“And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.”
My Notes
What Does Ezra 3:10 Mean?
The returned exiles lay the foundation of the new temple — and the first thing they do is worship. Priests with trumpets. Levites with cymbals. Praise to the LORD. And it's all done "after the ordinance of David" — following the worship patterns David established centuries earlier.
The connection to David is significant. These exiles aren't inventing a new worship. They're recovering an old one. The patterns David established — the same ones he created when the ark came to Jerusalem — survived exile, survived Babylon, and are now being reinstated on the rubble of the old temple.
The foundation laying is both construction and worship simultaneously. They don't finish building and then celebrate. The celebration begins at the foundation. The first stones are laid with trumpets blaring. For these returned exiles, the act of rebuilding is itself an act of praise.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What are you rebuilding right now — and have you started worshipping at the foundation, or are you waiting until it's done?
- 2.How does worshipping during construction rather than after completion change the experience of rebuilding?
- 3.What 'ordinance of David' in your life has survived destruction — what worship pattern outlasted the hardest season?
- 4.Does this scene encourage you that God can restart what was completely destroyed?
Devotional
The foundation isn't even finished, and they're already worshipping. Trumpets and cymbals on a construction site. Praise at the ground level.
These people had been in exile for seventy years. They'd lost the temple, the city, the nation. And now, standing on the rubble of everything that was destroyed, they lay the first stones — and they worship. Not at the dedication. At the foundation.
There's something here about where worship belongs in the process of rebuilding. Not at the end, when everything looks finished and impressive. At the beginning. When it's just a foundation. When the walls aren't up yet. When what you see is mostly dirt and stone and possibility.
And they did it "after the ordinance of David." The worship David designed survived Babylon. The patterns he established outlasted the exile. Some things that seem destroyed are actually just dormant — waiting for someone to lay a foundation and blow the trumpet.
Are you rebuilding something? A life, a faith, a relationship, a calling that was leveled? Don't wait until it's done to worship. Worship at the foundation. The trumpets belong in the construction zone, not just at the ribbon cutting.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord,.... The masons, whose work it was, Ezr 3:7
they…
They set the priests - Or, according to another reading, “The priests stood.” The Levites the sons of Asaph - i. e.,…
After the ordinance of David - With psalms which he composed, acting in the manner which he directed.
There was no dispute among the returned Jews whether they should build the temple or no; that was immediately resolved…
And when the builders&c. By -the builders" is clearly meant the workmen, not, as some commentators, Zerubbabel and…
Cross References
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