Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

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Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Ezra Teaches The Law Nehemiah Builds The Walls

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 Ezra begins where the chronicle record

in 2 Chron 36:14-23 ends God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed…

its citizens to be taken away captive The chronicler concludes by mentioning

Cyrus & his decree to rebuild Jerusalem

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 The 1st year of Cyrus v. 1a 538 B.C. His decree “fulfilled what Jeremiah

prophesied” Jer 25:11-12 29:10 This is more evidence of the inspiration

and certainty of the word of GodIsa 55:11 Mt 24:35

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 The Lord “stirred His spirit” vv. 1b-2

Though not stated, it is evident God accomplished this through His word

For Cyrus to know God appointed him to build the temple necessitated knowledge of Isaiah’s prophecy Isa 44:28

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 He addresses 2 groups vv. 3-4

Those who returned v. 3 He invoked God’s blessings upon them

Those who chose to stay behind v. 4 They were to financially support the

returning remnant with gold, silver, goods, cattle, and a freewill offering

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 He addresses 2 groups vv. 3-4

Re: those who chose to stay behind… All Jews were encouraged by Jeremiah to

“seek the welfare” of the land to where they were being sent Jer 29:1-7

Now, they can all go home…however, some chose to stay where they were

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 Ezra records those who returned v. 5

The heads of families, priests, Levites, and everyone who was “stirred” to go back

Detailed more specifically 2:1-63 Ezra records those who stayed v. 6a

Their task to was financially support their brethren forming the returning remnant

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 The remnant is “encouraged” vv. 6b-11

By the Jews who stayed behind v. 6b They supplied them with all the things

Cyrus had commanded By Cyrus himself vv. 7-11

He restored the articles Nebuchadnezzar took 70 years earlier 2 Kings 24:13

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Cyrus Decrees The 1st Return Ezra 1 The remnant is “encouraged” vv. 6b-11

Identifying “Sheshbazzar” v. 8 Appointed governor by Cyrus 5:14 He laid the temple’s foundation 5:16 A Chaldean name Many students believe this was another

name for Zerubbabel Hebrew name

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Ezra records the number of those who

returned under Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. It numbered just under 50,000 vv. 64-65 It is more than just a “list” of those who

came back to Jerusalem It is an “honor roll” of spiritually-minded,

post-captivity Jews

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Ezra records the number of those who

returned under Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. It lists those who accepted the challenge

of leaving prosperity behind to journey back to a devastated land and rebuild it from its ruins

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Ezra records the number of those who

returned under Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. Don’t lose sight of the “bigger picture”… More was involved than just rebuilding a

tattered & torn city The rest of the Bible story depended upon

this rebuilding Isa 2:2-3 Lk 24:46-47

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 The way the kingdom ended was a fair

and just punishment God told Jeremiah to pray for the Jews no

longer Jer 7:12-34 The “final indicator”…God removed His

glory from the temple Ezek 10:18

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 The way the kingdom ended was a fair

and just punishment Earlier than 586 B.C., God indicated He

was through with His people Hos 5:1-7 These statements and actions are final in

nature…God had seen enough !!

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Despite God’s judgment, the remnant’s

return emphasize once again His patient longsuffering 2 Pet 3:9 To allow His people another chance to go

back home and rebuild a place they had destroyed shows His mercy & grace

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Solving priestly problems vv. 61-63

Some were serving as priests once the remnant returned

However, they could not verify their ancestry Num 16:40

The governor decided they were to be removed from service

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 Solving priestly problems vv. 61-63

This issue would be resolved once a high priest could receive Divine revelation with Urim & Thummim Ex 28:30 Num 27:21

This was important…“starting over” necessitated doing things the right way

(the “God-approved” way)

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 The contributions vv. 68-69

The heads of family groups made their contributions for the temple foundation

This was strikingly similar to what took place centuries earlier re: the Tabernacle

Ex 25:2-7 35:4-9

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Listing The Remnant Ezra 2 The contributions vv. 68-69

Contributing was how they maintained a personal “sense of ownership”

This was a “willing sacrifice”

POINT everyone needs a sense of belonging to something

greater than themselves

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

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