But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,
One foundation drew two sounds from one crowd: loud weeping from men who remembered the first temple, and shouts of joy from the rest. Why the difference, and which response was right?
One event, two hearts
The laying of the foundation split the crowd along the line of memory.
William KellyIt caused tears in the older men. They felt how poor the present display of the Lord's glory was among them, compared with what they had once seen. It was a source of joy to the others. They had only known the complete collapse of the Lord's name on the earth. Now their hearts were glad that at least there was a clear and definite confession of that name, as a name with the right to gather His people together — even though they were only a remnant here below. They were both right; and yet how different the expression of their hearts was! Of the two, the older men surely did feel the joy of the foundation being laid. But their sense of sorrow and humiliation for His name outweighed it. So the older men had a more subdued feeling. Both groups were led by the Lord, but in very different measures. I am persuaded that, of the two, the older men had the deeper sense of God's glory.
Tears that come from nearness
But why were the men nearest to God the ones in tears?
J. N. DarbyYet the old men wept, for they had seen the former house, built according to God's inspired direction. Sadly, we understand this. Anyone who now thinks of what the assembly of God was at the first will understand the tears of these old men. This suited nearness to God. Further off, it was right to hear joy, or at least the confused shout that only announced the public event. For in truth God had stepped in on behalf of His people.
Both sounds welcome to God
Both cries went up to God at the same moment.
Edward DennettWho can doubt that both the tears and the gladness were equally acceptable to the Lord? Both may equally have been the fruit of His grace working in their hearts.
A sober note inside every revival
Do we see these tears as spoiling the day?
F. B. HoleNo, we do not. We see them as expressing another side of things, which should always be present when we are able to rejoice in some time of revival granted in the mercy of God. However blessed the revival, the memory of the beginning tempers our rejoicing. Grace and power marked those first days under the energy of the apostles, as the early chapters of the book of Acts show. We become aware how small and imperfect anything we may experience is, compared with that. It may not bring tears to our eyes, but it will have a very sobering effect on us, for our good.
Grief that does not sink into gloom
Grief over failure still needs somewhere to go.
J T MawsonIt is the failure that causes the tears, and we must not be indifferent to it. The truth will not make us indifferent to it — the more we know it, the more deeply we shall feel the failure. But it will not depress us, for we shall turn from it to the Lord, "because He is good, for His mercy endures forever."
A small work, God's own purpose
What made a modest foundation worth celebrating was not its size but whose house it was.
J T MawsonThe laying again of the temple's foundations made the people realise that though Israel had failed, God had not. His purposes and promises remained unchanged. They were a feeble band, and their work was as feeble as they were. Yet they now linked themselves with GOD, HIS PURPOSES, and HIS HOUSE. This is what we must do. Though they were only a remnant, they were able to take up sanctuary service to the Lord. They praised Him "after the ordinance of King David" — and David's day was the brightest hour of Israel's history.
Summary
- Memory divides. One foundation drew tears from men who remembered the first house, and cheers from those who never saw it.
- Nearness weeps. The tears suited nearness to God. Further off, the shout still announced that God had acted for His people.
- Both accepted. Tears and gladness were equally acceptable. Both could be the fruit of God's grace in the heart.
- Grief sobers, it does not sink. Seeing how small the present work is sobers us for good. Then faith turns from the failure to the Lord, whose mercy endures forever.
- Feeble hands, unchanged purpose. Israel had failed; God had not. A feeble remnant tied to His house could still worship with the joy of David's day.