Ezr 3:1 | KingComments | STEP | The returned remnant begins with the rebuilding of the altar. They do not act on a command that the LORD would have given, but in faith that feels what is most important to Him. We see such a sense of faith also in Noah, who brings a sacrifice immediately after he has come upon the cleansed earth, and in David, whose heart goes out to the ark, as soon as he has ascended the throne. The time when the rebuilding of the altar begins is the beginning of the seventh month ( ). That is the month of the Feast of the trumpet ( ; ; ). In the cycle of the feasts of the LORD in Leviticus 23, this feast is a picture of the restoration of Israel in the last days. In that month “the people gathered together as one man in Jerusalem”. When the altar or ‘The table of the Lord’ ( ) becomes central again to God’s people, unity is experienced ( ). The unity that is expressed here does not come about by mutual agreement, by appointment, but by the working of God’s Spirit. In this work of rebuilding the altar, Jeshua and Zerubbabel, the priest and the king, work together ( ). In their union we see the Lord Jesus as the true King-Priest ( ). These priestly and royal features are important to us as believers in order to build the altar (cf. ). The rebuilding of the altar speaks for us of a renewed appreciation of Christ, which is expressed in a special way during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at the Lord’s Table. So the first thing the people who have returned do is to build the altar, not the temple or the wall around Jerusalem. The altar is the link between them and God. Christ is our altar. Any true restoration, worked by the Spirit, will always be about the glorification of Christ and His work. At the altar the people come together with God around the sacrifice. It is “the altar of the God of Israel”, not the altar of men, nor of the few who have returned. The altar belongs to the land of God. In Babylon the people have no altar. Abraham has an altar in Canaan, not in Egypt. The altar serves “to offer burnt offerings on it”. A burnt offering is the offering offered in its entirety to God ( ). The burnt offering speaks of Christ and His work on the cross, all of which is for the glorification of God. When we speak about this with God, we bring a burnt offering in a spiritual sense. The heart is then filled with worship. In bringing the burnt offerings they are guided by what “is written in the law of Moses” ( ). There is no enquiry to provide ideas or suggestions about the most appropriate way to act in their circumstances, which are so very different from what they used to be. Habits and traditions are lost, they are left behind in Babylon. They are left with nothing but the Word. In their condition the Word is given all its power. The same goes for us. It is only possible to return to Scriptural worship if we do as God’s Word tells us. In accordance with this principle, many left numerous national churches at the beginning of the nineteenth century in order to come together according to the will of the Lord. Everything is tested against the teachings of the apostles (cf. ). Believing that the will of God will be done is seen in obeying the Word, although far from all things being ordered. The altar is placed “on its foundation” ( ). The foundations are still there, they seek them out. They build in that place and not in a place of their own choosing, as is often the case in professing Christianity today. This foundation lies on the threshing floor of Ornan ( ). For us, the foundation lies in Christ and His work ( ). Because they act out of love for God, they do not allow themselves to be terrified by the peoples of the lands around them. On the contrary, their fear of the nations brings them to God. The altar is built because there is fear of the nations around them. This is how they make God their refuge. Surrounded by enemies, Jerusalem, a city without walls, is protected by the altar of its God which was erected by the faith of the people of God. Without delay, they offered burnt offerings (no sin offerings) “morning and evening. In so doing they act in accordance with the precept of the law of Moses ( ). The power of the burnt offering is the best protection the people can wish for. Making Christ great in our hearts and constantly presenting Him to God in the “burnt offering” character is the best defense against the enemy. Bringing a burnt offering means that we realize, and also say to God, that God is glorified through Christ and that we are pleasing to God in Christ. The awareness of the burnt offering has also disappeared in Babylon. The celebration of the Feast of Booths also happens “as it is written” ( ), i.e. according to the Word of God ( ). There is a Godly enthusiasm in offering and celebrating according to the will of God. There is no legalism of any kind. There is a holy desire to go the old paths. Offerings are brought “according to the ordinance, as each day required” (cf. ). The offering on the altar is not limited to this one time at the beginning of the seventh month. From now on it is done regularly, even at the other feast times of the LORD ( ). Offerings are brought at the beginning of each new month and at the appointed times which the LORD has sanctified for Himself, that is, the annual feasts. In addition to all the offerings of the people as a whole, there is also the offering of a sacrifice by every one who has it in his heart. The offering by the people as a whole does not mean that the individual offering disappears. God sees both the whole and the individual in that whole. It is the same when the church comes together. The church as a whole brings spiritual sacrifices to God, while at the same time every believer has personal worship in his heart for God and Christ.

‏ Ezra 3:1

Restoration of the Altar

The returned remnant begins with the rebuilding of the altar. They do not act on a command that the LORD would have given, but in faith that feels what is most important to Him. We see such a sense of faith also in Noah, who brings a sacrifice immediately after he has come upon the cleansed earth, and in David, whose heart goes out to the ark, as soon as he has ascended the throne.

The time when the rebuilding of the altar begins is the beginning of the seventh month (Ezra 3:1). That is the month of the Feast of the trumpet (Lev 23:24; Num 10:10 ; Num 29:1; Psa 81:4). In the cycle of the feasts of the LORD in Leviticus 23, this feast is a picture of the restoration of Israel in the last days. In that month “the people gathered together as one man in Jerusalem”. When the altar or ‘The table of the Lord’ (Mal 1:7) becomes central again to God’s people, unity is experienced (1Cor 10:16-18). The unity that is expressed here does not come about by mutual agreement, by appointment, but by the working of God’s Spirit.

In this work of rebuilding the altar, Jeshua and Zerubbabel, the priest and the king, work together (Ezra 3:2). In their union we see the Lord Jesus as the true King-Priest (Zec 6:9-15). These priestly and royal features are important to us as believers in order to build the altar (cf. 1Pet 2:5 ; 9-10). The rebuilding of the altar speaks for us of a renewed appreciation of Christ, which is expressed in a special way during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at the Lord’s Table.

So the first thing the people who have returned do is to build the altar, not the temple or the wall around Jerusalem. The altar is the link between them and God. Christ is our altar. Any true restoration, worked by the Spirit, will always be about the glorification of Christ and His work. At the altar the people come together with God around the sacrifice. It is “the altar of the God of Israel”, not the altar of men, nor of the few who have returned.

The altar belongs to the land of God. In Babylon the people have no altar. Abraham has an altar in Canaan, not in Egypt. The altar serves “to offer burnt offerings on it”. A burnt offering is the offering offered in its entirety to God (Lev 1:6-9). The burnt offering speaks of Christ and His work on the cross, all of which is for the glorification of God. When we speak about this with God, we bring a burnt offering in a spiritual sense. The heart is then filled with worship.

In bringing the burnt offerings they are guided by what “is written in the law of Moses” (Ezra 3:2). There is no enquiry to provide ideas or suggestions about the most appropriate way to act in their circumstances, which are so very different from what they used to be. Habits and traditions are lost, they are left behind in Babylon. They are left with nothing but the Word. In their condition the Word is given all its power.

The same goes for us. It is only possible to return to Scriptural worship if we do as God’s Word tells us. In accordance with this principle, many left numerous national churches at the beginning of the nineteenth century in order to come together according to the will of the Lord. Everything is tested against the teachings of the apostles (cf. Jude 1:17). Believing that the will of God will be done is seen in obeying the Word, although far from all things being ordered.

The altar is placed “on its foundation” (Ezra 3:3). The foundations are still there, they seek them out. They build in that place and not in a place of their own choosing, as is often the case in professing Christianity today. This foundation lies on the threshing floor of Ornan (1Chr 21:21-26 ; 1Chr 22:1). For us, the foundation lies in Christ and His work (1Cor 3:11).

Because they act out of love for God, they do not allow themselves to be terrified by the peoples of the lands around them. On the contrary, their fear of the nations brings them to God. The altar is built because there is fear of the nations around them. This is how they make God their refuge. Surrounded by enemies, Jerusalem, a city without walls, is protected by the altar of its God which was erected by the faith of the people of God. Without delay, they offered burnt offerings (no sin offerings) “morning and evening. In so doing they act in accordance with the precept of the law of Moses (Exo 29:38-46). The power of the burnt offering is the best protection the people can wish for.

Making Christ great in our hearts and constantly presenting Him to God in the “burnt offering” character is the best defense against the enemy. Bringing a burnt offering means that we realize, and also say to God, that God is glorified through Christ and that we are pleasing to God in Christ. The awareness of the burnt offering has also disappeared in Babylon.

The celebration of the Feast of Booths also happens “as it is written” (Ezra 3:4), i.e. according to the Word of God (Lev 23:33-36). There is a Godly enthusiasm in offering and celebrating according to the will of God. There is no legalism of any kind. There is a holy desire to go the old paths. Offerings are brought “according to the ordinance, as each day required” (cf. Num 29:12-38).

The offering on the altar is not limited to this one time at the beginning of the seventh month. From now on it is done regularly, even at the other feast times of the LORD (Ezra 3:5). Offerings are brought at the beginning of each new month and at the appointed times which the LORD has sanctified for Himself, that is, the annual feasts.

In addition to all the offerings of the people as a whole, there is also the offering of a sacrifice by every one who has it in his heart. The offering by the people as a whole does not mean that the individual offering disappears. God sees both the whole and the individual in that whole. It is the same when the church comes together. The church as a whole brings spiritual sacrifices to God, while at the same time every believer has personal worship in his heart for God and Christ.