The Israelites who returned from exile were "everyone whose heart God had moved." My notes say that inner changes lead to faithful actions. The captives had been humbled and 'purified' to continue in God's ultimate plan.
At the end of chapter 3, I am trying to imagine what the worship was like with the shouts of joy and the sound of weeping all running together. The Holy Spirit can stimulate us both to rejoice over the goodness of his grace and to grieve over the sins that require him to correct us. When we come into the presence of Almighty God, we may feel full of joy and thanksgiving, yet at the same time feel sobered by our shortcomings.
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