At Work On Restoration (3:1-13)
Neal Pollard
With the permission, the principles, and the people secured, the leadership and the people join together to get to work on the areas God wanted restored. This was not the end, but only the first steps. Restoration is an ongoing necessity, and it can be very hard work. What did they do in Ezra’s day that can help us pursue with success our challenge of restoring New Testament Christianity?
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES UNITY (1). “The people gathered together as one man.” As David wrote in that Psalm of Ascent, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (133:1). Restoration necessitates coming together as one.
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES DIVINE GUIDANCE (2). Proper worship, under the Old Law, necessitated an altar. So the priests, schooled on worship matters, built it “as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.” The work is not restoration if it is not His work done according to His pattern. Nothing else will do!
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES COURAGE (3). They were terrified of the peoples of the land, whom we will observe later in Ezra as a perpetual thorn in their sides. Judah was a hodgepodge ragtag bunch of recent returnees and may have felt like an easy prey to the enemies all around them. But, we notice that their terror didn’t keep them (at this point) from the work of restoration (2 Tim. 1:7).
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES OBEDIENCE (4). They were moved by an “as it is written” and an “according to the ordinance” “as each day required.” The very definition of spiritual restoration is doing and making happen the things God has specifically called for. “His house, His rules” (1 Tim. 3:15).
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES SACRIFICE (5-7). That sacrifice was measured in animals (5), human effort (5-6), money (7), food, drink, and oil (7), and lumber (7). The attitude of sacrifice involved “freewill offering” (5). All of it centered around Jehovah. Though these things were given to people on earth, the sacrifice was being made to God.
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES INVOLVEMENT (8-10). Ezra seems to always begin at the top when mentioning work being done. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, along with the worship leaders (the priests and Levites) led the way. They began the work with “all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem” (8). The Levites age 20 and older were involved (8). Jeshua and his family were involved (9). So were Kadmiel’s family (9). So were the “workmen” (9). The builders, priests, and Levites, the sons of Asaph, all had different responsibilities, and all of them were involved in fulfilling them (10). In the Lord’s church, He has work for elders, preachers, deacons, teachers, and the rest of the members to do. It’s not all the same exact task. We have a vision statement emphasizing seven distinct areas where work and help is needed. To be the New Testament church, we must all find an area or areas to roll up our sleeves and either lead or assist.
THE WORK OF RESTORATION REQUIRES THE HEART (11-13). It strikes me that their restoration was hardly a matter of just external changes (altars, sacrifices, and temples). Those were significant, but another element was essential. They worshipped, singing, praising, and giving thanks (11). They shouted with a great shout at seeing the beginning of the reconstruction of the temple (11). The old people who could remember Solomon’s Temple wailed and lamented at the relative modesty of these rebuilt foundations (12). The shouts and weeping were so loud it was heard from far away (13). But in both cases, nobody was disengaged. Their hearts were fully involved. They were convicted, invested, and committed.
You and I are to be involved in restoration today. Our task is not to jealously guard our own traditions, to reflect the culture’s view and desires, to do what we want or prefer, or to blend in with the larger religious world (even within Christendom). Restoration is about God’s pattern, expectations, and purpose, glorified through His obedient church (Eph. 3:20-21). If we will please Him, we have no choice. We must be restorers. Thank God for Ezra 3, full as it is with principles regarding how to accomplish that vital work!
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