Lessons From Ezra Nehemiah Lessons From Ezra Nehemiah

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Ezra Teaches The Law Nehemiah Builds The Walls Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § “Remnant” = a small remaining piece § Often re: things (fabric, carpet, etc. ) § Also re: people in the Scripture

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § “Remnant” = a small remaining piece § Often re: things (fabric, carpet, etc. ) § Also re: people in the Scripture

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § Both Israel & Judah guilty of idolatry… both carried off into captivity § Israel in 721 B. C. Ù not a kingdom again § Judah in 586 B. C. Ù captive in

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § God promised a “remnant” would return to their promised home § The last of the O. T. history books conclude this story…told by Ezra & Nehemiah § Prophets Haggai, Zechariah, &

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § Emphasis on remnant = “renewed” § Identity as God’s people had been destroyed § Consequences for sin had to be paid § Only through God’s grace would there be a 2 nd chance…the people would have to “renew” their

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Overview § Emphasis on remnant = “renewed” § Not everyone went back Ezra 1: 4 § Many chose to remain in Persia with their successful lives Jer 29: 1 -7 § Most likely, only the spirituallyminded would have come back to rebuild Jerusalem

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Historical Perspective § Remembering the chronological order of events helps with such a study § Information from both secular and Biblical history provides such a “framework”

Dat e 605 B. C. 586 B. C. Eve nt Babylon Egypt Lessons defeats From Ezra & at Carchemish Nehemiah Nebuchadnezzar learns his father dies… races back to Babylon claim the throne 1 st group of captives taken Dan 1: 1 -2 2 Kings 24: 1 2 Chron 36: 6 -7 Jerfinally 46: 2 falls (70 toyears of Jerusalem captivity begins) Babylon… the city is destroyed

Dat e 539 B. C. 538 B. C. Eve nt Under Cyrus Great, the Lessons Fromthe Ezra & coalition of Medes & Persians Nehemiah defeat Babylon Cyrus’ order allows all captives to return to their homelands & petition their gods on his behalf [he was a “polytheist”] Of special interest was his decree re: the Jews Isa 44: 24 – 25: 17 Zerubbabel leads 1 st return to Ezra 1: 1 -4 Jerusalem The objective: rebuild the temple Ezra 1 -6

Dat e 520 B. C. 516 B. C. Eve nt God sends prophets Lessons From Ezra & Haggai & Zechariah to encourage the people Nehemiah to finish building The rebuilding work had been stopped for approx. 16 years due to opposition from outside, indifference within The temple isfrom completed Ezra 6: 15 Story Of Esther (Jews still in Persia) can be inserted between Ezra 6 -7.

Dat e Eve nt 445 B. C. Nehemiah leads 3 rd return to Jerusalem The objective: rebuild the city walls Neh 1: 1 – 2: 5 458 B. C. Ezra leads 2 nd. Ezra return Lessons From & to Jerusalem Nehemiah The objective: rebuild the “spiritual infrastructure” of the people Ezra 7 -10

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Ezra § Biblical emphasis on preparation § To teach God’s word to correct spiritual indifference and ignorance 7: 25 § Jews had been back nearly 80 years § Idolatry was no longer the problem… apathy had made inroads

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Ezra § Biblical emphasis on preparation § God had sent 2 prophets some 62 years earlier to address their indifference § Ezra illustrates the importance of dedicated study to teach others 7: 10

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Ezra § Also provides a good illustration of what is demanded by repentance Ezra 9 -10 § The remnant was starting back down paths that had gotten them in trouble 9: 1 -2

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Ezra § Also provides a good illustration of what is demanded by repentance Ezra 9 -10 § Repentance demands “fruit”…no matter how “emotional” the issue or how difficult it may be to produce

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Nehemiah § Classical Biblical essay on leadership § The remnant had been back nearly 90 years § Conditions still “distressing” 1: 3 5: 1 -5

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Nehemiah § Aspects that made him a great leader… § He put his priorities in the right order 1: 11 2: 5 § He was a man devoted to prayer 1: 5 -11 2: 4 4: 4 -5, 9 5: 19 6: 14 13: 29

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Nehemiah § Aspects that made him a great leader… § He shows how to handle adversity § Opposition from without 2: 19 -20 4: 1 -8 6: 1 -13 § Discouragement from within 3: 5

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Application § In many ways, we are like the postexilic Jews § Studying these 2 books will help us to apply Bible-based principles in our present-day situations

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Application § Just like them… § …we are a “remnant” Mt 7: 13 -14 22: 14 (small numbers can be discouraging) § …we have returned from our “captivity” to serve God Jn 8: 3134 1 Cor 6: 19 -20 (we must not

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Lesson 1 – General Introduction Application § Just like them… § …we must “set our hearts” re: God’s word Psa 119: 10 -11 Col 3: 16 2 Tim 2: 2 § …we are engaged in a “building project” 1 Pet 2: 4 -5 (opponents without &

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …