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I’ve seen it at funerals and weddings. The presence of joyful mourning, co-existing with a triumph of shouts and tears. It seems strange to think that sometimes we cry when we’re happy and laugh when we’re sad. Human emotions are finite, yet fickle parts of our existence. Learning to manage them, however, is still important.
In Ezra chapter 3, God’s people were unified in purpose (vs.1). Returning from exile, Jerusalem is becoming reestablished. Sacrifices are being brought to the Lord, and the time has finally come to rebuild the Temple. We can accomplish great things when we work together as God’s people.
God’s people were afraid to rebuild the altar for sacrifices because of the local residents (vs.3), but they did it regardless. They swallowed their fears and trusted God to protect them in the process. What I find most intriguing in this chapter, is not that the Temple of God would be rebuilt (though that’s an impressive task to uphold and accomplish). It’s that many of the older priests, Levites, and leaders who’d seen the first Temple wept. They didn’t seem too happy over this new construction. In fact, the Scriptures note that the younger people rejoiced while the older wept:
“With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid. But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance” (Ezra 3:11-13, NLT).
What happens when tears are mingled with laughter and resounds of weeping are heard with joyous triumphance? I think sometimes, we approach life this way. We struggle to rejoice in what’s new here because we long for what was. What was doesn’t even compare to what now is, but the younger generation wouldn’t know that. This is all they’ve ever known.
