Ezra 3:1-7: a reflection

1When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his relatives, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3In spite of their fear because of the peoples of the surrounding lands, they set the altar on its base; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They kept the feast of booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required; 5and afterward the continual burnt offering, the offerings of the new moons, of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a free will offering to the LORD. 6From the first day of the seventh month, they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD; but the foundation of the LORD’s temple was not yet laid. 7They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.

When the exiles who have returned to their ruined land gather in Jerusalem, the first thing they do is remarkable. Before the temple's foundation is even laid, in spite of their fear of the hostile peoples around them, they build the altar of God and begin offering the daily sacrifices, morning and evening. In spite of their fear, the text says, they set the altar on its base and worshiped. Surrounded by danger, with much else that needed doing, they put the worship of God first, and would not let their fear prevent it.

Notice what the returned exiles did first, and despite what: they put worship first, in spite of their fear. They were surrounded by hostile peoples, and afraid; there was much to rebuild, much to fear. Yet before rebuilding the temple, before securing themselves, they built the altar and resumed the worship of God, not letting their fear stop them. Worship of God was their first priority, put ahead of their own security and in spite of their fear. They would not let fear crowd out the worship of God.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can let fear, or the press of other concerns, crowd out the worship of God. When we are afraid, or occupied with many other pressing needs, worship of God can be pushed aside, put off until we feel safer or less busy; but the returned exiles put worship first, in spite of their fear. Do not let fear or the press of other concerns crowd out the worship of God; put it first, as the exiles built the altar and worshiped in spite of their fear, before all else. When you are afraid or occupied, do not push the worship of God aside; make it your first priority, as the returned exiles worshiped in spite of their fear, before rebuilding or securing themselves, refusing to let fear prevent the worship of God.

Lord, when the exiles who have returned to their ruined land gather in Jerusalem, the first thing they do is remarkable. Before the temple's foundation is even laid, in spite of their fear of the hostile peoples around them, they build the altar of God and begin offering the daily sacrifices, morning and evening. In spite of their fear, they set the altar on its base and worshiped. Surrounded by danger, with much else that needed doing, they put the worship of you first, and would not let their fear prevent it. Show me what the returned exiles did first, and despite what: they put worship first, in spite of their fear. They were surrounded by hostile peoples, and afraid; there was much to rebuild. Yet before rebuilding the temple, before securing themselves, they built the altar and resumed worship, not letting their fear stop them. Worship of you was their first priority. Take that to my heart, for I can let fear, or the press of other concerns, crowd out the worship of you. When I am afraid, or occupied with many other pressing needs, worship of you can be pushed aside, put off until I feel safer or less busy; but the returned exiles put worship first, in spite of their fear. Keep me from letting fear or the press of other concerns crowd out the worship of you; help me put it first, as the exiles built the altar and worshiped in spite of their fear. When I am afraid or occupied, keep me from pushing the worship of you aside, Lord; help me make it my first priority.