In Ezra 3, there is a lesson to be learned from the account of the returning exiles. Let's examine the Scriptures to find out what instruction the Holy Spirit would have us glean.
Ezra 3:1-3 says - "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. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 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." "Let not those that have an altar starve it." - Matthew Henry
These Israelites were returning to Jerusalem after undergoing seventy (70) years of captivity in Babylon for their backslidden ways. Their closing record before the start of these seventy (70) years was - "they polluted the house of the LORD."
Now look and see what their top priority was in coming to Jerusalem and settling in the land. What was the first thing that they did?
Did they start by clearing away the ruins? Did they have a council to determine what to do? Or did they raise the walls of the city?
No, amazingly, they came "as one man" (unanimously, with a common purpose, having one mind) and with great zeal for the LORD - postponing all worldly business in order to take care of His business.
Oh, look what seventy (70) years of captivity will do to a people! See how these - who were newly come from the chastening of a long exile - act! They left all of their business in the country to take care of God's business.
They learned their lessons well. They learned to begin everything with God and, in all things, depend upon Him.
The altar of sacrifice was the center of Jewish religion. Hence, the first thing they did was rebuild the altar.
They could not immediately have a temple. Nonetheless, they were determined that they would not be without an altar. Even in the midst of the rubbish in the city, they hastened to set it up - and in doing so - to lay the spiritual foundation for God's worship.
Besides re-establishing the worship of God, they also had another reason for hastening to set up the altar. Fear was upon them because of the neighboring peoples of the land who bore ill will to them for their beliefs. These enemies consisted of non-Jews from the surrounding nations like Ammon, Moab, Edom, Samaria, and Egypt who had settled the land while they were in captivity.
The Israelites determined that they would not be frightened from their religious beliefs by this opposition. They chose to make a right and good use of their fears. They would allow their fears to drive them to focus on the priority of re-establishing their relationship with God and restoring His rightful worship. They knew that His Presence would protect and aid them against their enemies.
The altar reminded them of God's daily Presence with them - specifically, the altar of burnt offering with the morning and evening sacrifices. The Blood was of utmost importance for they realized that they could not approach the Holy God except through the Blood.
The altar - specifically the altar of burnt offering - became a safeguard to them against their enemies.
How was this so?
Because, according to the Jewish tradition, the purpose of the burnt offering was to draw near to God. It was an offering that symbolized a total and complete submission to the will of God. It demonstrated a willingness to obey Him unswervingly. It depicted a complete and total dedication. Every part of the sacrifice was consumed on the altar. Nothing was left but the aroma produced by giving something completely and utterly to God.
First and foremost - the exiles were motivated to build the altar - the altar of burnt offering - because of the danger from the people all around them. They knew that God would protect them from harm only as they approached Him in faith and obedience.
Hence, the altar became a safeguard for them - a place where their timid souls could find security.
In Psalm 84:3, we find David also referring to the "altar" as a safeguard - a place of security - when he said - "Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God." Just as the sparrow and swallow found "homes" for them and their young, even so did David find his "nest" - resting-place - or place of security from all harm and evil under the shadow of the altar.
What is God saying to us today in this message?
He is calling His Church back to the "altar" - the altar of burnt offering - the place of total and complete submission to the will of God...of total and complete dedication to the cause of Christ...and of unswerving obedience.
Just as the exiles faced fears from the neighboring peoples of the land who bore ill will to them for their beliefs, even so does the Church today face fears from neighboring peoples of the land who bear ill will to her for her Christian beliefs. These "enemies of the Cross" are set on stripping her of her freedoms and rights to speak the Truth of God's Word and freely proclaim the Gospel.
Like the exiles, she must determine that she will not be frightened from her Christian beliefs (based on the Word of God) by the opposition. She must choose to make a right and good use of her fears. She can do that by coming back to the "altar" - the place of total surrender. It is at that place where she will find God's Awesome Presence to be a safeguard for her against all evil.
Today's Church must get away from the concept of the glorious exterior of the "temple" - including the strobe lights...the million dollar buildings or edifices...the impressive sound systems and talented singers and musicians, etc. - and get back to the old rugged, "Bloody" "altar."
The exiles from the Babylonian captivity are saying something to us today. They are saying - loud and clear - that what is most important is the - "altar" - the altar of burnt offering. This is how they warded off danger from their enemies. And this is how the church will do so in this day and hour.
At first, these exiles couldn't have a temple. Nonetheless, they determined that they would not be without an "altar." After suffering all of those years for their backslidden ways, they came to realize that the Blood of the sacrifice was of utmost importance. They couldn't get through to God any other way. The Holy One of Israel can only be approached through the Blood of Jesus.
Proverbs 27:8 offers this warning to the Church of today - "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place."
There are so many today - like the silly bird - who are wandering - hopping from bough to bough - resting nowhere. They are uneasy in their present condition... given to change...unsettled in truth... feeling discontented and restless. They have what is called - "wander-lust." And the reason being is because they are running from the only place of rest - God's "altar" - the altar of burnt offering - the place of complete and utter surrender to God.
This "wander-lust" causes them to hop from "bough to bough" - looking for rest in any place besides the "altar."
However, as this message has pointed out, there is only one place of rest...one place of safety from danger ...and one place of security from all harm and evil. And that place is the "altar" - the place where the Church will find security for her timid souls.
We at Walking In Truth Ministry feel that it is our God-given mandate in this day and hour to call people back to the "altar" - the place of total surrender to God - especially as we face ruthless enemies who - like never before - are opposed to the Truth.
As Matthew Henry alluded to in the opening statement, so many in the Church today are guilty of "starving" the "altar."
Will you help us reach people across the globe with this message? More than ever, we find ourselves in total agreement with E. Day who said - "The best of defenses is the favor of God, and so an altar may be a stronger bulwark than a fortress." We also concur with the statement from the Biblical Illustrator which says - "The fear of enemies should not intimidate us from the worship of God. The fear of enemies should impel us to worship God." That can only happen when the Church comes back to the place of true worship - the "altar" - the altar of burnt offering.
We are so thrilled to announce that the statistics on Spreaker Live Radio show that for our 66 episodes (broadcasted messages), we have had 8,393 plays on Spreaker (with 714 downloads)...179 followers...and 609 plays on iHeartRadio.
Since we have started posting our podcasts on Podbean, we have had 551 episode hits and 3,842 visits to our site.
On our blogspot site - WordPowerTeacher - we have had 5,859 pageviews. And the statistics on this site show that our messages are being read and heard by people from the United States, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia, China, Canada, France, Latvia, Indonesia, Ukraine, Kuwait, Netherlands, Slovakia, Australia, and India (with US, Russia, and Ukraine leading in numbers.)
Recently, we have added a new network for our podcasts - Libsyn - the world's largest podcast network - where we have had 65 downloads. We also started posting our messages on Weebly - a web-hosting service - where we already have had 125 pageviews.
Every month our numbers increase - indicating the "enlargement of our borders." However, there is much more territory to cover in this world. Therefore, will you prayerfully consider helping us with your financial gift this month so that we can increase our "field" of ministry?
For those of you who faithfully support this Ministry with your monthly gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We are eternally grateful to you! Surely, God has used you to keep us going strong for Him.
If you would like to be a blessing to this ministry or a faithful supporter, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
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Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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