Daily Devotional

Ezra 3:11

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD; for He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.

I find it amazing that after the people of Israel had been taken captive to Babylon and the house of God burned, the walls broken down, the palaces burned and all its precious possessions, that it was a pagan king, Cyrus king of Persia, that fulfilled the word of the LORD and brought the people back to rebuild the temple. As the restoration of the temple began and worship was restored the people sang and praised the Lord with thanksgiving!

Some of the older men who had seen the first temple wept and the sound of praise and weeping was so loud you could hear it afar off (2 Chron 36:18-13)! After reading this passage I thought of our Sunday Night Live service last Sunday. It was so fun to see how the original temple was set up. The songs we sang were so descriptive of what it must have been like. They painted a picture of what our attitude should be as we seek the Lord's presence and then the joy, comfort and refreshment we receive when we have been with Him.

Pastor Jim told us how many people were in the tribes that surrounded the temple, 1.75-2million! No wonder they were heard afar off. Obviously we aren't that many but, how wonderful if people in our neighborhood were hearing our thankful praises afar off. It really makes me want to use this opportunity to see that happen!

Take Me In
Take me past the outer courts
And thru the holy place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see Your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
The priests who sing their praise
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness

But it's only found one place
So take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
So take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take the coal cleanse my lips
Here I am


The Trees Of The Field
You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace

The mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you
There'll be shouts of joy
And all the trees of the field

Will clap will clap their hands
And all the trees of the field

Will clap their hands
The trees of the field
Will clap their hands
The trees of the field
Will clap their hands
While you go out with joy
Type your new text here.
Posted in
Tagged with