Ezra 1-3

Isn't it wild that we start the book of Ezra and he isn't even mentioned?
Apparently, Ezra and Nehemiah go together in the Jewish Bible...this is pretty cool....The time of Exile in Babylon is done.   Cyrus of Persia has conquered Babylon (we are going down the statue that Daniel dreamed).  Remember how Cyrus was mentioned by name in Isaiah?  This foreign king is going to deliver the people.  Now,  tricky thing is that lots of the Jewish people have gotten comfortable in Babylon...they have homes and jobs.   The trek to Judah will take about 4 months.  Do you know how much food you have to pack?  There are no hotels.  And, once you arrive, there is a temple and a home to rebuild.  Some people chose to stay.

Zerubbabel is the "civil" guy who will go.  Then the  "religious" priests and Levites have to prove they are decendents of Abraham.   Keep in mind that not a single sacrifice has been offered during this time.  Last we recall,God's glory had left the temple.  Cyrus even returns the temple articles that had been plundered

Our next view is that worship is restored at the temple.  They celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacles and stayed in little booths to remind themselves of the trek from Egypt.   This is another deliverance; another homecoming.  The foundation is laid for the temple.  We see a mixed feeling.   Some of the crowd are full of joy.  Some of the crowd, most notably the older ones are sad because this temple is built on the footprint of Solomon's temple that was destroyed and it is much much less grand.  The new people never saw the old temple, so effectively they didn't know what they were missing.    Here is something that really got my attention from the Wesley study Bible:
The writer notes that the people sing "according to the directions of King David" to whom tradition attributes many of the psalms.  Erected on the same location and celebrated with the same songs, the foundation for this second temple symbolizes continuity in faith and heritage with the first temple community, even if this continunity is now a mixed group, most of whom know nothing of the old monarchy.  As individuals, families, and congregations evolve, growth entails finding meaningful ways to integrate the present with the past to connect new members with those who have a long record of faithfulness, and to honor history while embracing change.  The weeping of the elders carries a moving double significance.  Their disappointment with the new construction is at once a sad refusal to welcome the future and an important challenge to a new generation that they have much to achieve to rival the community's former glory.  Only the elders carry with them the historical  memory of the community.  They are the only ones who can raise this criticism.