Day 166 · Part 10: The Return
The Foundation Laid · Consider Your Ways
In the Story
In context
In the seventh month the returned exiles build the altar and keep the feast of booths, and in the second year they lay the temple’s foundation (Ezra 3:1–10). The people shout for joy, but “the old men who had seen the first house” weep aloud, so that no one can tell the shouting from the weeping (3:11–13).
When Zerubbabel and Jeshua refuse an offer of help from “the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin,” the people of the land work against them, and the building stops until the second year of Darius, about 520 BC (4:1–5, 24).
Then Haggai speaks: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste?” and “Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:4–5). The people obey, and the Lord says, “I am with you” (1:12–13). To those who remember the first house he says, “Be strong, all you people of the land,” and “work, for I am with you,” and promises, “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former” (2:3–9).
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 · The work on the Lord’s house stopped and then began again; Paul writes that “he who began a good work in you will complete it.”
For families
When the temple’s foundation was laid, the people shouted for joy, but “the old men who had seen the first house” wept aloud, and no one could tell the two sounds apart (Ezra 3:11–13).
The old men remembered the first temple. What place from long ago does someone in your family remember that you never saw?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Ezra 3
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Ezra 4
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Haggai 1
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Haggai 2
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Ezra 5:1–2
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A hymn for today
Standing on the Promises · words by R. Kelso Carter
- Standing on the promises of Christ my King,Through eternal ages let His praises ring;Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,Standing on the promises of God.RefrainStanding, standing,Standing on the promises of God my Savior;Standing, standing,I'm standing on the promises of God.
- Standing on the promises that cannot fail,When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,By the living Word of God I shall prevail,Standing on the promises of God.RefrainStanding, standing,Standing on the promises of God my Savior;Standing, standing,I'm standing on the promises of God.
- Standing on the promises I now can seePerfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,Standing on the promises of God.RefrainStanding, standing,Standing on the promises of God my Savior;Standing, standing,I'm standing on the promises of God.
- Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,Standing on the promises of God.RefrainStanding, standing,Standing on the promises of God my Savior;Standing, standing,I'm standing on the promises of God.
- Standing on the promises I cannot fall,List'ning every moment to the Spirit's call,Resting in my Savior as my all in all,Standing on the promises of God.RefrainStanding, standing,Standing on the promises of God my Savior;Standing, standing,I'm standing on the promises of God.