Day 42 – Praise

Ezra 3:1 When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem.

 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the Elohiym of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of Elohiym.

 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the JEHOVAH, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. 5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for the appointed feasts of JEHOVAH that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a free will offering to JEHOVAH.

 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to JEHOVAH, although the foundation of the temple of JEHOVAH had not been laid. 7 They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

 8 Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of Elohiym at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of JEHOVAH.

 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of Elohiym: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of JEHOVAH, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise JEHOVAH, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to JEHOVAH: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised JEHOVAH, because the foundation of the house of JEHOVAH was laid.

 12 However, many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 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 sound was heard afar off.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Iesous – Jesus

Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Kurios – Supreme Authority

Pater – Father

God’s character:

Holy

Sovereign

How do you respond when you’re given a great opportunity to be part of a once in a lifetime project? Do you readily respond and become part of a lifetime project, or do you stay home and wish everyone luck? I’m certain many of you would become part of a lifetime project.

King Cyrus of Persia told the children of Israel they could return home to rebuild their temple and live in their cities. (You can read the names of all those who returned home in chapter 2.) They settled in their cities before they started working on the temple. When they started the work and laid the foundation of the temple, they blew the trumpets and shouted for joy, yet many of those who had seen the original temple wept.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, He began to work in you also as His temple.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Iesous Christos, To the saints in Christos Iesous who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from Theos our Pater and the Kurios Iesous Christos.

 3 I thank my Theos upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Iesous Christos; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are partakers with me of grace.

What Yeshuwa started in you when you accepted Him as Savior and Lord, He will complete. This should cause you to shout His praise and give Him glory because He is ever with you, teaching you, guiding you, and showing you what you need to do to walk in Him. If you have been away from His presence a long time, your return to Him will also cause weeping because He never abandoned you or gave up on you. He waited for your return like a father waited for his prodigal son.

What is Yeshuwa doing in you? Give Him praise. Let the world know what He is doing. The priests and Levites blew the trumpets, and the people shouted so that the world could hear their joy from a long distance away.

You cannot keep quiet when Yeshuwa is working in you.

Let’s pray: Father, fill my mouth with Your praise. Let me show the world what You are doing in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 1 March 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux