Ezra 3:10

It was good to build and use the altar without delay in faith. It was better to lay the foundation than to settle for that informal but acceptable and right beginning. No doubt circumstances were unusual. The Persian king held civil authority over them. Most of the people were living among the Gentiles. A new difficulty came from Gentiles brought into the land who copied Jewish forms. Yet nothing should turn faith aside from carrying out the truth — humbly, and without show.

It was a day of great joy and gladness. For directions about the altar, the sacrifices, and the feasts, they had gone back to the word, "as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God." In the same way they turn to "the directions of David king of Israel" for guidance in their service of praise.

The children of Israel who gathered that day on Mount Moriah were few and weak. Even so, they were careful and exact in obeying the Word. They were doing the Lord's work, and they saw clearly that human thoughts and human wisdom had no place in it. The Lord and the Lord alone must set the pattern for His house.

Three groups stand out in this joyful celebration. There were the priests in their robes with trumpets, and the sons of Asaph with cymbals. Beyond these were the people, who answered the praise they heard with a great shout, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. Only priests were allowed to blow the sacred trumpets. It takes being in the holy place, in the presence of God, in communion with His mind, to know when to sound the notes of testimony and praise. In the same way, only the sons of Asaph — Levites, under the king's order — could use the sacred cymbals.

It has been said, and it is worth recalling, that "a remnant has the brightest features of the original." This is true. We see an example of it when the returned remnant of Israel from Babylon laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord... Then there reappeared the best features of Israel's brightest days. It was the same high note of praise that sounded out when the glory of the Lord filled the temple in Solomon's day.

Everything was not yet accomplished, but they had recognised the basis of truth. That is a reminder of 2 Timothy 2:19, "God's firm foundation stands." When people have departed from the truth, and God stirs His people to return to Him, it is a vital encouragement to be reminded that God's firm foundation stands.

Conduct may go beyond faith. If it does, it will break down. Right conduct on a wrong motive must fail. In Ezra 3 we have the Jews working for God, and that from the written word... But they failed. The adversaries of Judah came and stopped the work. Looking at the outward form, we should have said, "Now here is obedience." But God's eye saw through it all... The cause of failure was not in the adversaries of Judah, but in the hearts of the people.