Despite their fear of the peoples of the land,
they replaced the altar on its foundations
and offered holocausts to the Lord on it,
both morning and evening...
though the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not yet been laid.
- Ezra 3:3-6 (NAB)
So they made the more haste, lest they should be hindered.
Apprehension of dangers should quicken us in our duty.
Have we many enemies? We have the more need to have God
for our friend and to keep up our correspondence with him.
- Wesley's Notes
Fear of danger should stir us to our duty. Have we many enemies?
Then it is good to have God our Friend, and to keep up communion with him.
Our fears should drive us to our knees.
- Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
If change is happening on the outside faster than on the inside,
the end is in sight.
- Jack Welch (wiki)
It is not only on the outside, but also on the inside
that we encounter corruption.
All my kinsmen, like the rest of the tribe of my forefather Naphtali,
used to offer sacrifice on all the mountains of Galilee
as well as to the young bull which Jeroboam, king of Israel, had made in Dan.
I, for my part, would often make the pilgrimage alone to Jerusalem for the festivals,
as is prescribed for all Israel by perpetual decree.
- Tobit 1:5-6
Now after I had been deported to Nineveh,
all my brothers and relatives ate the food of heathens,
but I refrained from eating that kind of food.
Because of this wholehearted service of God,
the Most High granted me favor and status with Shalmaneser,
so that I became purchasing agent for all his needs.
- Tobit 1:10-13 (See For My Part)
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