In the book of Ezra, Ezra shared about “the children of the province that went up out of the captivity” which included those who came with “Zerubabbel” among whom “the whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty”,and in chapter two and verse sixty-eight of Ezra, Ezra shared what happened with, “some of the chief of the fathers” where we read,
And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
The verse reads, “And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, ...” Ezra began with the words, “and some of the chief of the fathers” which means “and a number of the top, upper and heads of households, grandfathers, forefathers or originators or patron of a class”, “when they came” which means “at the time and moment they, the chief of the fathers, entered, were enumerated and lead” “to the house” or “into the dwelling place, habitation and abode” “of the LORD” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “which is at Jerusalem” or “that exists and is located at Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Ezra shared how a number of the forefathers of Israel, at the time and moment they entered the dwelling place belonging to Jehovah God in “Jerusalem” did the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:” Ezra continued with the words, “offered freely” or “were impelled, incited and made willing to give” “for the house of God” which means “on behalf of the dwelling place, habitation and abode belonging to the Supreme Deity” “to set it up” or “to establish, set and place the house of God” “in his place” which means “within his, Jehovah God's, foundation, fixed place and location”. Ezra shared how the forefathers of Israel willingly gave gifts to establish the dwelling place of the Supreme Deity Jehovah God in His location.
When we consider Ezra's words in this verse, we discover how the older members of the people of Israel willingly gave of their resources to erect the temple of Jehovah God. Although they may not have had youthful strength to rebuild the temple, they had means to do so. God wants everyone to be involved in the building of His temple, the church, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to make this possible. God loves us, and when we yield to His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to be part of building His Kingdom whether by means of our strength or provisions that He has given to us.
Next time Ezra shares how the chief of the fathers, “gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work”, 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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