Ezra 3:3

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 8^th & 9^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The text makes quite clear that all of this started to happen before the foundation of the new temple was laid. The people of God from ancient times had learned to worship Him faithfully even though the place of worship was simple.

Recall the altars built by Abraham and Jacob, long before Israel had a central sanctuary. God can be worshipped wherever God is present. It is the presence of Yahweh that draws His people for worship and not necessarily the accoutrements of worship. We might say of the returned exiles that they began their new relationship with God back in the land by returning to the basics. Their offerings on the altar were symbols of the offerings of themselves to God. They needed to put their hearts in order before they put the house of God in order. [BN, 6]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene:

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm