Burnt Offerings from the Seventh Month - Ezra 3:6

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said the priests began to offer sacrifices after the children of Israel returned to Jerusalem, and “afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD”, and in chapter three and verse six of Ezra, Ezra shared how the priest offered burnt offerings, “from the first day of the seventh month” where we read,

From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. 

But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

The verse reads, “From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD.” Ezra began with the words, “from the first day of the seventh month” which means “beginning at the primary or starting sunrise to sunset pertaining to the seventh new or lunar moon” “began they to offer burnt offerings” which means “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” initiated making whole sacrifices that have been burned as if going up in smoke upon the altar” “unto the LORD” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Ezra said beginning with the starting sunrise to sunset of the seventh lunar moon of the year “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” initiated making whole sacrifices that were burned unto Jehovah God. 

The verse continues, “But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.” Ezra added the words, “but the foundation of the temple” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the fixed and established base pertaining to the sacred worship place” “of the LORD” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “was not yet laid” or “was in no way or manner at that time settled, established or put in place”. Ezra said the established base of the sacred worship place was in no way or manner put in place at that time. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra the time when the leadership in Israel reestablished the sacrificial worship unto Jehovah God. At the beginning of the “seventh lunar month”, offerings were made which was only a few months after they returned to their homeland in Jerusalem of Judah. The people were back in their homeland, the altar was made and sacrifices to Jehovah God began. This was their priority now, and after being exiled in Babylon for seventy years for abandoning their relationship with God, He was now their focus. God wants people to worship Him because doing so gives them the best life possible. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to seek Him first above all other things, and our lives will be bless for doing so. 

Next time Ezra shared how the priests, “gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".