The Heart of Worship
Scripture Ezra 3 & 4
10When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood[d]in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.11And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord:
“ForHe isgood,
For His mercyenduresforever toward Israel.”[e]
Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised theLord, because the foundation of the house of theLordwas laid. Ezra 3:10-11
12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’houses,old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,13so 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 sound was heard afar off.
Cost of Captivity
While in captivity there was no temple to worship in
Therefore no removal of burden of sin, no sacrifices
No observation of Passover and other ordinances
For 70 Years and now finally the presence of God
The best was to get to the heart of worship.