But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid....the Wayfarer

But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.

Ezra 3:4-6

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

⁵ And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the Lord.

⁶ From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.

The building of the second temple was long in coming, delayed by the scattering abroad of God's chosen among the heathen nations, impeded by fear of tyranny of those governing them, impeded by a lack of faith and trust in God Himself in the face of the strength of the many factions that separated them as they accepted custom and practice of those among whom they abided.

As the few, those in remembrance, came together to rebuild, that same fear remained inherent among them even as they began to reinstitute the offerings demanded in repentance for their error that led to the captivity in which they found themselves.

In order to build, sacrifice and tithe of blessing was demanded, and as response was given, building began.

There was a requirement for masons, carpenters, and artificers in the laying of the foundation.

Without their willing offering of effort toward that laying, there would be no foundation on which to build.

Those unable to contribute through their skills, gave instead that which they had to assure that the foundation would be laid, that there would be a place of worship, a place of solace, a place of comfort to remind both them and their children of the power of the One demanding that the foundation be laid, and built upon once begun.

The young were tasked, brought forward by the old to assist in this "building", as the joy of the beginning took hold, as did too the weeping  of those in remembrance of the loss that created the necessity of rebuilding what had already been built, and allowed to be destroyed by those to whom they had been subjugated.

Ezra 3:11-13

King James Version (KJV)

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.

¹² But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

¹³ So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Joy of gain melded with weeping of loss, remembrance came through both.

The enemies of what was stood for by the foundation being laid, naturally objected to the rebuilding, objected to the very foundation on which the "building" was to be laid and made every effort to halt the progress of what had been begun.

Their cries and lies were heard by those in power, seen as a danger to that power and, again, force was employed to halt that beginning before it could be completed.

Ezra 4:11-24

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.

¹² Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.

¹³ Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

¹⁴ Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;

¹⁵ That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

¹⁶ We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

¹⁷ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

¹⁸ The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.

¹⁹ And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

²⁰ There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

²¹ Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.

²² Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

²³ Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

²⁴ Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The force and power that was exhibited by all those in objection to the completion of that temple could only temporarily impede the progress made by the laying of the foundation, that foundation remaining and awaiting further effort demanded for its completion.

Eventually, that effort was given and the temple rose despite the objection of all who attempted to stymie and stifle what was represented  within its existence in their midst.

This temple too, eventually fell, replaced before its fall with an unfailing and unfalling structure built by God's own hand on a foundation that remains unshaken and unshakable through eternity.

The final replacement for that structure, once more lost as its people once more were scattered abroad to be governed by their captors, stands now as a beacon of the freedom from that captivity.

The foundation laid, upon which may be built, and upon which IS BEING built remains despite the same objection from the same forces and powers, echoing ever the same objection and denial of its existence that should prompt the same melding of joy and weeping recorded in Ezra.

The foundation, the very cornerstone of that foundation that is rejected so vehemently by those still preferring the custom and tribute paid to the same captor, is none less than the Son of God, Christ Jesus.

All the force and power employed against that foundation remains doomed to failure.

Remembrance remains critical for those recognizing both the foundation and what is to be built upon it.

Matthew 7:24-29 KJV 

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

²⁸ And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

²⁹ For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The authority of Christ remains in tact, the lack of authority in opposition and circumvention of HIS AUTHORITY remains despite the volume, and frequency with which it is delivered.

In order to build on the foundation supplied, the building material must continue to be willingly given, shaped no longer by the hands of men, but shaped by the hands of the Builder, a lowly carpenter become artificer of far more than wood, stone or precious metal, with the ability to use what is given him to fashion a far better temple than that built in Ezra's time, one that will remain eternally.

What is not willingly given, remains dross, unusable, remains forever rejected in the building process that soon comes to its completion.

Impediment will always remain for the unwilling.

Impediment will always be overcome by those in remembrance of what is being built, and what is to be had upon completion.

"Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Until the impediment of unbelief, and unrepentance is overcome, the foundation is unapproachable, the building material unusable.

Once belief is established and need of repentance is seen comprehended, and most importantly given, then the foundation becomes evident to the eye of the beholder, the material to be used  becomes acceptable and available to the builder for His use.

The tiniest grain of sand is as valuable to the mortar as is the greatest beam of precious Cedar, each has a place within the building when willingly given.

The foundation HAS been laid!

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer