Ezra 3:1-6, 10-13
Introduction
One of the prominent uses of the word worship is seen in Genesis 22:5 when Abraham almost sacrificed his son, Isaac, on the mountain. Another instance where the idea of worship is captured is through the tales of the Israelites in the wilderness. The words “sacrifice” and “feast” are used interchangeably as connotations of worship in Exodus 3:18 and 5:1, as Moses asks Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go. Later, we see the Israelites make a covenant to worship no other God but Him (Exodus 20:5). Whenever the Israelites turned away from true worship, God meted out punishment. One such punishment is the desolation of Judah and the people in Jerusalem foretold by Jeremiah.
Owing to people’s idolatry and worship of pagan gods, they were exiled under the captivity of Babylon –a desolation that would last 70 years (Jeremiah 25:1-13). Under the Babylonian system, the Israelites were under a new system that deprived them of all opportunity to worship their living God. It is not until the period of Nehemiah and Ezra that we begin to see a restoration of the exiled people and their worship in Jerusalem.
Our focus scripture focuses on the restoration of worship among the Israelites. During this review, it is important to note that the people’s exile was not just a geographical separation but also a spiritual one from their worship of God.
Exiled: Separated from Godly Worship
One of the greatest consequences of the captivity of the Israelites in the years prophesied by Jeremiah was a departure of the Israelites from their worship practices. Under Babylonian captivity, the people were subjected to different cultures and introduced to foreign religious practices that drove them away from Godly worship.
Imagine this: you are born in a foreign land, and what remains of the identity of your culture in your family has slowly depleted away as you live among foreigners. This is what happened across the lengthy period of exile, such that by the time the Israelites returned to their land, most of them had never been introduced to the protocols of worship. Luckily, God ensures that remnants like Ezra can help restore the spirituality and worship practices of the Israelites.
What are the protocols of worship?
The protocols of worship are the procedures and systems that the Israelites used to worship and commune with God across history. These include:
1. Altars and Sacrifice
The system of altars and sacrifices is well captured in the book of Genesis as one of the first systems which people would worship God. Noah was among the first to raise an altar in Genesis 8:20, as God made a new covenant with mankind.
Abraham, as the father of nations, popularized this pattern of worship and made sure that this knowledge was passed across generations from his house, to Isaac’s, to Jacob’s, and so forth. Whether it was moving to a new location, making a prayer inquiry, thanksgiving, making a covenant with God, and so forth, offering sacrifices on altars proved an effective way of reaching out to God in worship.
2. Levitical Order of Priesthood
The Levitical priesthood was established by God through Moses during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. The tribe of Levi was specifically set apart by God to serve in the tabernacle and minister on behalf of the people. Their service helped ensure that the Israelites worshiped according to God’s commands of holiness and orderly conduct.
“At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.” Deuteronomy 10:8
3. The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel’s worship because it symbolized God’s presence among His people. It was carried ahead of the people by the Levites as the Israelites moved in the wilderness to show God’s leadership and presence wherever the Israelites went (Numbers 10:33). Later, when the Ark was brought into the temple by Solomon, it signified a permanent place of worship and atonement for the Israelites.
4. Reading of God’s Word
The public reading of God’s Word began in the time of Moses when he first read the Torah (Law) from God that the people may enter into a covenant (Exodus 24:7). This practice was later cemented by a decree (Deuteronomy 31:10-13).
The reading of the scriptures helped remind the Israelites of their place in God’s plans, affirmed God’s sovereignty over the people, and was considered an act of worship when people responded in confession of the Word, praise, and obedience. In the time of Israel’s restoration, the word of God played a significant role in re-introducing the people to their God (Nehemiah 8:6).
5. Songs of Worship and Praise
Songs of worship and praise emerge as a powerful and central part of Israel’s relationship with God because they express an adoration and reverence for God’s holiness and greatness (for example, Psalm 95:1-2). This is particularly evident in the poetic books of the Bible.
Additionally, songs would show one’s gratitude for God’s deliverance, provision, and faithfulness. Some of the examples of songs composed to worship God and offer up thanksgiving in the Bible include:
- The Song of Moses and Miriam sang after the Israelites’ Red Sea Crossing (Exodus 15:1-2).
- Hannah’s thanksgiving song when God blessed her with Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1-2).
- King Jehoshaphat used a praise song as a weapon before battle and became victorious (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).
6. Prayer
Finally, prayer is a vital form of worship that people use to express their adoration, thanksgiving, and dependence on God. Some examples of prayers that contained worship are:
- Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:23 where he acknowledges God’s faithfulness.
- Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 where she exalts the name of the Lord.
- King David frequently worshiped through prayer in the book of Psalms.
- In the New Testament, the Lord’s Prayer also begins with worship: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).
Restoration of the Protocols of Worship After the Exile
In the book of Ezra, the people returning from captivity are taught the protocols of worship to renew their covenant with God and revive their spirituality. This restoration involved five key approaches that were each vital for rebuilding Israel’s identity.
1. The People Assembled as One
“When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem.” Ezra 3:1
The people assembled in unity to worship. This reflected a return to communal worship and a renewal of their covenant with God as a people. Gathering together also allowed the people to hear the Word of God read aloud, remember their identity as God’s people, and re-commit themselves collectively to His covenant.
2. Priesthood
In Ezra 3:2 the priests resumed their role as spiritual leaders and restored the link between the people and God. Their rebuilding of the altar signified that worship and atonement were needed for the restoration of the life of the nation.
The priests were able to bring back worship according to the ordinance of David (2 Chronicles 8:14) and the Law (Torah) in alignment with God’s instructions for worship, after a long period without Levites serving in the temple.
3. Altars and Sacrifices
“They offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.” Ezra 3:3-5
The priests also helped reinstate morning and evening sacrifices, such that the Israelites returned to the daily worship of God. Sacrifices for special occasions and feasts were also revived. This was not just a fulfillment of God’s commandments but a restoration of a consistent rhythm of daily and seasonal devotion.
4. Celebration of the Feasts
Celebrating festivals like the Feast of Tabernacles reminded Israel of their ancestral heritage as it signified the journey through the wilderness and God’s provision. Therefore, celebrating it just after returning from exile was deeply symbolic because it gave them hope for their restoration. It also reminded them of God’s merciful nature and called them back to upholding their covenant.
5. Rebuilding the Temple
The laying of the temple’s foundation in Ezra 3:10–11 was met with praise and worship, led by the priests and Levites. This event symbolized the restoration of God’s dwelling among His people and reignited their hope and spiritual purpose. The temple was the center of Israel’s religious life and its restoration would ascertain that God was once again at the heart of the nation’s identity and worship.
Conclusion
The Israelites’ continued disobedience and departure from Godly worship ultimately led to their Babylonian captivity, which lasted nearly 70 years as prophesied by Jeremiah. By the time they returned to Jerusalem, many among them were part of a new generation born in exile, unfamiliar with the covenant traditions, worship practices and cultural identity of their forefathers.
Leaders like Ezra and the remnant priests played a crucial role in guiding the people back to God. This process began with offering sacrifices of repentance, reestablishing the altars, and recommitting the nation to God before any work on the temple reconstruction could begin.
Additionally, the celebration of feasts such as the Feast of Tabernacles helped them reconnect with their spiritual roots and understand their covenantal responsibilities. Step by step, through teaching, worship, and communal repentance, the Israelites were reintroduced to a life of spiritual devotion and worship. The book of Ezra captures this process as a spiritual revival in which the Israelites restored their identity as God’s chosen people.
