It is not until the second year in the second month that work began on the house of God. We find Zerubbabel and Jeshua — administrative and spiritual leaders — along with the remnant of their brethren joining in the work. We see scriptural order established with the Levites from 20 years old and upward supervising the effort (Ezra 3:8; 1 Chron. 23:24). Furthermore, we again observe that in obedience to the Word of God, they acted as one (Ezra 3:9 margin). Even their praise was “after the ordinance of David king of Israel” (Ezra 3:10; 1 Chron. 25:6; 2 Chron. 5:12-13).
All this occurred before the prophets Haggai and Zechariah appeared on the scene — we do not see direct instruction from God. Rather, we see the children of Israel acting in faith according to the Word of God — this should characterize our acting in the day in which we live. We have the full revelation of God; no prophet is needed to convey to us the will of God. Instead, it should be our desire that we “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12) as revealed in His word.
At the restoration of the foundation, there was singing and joy. Nevertheless, those that remembered Solomon’s temple wept at the recollection. Likewise, in our day there should be no pretention that the church can be returned to the days of Pentecost. We can, however, be restored to the true foundation — that which the Apostle Paul laid, “which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). At that we can joy, but to deny the ruin is nothing other than the blindness of Laodicea.
In the book of Zechariah we find that God took delight in the work of Zerubbabel (Zech. 4:9-10). Furthermore, though Zerubbabel was the instrument that placed the foundation stone, it was laid of God. “Behold, I will bring forth My servant the BRANCH. Behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day” (Zech. 3:9). Although the people of the day only thought of the restoration of the temple, in God’s sight it was so much more — it was the assurance of the introduction of Christ, the Branch.