HOLY NOISE. Ezra 3:12-13. Laying a solid foundation is a cause for great rejoicing. There will be no doubt that older people will share their memories of wonderful days in the past, hoping that time would stop and those good times would last. We must face some realism and then make the most of what we have. After that, we can sing along with both the young and old as we praise our God for what we see in the present, and in faith, we raise His house.
The size of the new temple was the same as Solomon’s temple because it was built in the same place, but there would have been obvious differences. Solomon’s temple was elaborate, with large amounts of gold, precious stone decorations, and artwork. It was located in the center of a busy city and took seven years to build, not only because of the intricate details but also because of the large courtyard and surrounding buildings.
The temple being rebuilt on the same site was surrounded by ruins and was not very grand. So, the old people who might have had vague memories of Solomon’s temple in their youth would recall the splendor that such a temple had left on their young minds. Now, they would weep as elders, remembering the glory that once existed there. A small group mourned what was lost, while those who had never known the blessings of the past felt excited and joyful about what was happening now. They found joy in the evidence of restoration – the laying of the foundation of the new temple. What is all this noise about? The shouting is spreading everywhere, and the people around are wondering what’s going on. What is so important that it causes such a commotion? Why is there such a fuss over a few stones being laid as the foundation of a new building? Why are the old folks crying while the younger ones shout for joy?
There is joy when we do God’s work in God’s way, and joy when we follow tried and proven instructions. Both joy and sorrow are appropriate attitudes when we consider the wonders of God’s grace to us in the past, and experience His grace personally in the present. We give thanks unto the Lord “for His mercy endures forever!” We have joy when we appreciate God and His presence with us. We mourn over the sins that cause our fellowship with God to be broken, and rejoice over His grace that is greater than all our sins. We have joy in spite of the sadness of others, because we know that we have been forgiven and will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”
The sorrow and weeping were probably from older people who remembered the glory of Solomon's temple. Likely, they felt sadness over what had been lost because of sin. The “wondrous work to the children of men” probably lasted many years, but those years were wasted. They likely felt sadness as they faced guilt for what they had done and failed to do. There was probably sadness over their past failures and the lost glory that once filled that place. But what is this? There is crying among the older people. They are weeping loudly so that others can't tell whether they are crying out of joy or sorrow. These older folks had seen Solomon’s temple and all its grand glory. The gap between what once was and what is now was huge. What brought joy to some caused grief to others.
We can't avoid moments of sadness when we think about past failures and losses, but we do ourselves no good if we dwell on what we cannot change. We start where we are, with what God has given us, and move forward in faith and confidence in Him alone. When we "do with our might" what we can, we can find joy instead of sorrow; peace instead of pain; and trust in the trials of labor and life.
We may feel unworthy of “the least of His mercies” because of our failures and sins, yet simultaneously rejoice and be thankful for the conscious knowledge that His presence is with us. It is natural to show emotions, both visibly and audibly. We can waste a lot of time contemplating the greatness of a work done for God, or of a work of God done through others, in the past. We are where we are and who we are; there is nothing we can do to change that. So, we begin where we are now and move forward with God’s help, even if it doesn’t seem too significant to those from another time or place. Start where you are and look ahead to the goal.
Older people may tend to discourage younger believers by comparing the work done for the Lord today with what we consider better ways and better days in the past. We need to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His commission has not changed; His power has not diminished, and His purposes remain the same. We are here to glorify God, bless His people, preach His Gospel, fulfill His word, and wait for Him to come.
There is a danger of judging the spiritual work people are doing today based on our opinions rather than scriptural practices. Older individuals should avoid being unnecessarily critical and refrain from using their opinions and past experiences as a template for current practices. We must remember “It is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure.” We are involved in His work, not ours. He alone knows what will happen, and those who know and serve Him with pure hearts and motives understand that the crowning day is coming when everything will be revealed for what it truly is and why it was done. Therefore, we can rejoice and be glad for what God is doing and who He is using to carry out His divine will. Older people need to remain quiet when the temptation comes to say, “I remember when….”
Finally, there was some activity that counts. The Lord spoke to the pagan king through the prophet Jeremiah, telling him to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. When God speaks, even kings are wise to obey His word. The people rallied, and by the tens, hundreds, and thousands, they began to collect all that was needed for the work of rebuilding.
First things first: the priests built the altar of God, set it on its base, offered the burnt offerings, and kept the feast of tabernacles. Then the Levites got to their work of rebuilding the temple. Material started coming in from various places. Finally, the big day came when the building was to start. The priest-trumpeters got dressed in the right apparel; the singers got in their places, and the people shouted for joy. They were praising the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was finally laid.
The temple was being rebuilt, even though the glory of it wasn’t the same as the one Solomon built. Even the later temple built by Herod over 46 years wasn’t the same as this one. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ still referred to it as “My Father’s House.”