How easy is it to let the fast-pace of life crowd out those things we know are important? There is only so much time at our disposal, and too often we don’t give enough to our spouses, children, friends … or to God.

For many, the time once devoted to worship has been given over to other activities.

Can you think of any changes occurring in our society which have changed what Sundays look like?

DIG

In addition to the temptations already mentioned, the exiles living in Babylon faced the additional burden of sadness, homesickness and feeling that God was far away from them.

Read carefully the following lament:

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion! How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
- Psalm 137: 1-6

Ezra recognized upon returning to Jerusalem that the people needed to once again come before God in worship. Even before the temple was rebuilt, the importance of bowing before God and offering their first fruits in worship could not be understated. So work commences on the altar so sacrifices could once again be offered to the Lord.

The very first of the ten commandments is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). What are some of the “gods” we are tempted to serve before the Lord?
Under the new covenant worship is not tied to a certain location or limited by actions such as an elaborate priesthood and animal sacrifices (John 4: 21-24). How should this shift make it easier to give ourselves to the Lord in worship?

As Ezra led the people on a quest to draw nearer to God, a group of troublemakers bent on keeping the Jews in their place stirred up trouble by writing a letter to King Artaxerxes. Pandering to the issues they knew the king would be most interested in, they told numerous lies about what the Jews were doing and even offered commentary about their motivations … all the while ignoring the true aims of Ezra and the people.
(Read Ezra 4: 6-24).

Why were these people interested in sabotaging the efforts of the Jews to reestablish themselves in Jerusalem?

Why are some today eager to stir the waters of discontent instead of attempting to live in peace?

What was the result of these efforts according to Ezra 4:24?
How can we guard against such an outcome in our day?

From this discussion, what are the things you feel compelled to pray about?

Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.