Nehemiah 10:39 "For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God."
The first 27 verses of this chapter are those who signed/sealed the promises made. Nehemiah is at the top of the list. There are other well known names, Daniel for one. I do not know if it is the same Daniel we all know. Maybe we will learn that later. The Levite Jeshua is there, we have seen his name before.
The balance of the chapter tells of the various promises made. I find that they are those included in the law and that in the past the children of Israel said they would do. Nevertheless, it is not bad to renew vows so long as they are kept. Here are some highlights:
v32 "...to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God"
v34 "...cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering..."
v35 "...bring the firstfruits..."
v36 "Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle..."
v37 "And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough..."
v38 "...Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes..."
Then we go back to the verse at the first where they promise to never forsake the house of God.
We can see in our day and read about them in the New Testament how priests and ministers have worked up rules and regulations outside the Bible attempting to explain what is already written and sometimes changing the instructions. With all the writing, I think, sometimes the original meaning is totally changed. We should always go back to the source document.
Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
The promise to do right by the house of the LORD.
Showing posts with label Jeshua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeshua. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Building Resumed Ezra 5
Ezra 5:1 "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
We will need to look at parts of these two books of the Bible to see what they said. They are located near the end of the Old Testament just before Malachi.
v2 "Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them."
At this time it seems there were four men working on the temple: Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua in the mentioned books).
Then came the adversaries and confronted the builders wanting to know who told them they could start building again. Remember Cyrus told them to do so, then Artaxerxes stopped them after the governors told the king that it would take away his revenue. Now Darius is on the throne and the LORD has encamped at Jerusalem to see to the building.
v5 "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter."
The letter to Darius from the counselors of the governors included the report that building had resumed against the orders of the previous king but it also included the testimony of the elders who told how Cyrus had ordered the building of the temple. It included a challenge to the king to search the records to see whether it was true. This goes to a legal term called a precedent. It means that if it has been done in the past by law makers, it can be done again based on that action, or something like that.
v17 "Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."
The counselors asked for a ruling from the judge, in this case the king. The answer in the next chapter is not what they were expecting and dramatically turned the tide in favor of the children of Israel.
Ezra shows us what is happening in the physical world. Behind the scenes, so to speak, there is also action which we have to go to the prophets to find. As example, we will look at some verses in Zechariah:
The Lord speaking: Zechariah 1:15 "And I am sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction." The LORD intended to punish his people for their sin, he used the other nation to do so, but he was not pleased when they took it on themselves to increase the punishment.
v16 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem."
These chapters are very interesting: We have the LORD of Hosts, two angels and a prophet talking.
Chapter 2:3 "And behold the angel that talked with me went forth and another angel went out to meet him v4 And said unto him Run, speak to this young man, saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. v5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."
The tide has turned away from the heathen and in favor of the builders. Of course, it was the LORD who made the difference. We will close with this verse from Chapter 3:8 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Temple work resumes.
We will need to look at parts of these two books of the Bible to see what they said. They are located near the end of the Old Testament just before Malachi.
v2 "Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them."
At this time it seems there were four men working on the temple: Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua in the mentioned books).
Then came the adversaries and confronted the builders wanting to know who told them they could start building again. Remember Cyrus told them to do so, then Artaxerxes stopped them after the governors told the king that it would take away his revenue. Now Darius is on the throne and the LORD has encamped at Jerusalem to see to the building.
v5 "But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter."
The letter to Darius from the counselors of the governors included the report that building had resumed against the orders of the previous king but it also included the testimony of the elders who told how Cyrus had ordered the building of the temple. It included a challenge to the king to search the records to see whether it was true. This goes to a legal term called a precedent. It means that if it has been done in the past by law makers, it can be done again based on that action, or something like that.
v17 "Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."
The counselors asked for a ruling from the judge, in this case the king. The answer in the next chapter is not what they were expecting and dramatically turned the tide in favor of the children of Israel.
Ezra shows us what is happening in the physical world. Behind the scenes, so to speak, there is also action which we have to go to the prophets to find. As example, we will look at some verses in Zechariah:
The Lord speaking: Zechariah 1:15 "And I am sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction." The LORD intended to punish his people for their sin, he used the other nation to do so, but he was not pleased when they took it on themselves to increase the punishment.
v16 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem."
These chapters are very interesting: We have the LORD of Hosts, two angels and a prophet talking.
Chapter 2:3 "And behold the angel that talked with me went forth and another angel went out to meet him v4 And said unto him Run, speak to this young man, saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. v5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."
The tide has turned away from the heathen and in favor of the builders. Of course, it was the LORD who made the difference. We will close with this verse from Chapter 3:8 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Temple work resumes.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Temple Foundation Ezra 3
Ezra 3:10 "And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel."
Building again the temple was not just erecting any old building. The temple was where the LORD had chosen to put his name. Besides the place where offerings were made for the sins of the people, the temple symbolized the nation Israel. When the temple was torn down and Jerusalem destroyed (the walls and gates and many houses), symbolically, it was the end of the nation Israel. Now, the LORD remembers those he has scattered (because of their sin) and this is among the first steps of bringing them back. We have dealt with and will again, king Nebuchadnezzar who took the children of Israel away into captivity. Cyrus who ordered the rebuilding, Artaxeres and Darius. It was not a small thing for a band of Jews to go back into Israel and began laying the foundation of the temple amidst those who were having a good time reaping profits from the land.
v3 "And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening."
There were some prominent men who led the building. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, Kadmiel and no doubt others. But note is made that these men stood up. Then they got the building started.
So the foundation was laid and they rejoiced with song and shouts of joy. There were some very old men there who remembered the glory of the original temple. They had different feelings:
v12 "But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy."
So there was a mixed reaction but overall, the shout of joy made it impossible to distinguish the sounds of sadness. We cannot always wait for past glory before we rejoice, things seldom are like they use to be.
v13 "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 noise was heard afar off."
That noise heard afar off will bring them trouble in the next chapter.
Zechariah 4:6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Temple foundation is laid after the return from captivity.
Building again the temple was not just erecting any old building. The temple was where the LORD had chosen to put his name. Besides the place where offerings were made for the sins of the people, the temple symbolized the nation Israel. When the temple was torn down and Jerusalem destroyed (the walls and gates and many houses), symbolically, it was the end of the nation Israel. Now, the LORD remembers those he has scattered (because of their sin) and this is among the first steps of bringing them back. We have dealt with and will again, king Nebuchadnezzar who took the children of Israel away into captivity. Cyrus who ordered the rebuilding, Artaxeres and Darius. It was not a small thing for a band of Jews to go back into Israel and began laying the foundation of the temple amidst those who were having a good time reaping profits from the land.
v3 "And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening."
There were some prominent men who led the building. Jeshua, Zerubbabel, Kadmiel and no doubt others. But note is made that these men stood up. Then they got the building started.
So the foundation was laid and they rejoiced with song and shouts of joy. There were some very old men there who remembered the glory of the original temple. They had different feelings:
v12 "But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy."
So there was a mixed reaction but overall, the shout of joy made it impossible to distinguish the sounds of sadness. We cannot always wait for past glory before we rejoice, things seldom are like they use to be.
v13 "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 noise was heard afar off."
That noise heard afar off will bring them trouble in the next chapter.
Zechariah 4:6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Temple foundation is laid after the return from captivity.
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