Weeping or Shouting for Joy

 Life is all about perspective. We can choose to view things in a negative way or in a positive way. We can look backwards and think we are seeing the "good ole days," or we can look with expectation and hope to the future. It is up to us. Of course, we will only have the right perspective on things when we see them as God sees them. That is what we should strive to do.

King Cyrus of Persia allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of the Lord. It was a huge task, but they finally got the foundation set in place. (Ezra 3:12) Yet, many of the priests and Levites and the heads of the fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice, while many others shouted aloud for joy. This is a great example of perspective.

The people had been in exile for 70 years, and God moved the king's heart to encourage them to rebuild the temple. That was a fantastic miracle. Yet the older men missed it, because they were looking back, instead of seeing the great work of God. I pray we will not miss what God is doing around us. I pray we will give Him glory and not be negative just because we have had greater experiences in the past.

The younger people saw that God had used them to accomplish a great task. They were worshiping God by offering sacrifices on the altar, and they rebuilt the foundation with their own hands. That was a cause for shouting aloud for joy, and that is just what they did. They did not allow others to dampen their spirits. I pray we will shout for joy at every good work of God and let everyone around us see the works of God.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezra 5-8.