Rekindle

Today's Bible Reading: EZRA 2:1-4:5; 1 CHRONICLES 3:19-24

Ezra 3:3

They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.

Altars are significant in scripture. They are a place of intimate communion. They are a place of intense consecration. Throughout Biblical history altars were places to meet with God. They were places of sacrifice and surrender and places of worship. They were the markers of encounters and the monuments of experience. They were the pillars of His presence.

As the Israelites return to Jerusalem, they find the temple and the altar demolished. It had been desecrated and destroyed fifty years earlier. Now covered by underbrush it laid in ruins. The memories of the smoke perpetually rising from the altar invade their minds. The daily offerings were no more. The place of atonement had been abandoned to the elements. The altar was cold.

Now the Lord had brought them back from their bondage. He had brought back them back to rebuilt what was broken. They were to restore what had been ruined. Yet fear over took them. Their enemies had taken over. These adversaries had no regard for the holy. They had no stake in their sovereign. They had gained possession of the land and they had no desire to reestablish religion in the region.

The Israelites had no army and no allies. Defenseless, they felt vulnerable. Yet they were called to return. They were commissioned to rebuild. Their confidence was in the one who called them. So, rather the rally an army, they reconstructed the altar. The Divine was their defense. The Almighty was their ally. Their fears brought them to the Father. Worship was their warfare.

What a great lesson for us. We all encounter season of abandonment. We become captives of the world. We are ruined by our rebellion. Our enemies possess God’s place. Our once active faith is forsaken. The altar has become cold. It is here we must reestablish our relationship. We must return to the altar of Calvary. We must come back to the cross. Here we will find hope and healing in Christ. We will receive forgiveness for our failure. We will discover joy in our sorrow. As with them, the Lord is our defense. Therefore, our lives are better guarded by a reconstructed altar than any walls we would rebuild. Our confidence will reside in the one who calls us and cares for us.

Today consider your spiritual walk. Take time to investigate your relationship to the cross. Look again at the altar of Christ’s sacrifice. Let your passions for Him be stirred afresh and your delight in Him be accelerated. Rejoice in what Christ has done for you. Don’t let the altar of His love for you grow cold and you become callous. Rekindle the fire regularly.