Ezra 3:1 "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."
Ezra 3:6 "From the first day of the seventh month began they to
offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the
LORD was not yet laid."
The people did something very important before making the first step of laying
the foundation for the temple to be rebuilt. They took time to reinstate true
worship unto the Lord. Notice the order in which they proceeded before doing
anything towards the actual physical temple.
Vs 2. They "builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt
offerings thereon"
Vs 3 "they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD"
Vs 4 "They kept also the feast of tabernacles"
Vs 5 "And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of
the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and
of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD."
70 years had passed since they had the privilege of worshipping in Jerusalem.
No doubt, they had seen many different altars to the various gods while they
had been in captivity. There is always the danger of the mind being influenced
by all the various things that are being done in the name of religion.
Sometimes, even the language of false worship is incorporated into everyday
conversations without realizing it. But when the people returned to their home,
they were hungering for true worship. Thank the Lord, there were those
still alive who had been active in the temple worship of 70 years ago. They
"builded the altar of the God of Israel."
They prayed unto the Lord through their sacrificial offerings unto Him.
These sacrificial, burnt offerings, were prayers of repentance, of commitment,
of joy for the restoration of the land to them. They "kept the feast of
the tabernacles" which reminded them from where God had brought them. This
was a feast to remember the Lord's giving them such an incredible deliverance
in bringing them out of the bondage of Israel.
Food for thought: Could there be a reason we sometimes hit the proverbial brick
wall when we attempt to do something? Could it be that we sometimes forget to
pray? Could it be that we sometimes forget to put "first things
first" by asking for God's wisdom, strength, mercy, and grace upon our
endeavors?
The Word of God teaches us the Lord's House is to be called a House of
Prayer. True Spiritual growth and Godly success comes only with prayer
and seeking God's will.