“When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site…
The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.” (Ezra 2: 68 & 70)
So, they’ve arrived.
According to Ezra 7:8 & 9, their journey lasted around four months. Wonder who they lost on the way? How do you think various relationships among the 40,000 weathered the trek?
The first mention of being back in Jerusalem is “the house of the LORD.”
We can assume King Neb did a thorough job destroying the temple, so what they “arrived at” would have been ruins.
What must they have felt?
What do you feel? When viewing the ruins of a world burdened by sin?
I don’t always look. Sometimes I look, but only through rose-colored glasses.
But some days I hold eye contact with the ruins. The ravages of sin upon relationships and families and cultures.
It’s good to look. To let it matter.
I love how the heads of families are immediately compelled to give freewill offerings to rebuild. That inclusion of “freewill” touches me. No one was making them give toward the rebuild. And they hadn’t even settled in their own homes yet. Many of the younger family heads probably had never seen Solomon’s previous temple. Yet they were willing to give first to the reason for their journey:
Rebuilding Zion.
“You will arise and have
compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
The nations will fear the name
of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
For the LORD will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.” (Psalm 102:13-16)
The ruins make the redemption sweeter. Israel was never restored to the former political kingdom it once was. But from the tribe of Judah came a New King. One that ushered in a New Kingdom. A Kingdom that can never be shaken.
“For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.”