sawing woods and hammer poundings didn’t mean God’s inactivity. When the Lord’s work sops, it doesn’t mean He stops working. In many cases, it is when we pause working that God is accomplishing the work inside of us. Doesn’t the seed germinate and grow when the farmer is resting and fast sleep? Isn’t the beauty of a musical rendition accentuated by pauses and rest?

Yes, our God who did make the sun stood still so that Joshua could finish his work in a day is the same God who also allow the work of His temple to stop for many days, even years. God is in control so that let’s wait upon Him. Let’s obey what He said we need to do by His grace and let Him do that which only He could. As David had declared, “The battle is the Lord’s.”

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Ezra 4:1-6 ESV

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

HOW TO RESPOND TO OUR ADVERSARIES.

God’s work is no short of oppositions. Moving objects are more noticeable to people than stationary things, are they not? God has moved His people to build His temple so that this has had caught the attention of their enemies.

Similarly, Satan doesn’t want you and me to repair our altars – our worship and prayer disciplines before God. Samuel Chadwick had once said, “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayer less studies, prayer less work, prayer less religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Have you realized why it’s easier for us to serve in ministry than to be consistent in our prayer and worship? Let’s not be surprised that our prayer meetings are one of the least attended activities in our churches. It is where the battle rages the most.

Hence, let’s not be ignorant to the enemy’s devices. One of which is by compromise or infiltration. Initially, their enemies went to the leaders and did express their desire to worship together with them. Posing as wolves in sheep’s clothing, this reminds us that the father of lies[John 8:44] can transform into an angel of light.[2 Cor 11:14] Having not been successful, they swung to the other extreme, that is, the use of force. They disparaged them by slandering them having bribed counselors to frustrate their purpose.

How did they respond to these adversaries?

Their leaders were united in their firmness and resolved, to say, “ You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord.” Peter was clear in his admonition, by saying, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” [1 Pet 5:8,9]

Thus, let’s remember to be watchful and sober today. Let’s claim our victory in and through the gospel. [Rom 8:35-39]. For if we mean business with God, the enemy will be most mean to us. We are in a battleground not playground.

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Ezra 3:10-13 ESV

10 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. 11 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. 12 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, 13 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.

EXPRESSIONS OF JOY.

As the builders had laid the foundations of the temple, the Levites worshipped and sang before the Lord delightedly, that was;

“For he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

They had realized that God’s love had not and would never runs out. As Jeremiah had pointed out;

“the Lord appeared to him[a] from far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Again I will build you, and you shall be built,

O virgin Israel!” [Jer 31:3,4]

Joy is a by-product of knowing God’s character and experiencing His favor. All the people in a spontaneous chorus shouted with great joy. Moreover, the old folks who had seen the first temple were weeping also loudly. They were young boys and girls when they were brought to Babylon yet the memories of the beauty of the first temple was still fresh in their mind. For the fact that they were going to see it again had brought them to so much emotion. Certainly, they wept for so much joy.

It was a bit frenzy. Both shoutings of joys and weeping were indistinguishable. It was so loud that those who are faraway heard it. It’s hard to conceal our joy, isn’t it? May our lives exude the joy in Christ that others will see and be attracted to Christ. A sour spirit doesn’t attract, does it?

Interestingly, the joy of a believer is his mark of strength. Nehemiah had said, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” [Neh 8:10] Strong people [matured] are not easily irritated by the discomforts and inconveniences of life. As James said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [Jas 1:2-4].

Today, let’s muse to what Jesus has done at Calvary. Let’s savour in our minds His unfailing grace. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” This is the way we would breakthrough into worship and joy despite the gloomy circumstances we might be in today.

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Ezra 3:1-7 ESV

1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they 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 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made 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 was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

THEY BUILT THE ALTAR OF GOD.

First and foremost, they settled first their sacrifices of worship and burnt offerings. This necessitated to the building of a new altar. Even though, the foundation of the temple was not yet laid.

They set it in its place. One can’t build on something without clearing the place first, could he? Thus, they had to clear the ruins, to fix and settle on the same spot as it stood prior. Similarly, didn’t Jesus say to the church at Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” [Rev :5a] Repentance does initiate worship, doesn’t it?

What had motivated them? It was for their fear because of the peoples of the lands. Certainly, they had learned their lessons. With ‘peoples’ around them, it brought remembrance to their forefathers’ neglect that had caused their being dispersed and oppressed by the Babylonians. At the flipside, the threat that prompted them to worship was a blessing in disguise.

The most vital place in one’s life is his altar of worship. It’s the peg where the flow of life’s experiences either spins off or settles. If we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you [us]” [Matt 6:33]. Otherwise, our lives will end up in limbo. As Haggai had rebuked the Jews, “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore, the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” [Hag 1:9-11]

Let’s clear the ashes and rebuild our altars today.

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Ezra 2:68-70 ESV

68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics[a] of gold, 5,000 minas[b] of silver, and 100 priests' garments.

70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel[c] in their towns.

THE FREEWILL OFFERING.

To see caravans loaded with goods traversing the wilderness towards the Jerusalem should be a beautiful sight to behold. Not anymore exiles and strangers but free, they must be very excited to be home after 70 years. Obviously, they were filled with exuberance to the fact that they are able to build the temple and worship God freely. The overflow of their freewill offering had evidenced for it.

A life stirred by the Spirit will certainly become fruitful. Like the branch that is fruitful in John 15 because it abides in the vine. Revival is evidenced by generosity. And, it is measured by the depth of the heart, not pockets. It’s God’s working to subdue or overrule our old nature of selfishness.

Such overflow is exemplified by the Christians at Philippians. [Read Phil 4:16-19] Paul was joyful not because he desired a gift but their generosity was a fruit. The imagery of a fruit bearing tree reminds us of the result not out of coercion and obligation. As the tree grows healthily through the nutrients from the ground, it will bear flowers that eventually become fruits.

Yes, they gave to meet a need. But, their attitude is remarkable for being joyful in their sacrifice to bless Paul. Similarly, in 2 Cor 8:1-5, Paul mentioned the Macedonian believers who gave not only according to their abilities, but even beyond. Paul did try to stop them but they insisted. Indeed, when a person experiences the grace of God, in his heart will overflow with goodness to bless others.

Thus, today, let’s allow God to work in our hearts. That, when our hearts are revived, we will know how to sacrifice and be generous yet joyful.

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