GOD RECONSTRUCTS HIS TEMPLE IN YOU

But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfullyH8057. The people could not distinguish the shouts of joyH8057 from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar. Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joyH2305. For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joyH8057, because the LORD had made them joyfulH8055 and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.

Ezra 3:12-13, 6:16, 22

3:12 the first temple. The temple built by Solomon (cf. 1 Kin. 5–7). wept with a loud voice. The first temple had been destroyed 50 years earlier. The old men, who would have been about 60 years or older, knew that this second temple did not begin to match the splendor of Solomon’s temple nor did the presence of God reside within it (cf. Hag. 2:1–4; Zech. 4:9, 10). The nation was small and weak, the temple smaller and less beautiful by far. There were no riches as in David and Solomon’s days. The ark was gone. But most disappointing was the absence of God’s Shekinah glory. Thus the weeping. shouted . . . for joy. For those who did not have a point of comparison, this was a great moment. Possibly Ps. 126 was written and sung for this occasion.

MacArthur Study Bible

The shouts of joy reverberated; there was a joyous echo throughout the city. God’s temple was being rebuilt. The Lord filled the people continuously with jubilation and praise. God is the reservoir from which the believer draws joy. The people of Israel were ecstatic to be back home from captivity in Babylon and excited to be free once again. They were elated to dedicate the revitalized temple for God’s purposes. Let us remember that we ourselves are God’s temple where He abides. We can be worshiping wherever we are. Worship does not reside in a building of brick and mortar. God has made us living temples—His abiding place—via the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When I (Susan) was feeling excluded and isolated, I prayed. the Lord revealed to me that He feels the frailty of loneliness exponentially on behalf of all His children. In Jesus’s humanness, He felt loneliness as the disciples failed to pray in the garden and rejection on the cross as God turned His face away. Shocker: Jesus felt loneliness! We no longer need to feel lonely because our joy is fulfilled as we take up our abode in Christ, and the Holy Spirit makes us His dwelling place—His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The antidote to loneliness is knowing that “. . . in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  Has Christ restored your building to be His temple? If not, surrender yourself to His reconstruction of your life today!

Father, we are Your dwelling place. We are never alone. We can worship You even in the quietness of our own home because You are present with us and in us. What an awesome reality! Thank You for filling us with the joy of Your presence.