Reading Ezra Sunday

Introduction:

Outline:

Dates:

This book deals with two major characters: Zerubbabel and Ezra the priest.

Judah was in captivity for 70 years in Babylon.

Zerubbabel lead a group of Jews out of Babylon back to Jerusalem.

[535 BC- 515 BC] Temple is rebuilt. Haggai and Zechariah are two of the prophets during this period of time.

In between Zerubbabel leading a group and Ezra leading a group out of captivity there is a 57 year gap between the two. Fun fact some time between Ezra 6 and 7 the events in the Book of Esther take place and during this period of time Esther as married Xerxes (Ahasuerus).

[458 BC- 456 BC] Ezra is going to bring spiritual reform.

[444 BC- 432 BC] there is a 12 year gap between Ezra and Nehemiah.

Malachi the prophet is also a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Historical Setting:

The setting for this book is during the postexilic era when the faithful Israelites were returning from Babylon to Judah so that they could reestablish their temple of Worship. In all the books written during the postexilic period the temple and temple worship are incredibly important topics. This would include the books: 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—the only exception being the book of Esther.

The people who returned to the land of promise were publicly acknowledging that they believed God would reestablish the nation and usher i na time of kingdom blessing.

There were a total of three returns from Babylon to Israel.

Zerubbabel’s group focused on the rebuilding of the temple.

Ezra’s focus was on reforming the nation and the people’s return to covenant obligations.

Nehemiah’s concerns were to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Communion:

The major theme that we find throughout this book is holiness.

1 Peter 1:16 NKJV

16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

As believers we are called to separate ourselves from sin and devote ourselves to honoring our heavenly Father.

And this morning we get to have holy communion together. When we get an opportunity to partake of this together we are called to examine ourselves. Not your neighbor, husband wife or kids... yourself.

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 NKJV

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

As we have read the book of Ezra this morning my question for you is, have you married foreign wives (spiritually speaking)? that are leading you further and further away: from rightly worshipping your God, stripping you of time or energy to be in His Word, or perhaps they are keeping you from the work of God in our church?

There is no better time to let go of those things that do not honor the Lord… Then when we remember what Jesus Christ our great High Priest and friend, who voluntarily took His father’s wrath upon Himself… to save you.

Luke 9:23–26 NKJV

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Communion song:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Close w/ a Song and Prayer