No Fear.

"Then Joshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God. They set up the altar on its foundations, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples..."

(Ezra 3:2-3)

Fear can cause us to do a lot of things. We can cower, withdraw, flee, take up arms, freak out, seek refuge, or hire security to keep us safe. When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile, they did something else... THEY WORSHIPPED!

One of the first things they did was set up the altar again. Their temple and sanctuary had been destroyed when they were carried away. Now that they'd returned, they started to rebuild so they could worship. What's the first thing you need when getting a church up and running: Pews? Walls? Social hall (for after church donuts & coffee)? Parking? NOPE. An Altar. So that's what they built. But I love the reason why they built it. In addition to knowing it needed to be done, the author tells us "they were in dread of the neighboring peoples." And rightly so! Later int he story, these neighbors offer to "help" the rebuilding process... claiming they're followers of God, too. Of course, they were lying. And when rebuffed, they initiated a "cease and desist" order with the King of Persia (Artaxerxes). They sought to bully and strike fear into the hearts of the Hebrew people.

But I love how their response amidst this fear was to WORSHIP. To take their worries, concerns, fears, and uncertainties to God in worship. Prayer, praise, Scripture reading, offerings & sacrifices were made to God. In turn, I can only assume, God calmed and quieted their souls. What a wonderful reminder for us. When we face fear, worry, and uncertainty, our first response should be worship! Connecting our hearts and souls to God! Especially as we prepare for the coming of Christmas, may our lives embody a worshipper's heart.