The Israelites began rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem in the second year after their return from exile. Zerubbabel and Jeshua led the work and appointed Levites to oversee construction. When the foundation was laid, priests and Levites sang praises to God while some older residents who had seen the first temple wept, as the people shouted both in joy and weeping that could be heard from afar.

2. Ezra 3:8–13
8 Now in the second year of their coming to the
house of God at Jerusalem in the second month,
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the
son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the
priests and the Levites, and all who came from
the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and
appointed the Levites from twenty years and
older to oversee the work of the house of

3. the LORD. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and
brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons,
the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with
their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee
the workmen in the temple of God. 10 Now when
the builders had laid the foundation of the temple
of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with
trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with
cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the
directions of King David of Israel. 11 They sang,

4. praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying,
“For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon
Israel forever.” 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 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads
of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen
the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the
foundation of this house was laid before their
eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,

5. 13 so that the people could not distinguish the
sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the
weeping of the people, for the people shouted
with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far
away.

7. First year
Preparation
Travel
Housing
Established

8. As one man…
Ezra 3:1…Now when the seventh month came, and the
sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered
together as one man to Jerusalem.
Unity

9. So
important!
1 Corinthians 12:12–13…For
even as the body is one and yet
has many members, and all the
members of the body, though
they are many, are one body,
so also is Christ. For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into
one body, whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free,
and we were all made to drink
of one Spirit.

10. Restored Worship
Rebuilt the altar
Sacrifice
Continual burnt offerings
Followed the Law
Celebrated

11. Year two
Now in the second year of their coming to the house of
God at Jerusalem in the second month, Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the
rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all
who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the
work and appointed the Levites from twenty years and
older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.

12. Unity in action
All contributed to
the process
 Free will
offerings
 Supervision
 Provision
 Working

13. A family affair
Then Jeshua with his sons and
brothers stood united with
Kadmiel and his sons, the sons
of Judah and the sons of
Henadad with their sons and
brothers the Levites, to
oversee the workmen in the
temple of God.
We are the family of God.

14. Special Celebration
Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the
temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel
with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with
cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions
of King David of Israel.

15. Special Celebration
They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD,
saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon
Israel forever.”
Not enough to build the physical

16. Here’s a
great song
Give thanks to the LORD, for He
is good; For His lovingkindness
is everlasting. Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is
everlasting.”…Oh let those who
fear the LORD say, “His
lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Psalm 118:1–2;4

17. It
continues
From my distress I called
upon the LORD; The LORD
answered me and set me
in a large place. The LORD
is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:5–6

18. God’s action
Our response
The LORD is my strength
and song, And He has
become my salvation. The
sound of joyful shouting
and salvation is in the
tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD
does valiantly.
Psalm 118:14–15

19. God is seen in
relation to His
Temple
This is the gate of the
LORD; The righteous will
enter through it. I shall
give thanks to You, for
You have answered me,
And You have become my
salvation.
Psalm 118:20–21

20. Messianic
The stone which the builders
rejected Has become the chief
corner stone. This is the LORD’S
doing; It is marvelous in our
eyes…Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the
house of the LORD.
Psalm 118:22–23; 26

21. It includes us!
1 Peter 2:6–8a…For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER
stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who
believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH
THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for
they stumble because they are disobedient to the word

22. Not a
platitude!
This is the day which the
LORD has made; Let us
rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

23. The first response
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.

24. Our response
1 Peter 2:4–5…And coming to Him as to a living stone
which has been rejected by men, but is choice and
precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
God through Jesus Christ.

25. The second
response
Yet many of the priests and
Levites and heads of fathers’
households, the old men who
had seen the first temple,
wept with a loud voice when
the foundation of this house
was laid before their eyes…

26. Mixed
emotions…so that the people
could not distinguish the
sound of the shout of joy
from the sound of the
weeping of the people,
for the people shouted
with a loud shout, and
the sound was heard far
away.

27. God
speaks to
the
senior
citizens
Haggai 2:3…Who is left
among you who saw this
temple in its former glory?
And how do you see it now?
Does it not seem to you like
nothing in comparison?

28. God speaks to the
leaders
Haggai 2:4…But now
take courage,
Zerubbabel,’
declares the LORD,
‘take courage also,
Joshua son of
Jehozadak, the high
priest,

29. Encouragement and Rebuke
Zechariah 4:9–10…The hands of Zerubbabel have laid
the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish
it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent
me to you. For who has despised the day of small
things? But these seven will be glad when they see the
plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the
eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the
earth.”

30. God speaks
to everyone
Haggai 2:4b-5…and all you
people of the land take
courage,’ declares the LORD,
‘and work; for I am with
you,’ declares the LORD of
hosts. As for the promise
which I made you when you
came out of Egypt, My Spirit
is abiding in your midst; do
not fear!’

31. God’s final word on the
building
Haggai 2:9…The latter glory of
this house will be greater than
the former,’ says the LORD of
hosts, ‘and in this place I will
give peace,’ declares the LORD
of hosts.”

32. Our Take Away
Rebuilding has to take place
Unity is paramount
Everybody has a part to play
Your words have effect