Eza 3:1 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. (ESV)
When the 7th "new moon" came the people gathered as one. This was the Jewish religious "New Year". There are occasions when the people of a region or a congregation are brought together by circumstances beyond our planning and control. In this case it happened to be a combination of fear of the nations around them combined with a significant date on the calendar.
On September 11, 2001 that happened on a national level in the USA when the twin towers were attacked. It happens in communities when a tragic death of a young person occurs, or a natural disaster strikes. It happens in congregations when certain joys or tragedies are shared across the congregation. Usually the leadership of the country, community or congregation has little warning. At other times, like this event in Ezra 3, circumstances are such that the leadership can see it coming. Either way, leadership needs to be prepared to point their people to God for comfort, strength or gratitude at these times.
It happens in families as well. A couple days ago I witnessed a neighbor's dog get hit by a car. A man with two boys and a dog were out in their yard when the dog saw me walking on the road. It came running out to greet me and ran right in front of an oncoming car. I saw it coming but could do nothing to stop it. The man and boys saw it occur as well but could not stop their dog. So there we had one shook driver, one dead dog and one Dad with two grieving boys. The only thing I could think was: How is he going to help those boys deal with this tragedy?
In Ezra 3 Zerubbabel and the Jewish leadership took the opportunity to turn the hearts of their people toward God. They didn't do it by preaching at them, but by inviting them to worship. Each of us, as believers, are in positions of responsibility and/or influence. Are we sensitive enough to the Lord and to the joys and pains of those around us that when these "God moments" occur we are prepared to gently lead people toward our gracious God?
Father, may I walk in sync with you in such a way that when you bring these moments together my heart would instantly turn to you and I would be the presence of Christ to those around me. Let people see Jesus in me.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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