The book of Ezra begins with the return of a remnant of Judah to Jerusalem. The king of Persia, Cyrus, made the proclamation that allowed the return. He wrote, “go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:1). More than 40,000 Jews returned, and restored worship as they began laying the foundation of the temple.
The laying of the foundation of the temple brought mixed emotions. Consider the words of the text:
“And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.’ Then 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 the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off” (Ezra 3:11-13).
While extreme joy was the predominant emotion, there is a noted reference to the weeping of the old men who could remember the first temple, built by Solomon. Not all was as it had been when the kingdom had prospered with God’s blessings. These men knew how far they had fallen, and the meagerness of their present circumstances. Only those without the experience to compare could rejoice with a full heart. Regardless, it was not wrong for them to be happy. God had promised a time would come when they would again inhabit their land. That time was present, and there was joy in their renewal and in God’s faithfulness to the nation.
Such joy is the rightful emotion of those who enjoy the blessings of the God of heaven. “Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid” (11).
What is sad is how fleeting the emotion can be. The church in Ephesus had lost its first love (Revelation 2:4). The church in Sardis was dead (Revelation 3:1). The church in Laodicea was lukewarm (Revelation 3:16). While we may be persecuted or in the midst of trial, remember that the joy of the Lord can be ours at any time.
This is because God is faithful. When the joy leaves it is because we let it go. God’s love for man, and His desire to bless His children is constant. Just like the Jews as they returned to their land, we have reasons to rejoice everyday!
