Noise Makers

'They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.' Ezra 3:11 (NASB)

I love the Book of Ezra. It describes a time when believers were captives to their pagan culture and how God used the time to honor His people. It gives me so much hope and encouragement for the future. They had little hope of freedom then until God sent someone who's name literally means Jehovah's 'shepherd' to redeem them. To God be the Glory!

The believers of Ezra's day were exiled and held in bondage for 70 years as punishment by God for their sins. Then Cyrus, king of Persia, whom the Lord had given all the kingdoms of the earth, issued a decree to fulfill the Word of God that allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem just as God had spoken to His prophet Jeremiah. God always keeps His promises. 

After the second exodus of Israel, this one from Babylon, the first thing God's people did was to build an altar to Him. Then they laid the foundation for the temple and the singing and the thanksgiving started. The Word says the exiles responded to God and this important event to the beginnings of mercy with a great shout. For those that lived through the misery of having no temple at all was about to end. The Word also describes this form of worship as being acceptable to a more reserved and passive style. Great shout worship! Little band of noise makers. High decibel level. God likes that.

And yet, some wrongly wept at the sight of something so small compared to what it had been. While others cried in regret to the sin that had brought it all down.

What was the response by the neighbors to this style of noisy and incredibly excited worship? As you can imagine, some probably thought them crazy. What's going on over there? I'm trying to sleep over here. A party and we weren't invited! That's where the jealousy starts. What's there to be excited and joyful about? Worship! We have got to put a stop to this! Get the buckets of cold water to put out the fire. Let's nip it in the bud and end this thing right now. 

Can you imagine that? Some of their neighbors did not like the idea that Jerusalem was being rebuilt. Others were not encouraged by the thought that worship of the Lord was being reestablished. They are the foes of worship and they never give up. They were successful as the rebuild was even halted for a season, but our God is greater! Yes He is. He honors those who honor Him.

What can believers do when unbelievers spread lies and give false impressions about them? How do God's people stay encouraged and overcome difficulties when the equipment breaks down and the supplies and materials run out? We don't give in. We don't give up. We don't let the naysayers be the problems of the day that steal our joy or change our attitude about God one bit. When they offered to help in their scheming sort of way, their help was refused.

We should never allow the trials of the day to halt our progress, but rather, push back, expose it for what it is and ramp it up! Pray for more like-kind workers. Speed it up. Pray for more supplies. Work harder. Pray for self-control. Get louder. Pray for more finances. Stay connected. Pray longer. Study even harder. Get more joy! Give as much as we can afford as often as we can, to our calling and just wait and see who God places in our path to encourage us. God sent His prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people of Ezra's day, He'll do the same for me. There are angels among us. 

The opposition is organized, so must I be. Stay in church. Stay on top of it. Stay in the Word. Pray more. Stay out of the world as much as I can.

Dear Father. Thank you for the Word. Thank you for your prophets and the encouragement that they bring us whenever we need it. Thank you for your naysayers, we need them as well. We love them because You do. We were one of them before we knew You, but then You sent an angel to show us the way. You saved us. You are always doing something like that. You always bring us so much joy. Now, we are like your little band of noise makers. We want to be more like You. We want to spread Your joy.

We are so enthusiastic about what You are doing in our lives. We are excited about where we are heading and what You are building. You are calling the exiles out of bondage yet again. We are anxious to see Your House rebuilt and full of excited to be there worshipers. We see it in our visions for eternity because You always do what You say You will. You are Good. Your Word is True! To God be the Glory. In Jesus's name. Amen.  

Source: 'Drummingthemessagehome', January 3, 2020 blog post.