Restoring God's House, a Matter of the Heart!
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness
"...every man wise of heart in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to perform all the work of the service of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.
Then Moses called... every man wise of heart whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it."
Exodus 36:1, 2
Solomon's Temple
"Now it came about in the 480th year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt... in the 4th year of Solomon's reign over Israel... that he began to build the house of the Lord."
1 Kings 6:1
But the desire was first in the heart of David his father.
"...David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel... He arose to his feet and said, '...I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it... But God said to me... "Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a Father to him..."
'As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing soul; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for His sanctuary; be courageous and act.'"
1 Chronicles 28:1, 2, 6, 9
"Now King David said to the entire assembly, 'My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for God... in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy house...'
Then the rulers of the fathers' household... offered willingly...for the service of God's house... Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly... 'O Lord... preserve this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Thy people and direct their heart to Thee...'"
1 Chronicles 29:1, 3, 6, 18
Zerubabbel's Temple
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia -- in order to fulfill the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying... 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.'"
2 Chronicles 36:22, 23
"Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem."
Ezra 1:5-8
But when difficulties arose and enemies multiplied:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'This people says, The time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.'
Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai... saying, 'Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate? Now therefore... set your heart on your ways... Go up to the mountain, bring wood and rebuild the house, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified...'
Then Zerubbabel... and Joshua... the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai, the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people showed fear before the Lord.
Then Haggai spoke by commission of the Lord to the people saying, 'I am with you,' declares the Lord.
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel... and the spirit of Joshua... and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the 24th day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king."
Haggai 1:1-5, 7, 8, 12-15
"Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness,
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:3, 4