The House of God, Ezra
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (II Chron. 36: 16,19)
More than 45 times and in every chapter of the book of Ezra, the phrase, The House of God is used and has reference thereto. When Israel choose a monarch system over a theocracy, the demise of their uniqueness of being a great nation began to unravel. They not only wanted a king like all the other nations but chose to walk after the likeness of them as well. They followed in the sins of Jeroboam—who made Israel to sin by worshipping golden calves. God was merciful unto them for many years, patient and longed for repentance from them, brought revival to them by his prophets, extended grace to them in spite of their sin, suffered their high places not being destroyed, and put up with their temples and their sacrifices to Baal. They continued leaving the house of God for the gods of this world until there was no more remedy and were carried of into captivity.
America has stood now for about the length of time (231 years) that Judah existed before she went into exile. This land is filled with the blood from the murdering the unborn to college campuses. We are seeing this adulterous generation turn to the “profits of the gospel” rather than staying with the true prophets of the gospel. Morality is now amorality to the point where there is little blushing anymore. Churches have gone to where at one time were the foundation of this land to where it now only takes a village to make it strong. I am reminded of Jonathan Edwards famous message: SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD, when he said: “…you are thus in the hands of an angry God; ‘tis nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction.”
And now for a little space grace hath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; (Ezra 9: 8,13)
When Israel was permitted to return to her home land, the first thing done was to erect an altar and then lay the foundation for the house of God. The house of God was the center page of God’s purpose for His people. The house of God came first, before any military and commerce. The house of God was where Israel found her strength being a mighty nation. When she worshipped in the house of God on her knees she could stand against any enemy. She remembered her reason for existing by being in the house of God. People sang praises and shouted for joy in the house of God. They gave willingly to the house of God. When they came to the house of God they came as one man. In the house of God they corrected the error of their ways, they learned the teaching of the law, they were blessed and was the eye of the nations. They were encouraged by the preaching of God’s men in the house of God. A remnant went back to their homeland and God restored His presence and his power in the house of God. The Book of Ezra is about the house of God and so should we be too!