Vere. 4-6.-The worship of the first year. In connection with the worship of the first year after the return of the children of Israel from Babylon, we notice- I. THAT IT WAS SUCH AS COULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE OPEN AIR. 1. They bad their altar rebuilt. ( 1) This was the first thing done, because it was essential. Sacrifice is interwoven with all the ceremonies of worship according to the law. The prin- ciple of sacrifice is no less essential under the gospel. Ponder the thought that there can be no true worship without sacrifice. (2) They lost no time in this. They came forth from Babylon in the spring. The journey probably occupied four months ( comp. vii. 9). They had therefore barely time to get housed before the seventh month came, upon the first day of which they were "as one man" at Jeru- salem. Learn that things essential to worship should have prompt and early attention. Forsaking Babylon-seeking Zion. 2. But thefoundatwn of the temple was not yet 1aid. This recalls the worship of the patriarchs. (1) That of the first family eastward of Eden (Gen iii. 24, and iv. 3, &c.). (2) That of Noah emerging from the ark (Gen. --;-iii. 20). (3) That of the Hebrew patriarchs in Canaan (Gen. xii. 6-8; xiii. 18; xv. 9-11 ; xxii. 13; xxvi. 25 ; :x:xxiii. 18-20). Learn, worship may be genuine without being elaborate (see John iv. 23, 24). 3. There appears to have been no celebratwn of the ceremonies of the great day of atonement. (1) The daily sacrifice commenced on the first day of Tisri (ver. 6). The great day of atonement was due on the tenth of the same month, of which there is no mention. The narrative carries us at once to the feast of tabernacles, which followed on the fifteenth day. (2) The reason of the omission is found in the want of the temple. The sprinkling of the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry would be impossible (see Lev. xvi.). There was no most holy place for the high priest to enter (see Heb. ix. 7, 25). There was no altar of incense (see Exod. xxx. 10). Lesson: If we cannot worship God as we would, we should worship him as we can. 11 THAT IT COMPREHENDED ALL THE FESTIVALS 011' THEIR RELIGION. 1. Foremost amongst these was the feast of tabernacles. This was one of the great annual festivals (E:xod. x:x.iii. 1-6). (1) The passover. This was held on the first day of .Abib-instituted to commemorate the events connected with the exodus from Egypt (Exod. xiii. 3, 4; Deut. xvi. 1-8). (2) The feast of first-fruits. This commenced with the putting in of the sickle for the harvest. .Also called the feast of weeks, for it lasted seven weeks, while the fruits of the earth were being gathered. Lesson: ·we should recognise God in all our blessings. In all this rejoicing the Israelites ,still kept up the memory of their emancipation from Egypt (see Deut. xvi. 7-12). (3) The last was the feast of tabernacles. In the present case this came first. This arose from the accident of its occurring first after the return from Babylon. Yet in this accident there was a providence, for the feast of tabernacles has a peculiar relation to gospel times (see Zech. xiv. 18). This feast also called the feast ?f in- gathering, for it was a rejoicing over the garnering of the harv~st 3:nd vmt~ge (Deut. xvi. 13-16). Not so called here, for there would be no extensive mgathenng in this first year. There was :i, remembranc~ of_ the deliv:erance f:om Egypt in th\s festival also• it called to mmd the dwellmg m tents m the wilderness. In this celebration the people could not but associate with this their own recent deliverance from Babylon. Lesson : In all our festivities let the grateful remembrance ~e pre- sent with ue of our spiritual emancipation from the Egypt and Dabylon of am and en. m. 8--13.l TllE BOOK OF EZRA. 3'7
error. ( 4) Particularly note that they "offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the custom as the duty of every day required." On each of the days during which this feast lasted there was a difference in the custom (see Num. xxix.). "As the duty," &c. Heh., •• the matter of the day in the day." Learn: (a) Every day brings its own religious duties. (b) We must do the work of the day in the day. 2. They offered also the continual burnt ojfe:rings. ( 1) The daily offerings. These were never interrupted. They continued morning and evening throughout the year. (2) Those of the Sabbaths (see Num. xxviii. 9, 10). The word Sabbath is applied not only to the seventh day of the week, but indifferently to all the Jewish festivals (Lev. xix. 3, 30). (3) Those of the new moons (see Num. xxvii. 11-15). (4) Additional to all these were the free-will offerings of the people. Lesson : The ser- vices of religion are not to be taken up fitfully, but must be steadily observed. They are not irksome, but delightful to those whose hearts are brought into sympathy with them by the grace of God. This grace should be diligently sought.-J. A. M.
§ 3. REBUILDING OF THE TEMl'LE AND OPPOSITION MADE TO IT.
EXPOSITION.