Weeping and Joy

Israel had turned away from the LORD. King Nebuchadnezzar had exiled them to Babylon. The riches of the temple had been captured, the temple itself destroyed. God’s dwelling place with his people, gone. The connection Israel shared with the God who had called them by name, shattered. They had betrayed the Lord and in doing so broken their covenant with him. But in their pain, exiled and scattered, they cried out to the LORD, and by his faithful promise, spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the heart of King Cyrus, and permission was granted for the exiles to return home to Jerusalem. The riches of the temple had also been returned along with an abundance more, including gifts from those with whom the exiled Israelites resided!

The LORD has called them home and provided abundantly. The Israelites, despite fearing the current people residing in Jerusalem, have started the rebuilding of the temple. The foundation has just been laid. It is happening. It is a symbol that restoration might actually happen.

And what is the response of the people, particularly those that had seen the former glory of the temple, and now see the glory that might be again possible?

“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”

In the people’s sin, that which was beautiful, a place for them to dwell within God’s presence, was destroyed and broken connection resulted - weeping and grieving is right at this memory. But at the same time, the LORD has done a marvellous work, bringing back his people into his place to rebuild the temple, providing them with all they need to do so. A new foundation has been laid. There is hope for the future. Shouts of joy arise, also a right response.

With equal gusto, weeping and shouts of joy resounded, such that the listeners could not distinguish one from the other. What a picture of our experience when we see with clarity, the depth of our sin and the mercy of our Saviour. When we see the destruction that occurs when we give in to the lusts of our flesh, and when we start to experience the growth that occurs as the Spirit takes our brokenness and builds us into a people that treasures the Lord more than we ever have before. When we grieve the earthly covenant we have broken with our spouse due to our sexual sin, yet in our despair, cry out to the Lord, in godly sorrow, repent and start the work of recovery to wholeness and holiness, and see the hope that restoration is possible - for he calls us home and provides all we need to do the work. 

Linden Simmons
November 2025