Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“Longing for the Future or Paralyzed by the Past?”

Ezra 3

The people of Israel waste no time in building the altar, as sacrifice is central to communion with God. They enter quickly into the annual cycle of commanded worship, going beyond what is prescribed with their freewill offerings. And as soon as it is practical they lay the foundation of the Temple, signaling a glorious future for the worship of the Lord. Nevertheless, some linger behind, paralyzed by regret over the consequences of past failure, missing out on the celebration of the faithfulness of the Lord. How about you? Are you longing for the future or paralyzed by the past?

I. Worship must be first and foremost

Imagine God at the center of your world. Then other interests, other loves begin to pull you away from the center. The activity of worship is like gravity.

How do we remain zealous worshippers without becoming distracted by our culture? Did you feel pulled away from worship this week?

Make worship a habit. Restructure your life. Ezra 3:4-5

Begin immediately.

Ezra 3:1: The month of Tishri, 537 B.C. (September/October)

No delay in setting up altar for worship. Only been in the land a few months.

First major gathering. Most important festival days.

Num. 29:1, 7, 12; Trumpets, atonement, tabernacles

“as one man”; united in their intent

No delay in beginning construction of temple; Ezra 3:7-8

Time for supplies to be ordered and delivered; about 7 months later

Month of Iyyar (April-May) same month Solomon began construction (1 K. 6:1);

“…the beginning of the dry season after the major harvest is gathered in and the important festivals are already held. It is thus the right time to start building operations.” Fensham, pg. 63

Genesis 12:7 – Abraham, upon arriving in the promised land, first set up an altar.

II. Worship begins with sacrifice – 3:2

Tabernacle: The altar is first thing worshipper encounters; Ex. 29:43

Blood provides access; Hebrews; without shedding of blood…

Hebrews – access through Christ

Bulls and goats were a picture

We should not come empty handed.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

—Romans 12:1

David to Araunah – I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing.

Genesis 12:7 – Worship costs much time and preparation: gather rocks and build an alter; gather wood; start fire; slaughter animal

Worship costly for returning exiles: they were barely established and didn’t have much to give.

Worshipped with joy because they were longing for the future.

III. Worship is energized by hope – 3:10-11

Worship celebrates God; God hasn’t changed; We worship because God is faithful (good = faithful to covenant; lovingkindness); Worshiped all day? Several days?

Psalms of praise and thanksgiving, not psalms of lament.

Setting of establishing altar – Feast of Tabernacles; seventh month

Remembers provision in wilderness; anticipates Messianic reign

Zech 14:9, 16

Leaders – Ezra 3:2; prefigure a glorious future

Zerubbabel – lineage of David; Hope that king will be enthroned

Jeshua – priest

Zechariah 6:11-13

God is restoring His worship in Israel

Not everyone could join in the joyful worship – 3:12-13

IV. Worship is paralyzed by regret – 3:12-13

“Nothing impresses the mind with a deeper feeling of loneliness than to tread the silent and deserted scene of former throng and pageantry.”

—Washington Irving, “Westminster Abbey,” The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.

Nostalgia; Good old days; Solomon’s temple; never be the same

Wallowing in consequences of past failure

Worship may be difficult for you today; thinking of self; past failure

Regrets exist

Worship celebrates God. It takes our attention off of failure. Hope replaces regret.

God can take any failure and create victory, beauty

Zech. 3:1-5 – Jeshua had failed; God restored him

Joyful worship can begin again

Forgetting what lies behind; hope can overwhelm past regret

3:3, 11-13; move from fear to shouts of praise

Conclusion

I am a worshipper. I was made to be a worshipper.

What will you do to order all of your life around worship of God?