Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study Nehemiah 8:1-3

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. Neh. 8:1-3

The Background of This Lesson

After seventy years in Babylon

The Background of This Lesson After seventy years in Babylon After return of Zerubbabel, who rebuilt temple

The Background of This Lesson After seventy years in Babylon After return of Zerubbabel, who rebuilt temple After return of Ezra, who restored worship

The Background of This Lesson After seventy years in Babylon After return of Zerubbabel, who rebuilt temple After return of Ezra, who restored worship During days of Nehemiah, who rebuilt walls

The Background of This Lesson After seventy years in Babylon After return of Zerubbabel, who rebuilt temple After return of Ezra, who restored worship During days of Nehemiah, who rebuilt walls Nehemiah/Ezra assembled congregation of Israel

The Background of This Lesson After seventy years in Babylon After return of Zerubbabel, who rebuilt temple After return of Ezra, who restored worship During days of Nehemiah, who rebuilt walls Nehemiah/Ezra assembled congregation of Israel The entire nation assembled, even children

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study

The Bible was respected

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. … 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. … 13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law.

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study The Bible was respected The Bible was read

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. … 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. … 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study The Bible was respected The Bible was read The Bible was read distinctly

1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. … 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. … 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study The Bible was respected The Bible was read The Bible was read distinctly The Bible was explained and applied

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. … 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. … 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. 13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law.

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study The Bible was respected The Bible was read The Bible was read distinctly The Bible was explained and applied The Bible was basis for restoration of worship

14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." 16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

Ezra’s Plan for Bible Study The Bible was respected The Bible was read The Bible was read distinctly The Bible was explained and applied The Bible was basis for restoration of worship The Bible was basis for great changes in daily life

Neh 10:29 these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes: Neh 10:30 We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; Neh 10:31 if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year's produce and the exacting of every debt. … Neh 10:35 And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD; Neh 10:36 to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;

Neh 13:1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God. … Neh 13:23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Neh 13:24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. Neh 13:25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Neh 13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.

Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. Ezra 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Ezra 10:3 Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Ezra 10:4 Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”

Finding and Obeying His Plan

Believe in HimJohn 3:16

Finding and Obeying His Plan Believe in HimJohn 3:16 Repent—decide to obeyActs 17:30

Finding and Obeying His Plan Believe in HimJohn 3:16 Repent—decide to obeyActs 17:30 Confess ChristRom. 10:9

Finding and Obeying His Plan Believe in HimJohn 3:16 Repent—decide to obeyActs 17:30 Confess ChristRom. 10:9 Baptized to be savedActs 22:16

Finding and Obeying His Plan Believe in HimJohn 3:16 Repent—decide to obeyActs 17:30 Confess ChristRom. 10:9 Baptized to be savedActs 22:16 Added to His Kingdom, His church

Finding and Obeying His Plan Believe in HimJohn 3:16 Repent—decide to obeyActs 17:30 Confess ChristRom. 10:9 Baptized to be savedActs 22:16 Added to His Kingdom, His church Be faithful until deathRev. 2:10