Ezra 3:11b-13 “11b And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.”

DECIBELS

Have you ever heard a crowd noise that was so loud and confusing that you couldn’t tell if the cheers were in anger or in joy? I have. I remember coming into a city one time in another country. We were traveling by van, and we could hear the roar of the crowd before we saw it. We couldn’t tell if it was a riot or a parade. It was loud, chaotic and at the same time festive. Strange, I know. As we approached we could see it was actually a parade of people, perhaps hundreds, who were celebrating someone’s wedding. They were having a ball. But we could not tell until we got closer.

That is what was happening in our text. Some people were shouting and singing with joy over the temple being built. Others, the older ones who had seen the first temple, were saddened because it did not compare to the splendor of the first. They were crying and perhaps even wailing, as was common back then.

TEACHING MOMENT

Neither emotion was wrong, but together they were confusing. Our children will experience both of these emotions, joy and sadness. We cannot expect them to know how to express them appropriately unless we teach them. Pure joy must be celebrated. Sadness does too. Don’t be afraid to shed tears of joy or sadness in front of your children, but make sure they know which they are and why you are doing it.

As for me, I cry at Hallmark commercials. Can’t help it! I’m just wired that way. Won’t you join me in crying some? Tears of joy or tears of sadness! Both are needed.