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lesson 12 EZRA I. BACKGROUND 1. Author - Ezra, the priest-scribe: 9:1-4 2. Date - The events of chapters 1 - 6, except 4:6-14, took place in 536-516 B.C. The events of chapters 7 - 10 took place in 458 B.C. 3. Setting - God had punished Judah for her idolatry. After 70 years of captivity in Babylon some were allowed to return with Zerubbabel and Jeshua with the blessings of Cyrus the Persian king. Sixty years later Artaxerxes allowed Ezra and more priests to return to further teach the Jews of God and the law. II. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK 1. Key Verses: 1:1-4; 3:10-11; 6:12-16; 8:22-23 2. Theme: In his grace and faithfulness, God will restore and protect the glory of His Temple, people, law, and name in Jerusalem, Judah, and the world. 1) God restored His Temple: a. As He said He would: Isaiah 44:28f; 1:1-3; 6:14-15 b. Through leaders: 5:1-2; 6:14 c. Despite people: ch. 4 -6 d. With abundant gifts: 1:7f; 2:68f; 8:25f; etc. 2) God restored His people: a. As He said: Jeremiah 29:10f b. Through foreigners: 1:1-1f; 6:13f; 7:11f c. Through His servants: 2:1f; 7:6 3) God restored His Law through foreign, civil and religious leaders: 2:59-63; 3:2; 7:6; 25 4) God restored the glory of His name in His people and in the world: 3:10-11; 7:27f III. ABOUT THE MESSIAH 1. Jesus was a descendant of Zerubbabel - Matthew 1:13 2. Zerubbabel, Jeshua and Ezra were representations of Jesus the real: 1) Ruler 2) High Priest 3) Priest-scribe 4) Priest and ruler combined - Zechariah 6:12-13 IV. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS 1. God's plans will be accomplished through: 1) Pagan leaders: 1:1f; 6:1f; 7:21f 2) His leaders: 3:2f; 5:1f; 7:6f 3) His people's active participation: 1:6 2.God's plans may be delayed by: 1) The unbelieving of the land: 4:4-23 2) Fear and discouragement in the believers: 4:4 3) Wrong priorities: Haggai 1:4f 4) Recurring sin: Chapter 9 3. Traits worthy of imitation: 1) When God stirs your spirit to do something, do it: 1:1f; 5:1f 2) Celebrate, work as it is written: 3:2; 4, 6:14 3) Be united and work: 3:9f 4) Rejoice in what has been accomplished, not what could have been: 3:11; 7:22 5) Set your heart to study, practice and teach God's word: 7:10 6) Brag about God: 7:22 7) Act on your brag: 7:21-23 8) Don't marry unbelievers: chapter 9 9) Repent and change the situation if necessary: chapter 10 EZRA QUESTIONS 1. What did God stir His people to do? 2. How can we tell if the stirring is of God or the devil, if we are being stirred to do something? 3. What two major sins did the restored Jews commit? 4. Why were those sins so serious? 5. How were those sins overcome? 6. What is the temple of God today? 7. What can we do to be temple builders? 8. Does God work through government authorities today? 9. How can we help Him work through them? 10. Should we marry unbelievers today? 11. If we have an unbelieving spouse should we put them away? Why or why not? (See I Corinthians7) |