Ezra 3:11 - God Is Good And His Love Endures Forever.
Ezra 3:11 - God Is Good And His Love Endures Forever.
Ezra 3:11 (NKJV) 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.
Ezra 3:11 (TNIV) With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the
Lord: He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever." And all the
people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation
of the house of the Lord was laid.
CONTEXT
Rebuilding the Temple: Ezra 3:7-13.
COMMENTARY APPLICATION With Emphasis On Verse 11.
Rebuilding the altar was a priority of the highest order for
these exiles who had long been denied the ability to worship freely.
This altar was used twice daily for burnt offerings that were
sacrificed to the Lord. Once the altar was complete, the rebuilding of the
Temple itself began. But when the builders had completed the
foundation, construction halted for a public service of praise and
thanksgiving. The people raised their voices to openly acknowledge God's hand
in forgiving their sins and bringing them back home. The words to
their song are preserved for us: "He is so good! His faithful love for
Israel endures forever!"
As a Christian, "your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit"
(1 Corinthians 6:19). He is always at work in your life--past,
present, and future--even when you feel as if you are in "exile" or as if
your life is on hold. Can you look back in your life and find
evidence of God's faithful love, even before you started following
Christ? Stop everything and thank God for all he has done and all he
will continue to do for the rest of your life! [The One Year Bible
for New Believers]
How do you go about restoring things after God's chastening
hand has been removed?
Put worship first. There was no temple as yet, but that did
not hinder them from setting up an altar and sacrificing to God.
This is an illustration of Matthew 8:33. They needed to worship God
for their own sake as well for a witness to the people around
them..
Celebrate God's goodness. It was time for the Feast of
Tabernacles, a joyful feast of thanksgiving. Times were tough, but the people
obeyed the Word and praised the Lord. This in itself would be a
testimony to the Gentiles, and it would do their own hearts good. It is
always the right time to praise the Lord.
Establish the foundations. The Scriptures told them all they
needed to know to rebuild the temple, and they followed God's plan. The
foundation is the most important part of the building, for it determines
the size, shape, and strength of the structure. Do you have the
right foundations for your life?
Look to the future. The old people looked back and wept while
the young people looked ahead and rejoiced. Tears and cheers, not
too different from what is happening in families and churches today.
The men were able to work together but not praise God together. If
you concentrate on your past, you are sure to rob yourself of a
glorious future (Phil. 3:12-14). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by
Warren Wiersbe]
You cannot change the past, but the past can change you, either
for better or for worse. It all depends on how you look at it. The
past can be a rudder that guides you or an anchor that hinders you.
Leave your past mistakes with God, and look to the future by faith.
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
The greater our difficulties, the more important it is to put
God first. When we do, we like those in ancient Judea, find our
hearts also filled with joy and praise. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com
