Ezra/Nehemiah Intro
Living as Exiles for our Faithful God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 36 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Series: living as The Exiles for our Faithful God
We come to a new study in our walk through the Scriptures verse by verse and section by section. At RCC, we believe that this method of preaching and learning is the most effective way to know what the Holy Spirit intended when he inspired the numerous authors of the Scriptures to write this comprehensive work of God.
A disclaimer since we have not started a new book of the Bible in a while, the first sermon of a series through a book is always an introduction to the book. For our study today, it might appear that you are in a seminary class so please bear with me. These items are important to understand as you approach a book of the Bible so that you have a proper understanding of context and purpose for the book.
For our study, we are actually going to study two books of the Bible consecutively: the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Why study these books together? For two reasons:
Because history shows us that they were actually one book in the Hebrew bible. Because their events combined reveal the time of Jews known as “the restoration.” More on that in a moment.
Let me encourage you at the outset, to take notes however you see fit, but if you are not a notetaker, today is a good day to start. It is a good practice to take notes, and I want to do a better job at making clearer notes available on the screen for you to follow along. I have purchased some of the Crossway EZRA Scripture Journal Bibles and they will be here next week. If you would like one they will be $4. Taking notes not only helps you learn but it allows you to pass on what you learned to others.
For our purposes today, I will be giving an introduction to the book of Ezra and when we begin Nehemiah, I will intro that book as well.
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS UP TO THE RESTORATION
Let’s start with a little history of Israel. (SLIDE: THE PATRIARCHS, THE EXODUS, THE MONARCHY, THE DIVIDED KINGDOM, THE EXILE, THE RESTORATION)
The Jewish nation entered into a covenant with Yahweh back with Abram was taken out of Ur, which was part of the Babylonian peoples. God entered into this covenant with Israel, promising them by His faithfulness to make them a great nation, that they would be a blessing to peoples all over the world. (Genesis 12:3). Israel grew as a nation, under the leadership of The PATRIARCHS like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It is in Egypt, where Israel truly grows and as God promised, and he rescues them by His mighty hand and the leadership of Moses, which is known as the EXODUS. This growing nations is then led by Moses across the lands towards Canaan where they were promised to inherit the land, given to them by God.
But we all know the story of how the continual disobedience and covenant breaking that lead to dire consequences as a nation. They wandered for 40 years en route to the Promised land because of their betrayal towards God. Even though God blesses them with this promised land and the beloved city of Jerusalem, they still wanted more. They abandoned God’s leadership of them and they desired earthly kings to rule over them like neighboring nations. God allowed them wicked kings during the time known as the MONARCHY. But He also blessed them in spite of their sin, always keeping covenant love with them, giving them faithful kings like David and Solomon, who provided, through God’s grace, great years of flourishing and blessing.
But once Solomon died, the nation of Israel split into two. This fracture is known in Jewish history as the DIVIDED KINGDOM. The northern tribe retained the name Israel and the southern tribe was called Judah. From this point forward in the history of Israel revealed in the Bible, we see two timelines of the people of God. Both Israel and Judah reveal their moments of faithfulness and rebellion. The Divided kingdom was a dark stain on Israel’s history, as God sent messengers in the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways of idolatry.
But they refused to flee their idolatry, in spite of the warning, and so God sent neighboring nations to rule over them. For Israel, they were defeated by the Assyrians and taken into captivity in 722 BC. This tribe was dispersed across the lands as they lived under the rule of Assyria, dispersed far from their homeland. This is the end of Israel’s history in the Scriptures.
The southern tribe of Judah lasted longer in history but eventually fell to the same fate as Israel because of their wickedness towards their creator and Lord. They were captured by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar, and the city of Jerusalem was eventually ransacked and destroyed by fire in 586 BC (notice that dates before Christ descend towards 0). Its ironic that the Babylonians eventually are the nation that capture Judah since it was Babylon that God called Abram from to make him a great nation.
2 Chronicles 36:15–21 (ESV)
15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Just like Israel, Judah is captured and they become exiles, dispersed across the lands to live in foreign nations. They lost the temple, the worship of YHWH and the gift of the promised land given to them by their God. The story of Daniel, Ezra, Esther and Nehemiah gives us a glimpse into a world of the Jews living as exiles and foreigners in a strange land. This period of their captivity is known as the EXILIC period.
THE SETTING OF EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
During the exile of Judah, their captors the Babylonians, once a world power, eventually crumbed as a nation and the Babylonians were defeated by the growing nation of Persia. Therefore, all Babylonians captives now were under the rule of Persia. This Persian captivity is the backdrop for our study of Ezra and Nehemiah. While Babylonian practice was the dispersion of its captors across the lands, in order to deter any uprising or rebellion, the Persians practiced a different approach with their captives. Our story in Ezra pick up at the conclusion of the exilic period, which is known as the POST-EXILIC period as God works through the Persian kings to allow the captives of Judah to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the temple, rebuild the city walls, and reestablish the worship of their God. We read almost identical words at the conclusion of 2 Chronicles and the beginning of Ezra 1
Ezra 1:1–4 (ESV)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
THE AUTHOR
Ezra is considered by most scholars the author of this book, Nehemiah, and possibly even 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although, Ezra does not appear with the first wave of exiles returning to Jersualem to rebuild, as a historian and scribe, he documents such a historic event in the life of Israel. Turn with me to Ezra 7 and we can learn more about this man.
Ezra 7:1–10 (ESV)
1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, 4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Immediately, we learn in verse 1-5 that Ezra is a proper priest of God because of his linage that is traced back to Aaron. Through Ezra, God restores the temple worship and its sacrifices which is a monumental moment for Israel to once again gather at the temple and make sacrifices for sin.
Not only is Ezra a priests, but he is a scribe who is “skilled in the Law of Moses.” Verse 10 gives us an amazing summary verse about Ezra’s passion for God’s word that should be a life verse for everyone who calls about the name of the Lord Jesus. It states that Ezra’s heart was to:
-study the Law of the lord
-do it
-teach his statutes and rules in Israel
What an amazing summary of a man that God used in a time of restoration of Israel, which included great revival and hope in God again. It is a simple and yet profound message for our day as we look around us and see a pagan world, dictated by a pagan worldview that is permeating our lives as Christian exiles. How might God instruct us as he did the people of Israel? These words are the foundation of our instruction for we must be people, like Ezra, who are committed to the study of God’s word, the obedience to it, and the teaching of his word to others. This is post-exilic discipleship of the commandments of God.
Outline
1-2 Return of the first wave of exiles with Zerubbabel (539-516 BC)
3-6 Restoration of temple worship (50 years undocumented- most likely when the story of Esther occurs)
7-10 Return of the 2nd wave of exiles with Ezra (458 BC)
Themes in Ezra
God’s Faithfulness (MAIN PURPOSE)
God’s faithfulness to His people through their restoration to their land and their city, Jerusalem.
Although the northern tribe, Israel was obliterated from history with only Judah remaining, living in exile from its promised land, without the temple to worship in, without sacrifices and the Day of Atonement, God continually promised them by the mouth of his prophets their salvation, found in him.
27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”
God’s faithfulness is clearly on display throughout Israel and Judah’s story as the God who keeps his covenant by grace with a disobedient people. Let God’s faithfulness shine forth in our study of all of God’s word as we continually see him love those even when love is not reciprocated.
When we see the disobedience of Israel and the punishment of warring nations, let us be reminded of the depth of sin in this world and in our lives so that we can glory in the unlimited grace of Christ who overcomes that sin for us. Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of God’s faithfulness and the apex of the plan of God to reveal his faithfulness to mankind. On this Father’s Day, let the faithfulness of your heavenly Father be the joy in your heart for he continually loves and is continually present in your life, without fail.
God’s faithfulness is most clearly shown in the promise that is recognized in Ezra 9:8 (ESV)
8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.
The word “remnant” focuses on the those Jews who returned, who resettled in the Jerusalem, reestablished the worship of God in the temple. From that remnant, 500 years later, came a child who fulfilled the promise of God that was given to Abram as he was called out of Babylon. That promise that Israel would be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth was fulfilled when the Son of God came to the earth and gave his life so that people could be saved from their sin and be reunited in fellowship with God.
God’s Providence -
We will see how God takes the heart of pagan kings and uses them by his sovereign hand to bring about his purposes. He could have easily done so with Nebachudnezzar as he did in Daniel’s story, but instead, he chose to use Persia as the dominating empire who change their policy to allow captives to return to their homeland under rule of Persia, with a freedom of religion.
I love the words of Ezra 1:2 (ESV)
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
God so controlled the heart and mind of Cyrus, this pagan king, that Cyrus found it a joy to do the work of the Lord in allowing the jews to return and rebuild. He isn’t begrudging, he is excited! In addition, he provides the needs financially for that work to happen in verse 4,
Ezra 1:4 (ESV)
4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
God’s Holiness-
We will see in our story of Ezra and Nehemiah, that the return to Jerusalem had a profound effect on the Jews. As they gathered again to worship, Ezra preached the word of God to them and the Holy Spirit made that word come alive so that the people fell under great conviction of their sins against the holiness of God. We will read of a great confession of sin by these returning exiles for their continual disobedience towards God and a revival breaks out among God’s people. Ezra is quick to remind God’s people that his holiness calls for a separation from sin and idolatry, which was a consistent message to the Jews throughout their history. Ezra’s command to Israel is the same message that Peter gives to the church today in 1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Peter made the connection Jews of the exilic period and the church in hostile world that we are both strangers in a strange land. Our home is not in this sin-cursed world, we are just travelers on journey to our final destination, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter’s message then is to consider the holiness of God, which is set apart from sin, and likewise as those who have been transformed by his grace, the church must abstain or put off the things that our flesh craves and desires in this world that might lead us to deny and defame the holiness of our God.