Ezra 3:1-13 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities… I. THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS TO REBUILD THE ALTAR. This was a right beginning. The altar of sacrifice was the centre of the Jewish religion; just as its antitype, the Cross, is the centre of Christianity. The Cross is our altar; it stands at the centre of our religion. 1. The altar of burnt-offering in this instance was intended as a safeguard. There is no security like that which a timid soul finds under the shadow of the altar (Psalm 84:3). A man is never so safe from adverse influences as when upon his knees. 2. This altar was "set upon its bases" — that is, it was restored upon its former foundations. There is virtue in observing old landmarks. Some things never grow obsolete. Air and water and sunlight are just what they always were, nor is human ingenuity likely to improve them in any way. There are some truths which bear to our spiritual constitution the same relation that light does to the eyes and water to the lungs. Nothing can amend or improve them. There may be new formulations, new modes of presentation; but the altar of the Christian religion will stand on its old bases as long as time endures. 3. The ceremonies of this restored altar were conducted after the prescribed form. II. THEY NEXT PREPARED FOR THE REBUILDING OF THEIR TEMPLE. 1. The altar meanwhile was kept in constant use. Its fires never went out. There was no lack of offerings upon it. The people had learned by sad experience their dependence upon God. 2. There was little difficulty in collecting the necessary funds. 3. The workmen were secured by generous outlay and paid promptly when the wages fell due. 4. The materials for the temple were collected from every quarter. Tyre and Sidon and the forests of Lebanon were put under contribution. Thus God ever utilises the nations. The Caesars built highways for the propagation of the gospel. Soulless corporations in our time are binding the far corners of the earth together with iron bands and cables, not knowing nor caring that God's kingdom is thus being ushered in. (D. J. Burrell, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. |
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