Cue the Confetti! It's time to begin!!! I’m so excited to start finding out Ezra and Nehemiah with you!
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Within the e book of Ezra, we see God's faithfulness even in instances when the youngsters of Israel have been untrue. God promised that the exiles would return to their promised land, and He was trustworthy to maintain His promise.
The e book of Ezra particulars the occasions surrounding the return of the exiled Jews again to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Whereas Ezra accommodates solely ten chapters, it covers the return of the captives to Jerusalem underneath Zerubbabel and Ezra, in addition to over eighty years of occasions throughout this essential time in Israel's historical past. We see that God despatched the trustworthy prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to name them again to their essential process when discouragement led them to cease the reconstruction undertaking.
The title Ezra almost definitely means “The Lord Helped”and certainly he helped the youngsters of Israel to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple regardless of opposition. By all of it, we see God as a God of hope and restoration. Regardless that we could face penalties for our dangerous decisions in life, God won’t ever go away us. In his love he forgives and restores.
Function:
Ezra recollects the occasions of the primary post-exilic return of the youngsters of Israel to Jerusalem underneath Zerubbabel and Ezra and the rebuilding of the temple.
Writer: Though the creator is nameless, Ezra is believed to have written the e book, or at the very least compiled it
Interval: This e book was written round 538-400 BC.
Key verse: Ezra 3:11
They usually sang responsibly, praising and thanking the Lord,
“For he’s good, for his mercy to Israel endures perpetually.” And all of the folks shouted with an awesome shout as they praised the Lord, as a result of the inspiration of the home of the Lord had been laid.
Contour:
1. The return of the youngsters of Israel underneath Zerubbabel (1-2)
Checklist of captives who returned to Jerusalem (2:2-58)
2. The start of the restoration of the temple (3)
3. Opposition to the restoration of the temple and stoppage of labor (4)
4. Temple Restoration Continues (5)
5. Completion and Dedication of the Temple (6:13-22)
6. Ezra Comes (7)
7. Family tree of the captives who returned with Ezra (8:1-14)
8. Ezra offers with sin and brings reform (9-10)
For an much more detailed introduction to this week's studying, watch this video. It's an awesome rationalization of Ezra and Nehemiah!
NOW WE BEGIN!
Bible studying schedule for this week:
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This week's questions for thought and dialogue
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Ezra 1
The folks of Judah have been taken to Babylon, the place they have been exiled for many years. In simply the primary few verses of Ezra we see three fulfilled prophecies from the books of Daniel, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Daniel prophesied that the Medes and Persians would defeat Babylon. Isaiah prophesied the beginning and rise to energy of King Cyrus, and Jeremiah prophesied {that a} remnant would return to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity. That's what we're studying in the present day!
Cyrus, King of Persia, issued a decree for God's folks to return to town of Jerusalem and start rebuilding the Lord's home. After years of rise up towards God, Judah lastly pushed God's hand to date that he allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to return and defeat Judah and take her captive. He raided the temple, took a part of the treasure, and town of Jerusalem was destroyed. It remained desolate for the following 70 years till God moved the center of King Cyrus to name all who can be prepared to go and start rebuilding the temple. He gave them the treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple.
We’re the temple of God. Whenever you accepted Jesus as your private savior, the Holy Spirit got here into you. What’s the situation of the temple of the Lord in your coronary heart? Was it uncared for? Are the treasures that have been as soon as there gone? Was it sitting deserted ready for the Lord's awakening and restoration?
If in case you have been neglecting this secret place in your coronary heart currently, take a while in the present day to resume your dedication to Christ, take these verses you as soon as held so pricey, and start to cleanse and renew your coronary heart with God's Phrase.
Ezra 2
Solely a small variety of these in exile selected to return to Jerusalem to start the rebuilding undertaking. Ezra lists about 50,000 who have been heads of their households apart from ladies and youngsters. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that solely a remnant would return to start rebuilding Jerusalem. An providing was obtained to start the rebuilding of the Lord's home, and the folks gave as generously as they might based on their means.
The restoration of the Lord's home required sacrifice and funding on the a part of the folks, and it’s the identical in the present day. If we need to reside a lifetime of devotion to the Lord, we have to be able to sacrifice ourselves for the Lord. Individuals gave as a lot as they might. God won’t ask you to provide what He has not allowed you to provide earlier than. Is God putting one thing in your coronary heart in the present day that you’ll have to sacrifice for him? Is it time, funds, or giving an additional favor to somebody in your life? Perhaps He needs you to make use of your abilities to serve your church or group. Be daring and step ahead, take that first step to provide again to the Lord in no matter method He calls you to provide.
Ezra 3
Jerusalem was overgrown and in ruins for seventy years, however the remnant returned. Earlier than they even started to rebuild the temple, Zerubbabel, the political chief of the remnant, and Yeshua, the non secular chief, constructed an altar on its historic basis and commenced to supply sacrifices and have a good time feasts based on the Regulation. Quickly the fabric was ordered and the builders laid the inspiration stones of the temple.
It was a second of celebration, with the clergymen with their robes and trumpets and the Levites with their cymbals. They sang and praised the Lord as a result of the worship of God was restored in Jerusalem. Nonetheless, the response was blended. The previous males who noticed the primary temple wept loudly; maybe as a result of they realized that the brand new temple wouldn’t be as luxurious because the one constructed by Solomon.
Is there an space in your life that God is restoring? There are two methods we will reply to the restoration: we will rejoice and reward him for his fantastic work, or we will cry with remorse for what may have been. Wanting again with remorse prevents us from seeing now the glory and significance of God's work in our lives. Are you residing in remorse for one thing out of your previous as an alternative of worshiping God for what He’s doing in your life in the present day? Learn the final 4 verses of this chapter once more and know in your coronary heart that you’ll transfer ahead in reward and worship and go away your previous regrets behind.
Ezra 4
Work on the temple started, and as typically occurs, the enemy despatched a distraction. When Assyria conquered the northern kingdoms, they scattered the Jewish folks around the globe and settled within the land themselves. After a while they invited clergymen to show them the worship of God, however they continued to worship their very own idols as effectively. These turned generally known as the Samaritans in Jesus' time. These males approached Zerubbabel and Yeshua with a suggestion to assist rebuild the temple, however they refused the assistance as a result of they needed to maintain the constructing of God's home pure and undefiled.
After being refused, these males started an lively marketing campaign to discourage the employees and cease work on the temple. This marketing campaign of resistance lasted till the time of Nehemiah. Lastly, a letter is distributed to King Artaxerxes filled with false accusations towards the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the king responds by demanding that the work be stopped.
At any time when God begins an awesome work in our lives, we will count on the enemy to insurgent. He’ll do every little thing in his energy to stop God's work. However within the final verse of this chapter we learn that the work on Jerusalem was stopped just for a time. It would ultimately get well. What’s the enemy doing to stop God's work from occurring in your life? Are you disgusted? In Ephesians 6:10-20 we’ve been given armor and weapons to battle towards the enemy, and since Christ has already received the battle, we battle from a spot of victory. Seize your armor and weapons and battle a victorious battle. Don't be additional distracted or discouraged by the enemy!
Ezra 5
The restoration of the temple was resumed. Nonetheless, the remaining run into one other impediment. Tattenai, the governor of the world, arrives with a bunch of males who need to know who they’re and who approved the development of the temple. Tattenai then sends a letter to King Darius requesting {that a} search be made for the decree issued by King Cyrus authorizing the Jewish folks to return to Jerusalem to construct the home of God.
When Tattenai requested who they have been, the elders replied, “We’re the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” Their id was “servants of God”. When God calls us to do one thing nice for him, we will count on to come across resistance. Many instances we get discouraged and even query whether or not what we’re doing is basically God's will. The enemy will attempt to make us query our id and our calling, however once we are positive of who we’re, we will stand agency in what we all know to be true and what God has referred to as us to do for him and his kingdom. Are you disgusted proper now? Is the enemy inflicting you to query your calling and the duty God has set earlier than you? Take time in the present day to recollect who you’re in Christ. You’re the daughter of the king of kings and he loves you a lot!
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Printable Bible Bookmark for Ezra and Nehemiah.
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As we learn and research the Guide of Ezra, we are going to see God's love and faithfulness many times. When the youngsters of Israel are discouraged and apathetic, he sends his prophets to encourage them to maintain going. When they’re untrue to him once more, he stays trustworthy to them.
The identical is true for us in the present day. Even when we’re generally untrue to God, he stays trustworthy to us. His grace and forgiveness are limitless in direction of us. He loves us a lot!
So let's get began! Seize a cup of espresso or your favourite beverage and open the Bible and soak it up! Put aside at the very least 15-20 minutes for studying day by day.
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