Ezra 3:1-3 - Homiletics

The first sacrifice.

The third chapter begins much as the second chapter concluded, with a picture of the restored Israelites in their respective "cities" or homes. But they do not stay there very long. The temple and the temple worship, for which they had laid by ( Ezra 2:68 , Ezra 2:69 ) before dispersing, is still much on their minds. These verses tell us of the consequent action next taken in that direction—

1. on the part of the people specially;

2. on the part of their leaders specially; and

3. on the part of them all collectively.

I. THE PEOPLE SPECIALLY . They left their "cities" for the city of God; of their own consent (they "gathered themselves together"), with one consent ("as one man"). ὀμοθυμαδόν , 1 Esdras 5:46. What stirred them all in this manner? The fact, apparently, that the "seventh month" was "come," or was "approaching" (Keil). Certainly, connected with that month there were many things which might well have this effect. How important this month ecclesiastically, and from the point of view of the temple worship. On the first day, besides the new moon, came the festival known as the feast of trumpets ( Numbers 29:1 ). On the tenth the great day of atonement, the great fast of the Jewish year ( Numbers 29:7 ). From the fifteenth to the twenty-second was celebrated the third of the three great annual feasts, viz; that of tabernacles or ingathering. No other month was equally distinguished. No subsequent month of the twelve was distinguished by any universal call to the temple precincts. The next such call would be five months afterwards, in the passover month. How important, again, this seventh month, as the first month of the civil year, the month from which the Sabbatical and Jubilee years were computed (Le 25:9). Its first day would answer exactly to our "New Year's Day," a most natural time for instituting or recommencing a new order of things. Historically, also, as being a month in which one of the special captivity fasts (see Zechariah 7:5 ; Zechariah 8:19 ) had been observed, this was a marked month in these exiles' minds. How fit a month, therefore, in every way, for making a beginning of some kind. "Now, if ever;" almost "Now, or never," the occasion seemed to exclaim. It is by such conjunctions, perhaps, that God most frequently signifies his guiding will to his willing people (comp. Acts 16:6-10 ).

II. THE LEADERS SPECIALLY . If the time for action was now so near, who should take the lead in regard to it? Who, of course, but the natural leaders. The leaders in the Church first ("Jeshua," etc.), the matter in hand being one so specially concerning them. But not the leaders in Church only; "Zerubbabel and his brethren," as laymen, also having their interest in it. Together they resolved to begin by rebuilding the sacrificial altar, that which had stood in the old temple before the holy place and in the court of the priests. Why did they begin in this way? Partly owing to the tenor of the "law of Moses," that being a law of sacrifices from beginning to end (see Hebrews 9:21 , Hebrews 9:22 ), according to which there was no approach to the most holy place itself without the previous use of the altar. This consideration would probably tell especially on Jeshua and the priests; as the example of David, next, who desired to build the house, but was only permitted to "find out" its "place," and so far to begin it as to consecrate as it were its altar ( 1 Chronicles 17:1-27 .; 1 Chronicles 21:26 ; 1 Chronicles 22:1 ; Psalms 132:5 ), would tell especially on Zerubbabel, David's representative and descendant, and lead him also to wish to begin by erecting the altar upon the old "base" (verse 3). There would also be a third reason to influence both sets of leaders alike. By this time the returned remnant would find the hostility of their new neighbours awakened. Only surprised at first to hear of their return (comp. Psalms 126:2 ), afterwards inclined to ridicule and despise them (comp. Nehemiah 4:2-4 ), when they saw them settling down in their old habitations as a distinct and separate people ( Numbers 23:9 ), these strangers would begin in various ways to show their dislike, and perhaps to murmur their threats. In this condition of danger how natural to follow the example of Samuel, and sacrifice to Jehovah. A very instructive lesson, by the way, for these gospel times. Just so our need of an atonement is the very first of our needs. The nature of God's law, the example of God's servants, the enmity of the world and Satan ( Revelation 12:11 ) combine to teach us this truth.

III. THE CONGREGATION EN MASSE . Representatives of all Israel having come to Jerusalem, and the leaders having erected the altar, what were they all to do next? The place of sacrifice was restored. Out of the many kinds of sacrifices connected with it in former days, which should they place on it first? That which God had appointed for sanctifying the beginning and end of each day (verse 3). This quite in accordance with the very first use of the original altar itself ( Exodus 29:38 ), and with the happy consequences thereby secured ( Exodus 29:43-45 ). Also with the many remarkable successive injunctions of Numbers 28:1-31 ; Numbers 29:1-40 , where we find it expressly commanded that whatever special sacrifices might be ordered on any day—whether for the Sabbath ( Numbers 29:10 ), or new moon ( Numbers 29:15 ), or passover ( Numbers 29:23 ), or any day of it ( Numbers 29:24 ), or Pentecost ( Numbers 29:31 ), or feast of trumpets ( Numbers 29:6 ), or day of atonement ( Numbers 29:11 ), or feast of tabernacles, or any day of it ( Numbers 29:16 , Numbers 29:19 , Numbers 29:22 , Numbers 29:25 , Numbers 29:28 , Numbers 29:31 , Numbers 29:34 , Numbers 29:38 )—these regular daily sacrifices were always to be offered "beside." Also with the prominence given to them in 1 Chronicles 16:39 , 1 Chronicles 16:40 ; 2 Chronicles 2:4 ; 2 Chronicles 13:11 ; 2 Chronicles 31:3 . Also with the peculiarly grave character attached in Daniel 8:11 ; Daniel 9:27 ; and Daniel 12:11 to their cessation and interruption. Indeed, from a spiritual point of view, and regarding this people of Israel as a "congregation" or living Church, these daily sacrifices seem always presented to us as the very pulse of its life. How fitting, therefore, in the endeavour to restore that Church's suspended animation, to attend to them first. How important, also, under the new economy, the perpetual intercession of Christ. "He needeth not daily, as those high priests" ( Hebrews 7:27 ), to offer for sin; "for this he did once [for all] when he offered himself." But there is a need that he himself should continually be pleading this one sacrifice on our behalf. On this depends our justification ( Romans 8:34 ). On this in every way our salvation ( Hebrews 7:25 ). Herein is the pulse of our life. So we seem to be taught by such passages as Colossians 3:3 ; Galatians 2:20 . And so, with regard especially to the restoration of that life when impaired or suspended (just as with Israel in the case before us), in what is said in 1 John 2:1 , 1 John 2:2 respecting this great Intercessor or "Advocate," and the effectual plea of his death. "If any man sin," as every man does ( 1 John 1:8-10 ), and so begins to die, as every sinner then does, here is his way of escape.