Chúng đáp lời như vầy: Chúng tôi vốn là kẻ tôi tớ của Ðức Chúa Trời, Chúa tể của trời và đất; chúng tôi đang xây cất lại cái đền thờ, đã lâu năm trước đây có một vua sang trọng của Y-sơ-ra-ên lập lên và làm cho hoàn thành.
Điều này có nghĩa gì?
In Ezra 5:11, the people building the temple in Jerusalem explain to their questioners that they are servants of God and are rebuilding the temple, which was originally built long ago by a great king of Israel. The key message is about the continuity of worship and the divine mission to rebuild what was destroyed.
Giải thích cho trẻ em
Imagine if you were building a treehouse, and someone asked why you were doing it. You might say, 'This treehouse was here before, and now we are fixing it up again because it's important to us.' That's what these people are saying about the temple they are rebuilding.
Bối cảnh lịch sử
Ezra was written around 450 BC by the priest and scribe Ezra. The audience is primarily the returning exiles from Babylon and the Israelites still living in the land. The cultural setting is one of rebuilding and restoring faith after a period of exile.
Áp dụng cho hôm nay
Imagine if you were tasked with restoring an old family home. This verse reminds us that we often have the responsibility to carry on what others have started, especially when it's something valuable and meaningful, like our spiritual heritage.
Rebuilding the temple signifies the restoration of a community’s connection to God and its spiritual heritage, as well as a return to a place of worship and community gathering.
Who was the 'great king' mentioned?
This likely refers to King Solomon, who originally built the temple in Jerusalem under divine guidance, as recorded in 1 Kings 6.
What does it mean to be 'servants of the God of heaven and earth?'
Being a servant of God means dedicating oneself to God's will and serving Him with all one's heart, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all creation.
How does this verse relate to personal faith?
This verse encourages us to recognize and continue the good work of our predecessors, especially in matters of faith and service to God, reinforcing the idea of building on the foundations laid by others.