Since the returned exiles were without protection from thieves and others, who may take the opportunity not only to rob, but to kill, it would be natural to expect them to begin their labor of restoration by the reconstruction of Jerusalem's wall. Not so was their decision: they resolved to set first to work upon the altar,—they began with God. Most excellent beginning!
It was fear that possessed the people, fear of man, and they were few and evidently defenseless, but they had learned, some of them at least, to look to Him of whom David wrote.
"The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer! my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler (Shield), and the Horn of my salvation, and my high Tower." Psa. 18:22The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2).
It is happy to see those children of Israel—pattern here for every true child of God—every day seeking Him. Immediately upon the setting up of the altar (verses 1, 2, 6), they began to use it in presenting their offerings to Him according to His Word, both morning and evening, every day,—and so continued.
We speak for the Christian, of course, not of continued blood sacrifices, for the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 10, sets forth very plainly one Sacrifice, one offering for sin, of the body of Jesus Christ, by which the believer is perfected forever in position before God.
No, it is not this that we have in mind, but the secret of a happy life, and of growth in grace and knowledge of God and of His Son, namely,—daily prayer, daily reading His Word and meditation thereon, and embracing every opportunity for being gathered with those that are His, to meet Him by faith, where the Lord is the object and the theme.
This may be in deep consciousness of weakness, and of general and most sorrowful failure, as in the days of the book of Ezra, for similar days are our own.
We notice also in our chapter, that there was progress as well as constancy in these poor Jews:—the altar restored and used, then the restoration of the house is begun (verse 7). What admirable unity there was seen (verse 9), and better than unity, hearts going out unitedly to God in praise and giving thanks (verses 10-11).
There was also weeping,—the ancient men, remembering the glories of Solomon's wonderful temple, wept with a loud voice, and this mingling of the voices of singing and praise to God, with the confession of personal and corporate failure, is suited to our own times.
As to what God had wrought, and had secured to the feeble band of His people, the heart had every reason to overflow, but the rejoicing was tempered with the recognition of the failure in responsibility that had occurred.
It was not the glory, the full expression, of the day of the beginning (2 Chron. 5), for in that in which man's responsibility stood, he had utterly failed; this was but a return to divine principle on the part of a remnant who were, so far at least, content to be governed entirely by the Word of God.
There is a vast difference in display, but there need not be in the exercises of the heart, and the realization of faith, between the scene of Acts 2, and the present day "two or three" of Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).
May the Lord draw all His people into a closer walk of constant communion with Himself, through obedience to His Word.