They built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. Ezra 3:2b
I doubt any of you have ever tried to build a physical altar - they just aren’t needed today. But if you were to try, how would you do it? To begin with, there would certainly be a lot decisions to make: How tall should it be? How wide? How long? What materials should I use? Where should I put it? Having a clear instruction manual would certainly help!
For the Jews, all those questions had already been answered. God, through Moses spelled out exactly how everything was to be constructed (Exodus 27:1-8). When the Jews began this project they knew exactly how God wanted it to be done, and so they did it “as it is written”. How commendable that is for the Jews!
Do you have that same attitude toward the Word of God? When God gives you instructions about how to do something, do you obey it? For example, when God commands you on how to baptize, do you practice it exactly the way He expects? Or when God commands you to use clean, wholesome words, do you put a guard on your mouth so that the only words that come out of your mouth are clean and wholesome? You see, to the extent that you obey God’s Word reveals the depth of your love for God. His Word has been given to you for your benefit. Will you follow the example of the Jews and do things “as it is written” in God’s Word?
Philip Moeller