"He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever.” - Ezra 3:10-11
“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 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.” ~Ezra 3:10-11
The people had been without a temple for many decades. In the Old Testament times, the temple represented the actual presence of God, so they were starving for contact. Their whole beings yearned for Him.
Can you pinpoint a time in your life that relates to this longing for something? I remember spending my first Mother’s Day away from my baby and husband on a work trip - that physical aching to hold them closely - that impatience when landing in Pittsburgh but still having over an hour to get home. Every fiber of my body was being drawn to them.
God draws us, as well, even when we don’t realize it. My friend used to say, “Everyone has a Jesus-shaped hole in their heart and only Jesus will fill it”. Jesus is that foundation and the temple of the Old Testament is a foreshadow of us! Look at what Paul wrote centuries later:
The foundation that has already been built is Jesus Christ, and no one can build any other foundation. People can build on that foundation using gold, silver, jewels, wood, grass, or straw. But the work that each person does will be clearly seen, because the Day will make it plain. That Day will appear with fire, and the fire will test everyone's work. If the building they put on the foundation still stands, they will get their reward. But if their building is burned up, they will suffer loss. They will be saved, but it will be like someone escaping from a fire. You should know that you yourselves are God's temple. God's Spirit lives in you.
Father, let us build our houses only with things precious to you, realizing that we are Your temple and You dwell within us. Amen.
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