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
The book of Ezra begins where 2 Chronicles ends. As prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 44:28, the Persian King Cyrus had sent exiles led by Zerubbabel back to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. when Persia defeated Babylon in 539 B.C. Despite opposition from the non-Jewish inhabitants of Judea, and after encouragement by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was rebuilt 515 B.C. Then in 458 B.C., Ezra led the second batch of the three waves of the returning exiles. By the time Ezra arrived, the people had fallen into sin again. Ezra preached God’s word and the people repented (Ezra 10:9-17). Ezra succeeded because God’s hand was upon him (Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31).
This book, written by Prophet Ezra, shows God’s power in covenant faithfulness, moving even pagan kings to accomplish his redemptive purposes. There is something that happened in the temple rebuilding that I want to share with you today. When the temple was in the process of rebuilding, the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David, other people were indifferent concerning what was going on around them. Some Pastors, the elders of the church, and the elderly, were diplomatic.
They refused to engage in the worship and praises but they were rather focusing on their own issues. They were rather weeping instead of shouting for joy as other members of the temple were doing. This is happening in our time now. In the church, instead of people clapping their hands, shouting, making noise for God, singing or even dancing, you see them standing there like cadavers. It is like they are offended with God anytime it is time for worship and praises. Gestures of worship is needed in the house of God. All gestures of worship are fully displaced in heaven for the King of Kings and Lord and Lords. If you want eternal life, then you have to learn how to worship God.
Worshipping God demands gestures. The angels when praising the Lamb (Jesus Christ), SHOUT that He is worthy (Revelation 5:12). The four living creatures FALL DOWN as a gesture of worship to God (Revelation 5:14). The twenty-four elders too FALLS DOWN before God as a gesture of worship. You can’t be in God’s presence and be diplomatic as a means of worshipping Him. Why are you not happy being in God’s presence but rather happy when secular music is playing? You can dance to the beat of worldly songs but you can’t dance to the beat of spiritual and Godly songs, claiming you are a Christian. I don’t think so! You can’t be stiff as a cadaver thinking you are worshipping God.
•| Prayer Diary |•
- Lift up prayers for divine intuition of taking initiatives in the house of God when you have to.
- Lift up prayers for the strength in gestures of worship to clap, sing, dance, jump, shout, lifting of your hands when you have to, in the house of God.
- Lift up prayers to be delivered from any fear, intimidation, and shyness that prevent you from doing what you have to do in the house of God.
- Lift up prayers to be delivered from every evil spirit that follows you into the house of God in the name of Jesus Christ
- Quote
“There is a curse of barrenness in the lives of those who are diplomatic in the house of the Lord”
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David Abankwah 