Readings for today: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1-3
“And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.” (Ezra 3:11-13)
Second chances. How many of us have had them? Opportunities given to us in life that we do not deserve. Have not earned. Certainly should not expect. We hit rock bottom and suddenly there reaches down a hand to pull us back up. To lift us out of the pit of our despair. To set our feet on a new path. I know I’ve experienced several moments in my life where I hit rock bottom. Usually due to the choices I’ve made along the way. In college, it was my issues with alcohol. In Princeton, it was my addiction to achievement. In Wisconsin, it was my issues with workaholism. In each case, God was gracious to provide a second chance. An opportunity to repent, turn 180 degrees, and move in a new direction.
Israel had been in exile for years. They hit rock bottom in Babylonia. Their nation was wiped from the earth. Their capital city was razed to the ground. Their Temple was completely destroyed. They were forcibly removed from the Promised Land. Somehow, someway they were able to maintain their cultural identity even amidst a foreign land and a pagan people. They still faithfully charted their genealogies. They still maintained their households. They kept up their roles as they waited for God’s promised redemption. Decades passed. Kings rose and fell. Empires changed hands. Finally, a new emperor arose by the name of Cyrus. He issued a decree promising the right of return to the people of Israel. A second chance.
I try to imagine what it must have been like to start over. To cross the borders of Israel for the first time in generations. To return back to the village where your family had lived for centuries. To reclaim your ancient inheritance. To rebuild your home. To re-till your fields. To graze your herds. To walk where your ancestors walked. To live where your ancestors had lived. To renew your covenant with the Promised Land. It must have been powerful. Add to that the laying of the foundation of the Temple. The rebuilding of the altar of God. The restoration of the sacrifices and feasts and holy days of celebration. No wonder the old men wept and the young men shouted for joy. This was the rebirth of a nation!
If you are like me, you wonder if our nation will ever experience such rebirth? Will there come a time when we too will see this kind of national unity restored? It’s hard to imagine. And sadly, the Bible is clear that such rebirth only comes after terrifying judgment. Like Israel, or any other nation for that matter, we have much to atone for. Our past is littered with sin. We are reaping what we’ve sown. All of the anger and hate and vitriol present in our culture is directly tied to our arrogance and pride and selfishness and greed. Yes, in many ways, America represents the best the world has to offer right now. Freedom. Democracy. Capitalism. These things have lifted millions out of poverty and oppression and this is worthy of praise. At the same time, human sin knows no bounds. It corrupts all it touches. So even our best efforts fall short. Even our most significant achievements are not pure.
Over and over again, the Bible teaches that every generation must renew their covenant with the Lord. And the reality is we have become complacent over the last several decades. We have been living off the social, emotional, and national “capital” of generations past. Their sacrifices set the table but rather than build on what they have done, we turned inward. We made the same mistake Israel made. We lost sight of what it meant to seek God’s Kingdom first and instead starting building our own kingdom in our own strength with our own hands. Thus, the mess we find ourselves in. Will God give us a second chance? I truly hope so. But I also know it will only come as God’s people repent of their sin - both personally and corporately - before the Lord. The only chance our nation has is for the church of Jesus Christ to humble herself and pray. Seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways. As we fall on our faces before the Lord, He promises to hear from heaven. Forgive our sin. Heal our land. Only then will we experience new birth.
Readings for tomorrow: Ezra 4-6