Christ Baptist Church Spring 2015

13 Week Study Primary Commentary - Ezra & Haggai by Robert Fyall Part of the J.A. Motyer John Stott series Secondary Commentaries J Vernon McGee Dave Pratte Warren Wiersbe Robert Bryce Charles Swindoll Online Material will be posted on the website The Book of Ezra

Ezra – Introduction / Overview Author: Ezra Parts of the book are written in first person, other parts are written in third person It is believed he also wrote Nehemiah and 1 & 2 Chronicles His name translates from the Hebrew as “treasure” or “helper” Descendent of Aaron the chief priest and scribe Access to official Persian / Babylonian documents & papers Ezra 1–6 covers the first return of Jews from captivity, led by Zerubbabel a period of twenty-three years beginning with the edict of Cyrus of Persia and ending at the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (538–515 BC). Ezra 7–10 picks up the story more than sixty years later, when Ezra led the second group of exiles to Israel (458 BC)

Ezra – Introduction / Overview Judah has ceased as an independent nation We see: the rebuilding of the new temple the unification of the returning tribes shared common struggles and challenges to work together Spiritual revival and living in obedience to God One of the great Old Testament Intercessory Prayer Ezra 9:5-15, Daniel 9, Nehemiah 9 Two main issues: Struggle to restore the temple Need for spiritual reform

Chronology of the Persian Period PERSIAN KINGDATESBIBLICAL CORRELATION CYRUS Return of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Ezra 1-3) CAMBYSES Rebuilding at Jerusalem stopped (Ezra 4) DARIUS I Haggai and Zechariah prophesy (520) Temple Completed (516) (Ezra 5-6) XERXES Story of Esther (Esther 1-9) ARTAXERXES I Return of Ezra (458) (Ezra 7-10) Return of Nehemiah (445) (Nehemiah (1-2) Prophecy of Malachi (433)

Chronology of the Prophets TO ISRAELTO JUDAHTO FOREIGN NATION ASSYRIAN AGEAmos ca. 760 Hosea ca Isaiah ca Micah ca Jonah ca. 770 BABYLONIAN AGEHabakkuk ca. 630 Zephaniah ca. 627 Jeremiah ca Daniel ca Ezekiel ca Nahum ca. 650 PERSIAN AGEHaggai ca. 520 Zechariah ca Joel ca. 500 Malachi ca. 433 Obadiah ca. 500

Ezra – Setting the stage If you were returning home after your town had been devastated, what would you rebuild first? Why? Why do you think it was important for the Israelites to re-establish their base of worship right away?

Ezra – Setting the stage Read 2 Chronicles 36 (optional reading: 2King 23:31-25:30) How many years have elapsed between the deportation of Judah to Babylon and Ezra 1:1? Why did the three last kings of Judah fail? Why did God allow the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah? Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the L ORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. 2 Kings 23:25

Ezra – Setting the stage Our God is a God of second chances. Were the Israelites warned about their behavior? By whom? What was their reaction? What are some of the ways God tried to reach His People? Personal Question: What are some of the ways God has reached out to you? Who was the statesman that may have set the stage for the return of the Israelites? (Daniel 10:1) Read Daniel 6:25-28 Who moved the heart of Cyrus? Think about how God uses historical events for His end. How do you think it applies today?

Timeline

Challenges How important is Jesus Christ to you? Would you rebuild the temple first? What do you put ahead of worship? Your body is the temple of the Lord. Maybe you need to rebuild your spiritual life, or you need to accelerate your growth. Put a plan in place to move your walk with God up your priority list.

Christ Baptist Church Spring 2015