Then and Now
“So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” Ezra 3:13
After seventy years of captivity in Babylon, the Jews, first held by the Babylonians, then the Persians, were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple by a decree from Cyrus, the king of Persia (modern day Iran). Ezra was a scribe, a registrar of public documents and very familiar with the law of Moses. He had determined in his heart to seek the law of the LORD, to obey it, and to teach it. Once the foundation of the temple was laid, a celebration was held. The older people, those who had remembered the original temple, sang, praised the LORD, and shouted for joy as they anticipated a new temple in which to sacrifice and worship as in former days. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and his army had destroyed Solomon’s temple when they attacked Jerusalem many years before. The temple, the house of God, was the core around which life for the Jewish people centered.
However, not everyone celebrated for the same reason. The younger people, those who had been born in captivity, had no memory of Solomon’s magnificent temple, and thus the freedom allowed by King Cyrus took on a different meaning, that of being free from captivity and the ability to do as they pleased within reason. Some of the younger folks likely did not appreciate the work and time that went into building the original temple, nor were they likely too excited about worship in the new temple. Of course, there would have been many, both young and old, who were filled with joy to be able to worship as they had been instructed in the law. It is difficult to generalize about an event of which we did not attend. However, human nature is such that we can speculate the reactions of folks to various situations. The older priests and Levites, who did remember the grandeur and magnificence of the original house of worship, were emotionally affected and responded in weeping and sadness. It was hard for the folks to differentiate the shouts of joy from the cries of weeping.
Those of us who are old enough to remember “the good old days”, that is, the time when people kept their word and weren’t so selfish. We didn’t have to put locks on everything and set a security alarm every time we left the house. People didn’t shoot one another on the highway, and God’s house was respected even by those who didn’t attend. The younger generation has a very different perspective on life. There is so much that they have never experienced, and we know that experiences shape one’s attitude. They have few character building experiences to draw from and an overabundance of things that won’t necessarily serve them well for the future. They are growing up in an age where life is not valued. They are too dependent on social media for how they value themselves rather than seeing themselves as the creation of the God who loves them and wants the best for them.
Every generation seems to drift further and further from the truth of God’s word. It is up to those of us who haven’t given up on the Lord to set an example before those coming behind us. Scripture tells us that the last days are coming when mankind will become completely indifferent and/or hostile to the word of God and the gospel. We have already seen that sign taking place, but we must hold our ground while we still have time and refuse to acquiesce to the ungodly culture that is growing at an alarming pace. There are still some who are seeking answers and will listen to the good news of the gospel. All we have to do is share it.