What lessons from Ezra 6:19 can we apply to our worship practices? Setting the Scene Ezra 6 records the rebuilding of the temple and the return of proper worship in Jerusalem. Verse 19 marks the community’s first Passover in the restored house of God: “On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover.” Key Observations from Ezra 6:19 • Specific date: “the fourteenth day of the first month” (cf. Exodus 12:6). • Corporate participation: “the exiles” as one united people. • Purposeful celebration: Passover commemorates deliverance (Exodus 12:14). • Renewed setting: after years of exile, they return to biblical worship in God’s chosen place (Deuteronomy 16:5–6). Lessons for Our Worship Today • Commitment to God’s Calendar – God sets the times; we do not. Just as Israel kept Passover on the exact day, we honor the Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7), the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26), and other biblically mandated gatherings without casual rescheduling. • Obedience over Convenience – The returnees could have pleaded exhaustion after rebuilding, but they prioritized worship. We likewise arrange our lives around public worship rather than the reverse (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Corporate Unity in Worship – All the exiles participated. True worship draws the covenant community together, transcending personal preference (Psalm 95:1–7). • Remembering Redemption – Passover pointed to God’s saving act; our worship continually proclaims the greater deliverance in Christ, “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Every service should retell the gospel story. • Purity and Preparation – Verse 20 shows priests and Levites purifying themselves first. We prepare our hearts, examine ourselves before Communion (1 Corinthians 11:28), and approach God with reverence (Psalm 24:3–4). • Restoration and Renewal – After exile, Israel re-embraced biblical patterns. When worship drifts, we return to Scripture as the corrective standard (2 Kings 22:8–13; John 4:23). Supporting Scriptures to Reinforce These Principles • Leviticus 23:4-5 – God’s appointed feasts underscore His authority over worship times. • Exodus 12:14 – Passover as a perpetual memorial of redemption. • Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper during Passover, fulfilling and transforming the celebration. • Acts 2:42 – Early believers devoted themselves to apostolic teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, echoing Ezra’s pattern of restored worship. Putting It into Practice • Guard the biblical rhythm of weekly and covenantal gatherings. • Prepare spiritually and practically before congregational worship. • Ensure every service centers on God’s saving work in Christ. • Promote unity by engaging the whole body, not just isolated groups. • Use Scripture as the definitive guide whenever worship traditions need re-evaluation. |
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