Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.
Ezra 3:12-13 NASB
About 50 years had passed since Solomon’s great temple was destroyed. All of the men 60 years and older would have vividly remembered what it used to look like. There is no doubt that this new foundation being laid would pale in comparison to the great structure of Solomon’s time. And so it was the older men who wailed with sorrow at what used to be. There’s no doubt that they would reflect back to all that had been lost. Take into consideration the differences that existed between then and now…
Blended among the loud weeping voices were shouts of pure joy! The younger people who had been through the exile were now so excited to rebuild the temple that they burst forth in praise that could be heard for miles away. They joyfully expressed the opportunity that was before them and thanked God for it.
This is a familiar metaphor for life. Sometimes we long for the days of old, but we also are thankful and looking forward to new opportunities. Although this temple lacked all of the bullet points above, it had one aspect that was greater than Solomon’s structure. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would one day walk the courts of the temple that Zerubbabel built.
I think the encouragement for me in this chapter is that although things may never be the same, God always has a plan. Though we cannot take back our past actions or decisions, we serve the God of second chances. When we look upon a situation and think that it will never live up to what used to be, it may be that God allowed that situation so something even greater could be experienced in it and through it. We serve an amazing, mysterious God who always delivers on His promises.