In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God”, and in chapter three and verse three of Ezra, Ezra shared how the priest, “set the altar upon his bases” where we read,
And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
The verse reads, “And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries:” Ezra began with the words, “and they set the altar” which means “and they, Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their kinship put, fixed and established the place of slaughter” “upon his bases” which means “on his, the altar's, fixed resting place and pedestal”; “for fear was upon them” or “because, since and on account that terror and dread existed on the people of Israel” “because of the people of those countries” which means “for the reason and account of the human beings belonging to the lands, territories and regions who surrounded them”. Ezra shared how “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their brethren” set the sacrificial place of slaughter on a pedestal because the offspring of Israel were experiencing terror from the people in located the regions who surrounded them.
The verse continues, “and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.” Ezra added the words, “and they offered burnt offerings thereon” or “and they, Jeshua and his fellow servants extended and caused to ascend whole sacrifices that have been burned as if going up in smoke upon the altar” “unto the LORD” which means “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “even burnt offerings” or “indeed and also whole sacrifices that have been burned as if going up in smoke upon the altar” “morning and evening” which means “during the rising of the sun and the going down of the same”. Ezra shared how “Jeshua, Zerubbabel and their kinsmen” caused whole smoking sacrifices to be presented to Jehovah God both in the time of the rising of the sun and the going down of the same. (See Exodus 29:38-42)
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Ezra how the leadership in Israel, “Jeshua and Zerubbabel”, knew the importance of worshiping God before they did anything else. God was their defense, and rather than build fortresses, erect defensive measures and take military actions, they erected the “altar” where sacrificial worship would take place. God wants us to have Him first in our lives, and because He loves us, He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we surrender to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to worship Him in advance of every other activity and leave our provision and protection to Him.
Next time Ezra shared how the priest, “kept also the feast of tabernacles”, 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".
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