God’s Mercy Endures Forever

July 7, 2013

Lesson: Ezra 3:1–13

Key Verse: Ezra 3:11

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Introduction

The restoration of the people to Jerusalem was the restoration of the worship of the Lord who delivered them from bondage. This bondage was brought upon them because of their disobedience, for which the Lord had them sent to Babylon. However, their deliverance was of the mercy of the Lord. Thus they “sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever” (Ezra 3:11).

The mercy of the Lord is remembered by His people, then and today. It is by mercy that we are saved. This mercy is defined by our Father’s covenant love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, His Son died for us. His Scriptures attest to His mercy, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for us sins” (1 John 4:9–10).

A psalm that declares God’s loving-kindness and tender mercies toward His people is number 136. The people of Ezra’s time, as well as the fellowship of believers today, remember and sing, “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” The psalm reminds us to give thanks for the mercy shown by our Lord’s wisdom in creating the heavens and the earth. The sun rules by day by His mercy. Our Savior brought out Israel from Egypt; “With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever.” When we think of our Savior, Christ Jesus, we know that it is He who has “remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endureth forever; and hath redeemed us from our enemies; for his mercy endureth forever. Who giveth food to all flesh; for his mercy endureth forever.” David Dickson directs our praise, writing that “God is the strong God of heaven, not only because he made the heaven, and showeth his glory most there, but especially because he hath promised to give heaven, and all spiritual graces with eternal life in heaven, to his own people by an everlasting covenant; of which heaven and heavenly mercies he is God: O give thanks unto the God of heaven.”

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Gathered Together—Ezra 3:1–7

In the seventh month, the “children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.” The unity of the people of God is best witnessed when they place their full trust and thanksgiving in their Lord and Savior. Differences draw us apart from each other when our eyes are taken off of Christ and set upon ourselves. We accept the truth that there are disruptions in our fellowship. We repent of those things which are converse to the righteousness and glory of God. If we become hardheaded, then the breach is broadened. We must gather together for worship as one, putting aside our self-righteousness for the glory of God and blessings of all. Place our baggage in the hold, and let Christ our King give us new traveling orders, and a new moral spirit to work and worship one with another.

David’s song draws us near to our Lord, saying, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! …for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps. 133). Paul admonishes us that, with meekness and long-suffering, we are to endure “one another in love (a spirit of willingness, a covenant love), endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. …Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:3, 13).

Those who were exiled were brought by the mercy of their Lord to be nurtured in faith and worship. The chosen leaders and priests stood before the people. Jeshua and “his brethren the priests,” built 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.” It is recognized that it is God’s altar, and that the servant is God’s also. Worship is of divine origin, of divine authority, and not a figment of man’s imagination.

Fear of the countries around them brought further stirring of the muscles of faith to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. “They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.” The word ‘custom’ is to be understood as a judicial action, a privilege, to do one’s duty. The people of God worship according to the written Word of God,   by the divine ordinances of the Lord God Almighty. For “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Ps. 103:17–19).

The people of God continued give offerings unto the Lord. “From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord.” However, the foundation of the temple was not laid. So they “gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters,’ and food and drink; “to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

Matthew Henry sums up the spirit and work of the exiles, writing, “Then it is good to have God our Friend, and to keep up communion with him. Our fears should drive us to our knees. The sacrifices for all these solemnities were a heavy expense for so poor a company; yet besides those expressly appointed, many brought free-will offerings to the Lord. And they made preparation for the building of the temple without delay: whatever God calls us to do, we may depend upon his providence to furnish us with the needful means.”

Discussion: What should our desire and spirit be as we come to worship our Lord?

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Praise and Thanksgiving—Ezra 3:8–13

Work began on the foundation of the house of God at Jerusalem. Zerabbabel and Jeshua, “and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord.” Overseers and workman according to their trades, along with the Levites, undertook the task of building the house of God. When the builders laid the foundation for the temple of the Lord, the priests “in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph with cymbals,” led in their “praise of the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.”

Then they all “sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord.” This was prompted by the very nature of their Lord. For “he is good, for his mercy endureth forever toward Israel.” Then all the people “shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord.” This praise was prompted because of the work of the Lord. For “the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” We praise and give thanks to our Lord because of who He is, and because of the promises kept in building His Church, of which Christ is both the foundation and chief cornerstone. His mercy and kindness bring us into His household, uniting us to our Savior. His loving-kindness continues as He sanctifies us as His very own people, building us up as His eternal kingdom.

Thus, there was weeping with a loud voice, and joy with much shouting. So much so that “the people could not discern the noise of the shout and joy from the noise of weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” Weeping and joy swell our hearts and voices, for Christ is our Savior who gives us life, abundantly and forever. This weeping and joy are ours as we set our eyes of faith toward “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

Discussion: From what reasons do we praise and give thanks to our Lord?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.