When the builders completed the foundation of the LORD’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the LORD, just as King David had prescribed. 11 With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the LORD:
“He is so good!His faithful love for Israel endures forever!”
Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the LORD because the foundation of the LORD’s Temple had been laid.
12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13 The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.

So, the people had come back to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity. They were rebuilding their lives and families, as well as their faith and culture. It was a new day. Great joy and, oddly, great sadness mingled together.  

It was the ones who remembered what the original temple, the one King Solomon had built, was like that were weeping. Why? Was it sadness over the lost years? Were they tears of joy, or relief? Was it that the new temple didn’t measure up to the old one?  

It was a loud, and unusual noise that could be heard far away. That’s really all we know, except that soon afterwards, opposition arose against the rebuilding of the temple, and progress on the project ground to a halt—for like 20 years. What a waste. Is there a connection between the “mingled” reaction and this work stoppage? I tend to think there is, but I’m taking some time in my sermon prep this week to do some more investigating.

The thing is, we all know that attempts to grow or change can get derailed. Nearly anything can do it. My question is, how can you derail the things that would derail your progress? How can I anticipate distractions and ward them off? How can an older person face the threatening feelings that come with change? How can a younger person take a risk something new with little to no experience to draw upon? How can I develop patience and perseverence? How can someone, especially someone who likes to live in harmony with others, encounter opposition with some resolve? The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are great textbooks, full of case studies on pushing through these kinds of things.

Here are a few strategies I’ve gleaned from them and other biblical authors of that period.
1.    Catch and Release (Haggai 2:9)
“The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD…” Catch the hope that what’s to come is greater than what used to be. Release the past glory. If we try to hold on to the past by not embracing the present, we lose both the past and the present, and put our future at risk.

2.    Take Authority (Ezra 5:6-17)
“We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’…
“This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple…King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.

Gutsy? Yes. Proud or insubordinate? No! It can be tempting to defer to lesser powers, and by doing so, neglect obeying the greater ones.  Are we more concerned about offending or stepping on the toes of those who disagree with us or are easily offended—or with not trusting the One who has authorized us to grow, change and be on mission.

3.    Celebrate (Nehemiah 8:10)
“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Considering how far you’ve fallen short of God’s or your own expectations, though necessary, can be depressing and even disabling. In this passage, The people have just listened to Ezra the priest read and explain the book of the law (probably Deuteronomy). The people were simply wiped out by all that they weren’t—and how much they stunk at being God’s people. Governor Nehemiah wisely steps in and tells them that the very fact that they are there and that they are understanding what God desires is a sign of God’s grace. He hasn’t given up on them, and is in fact giving them a fresh start. God believes in them. Because of that, it’s time to party.

And, God believes in you.

Yours for the Journey,

Pastor Tom