Fidelity of Process - Ezra 1-5

 Ezra 2:59-63 (ESV)

The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.

In chapter two of Ezra, we have a long list of Temple personnel that have returned from captivity to be rebuild and restore the Temple worship in the equally rebuilding of Jerusalem.  This is a time of Nehemiah and Haggai and Zachariah.    Much is happening in Jerusalem at this time.  God is doing a great work and the purity of the work is important.   The physical return to the land meant the spiritual return to obey the Torah.   God had outlined to Moses who had permission to work in the Tabernacle, and that later unfolded to the Temple.   The above list was a group of people who could not be confirmed in regard to their lineage.   The insertion of this list in regard to the bigger list of chapter two gives us insight into integrity of the process for the leadership.  They not only wanted to rebuild the Temple, they wanted to restore the fidelity to God’s Word.  In the process of rebuilding outward manifestations of worship, it is important to remain aligned to spiritual obedience.     How many of today’s churches attempt to build something materially, only to divide and dissolve spiritually at the same time.   God is less concern about the color of the church carpet as He is the stain on the hearts as we fight over blue vs grey.   God is concerned about a process and a heart that is aligned with His Word, no matter the project.