Ezra 3:10-13 “Don’t Despise The Day of Small Things…”
Pastor Andy outlines Ezra 3:10-13, where the laying of the second temple's foundation produces two simultaneous and polarizing responses — shouts of joy from those who had never seen the first temple, and uncontrollable weeping from old men who had. God responds by sending not one but two prophets: Haggai, who asks, "Is this not in your eyes as nothing?" and then promises "the glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former," and Zechariah, who declares "do not despise the day of small things." On Palm Sunday morning, Pastor Andy shows the stunning fulfillment: Jesus — the desire of all nations, the fullness of the invisible God — crossed the threshold of that second temple, and the weight of His glory went into the very stones those weeping men had laid. Three applications follow: Beware the sin of comparison, process unresolved grief rather than burying it, and take God at His Word with eyes of faith. If Jesus is with you, what's coming is greater than what has been.
Scripture References:
Ezra 3:10-13
Haggai 2:1-9
Zechariah 4:8-10 (do not despise the day of small things)
Psalm 34:18 (the Lord is near to the brokenhearted)
Psalm 126:6
Isaiah 11
Daniel 9:25
2 Corinthians 10:12
1 Kings 8:10-11
Topics and Keywords:
The foundation of the second temple and the polarizing response
The Jewish people's life saturated with meaning and mission
Why the second temple felt like nothing compared to the first
God sends two prophets to the brokenhearted
The glory of the latter temple greater than the former
Do not despise the day of small things
Palm Sunday — Jesus crosses the threshold of the second temple
If Jesus is with you, what's coming is better than what has been
The sin of comparison
Unresolved grief and emotional energy
How to recognize and process unresolved loss
Beware cynicism, sarcasm, and nihilism as signs of buried grief
Take God at His word — eyes of faith
Treasuring memories of the past vs. memories being made
Christianity as joining the story God is writing