(REFLECTIONS ON Ezra 3:1-13)

Yes, it’s complicated. Life is complicated, our emotions are complicated, relationships are complicated, even our faith is complicated. Life is full of complications and that is why it is such a challenge to see eye to eye on things even if we are all seeing the same thing happening right in front of us.

After the exiles returned to Jerusalem, they began rebuilding the altar so that they could offer their sacrifices to the Lord, which was their spiritual act of worship. Afterwards, the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid. Scripture tells us that all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. However, as with all things, it’s complicated:

12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.

Different reactions from different people. On one hand, those that did not see or experience the former temple rejoiced, while the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud. The latter had experienced the brokenness of Jerusalem and the former temple, the exile, and being removed from the promised land.

What emotions could they have been feeling to weep instead of shout for joy? Well, it’s complicated. Although we could guess why they reacted the way they did, but would that be fair to them? All we should know is that there were different emotions flowing through the group, different reactions based on past experiences, perhaps even past pains, hurts, and memories.

It’s complicated, can be captured by the mixture of sounds that were heard far away,

13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Today’s Scripture is a reminder to us that as a church made up of people with different experiences, coming from different cultures, traditions and languages, and experiencing life during different eras, that there may be different feelings and reactions to different things that happen in the church and in the world.

This is a reminder that we need to not always just think about our own perspective, but realize that others have different perspectives and reasons why they react to change or new things in different ways.

Today’s Scripture also reminds us that for us to be united as a church we need to be open to the perspectives and experiences of others, rather than to try to make everyone react the exact same way at the exact same time.

No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. Let’s not assume, not dictate, but learn that unity is standing together with our differences, for the common purpose of worshiping God and doing His will.

It’s complicated means that we need to learn to respect one another,
support one another, and love one another.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezra 3