People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 12

 

Ezra 9-10

Unfaithfulness Exposed – Ezra 9

After returning to Judah, Ezra learned that some of the Jews were doing detestable practices like that of their neighbors. They were ignoring God’s instructions and intermarrying with the idol worshiping women of the land.  God told His people in Deuteronomy 7 they should not imitate the detestable ways of the other nations living in the land - things like intermarriage, sacrificing their children, practicing divination and sorcery, interpreting omens, or engaging in witchcraft.  They were not separating themselves and therefore got caught up in these sins.

They were committing the same sins that they had done before.  It’s easy to repeat the mistakes of the past.  Human nature seems to work in a cycle and we repeat the same sins of our ancestors.  

In Deuteronomy 7 God told them He would drive out the other nations from Israel’s land.  He said to not make a treaty with them and to not let their sons and daughters intermarry because they will turn them from following the Lord and serve other gods.  God knew they would be easily influenced by pagan idolatry.  They should break down their altars and burn their idols.  God has concern and purposes for His people.  He has set them apart and doesn’t want them to be corrupted by sin.  God gives us commands, too because He wants us to be free from sin’s danger.  His commands are given to protect His people.  There had to be a clear separation from of God’s people or they would be drawn into pagan practices.

Ezra prays for the people.  His response to their sin was mourning.  He felt ashamed and disgraced not because he sinned but because the people had sinned.  This should be a Christian’s response to sin.  We should all be sorry for the sins of our fellow man.  Ezra prayed a prayer of confession for the people.  He affirms God’s righteousness.  He doesn’t complain that God was unfair in the past.  He asks for God’s mercy without excuse.  His prayer should challenge us as we approach God and address sin through prayer.

God was faithful to the Israelites despite their sin, because He chose this unique nation setting them apart from all others.  He loved them and had a purpose for them.  He had made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17. 

Principles: 

God gives us commands because he wants us to be free from the dangers of sin.

As Christians, we have a unique identity in Christ.

Confession – Ezra 10

As Ezra prayed, confessed, and wept a large crowd of Israelites gathered around him.  They were moved and also wept and confessed their sins.  Shecaniah showed courageous leadership and acknowledged that they had been unfaithful and proposed a solution.  He proposed a solution.  He said they should make a covenant to send away all these foreign women and their children.  They came up with a plan to take each case separately.  After dealing with each man they found those who had married foreign women.

Breaking up these marriages meant separating father from their wives and children.  Ezra probably believed this would restore purity to the nations and be the lesser evil.  This doesn’t mean marriages between believers and non-believers should end in divorce.  I think the believer should live in a godly manner and be a testimony to the unbelieving partner.

Principle:  Genuine repentance involves heartfelt sorrow before God.

Ezra listed those guilty of intermarriage.  Why would he make this list?  This is a list of men who were forgiven much.  They dealt with their sin even though it was hard.  This list encourages us to deal with our sin by these men’s example.  The Lamb’s Book of Life will contain a much bigger list of all who are forgiven.  Will you name be on that list?

2 Cor. 6:14-18 tells us to not be unequally yoked together.  1 Cor. 7:12-17 tells if a believer is already married to an unbeliever they are to stay married, because through the believer the spouse is  sanctified meaning they might be saved through the witness of the Christian spouse.  Scripture clearly teaches that each individual must come to faith on their own.

The most important lesson from this passage is that holiness must be demonstrated in marriage. Notice that the offenders are on every level – even the priests and their relatives.  Sin of a few can have serious consequences in the life of the community.

Principles: 

God reveals our sins to lead us to repentance.

Holiness must be demonstrated in marriage.

Next week we will continue our study in the book of Esther.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 11

 

 

Ezra 7-8

God Provided for Ezra to Lead – Ezra 7

We learn in verse 10 that Ezra was a priest who devoted himself to the study and observance of the Low of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  Ezra brought with him priests, Levites, singers, gate keepers and temple servants.  This would be important because the people had not been serving the Lord and they needed to be awakened and challenged in order to restore proper worship and temple practices. 

God provided for His people by putting into the King Artaxerxes’ heart to honor the house of the Lord.  So the king authorized the giving of many silver and gold gifts to the temple and told Ezra he could have anything else he needed for the temple.

Ezra responded to the king’s decree and praised the Lord because He put all these things in the king’s heart.  God extended favor to him before the king, his advisors, and the king’s officials. (Ezra 7:27-28)

We should stop, acknowledge and praise God.  We should always be thankful to God because it enables us to sense His presence and in His presence there is joy.  We’re commanded to give thanks and God blesses us for it.  It shifts our focus off ourselves and our troubles and puts it on Jesus where it belongs.  It keeps us spiritually healthy – we don’t put ourselves in God’s place.  We are made to worship and give thanks, because all things are created by Him.

Principles: 

An effective leader must have faith in God and His Word and also love God’s people.

God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His work.

Ezra Assembled and Led the Exiles – Ezra 8

Ezra recorded the families and lineage of those returning from exile.  Like the list made in Ezra 2, it was made to legitimize land rights after they returned, it distinguished true Israelites from the others in the land, and showed authorization for their return.  It shows each person and their contribution were valued by God.

In verse 15-16 Ezra found when he assembled those for the return, there were no Levites found.  This was a problem since Ezra’s whole mission was based on teaching the Law of God to the people already in Jerusalem.  He couldn’t do this alone; he needed help.  Also their journey needed protection and the Levites were the ones who interceded for the people.

Ezra solved the problem.  He found some key leaders who were to ask others to serve and work in the temple.  They found 2o who brought 220 more who would serve.  Ezra demonstrated wise, godly leadership by asking for help.  

Before leaving for Jerusalem Ezra proclaimed a fast so they might be humbled before God and ask Him for a safe journey.  There were dangers from enemies on the road so this was a prayer asking for protection.  He didn’t want to ask the king for protection because he had told the king that the hand of God was upon everyone.  If he asked for help, it would look like they had no trust in God or that God wouldn’t protect them.

Ezra ensured faithful stewardship by praying and fasting before the journey and dividing the valuables among the leaders of the priests making each responsible for their portion.  They were to watch and deliver them to the leaders of the priest in Jerusalem.

Lessons/Principles:

God wants us to humble ourselves before Him and take everything to Him in prayer.

God is in the details and He knows us by name.

A good leader operates under God’s protection, delegates authority, and keeps good records. “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way”. – 1 Cor. 14:40

We should always seek divine guidance when making decisions.

Thorough planning is essential for a successful outcome.

We are put in charge of our gifts and finances that God allows us to have and we need to take our offerings to God seriously and be good stewards. 

Good stewardship requires both faithful giving and wise usage of our gifts. “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” – 1 Cor. 16:2.  In 2 Cor. 8-9. 

We are to give generously to the Lord.

Next week we will continue our study of Ezra. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 10

 

Ezra 3-6

Building the Altar – Ezra 3

The first priority of the people upon returning to Jerusalem after 70 years in exile was to rebuild the altar because it was the place for sacrifices and burnt offerings.  Burnt offerings were required by the law of Moses.  It was where sin was dealt with and where they could meet with God and worship Him for all He had done.  God was faithful to protect them during captivity and now He kept His promise and brought them back to their land.

The people demonstrated their faith in God by building the temple and replacing the gold and silver articles that had been taken from the temple and brought them to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.  The temple cost was paid for by the royal treasury. 

Specific steps were taken to reestablish worship.  They worshiped by celebrating the blowing of trumpets called the Feast of Trumpets.  This was done on the 1^st day of the 7^th month where they offered sacrifices.  The 10^th day of the 7^th month was a special fasting day of  rest.  They celebrated the Feast of Booth on the 15^th day of the 7^th month which lasted 7 days.  (Numbers 29)

Worship to us is usually going to church on Sunday morning and sometimes even during the week, reading and studying the Bible at home each day, praying a prayer of thanksgiving as well as praying for others.  It’s also being involved in some kind of ministry to help others.

Practical steps were taken to begin work on the temple.  The people gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre so they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon.  They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise.

The people were overjoyed with what was taking place.  They shouted praises to God.  There was even weeping out of joy.  There must have been lots of dancing and singing.

Principle:  God’s people must stand united in faith to accomplish God’s work.

Persistent Opposition – Ezra 4-5

There was some opposition faced by the first returnees.  The enemies of Israel came to Zerubbabel and the rest of the heads of the families and wanted to help them to rebuild.  It was either to be partners in the work to ruin it or to influence it to their benefit.  The heads of the families refused their offer.  Then the enemy set out to discourage the people of Israel making the work of the temple come to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

God counteracted this opposition and intervened on behalf of His people:

Through His prophets - Ezra 5:1-2 – Prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews and helped them rebuild the temple.

Through powerful kings, despite local resistance - Ezra 5:3 - 6:12 – King Darius issued a decree to let the temple be built.

Sometimes we all face challenges and opposition to God’s work, but remember God is in control and His work will continue.

Principle:  Satan uses discouragement, fear, deception, accusation, conspiracies, lies, and oppression to try to stop your work for Jesus.

Celebrating Temple Completion – Ezra 6

King Darius carried out the order of King Cyrus that the temple be rebuilt and no one was to interfere with the work.  The temple was completed and the people of Israel celebrated by dedicating the house of God.  They offered a 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs and as a sin offering, 12 goats, one for each tribe of Israel.  They installed the priests and Levites for the service of God.

They celebrated Passover in the 14^th day of the first month.  Remember the first Passover was when God spared His people when the angel of death passed over all the houses in Egypt, spared the Israelites but killed the first born of the Egyptians.  For 7 days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread  (Ezra 6:22). 

Principles: 

God keeps His promises.

Trust is God’s ultimate authority and His ability to work through any situation to fulfill His purposes.

God is faithful and provides all our needs.

Celebrate the freedom and salvation we have in Christ.

Next week we will continue our study of Ezra.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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