Ezra 6:16

The elders among the Jews build and prosper through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. They complete the temple by the commandment of the God of Israel — and also by the commandment of the ruling kings of Persia (v. 14). This is the special mark of this revival: God brought it about while they were humbled and under the rule of the Gentile powers. The work on the temple had stopped for fifteen years... How disastrous are the delays caused by the fear of man, and by the lack of confidence in the Lord that always follows it!

Compared with the dedication of Solomon, a glorious memory, this dedication is a very feeble thing. Even so, joy fills the hearts of the people. Once again God causes "His name to dwell" (v. 12) in this restored house, and with public approval. His glory does not return to it, nor His throne between the cherubim. But His spiritual presence cannot be missing where His people acknowledge the centre at which He gathers them.

The LORD had given them cause for joy. But fire no longer came down from heaven to show that God accepted the sacrifice offered at the dedication of the house. It was a difference of absence, yet a deeply significant one. Even the thing they rejoiced in showed their true state: "The LORD had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel." That was great kindness and touching grace on His part. But what a change!

If they had dwelt on this side of things, their joy might well have come mixed with weeping and tears, as it did when they laid the foundation. But faith has to do with unseen things. So faith could remind this weak, small company that the Lord was no less mighty and no less merciful for them than He was for Solomon.

In fact, these "children of Israel" were only a small, weak part of the two tribes Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites. At such a moment they might have been tempted to forget their brothers who had not answered the proclamation of Cyrus — or even to shut them out... Those brothers chose an easy life in Babylon, captives though they were, instead of suffering hardship with those "whose spirit God had raised"... So had they not forfeited their place and title among the people of God? A harsh spirit might have argued that way. But this poor, weak company, whatever their condition, held the thoughts of God.

These feasts, with one exception, express pure joy alone. They were spontaneous, and the law never commanded them. The joy in them always had to do with the house of God. From this we may draw a comforting conclusion. Feeling the decline around us must not weaken our joy in any way, for the blessings the Lord pours on His Assembly today are worth as much as in the more prosperous times of the Church's history. "Rejoice in the Lord always", we are told — and that in days when the ruin was growing more marked.