Ezra

Ezra 3: God is good

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the altar and the new foundation, let us thank the good God whom Israel praised. Ask Him to help us understand their worship and to direct our eyes to Jesus through their sacrifices.

Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes to understand the worship we read about today. Show us Jesus through the sacrifices and the house being rebuilt. Make us more like Him, and bless our family as we praise You for Your goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The people gather together as one man to Jerusalem, and Jeshua, the priests, Zerubbabel and his brothers build the altar. They offer burnt offerings morning and evening despite their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands. When the builders lay the temple foundation, priests and Levites lead praise to the LORD for His goodness and loving kindness toward Israel. Many old men who saw the first house weep, while many shout for joy, and the sounds cannot be told apart.

As you read Ezra 3, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God is good, and His people praise Him as His house is rebuilt.

God's goodness gives the returning people a reason to worship while much remains unfinished. The altar comes before the temple foundations because sacrifice stands at the center of their approach to Him. They kept the feast of tents “as it is written”, and sent food and oil to Tyre and Sidon for cedar trees from Lebanon. Even their fear of surrounding peoples cannot change whom they must worship. Their song praises God's enduring loving kindness toward Israel, the people He had brought back from captivity. The old men remember the first house while others shout for joy over this beginning. Both sounds rise at the same foundation, and neither changes the goodness of the God they praise.

How does Ezra 3 show us that God is good, and that His people praise Him as His house is rebuilt?

The people offered sacrifices as God's law said.

The altar is ready while the temple foundation is still unlaid. The people approach God through the offerings He commanded, even while they fear their neighbors. Morning and evening, the altar showed that sinners need a sacrifice, and God would one day give His Son as that sacrifice.

They praised God when the foundation was laid.

Their song gives the reason for praise, God's goodness and enduring loving kindness toward Israel. The foundation is a visible beginning of the house they had returned to build. Priests and Levites lead with instruments according to David's directions.

Shouts of joy and weeping sounded together.

The old men had seen the first house, so this foundation meets a living memory of what was lost. Others shout aloud for joy over what has begun. The people could not tell the shouts of joy from the weeping, and the noise was heard far away (verse 13).

Memorise

For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.

Ezra 3:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, why do I need Jesus when I come to worship God?

The returning worshipers praised God, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” Their altar stood before the temple was rebuilt. Morning and evening sacrifices taught that sinful people need an offering to approach the holy God.

Those repeated sacrifices looked forward to Christ (Hebrews 10 verses 11 to 14). Jesus offered Himself once for His people, bearing the punishment their sins deserved. His completed offering makes them right with God forever. The risen Savior sits at God's right hand because that sacrifice is enough.

Jesus has paid for sin, and He cleanses all who come to Him. Turn from sin and seek your salvation in Jesus alone. Those who believe in Him have forgiveness for every sin. Their reason for praise is the goodness of the Savior who has reconciled them to God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the sacrifices point to Jesus, whose death dealt with His people's sins. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His goodness and for Jesus, the reality to which the old worship pointed. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one speak if they wish.

and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Romans 15:9

Lord God, thank You for Your goodness and for the worship restored in Jerusalem. Thank You that Jesus offered Himself for His people once for all. Please turn our hearts from sin to trust Him. Teach our family to praise You through joy and tears this week. Amen.