One of the most pivotal individuals in the rebuilding and restoration of the temple, as recorded in Ezra, was Zerubbabel (Zer-rub-ba-bel). His name means “seed of Babylon.”
It was a reference to the land from which he came, the land where he was born, the land to which his parents were exiled because of their idolatry and spurning of God and His commands.
It paints an intriguing picture that the very leader who is overseeing the restoration of the temple (destroyed because of Israel’s rebellious ways), is, by his name, a constant reminder of why they’re having to rebuild it in the first place—a reminder that what they are building is there to give them a place to worship God with repentant hearts, seeking his mercy.
What a great lesson for us today! As we restore and renovate our facilities at Memorial, Zerubbabel reminds us to not lose sight of what we are working on and why. We are not building a temple to please God or a monument to draw attention to ourselves.
We are being stewards of all that God has given us and ensuring that God’s people, first and foremost, have a place to come to God with repentant hearts, seeking his mercy.
Pray with us and join us in the Ezra Project that we maintain, first and foremost, a place for God’s grace to touch all who enter.