O Brother Where Art Thou Ezra Nehemiah and

O Brother, Where Art Thou Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther By Paul Gibson Uof. L BCM

Where We Left Off 15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 2 Chronicles 36: 15 -19 (NIV)

Where We Left Off 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah. 22 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: 23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. '" 2 Chronicles 36: 20 -23 (NIV)

Escaping Captivity and Going Home Sprung from a chain gang and trying to reach Everetts home to recover the buried loot of a bank heist they are confronted by a series of strange characters. (imdb. com)

O Brother, Where Art Thou Tonight’s Story: It may not be Everett, Pete, and Delmar trying to journey home, but tonight’s story does portray Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther leading a people home so that they may rightfully claim their land.

Ezra—Outline I. III. IV. V. First Emigration Rebuilding the Temple Second Emigration Intermarriage Confession/Separation 1. 1 -2. 70 3. 1 -6. 22 7. 1 -8. 36 9. 1 -9. 15 10. 1 -10. 44

Nehemiah—Outline I. The Report and Prayer II. Nehemiah’s Commissioning III. Jerusalem’s Walls and Gates IV. The Exiles V. Spiritual Renew VI. Residents, Priests, and Levites VII. Dedication of the Wall VIII. Final Reforms 1. 1 -1. 11 2. 1 -2. 20 3. 1 -7. 3 7. 1 -7. 73 8. 1 -10. 39 11. 2 -12. 26 12. 27 -12. 47 13

Ezra & Nehemiah—Key Characters • • Cyrus Ezra Jeshua Zerubbabel Artaxerxes Nehemiah Sanballat Tobiah

Ezra and Nehemiah— Key Themes/Verses • Fulfillment of Prophecy—Ezra 5. 1; 6. 14; Haggai 1. 1; Zechariah 1. 1 • Restoration via Persia—Ez 1. 2 -3; 6. 15; Nehemiah 6. 15 -16; 8. 1 -6

Esther—Outline I. Vashti’s Refusal II. Esther’s Accession III. Mordecai’s Service IV. Haman’s Plot V. Mordecai’s Request VI. Esther’s Request VII. Mordecai’s Reward VIII. Haman’s Punishment IX. The King’s Edict X. The Jew’s Triumph 1. 1 -1. 22 2. 1 -2. 18 2. 19 -2. 23 3. 1 -3. 15 4. 1 -4. 17 5. 1 -5. 14 6. 1 -6. 14 7. 1 -7. 10 8. 1 -8. 17 9. 1 -10. 3

Esther—Key Characters • • • Xeres Vashti Mordecai Haman Esther

Esther—Key Themes/Verses • God’s Calling of Ordinary People (in order to fulfill his promise to Abraham)—Esther 4. 14; 4. 16 • The Centrality of God’s People—Esther 9. 20 -22 • *Also noted as God’s Love for his People God continues to keep his promise to Abraham and fulfill the prophecies towards his people. Thus, God provides the dim hope of returning to a “true home. ”