Rebulding the Altar – Why Is That Important?

After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, the first activity of the returnees to Jerusalem was to rebuild the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More of burnt offeringThe sacrifices described in the Old Testament show the ground and means of approach to God. They are all typical and foreshadow Christ, who has fulfilled them all. The basic... More: “And they set up the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings” (Ezra 3:3). This fact is remarkable in several respects.

Firstly, one might ask why they built the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More first of all. The city was in ruins, the wall was destroyed, the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle.  It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More was in ruins, but they did not build the city, the templeThe house and dwelling place of God in Jerusalem in the OT. The forerunner was the tabernacle.  It consisted of two main rooms, the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies,... More, or their own houses first. They built the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More.

Surely they were among the people of PsalmPsalm simply means "song." In the Old Testament, this word only occurs in connection with the Psalms of David and the Book of Psalms. Singers sang a psalm with instrumental... More 137 who had sat by the rivers of Babylon and wept at the memory of Jerusalem. They had been asked to sing a song of Zion, but they could not do so on foreign soil. They longed to return to Jerusalem. At the latest since God had “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” (Ezra 1:5), “they remembered the Lord from afar, and Jerusalem came into their mind” (Jer. 51:50). But what they had obviously missed most was worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More. Were they not in harmony with the heart of God with this attitude? Hadn't He not done without worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More for 70 years?

Let us never forget that the worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More of God is our highest and first duty. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More Him” (John 4:23). And even though Cyrus had commissioned them to build the house, the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More was their first thought. So we too are “being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More” (1 Pet. 2:5). This is the highest purpose of why God has built us as His house.

The altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More was erected in its place. What kind of place was this? It was on Mount Moriah, where Abraham once sacrificed his son Isaac. It was the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan), where a vicarious sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More appeased the righteous wrath of God (cf. Gen. 22:2; 2 Sam. 24:16, 25; 2 Chr. 3:1). It is the place near which the cross of Golgotha would one day stand, the place where the only sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More was made that was truly pleasing God. To bring this sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More in reverence before God – that is true worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More.

But why was it so important to erect the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More exactly where it had once stood? Were there not other suitable places? No, because this place was not chosen by man, but it was the place “which the Lord your God chooses, and His name shall be there” (Deut. 12:11). God Himself chose the place, and no one has the right to move it, not even in days of ruin. And today? The altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More is also called “the table of the LordA figurative description of communion with the Lord (1 Cor 10:21), which we express when we eat his supper. By eating the bread and drinking from the cup, we express... More” (Mal. 1:7). And there is only one (spiritual) place where it can be found: where the name of the Lord dwells, where He is the center and has all rights and all authority (cf. Matt. 18:20). This has not changed even in our days of decline in Christianity.

As soon as the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More was erected, they began with the burnt offerings prescribed in the law. The continual burnt offeringThe sacrifices described in the Old Testament show the ground and means of approach to God. They are all typical and foreshadow Christ, who has fulfilled them all. The basic... More is mentioned in particular (Ezra 3:3). We find the instructions for this in Exodus 29:38-46. A year-old lamb was sacrificed every morning and every evening “for a sweet aroma to the Lord.” For them, it was a constant reminder of their salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More through the PassoverPassover is translated as "sparing, passing by". It refers, on the one hand, to the Passover feast itself and, on the other, to the sacrifice, the Passover lamb (a foreshadowing... More, when the Lord “brought them out of the land of Egypt” – because the PassoverPassover is translated as "sparing, passing by". It refers, on the one hand, to the Passover feast itself and, on the other, to the sacrifice, the Passover lamb (a foreshadowing... More lamb was also a year-old lamb. For God, however, it was a constant fragrance that enabled Him to “dwell among them” (Ex. 29:46). The fire of the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More was never allowed to go out (Lev. 6:5-6). We should never forget what happened for us on the cross. And the fragrance of Christ's perfect sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More is before God daily and forever. He will never forget this sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More and can dwell with joy with those to whom He attributes the fragrance of His Son's sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More.

However, not only the prescribed sacrifices were brought, but also “the burnt offerings of everyone who offered a freewill offering to the Lord” (Ezra 3:5). Dear friends, this is very precious. The Book of Leviticus is full of sacrifices that had to be brought, but it begins with the words, “If anyone of you brings an offering to the Lord” (Lev. 1:2). The Father does not command worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More; He seeks it! Does He seek it from me in vain? He is waiting for those who are so moved by the beauty and perfection of the Lord Jesus and His sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More that praise flows out of their hearts “voluntarily,” without compulsion, to God. “If anyone of you” – does that speak to us?

One last point seems worth mentioning. They built the altarPlace of sacrifice, i.e., place where a sacrifice is made. The Old Testament knows both the personal erection and use of an altar (usually made of earth or stones) and... More out of fear of the peoples of the lands. Wouldn't the walls have been more urgent? No, they realized that they first had to restore their relationship with their God. The awareness of the Lord's presence casts out fear (cf. Ps. 27:5-6). The protection of God's people lies (even today) in the glory of God's presence. Where this can manifest itself freely, “none of the rest dare join them” (Acts 5:13). The “unbeliever or uninformed person” who comes in must “fall down on his face, and worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More God, reporting that God is truly among you” (1 Cor. 14:24-25).