Ezra 3:11-13 King James Version (KJV)
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. 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 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Ezra 3:11-13 Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever toward Israel. 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 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house [Solomon’s temple], when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, though many shouted aloud for joy.
13 So the people could not distinguish 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 off.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
These are my thoughts, please share yours.
11 Singing praises to the Lord is a way of responding to what He has done for us, for who He is. We should have a thankful heart toward the Lord. God’s mercy allows us to receive His goodness; His mercy is no longer just for Israel. Sometimes we shout to Lord with praise. The gave praise because the foundation had been laid, the temple may have been seen as the place of worship but they start worshiping because the temple is being built, worship does not have to be done in a certain place but with a certain spirit, the Spirit. Our foundation is not at the temple as believers but is in Christ.
12 To see the temple again was a sight, it was something they never expected to see again. This may be our reaction when we get to heaven and see our Lord face to face. They knew from this happening that God’s promises were forever no matter how they acted; His promises are not on what we do but on what He did for us.
13 We people hear us praising God do they end up focusing on what we are saying our does it cause their focus to turn toward god because of our praise.