Worship Then Work

Last night we attend a “Lincoln Day Dinner” with about 800 others to hear author and film maker Dinesh D’souza. This morning Debbie joined me again for the chapel service at McKenzie Place retirement home. It was a delight to be joined by Jerry and Virginia Pippin and to enjoy brunch after the service.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… They set up the altar on its foundation and offered burnt offerings for the morning and evening on it to the Lord even though they feared the surrounding peoples.On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, even though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.In the second month of the second year after they arrived at God’s house in Jerusalem….all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began to build.” Ezra 3:1-9 HCSB

The words of the Lord through Jeremiah were coming to pass for God’s people. They were being returned to the own land with the support of the country where they had been captives. A change in government presents opportunities and some challenges. Babylon has fallen and the Persians are now in control. King Cyrus issues a decree for a temple to be built in Jerusalem to honor the Lord God.

As the exiles return, the first thing they do is to establish their homes in the land that had been left desolate and they then build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord. When we look at the chronology it appears this took place seven months before the work of rebuilding the Temple began.

I believe it is important to take note of this sequence. So often when given a project, the desire is to, “get at it.” Let’s get to work and begin the task we have been assigned and are eager to complete. However, God’s people had learned an important lesson and they put “first things first.” Even though the Temple would facilitate worship and sacrifice to the Lord, it was not a prerequisite or the only way to show honor to the Lord.

So, as the people were settled, they worshiped first and worked second. They didn’t assume God’s blessing on their efforts, they sought  God’s blessing for their efforts. Just because it was “God’s work” it still required God’s wisdom, strength and provision.

During this time the people prepared their hearts and organized their efforts. As a result their efforts were successful in getting the foundation of the Temple laid. That was the first and most important step in the process. When the foundation was laid, there was time to stop, and give thanks to the Lord, who had helped them to accomplish the first step.

“When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the Lord, as King David of Israel had instructed. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.” (Ezra 3:10,11 HCSB)

It is interesting that in modern building projects, we have “ground breaking” ceremonies and we have church building dedication ceremonies. We take time before the project is start to celebrate and when it is completed. Perhaps we should learn from the Old Testament and have times of celebration at key phases of a building effort. But regardless, we can observe that worship should always precede our work.

Prayer for today…. “Lord, I am guilty of rushing into a project with eagerness to accomplish a task. Allow me to remember that taking time to seek You and to worship You is the best preparation that can be made in any effort; especially when it comes to my work for You and the work of building my life and family.”