And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

They have a worship service, a celebration and lay the foundation of the 2nd Temple.

Imagine this day. Jeshua, Kadmiel and Henadad are set before the people as the men who would begin this great work. These are the Levites who would begin the work and care for the Temple. In the Temple of Solomon there had been 24,000 Levites to oversee the work but now there were only 341 that had returned.

As the Levites lay the first stones, others in their Temple apparel blow the trumpets and the choir, the Sons of Asaph, and an orchestra begin to praise the Lord.

They sang together by course, they took turns singing from one section of the choir to another. We even know the song they sang that day.

Psalms 136:1-9 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The Psalms continues this way to 26 and ends with, “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Praise for God’s Restarts of Our Lives

I would have loved to hear that shout, love to hear that praise.  They were so joyous at the prospect of God's work going forward. So joyous that God’s promises had been fulfilled and they were a part of the plan and prophecy of God.

Shouldn’t we also have that same king of joy? We should sing our praise with the same kind of motivation because God's work is still going forward, by the promise of our Lord and we are a part of that plan for the Church of Jesus Christ.

How many in Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel’s time must have thought that God had abandoned His people. How many may have given up hope and just become a part of the culture around them.

It was a dark time, a black time, a time that seemed to have no light for them to see a way out. But 70 years later the people returned and the Temple work was begun. Soon we’ll be in the book of Nehemiah and under that great man the wall of Jerusalem will be rebuilt.

God had not abandoned them, he was only purifying them, strengthening them and consecrating them for a restart.

And in the darkness of our own days, I am so glad that God has not abandoned us. The promises he gave the prophets then were true and the promises He has given us today are just as true.

Just as God’s mercy endures forever, so also His word endures forever. Psalms 119:89-92 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights,I should then have perished in mine affliction.

For us the Lord has commanded and promised in Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

And what God has promised and commanded, he will also supply, just as He did for the restart of the Temple. He has given us willing people, he has given us a place and he has given us a wonderful purpose.

Oh yes, we need to praise God and shout for joy, because God’s work is going forward at Calvary Baptist Church. It can be a bit overwhelming; it can be a bit chaotic, it can even be a bit contentious, but most of all it should be joyful and it should be thankful to that God in his mercy is still willing to use us.