SCRIP-BITS

Ezra 3:12.     But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted for joy.
 
Oh Friends, three more to go! Counting down to that joy-filled day when the whole world will erupt with the joyous cry of ‘Joyeux Noel! Merry Christmas!’ (smile) What a day it was two thousand years ago! What a day it will be three days from now! And what a day it shall be forever more! Wow! A joyful remembrance and celebration, when the One and Only True God chose to come to earth and humbly commune with His beautiful but inordinately disobedient creation, man. And I have a quote for us on that enthusiastic, peace and pleasure filled word, joy. It’s attributed to Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) the famous French poet, playwright and theatre director. And it says: ‘What’s a joy to one is a nightmare to the other. That’s how it is today, that’s how it will be forever.’ And isn’t that the naked truth mih people! So many things in life bring pleasure to some while those same things thoroughly scare or displease others. And we have the perfect example of this in the Christmas Season. It brings immense joy to believers, but non-believers show a combination of disgust, disrespect and fear. I’m truly sorry for them yes Friends, because they don’t know what a wonderful celebration they’re missing out on. And even those who celebrate by greeting ‘Happy Holidays’ and immersing themselves in only the worldly celebration, don’t know the great spiritual joy that they’re depriving themselves of by not believing in Jesus. Ah Friends, eating, drinking, sharing gifts and making merry is good and pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but oh, there’s nothing in this world to compare to the joy of spiritual fulfillment. For just like you don’t need hope and faith for the things you want and can see, it’s the same with worldly joy. But those things you hope for and can’t see in the natural, they bring greater pleasure, because deep down you know that they will be realized since you’ve seen them through the mind’s eye, through the eyes of faith. Oh Friends, I don’t know if what I just wrote makes sense, or puts over the impression I desired. But what I’m trying to say is that spiritual joy most always transcends earthly pleasure. And now I’m chuckling, for having written all of that, it’s time for me to find a Bit. The Spirit is certainly on the ball this morning. (smile) I’m back people, some fifteen minutes later. It could have been less than five though, because the Bit was the first verse I read, and deep down knew that it was meant to be. However, stubborn, pig headedness caused me to keep searching, although I finally gave up halfway through. That just goes to show some of the unnecessary troubles and problems we cause ourselves when we don’t follow or listen to the Spirit’s guidance. But at least it was profitable in one respect; I now know most of the scriptures in the Good Book that deal with joy. Hallelujah! ‘And they sang together by course in (responsively) praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. 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.’ (Ezra 3:12) Oh Friends, that was a great cause for celebration in the rebuilding Jerusalem. However, our Bit says: ‘But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy.’ Now, re the scholars, it had been some fifty years since the first temple was destroyed, but those who had returned from exile and captivity in Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem, had finally laid the foundation of the new temple. And though there was a joyful outpouring that the Lord’s House was progressing, some of the older men who had seen the first temple in all its beauty and majesty, now wept because of the pitiful comparison in both size and splendour. And even when the temple was completed in 520 B.C. some of those old men were still alive, and wept again, only to be challenged by Zechariah: ‘For who hath despised the day of small things?’ (Zech.4:10) And also by Haggai: ‘Who is left among you that saw this house (temple) in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel (the chief builder), saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.’ (Hag.2:3-4) Ah mih people, the same thing is happening today; we’re not building as grand and as fanciful as before, but more utilitarian, and as things are destroyed and rebuilt, often much smaller and not as splendiferous, we feel a bit sad and let down. Just check out cell phones and cars. But let’s remember that it’s not always the size or the splendour that counts, but often the very fact that we still have that thing that first excited us. It’s still called by the same name, though now in a different shape, size and form. And although a small part of us is sad, missing the size and beauty of the first artefact, we are still able to celebrate the existence of the second, though often falsely touted as new and improved. (smile) Anyway Friends, we’ll end with the fitting last verse of Ezra Chap.3: ‘So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.’ (Ezra 3:13) Yes my brethren, the downsizing of the Lord’s House did cause some sadness, but there was also great rejoicing, great joy, that work on it had actually begun. The spiritual joy of having a house to worship the Lord God Jehovah overshadowed the sadness at its smaller size and inferior beauty. But please, please let’s allow the spiritual joy of Christ coming to earth to save us from our sins, to overshadow everything else this Christmas Season. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE mih people! And let’s all have a very Merry Christmas!…tis the season of LOVE…Christ came to earth, because our God…LOVED us so…