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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 1
Getting acquainted with
each other, with Ezra and with the historical background of these two
books
GETTING ACQUAINTED:
Each student introduces herself and
tells how long she’s lived in Tucson and one thing about her family,
either her kernel or extended family
that she most appreciates or enjoys.
THE HISTORY
I.
The Hebrews at the Promised Land
II.
The Israelites under
the judges
III.
The Israelites under David
IV.
The Israelites under Solomon
V.
The Israelites under the other kings
VI.
The prophets
VII.
Defeat and exile of Israel, The nation of Israel was destroyed,
disbursed, and assimilated
VIII.
Defeat and exile of Judea to Babylonia, only people from Judea,
hence, the Jews, were left. They were no longer called Israelites.
IX.
Life in Babylonia
Until Origen (A.D. 185-253) Ezra and Nehemiah were one book.
Ezra is about rebuilding building the temple and rebuilding the
wall, which protected the city of Jerusalem and the temple.
The Book of Ezra was written in two parts about two returns from
Babylon. The first return was
led by Zerubbabel, chapters 1-6. It is about rebuilding the temple. The book begins exactly
where 2Chronicles left off. The
second return was under the leadership of Ezra, chapters 7-10. Nehemiah led a third return. After the temple was complete,
it became important to rebuild the wall.
Ezra 7-10 and all of Nehemiah are about rebuilding the wall and
life surrounding the completion of the city. Haggai and Zechariah
prophesied during these years.
Ezra was a contemporary of Esther and Nehemiah.
During the period covered in Ezra (B.C. 538-444) and Nehemiah (B.C.
444-425), Buddha (B.C. 560-480) was in India, Confucius (B.C. 551-479) was
in China and Socrates (B.C. 470-399) was in Greece.
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A
BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 2: Chapters
1-2
1. (Read 2Ch 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-2).
In these first verses, we are told that all that follows is because
God is faithful to His word. In this case, the word He spoke to Jeremiah. (Read Jer.
25:1-12 and Jer. 29:10) (The first Babylonian exile took place in B.C.605,
70 years before Cyrus’ declaration. The promise through Jeremiah was
made in B.C. 601). God is a
promise keeper. What is one
promise for your life He has kept? What
is one promise you are waiting for Him to keep?
2. Cyrus was the Persian pagan king who
overthrew Babylon in 539. What
is remarkable about his declaration?
3.
(Read 1:3) The exiles had, at Jeremiah’s instruction, made lives
for themselves in Babylon for 70 years.
They did not have a hard life there as they had in Egypt. Now they
were told they could go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
What would have been some of the arguments for and against leaving
Babylon for Jerusalem?
a) Would you have gone back? Discuss.
4. (Read 1:4-8) How is this like the
exodus from Egypt ?(Read Ex. 12:33-36) How is it different?
a. What is the difference in God’s role between the two exoduses?
What is the difference in the people’s situation?
b. What were the
differences in the Pharoah’s and in Cyrus’ hearts?
A teachable heart
is open to God’s leading. What
have you asked God to teach you? How has He answered those
prayers? (Share if you are
comfortable)
5.
(Read. 1:9-2:70) Many people find these details tedious.
Why do you believe God
included these lists in the Scriptures?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A
BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 3: Ezra 3
BACKGROUND: (Read 3:1-2 and Lev.
23:23-44) Note: These are the Holidays of the seventh month. The Feast of
Trumpets, Seventh Month, 1st day: There is no reason given in the Bible
for the Feast of Trumpets Lev 23:23-25 (Rosh Ha Shannah, what the Jewish
people call the New Year). It is treated as the start of a ten day period
of soul searching before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Because it is a day of rest, as the Sabbath is and the Sabbath
commemorates creation, at some point they decided it commemorated the
specific day the world was created. Because, according to 1Thessalonians
4:16, the Lord is to return with the sound of the trumpet call of God,
Christians who celebrate this holiday focus on the promised return of
Christ.
The Day of Atonement (Hebrew: Yom Kippur), Seventh Month, 10th day:
Lev. Chapter 16 describes in detail how Aaron was to make substitutionery
atonement for the whole of the people of Israel. It is like our National
Day of Prayer, when we, as a nation are called to pray for our country. Christians who celebrate this holiday focus on Jesus’
substitutionery death for us and pray for revival in our country and
salvation for unsaved loved ones.
The Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths (Hebrew: Succoth), Seventh
Month, 15th day. This
holiday commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and God’s provision through
the years in the desert. Christians
who celebrate this holiday, celebrate God’s sustaining us and His
provision of everything we have.
1.
Jesus focused on heart attitudes.
Our actions follow our heart.
Commandments like not worrying, not gossiping, trusting the Lord in
all things, being humble in all things,
loving those who hurt us, are all difficult at times.
Often we do not understand the benefit which will be to us by our
obedience. With which attitudes do you struggle?
Have you outwardly obeyed God’s word without the appropriate
heart attitude? (Share if you are comfortable)
2.
(Read 3:3-6) They
sacrificed because they were afraid of their neighbors.
They knew they could not survive without God’s protection.
God has surely put a hedge of protection around this country until
now. We now have terrorists who would destroy our country. What, as Christians, can we sacrifice?
3.
(Read 3:7-10) Why did they appoint the Levites to oversee the work? What special knowledge did they have?
4. They celebrated according to the
direction of King David. That
is tradition and ritual. Was that bad? What did Jesus say about ritual?
(Read Matt. 6:7) What makes repetition meaningless? What are some of the
traditions and rituals that enhance our worship here at Catalina Foothills
Church?
5. (Read. 3:11-13) Why did some of the
people weep? If you had been
alive to see the first temple, had been taken to Babylonia and came back
to see the foundation of the temple rebuilt, would you have wept?
6.
One of the songs we sing goes, “Shout to the Lord all the
earth....” When have you been so full of joy you have shouted or wanted
to shout aloud? If you
didn’t, what prevented you?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A
BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 4: Ezra 4-5
1.
(Read Ezra 4:1-5) Enemies will not always attack with weapons of
war. This is a political hot potato today. To what extent should the
Israelis trust her neighbors? We
in the U.S. have sworn enemies. It
is dangerous to trust other countries. How can we know when to trust them?
(Read James 1:5) How can we fight against those who would destroy us from
within by discouraging us?
2.
(Read Ezra 4:6-16) There has been a change of leadership in Persia.
Cyrus is no longer alive. The
new king, Ahasuerus, was a shallow leader (see Esther). The enemies of the
Jews were able to use the Jews’ past against them.
What the enemies reported was correct. It is so hard to live down
our past. It is crushing when our past is used against us.
We have no defense except to say that it won’t happen again. But
who will trust us? (Read Jer. 31:33-34) You have been grafted into the
same tree as the house of Israel. The
promises for Israel are promises to you by your faith.
What does it mean to you that God promises to remember your sins no
more? Does that knowledge influence how you behave toward others?
3.
(Read Ezra 4:17-24) Artaxerxes
looks only at what the enemies told him to look at.
It appears the enemies have won. Throughout history people have
been deceived by wrongdoers. Think
of Chamberlain just before Hitler turned on England.
Think of the number of people killed by the crusaders who thought
they were doing God’s work. The
enemies may win temporary victory, as they did here.
How do you keep going when faced with temporary defeat?
Describe a time when you were at the end of your rope.
What happened?
Chapter 5
4. (Read 5:1-5) There has been another
change of kings. Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes)
ruled for only 10 years. To those who are thwarted, ten years seems like
forever. It is important for us to remember that in God’s economy, ten
years are not even a nanosecond. Darius has replaced Ahasuerus.
Tattenai, the pagan governor of the province beyond the river, does
not appear to be an enemy. He
seems willing to listen and to find out the truth.
The Jews had the knowledge of the permission from Cyrus, the hope
that Darius would support them, and they had the support of the prophets.
There are many elements of this part of the scripture from which we can
learn, so many that touch our lives: Their willingness to stop, to follow
the law of the land, as God commands us in Hebrews (13:17); Their faith
throughout the waiting period; Their willingness to begin again; The
importance of the support of the prophets; Their surety in God’s purpose
in their lives. Which of
these elements are in your life too? How will your life change if you live
by their example?
5.
(Read 5:6-17) Based on what Tattenai wrote, tell us what kind of
governor he was. What was it
he said, or how he said it that gave you that impression?
Would you vote for him for governor of Arizona?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
5: Ezra 6
1.
(Read 6:1-2) What does this order by King Darius tell you about this king?
How many archives had to be searched, collected in the fifty years
that Persia had ruled? How long might that have taken?
In our technological age, does data get lost? Allegations abound in a presidential election year.
How extensive are the allegations researched for truth?
Would want Darius as president?
2.
(Read 3:3-12) The first letter of Cyrus was written in Hebrew, the
language of the Jewish captives. The
second, reported in Chapter 6, was written in Aramaic for the official
record. What important
differences are there between the two letters?
a. We don’t know who
the trouble makers were in Chapter 4, but we know from Cyrus’ letter
that Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai were in power back then.
At least, they did not do enough to stop the mischief.
Does that change your opinion of Tattenai?
We are all guilty of making assessments about people without
knowing all of the facts. Relate
one time you found you had misjudged someone.
What happened after you found out the truth?
b. How did you react to 6:11?
Did it produce conflicting emotions?
3.
(Read 6:13-13-18) Does reading this make you want to read Haggai and Zechariah
to find out what they were telling the elders as they built?
Will you read them on your own?
Would you read them if we have a Bible study on them?
a. They finished 42
years after Cyrus first allowed the captives to return to Jerusalem.
The commitment had to pass from one generation to the next.
As parents, how can we instill commitment to do God’s work in our
children? grandchildren? What
values do you see in your children that you know came from your home?
b. Intercessory prayer
is part of our faith. As a sin offering for all Israel, they sacrificed 12
goats, one for each tribe, even though 10 of the tribes had been disbursed
and assimilated more than 100 years before.
As Americans, we need to commit ourselves to praying for
forgiveness and repentance for ourselves and for our country and to
recommit ourselves to being obedient to Christ. Are you willing to do that once a week? On your own or, perhaps, just before or just after Tuesday
Bible study? Discuss.
4.
(Read 6:19-22) Again they sacrifice, this time the Passover lamb,
on behalf of all of the exiles, whether they had returned with them or
not. This sacrifice is a
picture of the Passover Lamb of God who died for those who had and will
turn to Him and for those who did and will not.
When you came to faith, were there people praying for you?
Did you know before you came to faith they were praying?
For whom do you pray as their intercessor?
5.
What was the significance of their finishing in time for Passover?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
6: Ezra 7
The exiles returned to Jerusalem in three waves. The first 6
chapters of Ezra are about the first return of exiles with Zerubbabel when
Cyrus was king of Persia. It
tells about the opposition under Artaxerxes. It ends with the completion
of the temple in 516 B.C. Chapters 7-10 involve Ezra directly and are
about the second return. There were three Artaxerxes in Persian history.
It is unclear whether this is Artaxerxes I or II.
If it was Artaxerxes I, he would have had to change his mind from
the time of Chapter 4. The
Artexerxes of Chapter 7 is more likely Artaxerxes II, since Darius’ time
is between the Artaxerxes who stopped the work and the one mentioned in
Chapter 7.
1.
(Read Ezra 7:1-10) Walls around cities were their main defense.
The temple was to be filed with much gold and, without walls, was
open to plunder. We, too, put
up walls for our defense, usually as a result of being hurt.
What is the effect of personal walls?
a. Relate a time you
have tried to break through someone else’s wall.
b. We are not to
isolate ourselves as a result of hurt.
We are to be like David, (Read. 2Sam. 22:2, Ps. 18:2, Ps 28.7,8,).
Solomon wrote that the name of the Lord is a strong tower. (Pr.
18:10) (Read John 15:18-21)
How will His name protect you from future hurt?
Will they enable you to break down walls you may have put up to
protect yourself?
2. Lineage
was very important then. Why is it significant the Ezra can trace his line
back to Aaron? Discuss the
importance of lineage today, in the world? in the Christian church? What importance do you put on Franklin Graham being the son
of Billy, for example?
4. (Read
Ezra 7:11-26) Artexerxes goes
beyond the permission that Cyrus and Darius did.
He instructs Ezra to offer the proscribed sacrifices and to set up
magistrates and judges. Artexerxes
is giving Ezra the freedom and the responsibility of governing.
Further, he instructs Ezra that the people must be held responsible
for following the laws, of God and of the king.
Discuss the relationship between freedom and responsibility.
a. What freedom does Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection give us?
What are our responsibilities as Christians for those freedoms?
5. (Read
Ezra 7:27-28) Ezra gives thanks to God for all that has happened.
Discussed the differences between feeling what good happens to you
is deserved, is a matter of luck, or is a result of God’s involvement.
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
7: Ezra 8
1.
(Read 8:1-14) As you read these names, many are familiar for there
are three other books by men with these names. Remember, names were used
over and over. For example,
there are no less than 29 different men named Zechariah in the Bible.
Who are the three names? What traditions are in your family,
culture about repeating names?
2.
(Read 8:15-20) Ezra was thankful when God brought Sherebiah and his
sons and brothers and of the others. What was so special about these men?
We Christians are God’s hands. He
brings us into the lives of others to help them, just as He brings just
the people into our lives when we need help. Relate a time when God
brought someone into your life when you needed help.
3.
(Read 8:21-23) Ezra declare a fast for all the adults, for them to
humble themselves in seeking God for safety in their travels.
What is the purpose of fasting?
Do you ever fast and pray? (Read:
Matt. 6:16-17, in NKJ or NASB also Matt. 17:21) Should
fasting be part of a Christian’s prayer life?
If you think we should, when should our people fast?
4.
(Read 8:24-30) Most people feel that accepting your tithes is a
sacred trust, as Pastor Mark reminds us each Sunday. Accepting prayer
requests and offering to pray for people is also a sacred trust. Our
pastors and church leaders and their families need our prayers.
Commit yourself to pray for one of the pastors or leaders and their
families in your church every day for a month.
Write here who it is. Keep a journal.
5.
(Read 8:31) There were ambushes, raiders. You can imagine, they had
planned their route carefully. They had fasted and prayed.
Yet, they still had to fight. God enabled them to arrive safely.
Their enemies were physical. Who
are your enemies today? How
can you plan for attack? What does it take on your part?
What help will the Lord be?
6. (Read 8:32-36) Being good stewards
means accountability for all that God has blessed us.
List here the ten blessings for which you are most thankful.
In what way are you a steward of them?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
8: Ezra 9
1.
(Read Ezra 8:1-2) Why did God forbid the Israelites from marrying women from
the other cultures? (Read Ex. 34:15-16; Deu. 7:1-6, 25-26; 1Kgs. 11:1-6;
2Cor. 6:14-16)
a. What effect does it
have on the people when their leaders, in this case the Levites, the
priests and the rulers, openly sin? Unlike the Israelites, who did not choose their leaders, what
responsibility dos this put on us?
b. How does this apply to us today in marrying?
2. (Read Ezra 9:3-7) Ezra was a scribe,
not a priest or a ruler. He
belonged to God just as we belong to God.
When he became aware of the sin of his people, he took it
personally. How do you react
when you hear of our American people turning away from God?
When you hear of a known Christian being caught in sin?
Do you take it personally and include yourself when you pray for
our people, Americans, our family, Christians? What are some of the events
within your past that has caused you to pray for our lost people,
including yourself?
3. (Read Ezra 9:8-9) It is important to
remember that God does not abandon us, even in our sin.
He is ever ready to bless us, for His name’s sake, for we are
called by His name. Looking
back, what has God done for you, to lift you up, when you knew you
didn’t deserve it?
4. (Read Ezra 9:10-15) Ezra reviews the
commandment that the disregarded and comes back to God’s unbelievable
grace. What is there about Ezra that would lead people to say that he
sounds like a Christian? What
is his attitude that should be ours too?
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EZRA/NEHEMIAH:
A BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
9: Ezra 10
1.
(Read Ezra 10:1-5) Although Ezra could lead the people in
repentance and could intercede in their behalf, the people had to turn
from their sin to receive God’s continued blessings.
Every week pastors throughout our country pray, as Mark does.
They intercede and pray for repentance for themselves and for their
congregations. How do you
respond when your pastor prays on your behalf?
a. The leadership of
the church is upon the pastor. Like
Ezra, our pastors need to know that we are with them.
Our support will give them courage to exhort us to righteousness.
How can we let them know we support them? What can you do, personally?
2.
(Read Ezra 10:6-9) Ezra and
the elders and the leaders had the authority to inflict grave consequences
if the people did not participate. What
were the consequences?
a. They sat outdoors,
in the heavy rain, trembling because of the matter and the rain.
All of the men of Judah and Benjamin came.
If for whatever reason, Mark called us to fast and pray for a day,
all of us together, perhaps for revival in our country, perhaps for
repentance for our own shortcomings, whatever he felt was sufficiently
important, what percentage of the congregation do you think would
participate? Why do you think
that? Would you?
3.
(Read Ezra 10:10-38) The
obedience was not without opposition.
Whenever we chose to do God’s will, we will be opposed.
When have you faced opposition for doing what you knew was right?
What did you do?
a. The leaders had to
go first. As the leadership
goes, so will go those they lead. What qualities are you looking for in our next leaders?
b. This was no witch hunt or haphazard endeavor.
It took over 2 months to catalogue the foreign wives. Do not under
estimate the pain of the sacrifice this required.
What sacrifice(s) has God required of you?
Which have been the most difficult?
c. What have you
learned in the course of studying Ezra that you will apply to your own
life?
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