BACK FROM CAPTIVITY…

On 12 March, today, 2537 years ago, the Jews rebuilt their temple in 515 BC. Israel was utterly defeated by Babylonians, and the temple was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. For seventy years they were in exile, and the temple lay in ruins.

However, things began to change, as the promise of the LORD goes, when Babylon was defeated by the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great. He allowed Jews to return to their homeland beginning in 538 BC.

The people of Israel got busy with life, upon their return to their homeland. They forgot and neglected to care for the rebuilding of the temple of YAHWEH, who so graciously brought them back. So the LORD had to raise up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, to remind and rebuke the neglect of His house.

“2 “The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.” – Zechariah 1:2-3
“3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” – Haggai 1:3-4

Thankfully the people repented of their neglect and sin. They rebuilt the temple of the LORD under the able leadership of Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah. This temple was further renovated by Herod the Great, who covered the walls of the temple with gold.

Let us not be like the Jews. Let us always seek the LORD, to help us build His temple, which we are. “16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20