Ezra/Nehemiah/Esther-Introduction

As we begin this morning, please turn in your copies of God’s Word to the Old Testament book of Leviticus. If you are using the pew Bible, you will find it on page 89. We will use some verses from Leviticus 25 and 26 as an introduction to this series.

As a pastor, March 15th, 2020, was up to that point in time the most painful as a pastor. It was the first Sunday following the virtual shutdown of much of the Nation as a result of the new Corona virus, no known ad COVID-19. There were so many unknowns, so as a result, our services were cancelled. I remember Pan and I driving to church that morning to church pray. There we were, alone in a sanctuary that was packed just 7 days earlier. We prayed and wept, not knowing what the future held for any of us. After almost 2 months off, we began to return to in person services. That began a very difficult period for pastors, as well as other leaders of the church throughout most of the world. As hard as we tried, we couldn’t please everyone. There was a segment that wanted masks to be required for every person that came, and became angry if this requirement was not made. There was another segment that was furious even at the request of wearing masks. At the same time, we were at the very beginning of a very divisive presidential election. The combination of these 2, plunged the church as whole, as well as individual congregations, into a very dark period from which we have yet to emerge.

For Grace Christian Fellowship, adding to this scenario was the departure of Pastor Kevin and Leslie last May. The Elders and other leaders did a pretty good job of holding things together from the time they left until God brought Pam and me onto the scene, but this has still been a very difficult time, going all the way back to March 2020.

With these thoughts in mind, when it came time to settle on what direction to take Grace on Sunday morning’s during our time in God’s Word, the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah seemed perfect.

One of the most important challenges for a Pastor, is to choose which direction to head as a church on Sunday mornings. The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah, take place with the Nation of Israel in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Very similar to what we are in as well at this point in time. Since the Book of Esther takes place right in the middle, historically, of Ezra, and also fits well with what many are dealing with right now, I decided to thrown it in at no extra charge!

Another thought came to mind this week as I was preparing. Today is the last Sunday of 2021, and many people look at the approaching new year as an opportunity to make some changes, in some instances to start all over again in some areas of life. I can think of no better place to make changes, or to start all over, so to speak, than in the area of our relationship to the God of the Universe.

These books are perfect for where we are right now! So, let’s begin.

These books were likely written around 400 BC and up until 300 BC they were not 2 books but 1, and to this day, in the Hebrew Scriptures they are still considered 1 book. The author is widely believed to be Ezra, who was a Scribe, and was likely born when the Northern kingdom of Judah was being held captive in Babylon. He is also widely believed to be the author of 1 & 2 Chronicles, in fact the last 2 verses of 2 Chronicle are almost identical to the first 2 verses of Ezra.

Now to fully understand these books, we need to go back in time roughly 5-600 years before the events recorded in these books took place. Next Slide

Back in Time

The Nation of Israel had just left Egypt, after being there for 430 years, most of which they were in slavery. While they were still in the wilderness, Moses, God’s spokesman to the people, brought some very specific laws for Nation to follow. We find one of those Laws in Leviticus 25:1-5

Leviticus 25:1-5 & 20-22 & 26:33-35

Would you please stand, in honor of the reading of God’s holy Word?

Next Slides

Leviticus 25:1–5 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5 You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Word, please be seated.

Now I would imagine that if we were getting ready to settle into the Promised Land, at hearing this command we would be wondering, “Ok, so If we are not to plant crops that 7th year, how are we to survive?” As if anticipating the question, God tells Moses in verses 20-22: Next Slides

Leviticus 25:20–22 ESV

20 And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ 21 I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. 22 When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives.

So the promise from God to the Nation was, “Just watch what I do in the 6th year, in the 6th year you are going to get 3 times the normal crop!”

So God is basically saying to them; “I’m going to prove Myself to you in the 6th year!” But instead of rejoicing at God’s provision as the end of year 6 came, they got greedy and made plans for planting in the 7th year. And they did this over and over again for the next 430 years. Not one single time did they honor God with a Sabbath rest for the land.

Moses also made known to them what would happen if they didn’t obey God in Leviticus 26:33-35: Next Slides

Leviticus 26:33–35 ESV

33 And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. 34 “Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it.

This as well as their continual idolatry, is exactly what lead to their 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Their captivity took place in 3 phases. Next Slides

3 Phases of Captivity for Judah.

As I was preparing for this weeks message, and was thinking through the 3 phases of captivity, a thought came to me. Could God have been giving the Nation a chance to repent by having them taken into captivity in phases as opposed all at one time?

As you read through Scripture, it becomes clear that God is a God of second chances, and of course many times our chances go way beyond second chances. However, another thing is also clear in Scripture, there also comes a time when God says “Enough is enough!” and no longer withholds His judgement. When that time comes, His judgement comes swiftly. We see it in Scripture, but we also see it in life. In this instance, with the Nation Of Judah, I believe God gives them 2 clear chances before bringing a swift and powerful judgement upon them. Actually, in some ways you could say he gave them 3 chances, because they had also witnessed the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel as a result of their disobedient hearts. Their captivity took place in 3 phases. Next Slides

Captivity Phase 1-Rulers and Nobles.

The first judgement came in 607 BC when God directed Nebuchadnezzer to specifically attack the leadership of the Nation. It was during this phase that Daniel was taken. While Daniel was a young man of God, the vast majority of those taken into captivity were evil. Judah’s king, and those serving directly beneath him were evil men who had turned their backs on God, and in doing so, the Nation followed their lead. As a result, God directed Nebuchadnezzar to remove them.

This needs to be an important lesson for us, both as a church family, but also as individual families. Next Slide

As a church, we want men and women in leadership that have a strong vibrant, growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The same thing can be said for leaders in the family. Dad’s, Mom’s, Grandparents; it is vitally important that we set an example of Godly leadership in the home, because those God has placed under us in the church and in the home follow our lead.

As a whole, the leaders in Judah were wicked and God removed them. By the way, God left the prophet Jeremiah behind to warn those remaining in Judah of their need to turn to the Lord. They turned a deaf ear to Jeremiah and as a result 8 years later Nebuchadnezzer returned. Next Slides

Captivity Phase 2-Craftsmen, Teachers & Spiritual Advisors.

Now Judah was without leadership and without economic vitality. Again God left some prophets behind to warn them, you would have thought this would have served as a wake up call for the Nation, think again, instead we read in 2 Chronicles 36:16 Next Slides

2 Chronicles 36:16

2 Chronicles 36:16 ESV

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.

The last thing you want to hear from God is that there is no remedy, but that is where Judah found themselves.

So God sent Nebuchadnezzer back one last time: Next Slides

Captivity Phase 3-All that Remained.

What followed was 70 years of captivity in the Babylonian empire, which is exactly what Jeremiah had prophesied to a nation that refused to listen to his repeated warning.

Just as their captivity took place in 3 phases, so did their freedom from captivity, we will look at these in more detail later, but here is the 3 phases and where we find them in Scripture. Next Slides

Restoration Phase 1-Return to Rebuild the Temple

This first phase took place in 537 BC and we see the details of this in Ezra chapters 1-6.

Ezra writes the first 6 chapters as a historian, because he was not born at the time. Between chapters 6 & 7 there is about 100 years and it is during that 100 years that the Book of Esther takes place. We will find more details about the story of Esther when we go through the Book of Esther later.

Next Slides

Restoration Phase 2-Ezra Arrives to Lead and Teach the Law of God.

This phase takes place in 458 BC and we read about this Ezra chapters 7-10. Next Slides

Restoration Phase 3 -Nehemiah Returns to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem.

This phase takers place in 445 BC and is recorded in the book of Nehemiah. Next Slide

Ezra

Now, with this brief history lesson completed, let’s begin our study of the Book of Ezra. Of course to do this, we need to look briefly at the Book of Daniel.

As you will recall, it was sin that brought the Nation of Judah into the 70 years of captivity. And as you will also recall, Daniel was a part of phase 1 of the captivity. Well Daniel kept track of the time during the captivity, and as the 70 years is nearing completion, we see Daniel doing what Godly leaders do, he prays for the people. Next Slides

Daniel 9:1-3

Daniel 9:1–3 ESV

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Right now, I’d like to read to you Daniels powerful prayer. Next Slides

Daniel 9:4–19 NASB95

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 “Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8 “Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; 10 nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 “Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12 “Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13 “As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14 “Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice. 15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 “O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 “So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18 “O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19 “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Daniel knew that it was sin that brought them into captivity, and he also understood that restoration only takes place for those with a repentant heart.

We need to understand the same truth. I don’t know where you are in your journey with God, but if you have been struggling with a life that is lived more for your own sinful desires than a life devoted to living for God, you need to follow Daniels lead. A good place to start is by making Daniels prayer your prayer.

Personalize Daniels Prayer, make it your prayer.

Next Slides

The Providential Hand of God

What do you think that phrase means, the Providential Hand of God?

You know in some ways that is a hard question to answer. The verses we are about to look at should give you a better understanding of how incredible God is and how far His providence extends.

To begin with let’s look at Ezra 1:1-2: Next Slides

Ezra 1:1-2

Ezra 1:1–2 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.

Now to begin with, you need to understand that King Cyrus is the most powerful ruler on the face of the earth at this time. And here he is basically saying that God has placed him where he is as a king for a reason. Perhaps you may be wondering what moved a pagan king of a pagan nation to make a statement like that. I believe the answer to that question comes in something that was written about 200 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. Keep in mind what we are about to read was written around 150 years before King Cyrus was even born. To start with, let’s look at Isaiah 44:26 & 28. Next Slides

Isaiah 44:26 & 27

Isaiah 44:26–28 ESV

26 who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; 27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”

Did you pick that up? 200 years before it took place, and 150 years before Cyrus is even born, God not only names him, but gives specific and detailed instructions on what he is to accomplish.

Who does stuff like that? I’ll tell you Who, a God Who is in complete control of all things, including pagan kings of pagan nations.

Let me take a moment and share with you what very likely happened that led Cyrus to honor God in this way.

King Cyrus was the King of the Medo-Persian Empire. The Medo-Persian Empire conquered the Babylonian Empire in a pretty amazing way, especially since it was described in Isaiah 200 years earlier. in Isaiah 45:1 we read: Next Slide

Isaiah 45:1

Isaiah 45:1 ESV

1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:

The event Isaiah is describing took place 200 years later and is described by Daniel in Daniel chapter 5.

Daniel 5.

To make a long but really good story short, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson Belshazzar is now king. This guy was bad news and pretty full of himself. The capital city of Babylon was a huge walled city that was pretty much impossible to conquer. The walls were so wide that you could race 4 chariots side by side on them, and there wasn’t just one wall, but a second wall with gates inside the main wall. They had enough food and water to last for 25 years. King Cyrus had assembled his army outside of the city wall wanting to conquer it. Knowing he was there, King Belshazzar threw a huge party. It was pretty much a taunt in the face of Cyrus. So confident was Belshazzar that he left the gates on the inner wall unlocked and opened. Now Babylon bordered the Euphrates river and there were tunnels from the Euphrates into Babylon, but they were only designed to allow water to flow into the city, there was really no way to use them for any other purpose.

Well unbeknownst to Belshazzar, Cyrus had rerouted the Euphrates upstream, which lowered the flow enough that his army could use the tunnels to get past the main wall. Once past the main wall they were pleased to find the gates to the inner wall not only unlocked, but open, it was an easy victory. That adds power to to words of Isaiah, written 200 years earlier that say; “to open doors before him that gates may not be closed”.

Now maybe you are wondering, fine, but why would Cyrus know about Isaiah’s prophecy? That’s an excellent question. Do you recall earlier when I mentioned that Daniel was there at the beginning of the Babylonian captivity, and was still there at the end also? Well when Cyrus and his army stormed into the quarters where Belshazzar was having his party, one of the first people he met was some old guy by the name of Daniel. Before long, Daniel was a high ranking official serving King Cyrus. Many historians believe that Daniel brought the scrolls containing the book of Isaiah, scrolls that were brought to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, and that Daniel read them to Cyrus, especially pointing out to Cyrus that the God of heaven named him 150 years before he was even born, and told specific details of the Babylonian conquest 200 years before it took place.

By the way, kind of a side note to all this, had King Nebuchadnezzar not brought these scrolls to Babylon, they would have surely been destroyed when he had Jerusalem sacked and burnt to the ground. So God, in His providence also preserved His Word.

But that’s not all He preserved. Let’s close by looking at Ezra 1:7. Next Slide

Ezra 1:7

Ezra 1:7 ESV

7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.

When Nebuchadnezzer would conquer a country, he would always send his soldiers to the temples of the gods of the people he conquered. He would then have his soldiers bring their idols back to Babylon to be placed in the temple of his god. It was basically to show which god was superior. Well when his soldiers got to the temple in Jerusalem, there were no idols, because God did not permit it. So he had his soldiers bring all the utensils listed in Ezra 1:7. Simply put, God used Nebuchadnezzar to preserve all the utensils used as a part of the worship of God, so that when the Nation returned from their 70 years of captivity, once the temple in Jerusalem was completed, they would already have all of these utensils from Solomons Temple.

Next Slide

So what is the point of all this for us today?

1st. Understand this

God’s Patience with us is incredible, but He only gives us so many chances before He brings His swift judgment.

Keep short accounts of any sin in your life. Be quick to confess them before God and repent. Follow Daniels lead!

2. Trust your life into the Providential Hand of God, He’s got this....you don’t!

Closing prayer