Christ Baptist Church Spring 2015 Chapter 10

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Ezra 10:1-4 Confessing prayer, Immediate action 1.What was Ezra doing and who joined him? Were the action genuine? 2.Does this show how serious he is taking their sin? How seriously do we act when confronted with communal sin? 3.Thought question: Do you think Ezra felt he had failed?

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Ezra 10:1-4 Confessing prayer, Immediate action 4.Who spoke up and what did he declare (v2)? 5.What recommendation was made (v3)? 6.What charge was given to Ezra? Do we have people in our lives that hold us accountable? Are we supporting others as Schecaniah did? If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. John 15:10

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Ezra 10:5-8 Ezra Rose Up, Ezra Withdrew 8.After the supporting challenge from Shecaniah, what was first action? Why was this important? 9.What did Ezra do next? 10.What proclamation was made, by whose authority and what was the penalty if disobeyed? What was the purpose (v7)? Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. Ezra 7:26

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Ezra 10:9-15 The Gathering 11.Now that the men had gathered, what was their state of mind? Why? 12.What did Ezra say to them? 13.What was their response? 14.Thought Question: Why do you think there was dissent?

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Ezra 10:16-44 The Inspection 15.Who examined/ruled on the issue? Why do you think Ezra did not judge alone? 16.Thought question: What do you think was investigated? 17.How does this fit into the commands of Artaxerxes (7:26)?

Ezra 10 – Confessed Sin, An Unhappy Ending Naming and Shaming Leadership is mentioned first Family of the High Priest Other Priests Levites Singers Populations 9 of 33 reappear from the list in Chapter 2

Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word Are we willing, like Shecaniah, to step out and confront our leaders, hold them accountable and support them? God’s people must avoid / resist the seductive temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. Are we willing to take dramatic actions to remove sin from our lives?

Ezra / Nehemiah Timeline PERSIAN KINGDATESBIBLICAL CORRELATIONTime Line CYRUS Return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 1-3) Temple work begins CAMBYSES Rebuilding at Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4)530 DARIUS I Haggai and Zechariah prophesy Temple Completed (Ezra 5-6) XERXES Story of Esther (Esther 1-9) ARTAXERXES I Return of Ezra (Ezra 7-10) Return of Nehemiah (Nehemiah (1-2) Prophecy of Malachi Chap Chap Chap 4:7-23 Chap 1 – 4:6,24 80 years

Ezra Overview Chapter 1 God stirs King Cyrus to act Temple Treasure returned Chapter 2 God stirs the Israelites to return 50,000 obeyed Chapter 3 God is worshiped! The Altar is built, foundation laid Chapter 3 Old men remember the old temple and weep … “Sound heard far away.” Chapter 4 Opposition begins subversion, discouragement, fear, bribery, frustration Haggai 1 Admonishes leaders and people The people return to God Chapter 5 People obey despite opposition, admit their sins Tattania’s factual report to King Darius Chapter 6 God stirs in King Darius & he supports the Israelites Chapter 7 The Hand of God is on Ezra Artaxerxes commissions Ezra to go to Jerusalem Chapter 8 The Hand of God is on Ezra Ezra trusts the Lord for safety, but is not foolish Ezra arrives in Jerusalem

Four Characteristics we see in Ezra (Chapter 7) Devoting ourselves to God Studying His Word Acting according to His Will Teaching others about His Grace Are we:

Timeline