Heralds Digest

  “ But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy” Ezra 3 : 12 NKJV Loudness and living are two adjectives that can reasonably qualify the sacrifices of Levites of the Lord, albeit with apparent misunderstanding of the motives and undertones. The loudness of the Levites here, after the successful laying of the replaced foundation for the temple in Jerusalem, was unanimously treated with uniform quality when assessed from without. Whereas, from the distinctive assessment within, “ old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes ”. Likewise today, by the mercies of God, believers in Christ are enjoined “ that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service ” (Romans 12 : 1 ). U...

  ” And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid .“ ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Like it was with the building of most family projects, collaboration of the priests, the builders, and the people were required to lay the foundation of the house of the Lord in the days of Zerubbabel. The builders built by laying the blocks and the building materials, the priests built by their offerings of the ceremonial sacrifices to invite the presence of the Lord, and the people built by praising the Lord with the expression of their gratitude to God for His favour and preservation while the projects last. Projects lag and drag with disunity among the elements and stakeholders in the family business and project; and this has always been the target of the enemies to create his divide and...