December in Ezra, Nehemiah, Psalms, and Malachi

DECEMBER

1. Ezra 7 & 8
2. Ezra 9 & 10
3. Nehemiah 1-2
4. Nehemiah 3
5. Nehemiah 4-5
6. Nehemiah 6-7:73a 
7. Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18
8. Nehemiah 9
9. Nehemiah 10
10. Nehemiah 11
11. Nehemiah 12-13
12. Psalm 107
13. Psalms 111,112, 117
14. Psalm 119
15. Psalm 119
16. Psalm 119
17. Psalms 121-123
18. Psalms 128, 130, 134
19. Psalm 135
20. Psalm 136
21. Psalms 146-147
22. Malachi 1
23. Malachi 2
24. Malachi 3 & 4

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

November in Daniel, Psalms, Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Esther

NOVEMBER

1. Daniel 9
2. Daniel 10
3. Daniel 11 & 12
4. Ezra 1-2
5. Ezra 3 & Psalm 126
6. Psalm 92-93
7. Psalm 94
8. Psalm 95-96
9. Psalm 97-98
10. Psalm 99-100
11. Ezra 4
12. Haggai 1 & 2
13. Zech 1 & 2
14. Zech 3 & 4
15. Zech 5 & 6
16. Zech 7 & 8
17. Zech 9
18. Zech 10 & 11
19. Zech 12 & 13
20. Zech 14
21. Ezra 5 & 6
22. Psalm 129
23. Psalm 118
24. Psalm 148-150
25. Esther 1 & 2
26. Esther 3 & 4
27. Esther 5 & 6
28. Esther 7 & 8
29. Esther 9 & 10
30. Psalm 106

Nehemiah Character Study Results

I hope you enjoyed your reading and reflecting on Nehemiah over the past nine days! 

Here are the results of a character study I did in 2006. Try not to look at it until you have completed your own study.

Nehemiah’s General Character Qualities: Compassion, Humility, and Boldness

Nehemiah exemplified the quality of compassion. He mourned over the distress and reproach of the remnant and ruin of the city. He cared about the wall, but he also cared about the people inside the wall. His response was to sit down and weep and mourn for days (1:3). He not only felt compassion but also lived out his compassion by praying and fasting and then putting God’s plan into action with passion. His compassion led to his passion for pursuing the building of the wall.

He also exemplified the quality of humility. He went straight to God in prayer in humble dependence on Him for his every action. Nehemiah was humble enough to realize that this was a God-sized task, and he needed God’s direction and strength to accomplish it. He did this in fasting and prayer at the beginning of his concern (1:5-11) and in an “on the spot” prayer when he had to speak to the king (2:4). He continued to humbly rely on His God even in opposition.

Nehemiah also exemplified the quality of boldness. He went to God boldly in prayer, and He reminded God of His promises:

 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, "If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them . . . I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I was chosen to cause My name to dwell." (1:8-9) 

This is a direct promise from Deuteronomy 30:1-4. Essentially, he was “praying the promises” back to God in His prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11!

In addition to boldness before the King of kings, he was also bold in asking King Artaxerxes if he could go to Judah to rebuild it (2:5). He is also bold in the face of opposition (4:4, 5, 9).

18 Specific Qualities and Actions That Made Him an Effective Leader

Nehemiah was:

•    Passionate – He had the heart passion to do the impossible despite the obstacles.
•    Dependent on and confident in His God – He prayed to his God every step of the way; and in the end, his enemies “lost confidence for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of [their] God” (6:16).
•    Cautious – He did not tell others what God had put on his heart until after he had inspected the wall and looked at the task before him (2:12-16). He assessed the situation before talking to people.
•    Wise – He elicited support from the key "changemakers" in the culture. He went to the Jews, priests, nobles, and officials to cast a vision for rebuilding the wall. Consequently, they said, “Let us arise and build” (2:18). These people were the best people to influence others to do the job.
•    Confident – “I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me" (2:18). He was confident that God had directed him. Consequently, he could go with confidence to these leaders in the society with his vision.
•    A team gatherer – He gathered those leading Jews and had them “buy in” to the vision so that when they were mocked by the pagans around them, Nehemiah could confidently say, “The God of heaven will give US success; therefore WE His servants will arise and build” (2:20).
•    Persevering – He did not let opposition keep him from the task. When they were mocked by Sanballat and Tobiah, he went directly to God to ask for justice, “. . . Return their reproach on their own heads . . . they have demoralized the builders” (4:4-5). He went right back to building the wall to half its height despite the opposition (4:6)!
•    Motivating – The people had a “mind to work” (4:6) despite the obstacles. Nehemiah was passionate, and he passed that passion on to the Jews working on the wall. He also motivated them to return to work when they were fearful (4:15).
•    Strategic – He set up defenses in strategic places (4:13).
•    Encouraging – When others were fearful, he encouraged them to “remember the Lord” (4:14) and look to Him and not at the dire situation.
•    A Sacrificial Servant – He was there day and night with the others in the protection of the wall (4:13). He did not eat the Governor’s food allowance “because of the fear of God” (5:15) and “applied himself to the work on this wall” when he could have just delegated the “dirty work.” He modeled servant leadership.
•    Peaceable – When there was conflict within the Jewish community, he resolved it peaceably by contending with the “nobles and the rulers” (5:7) and providing a solution.
•    Non-controlling –When negotiating a resolution with the Jews he said, “May God shake out every man . . . who does not fulfill this promise" (4:13). He left the follow-up to God.
•    Focused – When Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to meet with him he replied, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (6:3) He kept the goal in mind continually.
•    A finisher – He never gave up and finished the wall in fifty-two days!
•    A Delegator – When the wall was finished, he put men “in charge of Jerusalem” because they were “faithful and God-fearing men” (7:2).
•    Not a Self-Promoter – He returned the hearts of the people back to God and gave the glory back to God. Nehemiah could have created a following that worshiped him, but He gave God the glory. He had Ezra read the law and the Feast of Booths was reinstituted (Nehemiah 8). In addition, the people confessed and worshiped God (9:3).
•     Goal-oriented – He kept the ultimate goal of reestablishing worship in Jerusalem in mind!

Comparing and Contrasting the Leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah

Ezra was a priest, a descendant of the Levites. He was the "most learned interpreter of the Law, and the man, more than any other, who shaped the returned exiles into the 'people of the book'" (NASB Open Bible, Ezra Introduction). While he did not have a part in the rebuilding of the temple or wall, he did lead the rebuilding of the worship life of Israel. He was a priest who got a special call to rebuild people by establishing them in the Law and restoring them in covenant. he specifically dealt with the problem of mixed marriages. His primary mission was for religious purposes.

In contrast, Nehemiah held a "secular" job as cupbearer to the king and could be called a "layman" in today's language. He was a Jew with a regular job who received a special call to go and rebuild the wall. He was a rebuilder of a wall and an organizer of people. He displayed leadership by getting a specific task done despite opposition and motivating others to rely on their God and complete the task. His primary mission was the task which might have also carried political connotations because he eventually became governor of Judah for twelve years before returning to Persia.

While there are many contrasts between the two in their leadership styles and tasks, the men had much in common. Both men held an unswerving devotion to a covenant-keeping God. They both practiced fasting, prayer, and praise. They relied on their God in their decision-making process and in the face of enemies. They also did not hesitate to give glory to God when their specific missions were completed.

"God enriched His people with protection by the wall Nehemiah rebuilt and by the law Ezra reestablished" (Holman Bible Handbook). They both worked as a team in God's reestablishment of His people in Judah. 

Which Leadership Style Do You Most Relate To?

God confirmed the answer to this question as I walked and prayed through Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship today, this prayer came on the page:

"Like Ezra, I want to set my heart

 to study Your Word, to obey it and

to do it, and to teach it to others" 

(Ezra 7:10).

I had to laugh! This is the passion of my heart! I want others to know God through His Word! There is no question that I relate much more to Ezra than Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a great administrator, and I would love to work with someone like Nehemiah because I do NOT have those kinds of leadership skills!

If you want to find out more about your leadership style, here is a great test:

"Teal Trust Leadership Style Indicator" 

Here is an explanation of all the Leadership Styles:

Leadership Styles

(My style is Encouraging with Pastoral Leadership a close second. Can you tell from this blog?)

Final Conclusions on Nehemiah’s Life and Leadership

The biggest lesson that we can learn from the life and leadership of Nehemiah is the fact that he led by following God in every action. He followed God by continually praying and praising. His inner life was an integral part of why he succeeded because his plans were not really his plans; they were God’s plans. Nehemiah chose to get out of God’s way and simply be a vessel for His purposes. He chose to stop and pray and praise rather than rush ahead with his fleshly plans. Because he knew they were God’s plans, he could go forward with confidence despite the opposition.

APPLICATION

I'll just share my own personal application, but I would also love to hear yours!

There are many personal applications from the life of Nehemiah. I am confirmed in my desire to prayerfully go through every minute of my day, in every challenge, listening to His voice and allowing Him to direct my steps on a moment-by-moment basis rather than just during the times set aside for “devotion.” My prayer time has been consistently strong for many years, but it has been my heart’s desire to also experience the “pray without ceasing” kind of prayer life in every waking moment of my day.

I first journaled about this desire in 1983 when I first read The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. It is easy to disconnect from our Power Source when things get busy or stressful. Thankfully, I have seen growth in this area to a point where I am communicating with Him when I first wake up and through most of the day even in the middle of stressful times. Nehemiah encourages me to excel still more in this area. I will do this by setting aside focus prayer point times throughout my day to evaluate my communion with Him.

I also am challenged by Nehemiah’s ability to confidently go on with his work regardless of opposition. He continued to pray and allowed God to be His defense. This aspect of his life and actions has been so encouraging to me, and it has reminded me of a time in 2001 when God led me in meditation through the book of Nehemiah amid spiritual attack and opposition. God encouraged me to keep working at “building” up women and not give up. He told me to be strategic by putting on my defensive weapons as I worked regardless of what the “Sanballats” may say. I want to grow more in fearlessness and perseverance and Nehemiah definitely encourages me to do this.

Another possible application is to take the test I linked above and discuss it with your friends!

PRAYER

Thank You for this rich study of Your Word. Thank You so much for teaching us through the life of Nehemiah. May we be compassionate, humble, and bold as we lead. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Nehemiah Character Study Background and Questions

LINKS: Nehemiah 1-13 

(At the linked site, there is a very nice video that ties Ezra and Nehemiah together) 

BACKGROUND

I have one thing to get out of the way:

I LOVE NEHEMIAH!

(Whew, glad I got that off my chest)

We are going to read a bit differently for the next nine days by looking at Nehemiah and aspects of his character related to leadership. Today, I will give a bit of background information followed by some questions. On the last day, we will gather again and sum up what we have learned!

If you can, Nehemiah is a great book to sit down and read in one sitting. Set aside some time during this busy season with a warm holiday beverage to learn from a great and godly man! It does not take long.

If you have been reading along with us, you know that the southern kingdom of Judah was carried into captivity in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians. At that time, the temple was destroyed. In October 539 B.C., the Babylonians fell to the Medes and Persians. King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree in the first year of his reign (538 B.C.) allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel led the first return that same year (Ezra 1-6), and the following year, temple reconstruction began. After some delays that we read about in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, the temple was completed in 515 B.C. Ezra led the second group in 457 B.C. (Ezra 7-10).

At the time of the story of Nehemiah, Artaxerxes I, Persia's sixth king, was in the twentieth year of his reign (Nehemiah 2:1). Since his reign began in 465 B.C., we can assume the story of Nehemiah begins in 445 B.C. The Jews had been in captivity for 142 years at the beginning of this story.

As an exile, Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. According to the historian Xenophon (Cropaedia, 1.3.9), one of the duties of the cupbearer was to choose and taste the king's wine to make certain that it was not poisoned. "These officials (often foreigners) became in many cases confidants and favourites of the king and wielded political influence" (Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. New Bible Dictionary, p. 248). So, the fact that Nehemiah was the cupbearer tells us that he was probably a man of integrity and trust in the king's eyes.

In Nehemiah 8, the lives of two great leaders, Nehemiah and Ezra, intersect as Ezra reads the law at the renewal of the covenant thirteen years after he arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon in 458 B.C.

With that background, let your character study of Nehemiah begin! Enjoy reading. Take notes as you ask yourself the questions below.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. List character qualities and actions that made Nehemiah an effective leader (note the chapter and verse).
2. What can you summarize about his prayer life, obedience, suffering, attitudes, responses, and reactions that you can apply to your own life?
3. Compare and contrast the lives and leadership styles of Ezra and Nehemiah based on your reading of both the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. How did they work as a team? Which of their two leadership styles can you relate to more and why?
4. What is one way you will personally apply what you have learned from your character study of Nehemiah (See the APPLICATION section in the "Basics of Inductive Study" download here).

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for giving us an example of a person who was zealous for You. Give us an understanding of Your Word as we study the life of Nehemiah. Help us to be doers and not just hearers of Your Word. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Put Ezra Back on the Old Testament History Shelf

Ezra 9 & 10 - Purification Through Confession and Action

LINK: Ezra 9 & 10

BACKGROUND 

You might remember from our reading in the Old Testament that God told the Israelites NOT to marry the foreign women from the pagan cultures in Canaan (Exodus 34:11-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-6). This was one of the major contributing factors to the downfall of God's people all the way back to Judges 3:5-7! Even Solomon was guilty of this gross disobedience to God's law (2 Kings 11:1-8).  

It was still occurring in Ezra's time among both the people and the priesthood and would happen even a generation later (Nehemiah 13:23-27). Ezra's first response was self-abasement and sorrow for sin (9:4). His second response was a heartfelt prayer of confession on behalf of his disobedient people (9:6-15). This led to repentance on the part of the people who followed up with their actions by sending away the foreign wives and children, restoring spiritual purity to the people of Israel.  

I know some of you are saying, "The poor wives and children!"  Here is what The Life Application Bible says about that:

Why were the men commanded to send away their wives and children? Although the measure was extreme, intermarriage to pagans was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 7:3, 4), and even the priests and Levites had intermarried. This could be compared today to a Christian marrying a devil worshiper. Although a severe solution, it only involved 113 of approximately 29,000 families.

Ezra's strong act, though very difficult for some, was necessary to preserve Israel as a nation committed to God. Some of the exiles of the northern kingdom of Israel had lost both their spiritual and physical identity through intermarriage. Their pagan spouses had caused the people to worship idols. Ezra did not want this to happen to the exiles of the southern kingdom of Judah.  (p. 790-91)

APPLICATION 

True repentance is followed by action. Do you need to go beyond lip service in your repentance?

Also, you can add much to your Ezra character study today! 

PRAYER

Lord, help us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. Amen. 

Ezra 7 & 8 - Ezra Leads the Exiles

By Published by Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589)
("Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum")
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

LINK: Ezra 7 & 8 (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND 

There is quite a hiatus between Ezra 6 (516 B.C.) and Ezra 7. In the meantime, the activity in the book of Esther occurred (483-473 B.C.). 

The events in Ezra 7 began in 457 B.C. Esther's husband, King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) had died, and his son by Amestris, King Artaxerxes, reigned in Persia (465-424 B.C.). It had been 80 years since the first exiles returned with Zerubbabel. The temple had been standing for 58 years. 

Even though the book is named after him, this is the first chapter in which Ezra emerges as a character! You will like him right away though because he "set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel" (7:10). Ezra was a godly leader!

A proclamation by Artaxerxes opened the door for Ezra, the priest, to return to Jerusalem with the second group of exiles which included 1,750 priests, Levites (who needed to be recruited, 8:15-20), and laymen, with women and children, the total was closer to 5,000 people.

After prayer and fasting, they set out on the four-month, 900-mile journey from Nippur, Babylon to Jerusalem weighed down with the temple treasures. He took the dangerous journey without any military escort but trust in God (8:21-23). God gave them a safe journey (8:31-36). And they worshiped Him when they arrived (8:35).

REFLECTION 

Ezra 7:10 is one of the key verses God has used in my life: 

For Ezra had set his heart  

• to study the law of the Lord and  
• to practice it and 
• to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

When I read this verse in my late teens, my heart was resolutely set on a lifetime of the study and application of God's Word and helping others do the same! That is why I do the Bible Book Club: to get others on this wonderful bandwagon with God!

I will make a bold statement and say that you will not get this walk with Jesus if you do not do the same. I have had more women than I can count on both hands who have finally "gotten it" when it comes to God's Word. They come back to me and say; "Now I get what you meant in Bible study (or when we met one-on-one or when you spoke at this event, etc.)!"  Their lives have catapulted into a whole new realm with God, and they wonder why they had not done it sooner.  It does not mean they are better, but when our hearts are set wholly on Him, things are bound to change. Not because of US but because of HIM. He gets all the glory. 

I do not know any other way to have a fulfilling, fruitful, (and fun) walk with Jesus otherwise!

So, I pray you, like Ezra, set your heart on this today!

APPLICATION 

Your application might be to set your heart to do a deeper study of Ezra 7-10 beyond just reading it. It is only four chapters and a good way to start deeper Bible study! I will be taking you through a character study of Nehemiah, but Ezra is an excellent person to do this for too. It is interesting to compare and contrast their characters also. 

Here are the character study questions:

1. List character qualities and actions that made Ezra an effective leader (note the chapter and verse). 

2. What can you summarize about his prayer life, obedience, suffering, attitudes, responses, and reactions that you can apply to your own life? 

3. What is one way you will personally apply what you have learned from your character study of Ezra (See the Bible Study Tool of APPLICATION in the "Basics of Inductive Study" download here).

(You can do the last step after you do a Nehemiah character study.)

4. Compare and contrast the lives and leadership styles of Ezra and Nehemiah based on your reading of both these books. How did they work as a team? Which of their two leadership styles can you relate to more and why?

PRAYER

Lord, Thank You for the spiritual leadership of Ezra. 

Ezra 5 & 6; Psalm 129 - Perseverance in Rebuilding the Temple

LINK: Ezra 5 & 6 and Psalm 129 (Read over the next two days)

BACKGROUND 

Ezra 5 & 6

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah emerged to encourage the people not to give up the goal of rebuilding the temple. Even though the non-Jews tried to stop the construction, the Jews continued to build and the new king, Darius, ended the 15-year delay in construction by exploring the archives and learning of the decree of Cyrus that stated that God's temple was to be rebuilt and anyone who got in the way was to be impaled (Ezra 6:11). OUCH!

Many clay and papyrus documents recording business transactions and historical data have been discovered in this area (near present-day Syria). A great library and archives with thousands of such records have been discovered at Ebla in Syria.  (The Life Application Bible, p. 782)

The temple was completed in February/March 515 B.C. It took 21 years after the work had started in 536 B.C. and 4 1/2 years after Haggai's first prophecy. It is nice to see prophets who were actually listened to in their lifetime! The temple was finished 70 1/2 years after it had been destroyed on August 12, 586 B.C. 

At its completion, the temple was dedicated, and the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread were celebrated in April 515 B.C. for the first time in 70 years (see Exodus 12:1-30 for background about the Passover). Darius was mentioned as the "king of Assyria."  He is a Persian king, but the former Kingdom of Assyria was also part of his vast empire. 

Psalm 129 

Psalm 129 is a "Song of Ascent."  Click on the link for background information on this group of psalms if you have not already done so. 

I have added this psalm to the Ezra reading because some commentators believe it could have been read at the dedication of the rebuilt temple. Others think it might have been written by Hezekiah. We do not know, but it speaks of confidence and perseverance in persecution and deliverance from the wicked. Zerubbabel persevered through everything to complete his task. So, I thought it fit well here! 

REFLECTION (written in 2012)

Zerubbabel is my hero! He led toward the completion of the task, despite delays and discouragement of over 20 years!

Do you have long-term, God-given goals like Zerubbabel's that require a long-range perspective and perseverance?  In the chapter about Psalm 129 entitled "Perseverance" written in the excellent book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson writes:

The reason my childhood was one enthusiasm after another was that I hadn't yet found an organizing center for my life and a goal that would demand my all and my best. The Christian faith is the discovery of that center in the God who sticks with us, the righteous God (129:4). Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions and gifts, our human needs and our eternal aspirations. It is the way of life we were created for. There are endless challenges in it to keep us on the growing edge of faith; there is always the God who sticks with us to make it possible for us to persevere. (p. 134)

The Bible Book Club is the God-given, long-term goal given to me in December of 2007. During the first three-year cycle, God gave me the ability to write 20-40 hours a week while homeschooling my two kids and despite job loss and transition, a severed big toe tendon, horrendous back pain (brought on by this injury) that made it difficult to sit and write, two trips overseas, and the tragic death of my brother and two friends. 

It took me 4 1/2 years to complete the posts for the Old Testament the first time. I am thankful for the encouragement from many of you to "keep going" and the help of others, especially Becky and Katrina, who helped by writing posts in the first cycle (2008-2010) so that I could take days off. I am especially thankful to God who has given me strength beyond my own ability!

I have learned lessons of perseverance through all of this and wonder what I will do with all my free time when I am done with all the writing and editing of this big "God-sized" task! I am sure He will give me another one that is just as fulfilling and rewarding. 

2023 Update: He has given me "God-sized" dreams. I had a vision in February 2015 and another in November 2018 for a "Community of Contemplatives in Action." He is fulfilling this dream. Bible Book Club was so much fun and is such a great base for the work that I do now! I am in this for the long term. And God is opening doors that no one can shut (Revelation 3:8, Isaiah 58:10-12)

APPLICATION

We have many long-term endeavors: raising kids, growing spiritually, and helping others grow.  

Do you have a long-range perspective on these long-term goals?  How are you persevering?  Are you discouraged?

Talk to God about that. Do not give up! Remember that "Slow and steady wins the race!"  Take heart from Zerubbabel! Find some encouragement from others too!

PRAYER

Lord, we commit ourselves to be faithful to Your long-term goals for us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

NOW, there will be a 58-year gap before the book of Ezra picks up again in Ezra 7. In the meantime, we will go through the book of Esther and many Psalms that are tagged chronologically to this time!

Ezra 4 - Opposition!

LINK: Ezra 4

BACKGROUND

The mixed population of the land was the forefathers of the Samaritans mentioned in the New Testament. They were not true Jews. When the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., they relocated people from outside into the capital city of Samaria. This led to intermingling in marriage with the Jews there (2 Kings 17:23-41). This was a common tactic used by the Assyrians to prevent insurrections.

These were the people who opposed the work. At first, they were deceitful. They offered to help claiming they worshiped the same God, but their worship mixed the worship of the LORD and other gods (2 Kings 17:29, 32-34, 41). They probably said they wanted to help only to sidetrack the project from within. Zerubbabel and the people flatly refused their help.

When that did not work, they did a frontal attack with harassment all the way to the time of Darius who ruled from 521-486 B.C. The temple was finally completed in 515 B.C. (4:24). 

The letters of Ezra 4:6-23 are chronologically out of order. Here is the order from Ezra 4-10:

Ezra 4:1-5 (Cyrus, 559-530) (Reigns of Cambyses [530-522] and Smerdis [522])

Haggai (Darius I, 521-486)

Zechariah 1:1-8:23

Ezra 4:24-6:22

Zechariah 9:1-14:21

Esther (Xerxes/Ahasuerus, 485-465)

Ezra 4:6-23 (Xerxes/Ahasuerus - Artaxerxes, 464-424) 

Ezra 7:1-10:44 (Artaxerxes)

They are here to show that the harassment lasted all the way to the reign of Xerxes in 485 B.C. These letters were written during the reign of King Artaxerxes, and the events during his reign are in Ezra 7-10. Ezra 4:8-6:18 and 7:12-26 are in Aramaic which was the trade language of the day. 

The letters summarize the story of the opposition to building the temple, walls, and other buildings in Jerusalem.  Ashurbanipal (669-627 B.C.) is mentioned. He was the Assyrian king who completed the relocation of the captives from the northern kingdom of Israel. When he died, the Assyrians were conquered by the Babylonians in 612 B.C. 

The "long history of revolt against kings" mentioned by Artaxerxes might have been referring to the history of former kings like Solomon (1 Kings 4:21) and Zedekiah (2 Chronicles 36:13).  The letters caused the work to stop until the reign of Darius (521-486 B.C., Ezra 4:24). 

REFLECTION 

I am reading Ezra and drinking Earl Grey in my half-full/half-empty cup and was feeling a bit discouraged this morning until I started reading this chapter. I am reminded that the glass really is half-full when we walk with God, and we do not need to be discouraged! 

I remember reading this part of the Bible during a time of tremendous discouragement in ministry. A woman spread unsubstantiated rumors about me amid a very fruitful and wonderful Bible study. She was jealous of my leadership, and she wanted me to stop.  It was so hard to continue under such intense scrutiny and suspicion.  One person believed the rumors and dropped out of the study and still holds me at arm's length today, but most are still my dear friends.  I just got off the phone with one of them thanking her for her encouragement during that stressful time. She was the strongest of the people who exhorted me to "Build on!" 

As for the woman who spread the rumors, a few years later, she abandoned her husband and children and left our city, never to be seen again. 

I really wanted to quit, but God gave me such encouragement through the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah!

APPLICATION 

Are you discouraged and want to quit?  Take encouragement from the life of Zerubbabel who saw the project through to the end. 

Can you see things through to the end despite opposition? 

PRAYER

Lord, when we face opposition for something we know You have called us to do, may we not listen to the lies of the enemy but to Your still, small voice that tells us to carry on. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Ezra 1-3 & Psalm 126: Restoration and Return

LINK: Ezra 1-3 & Psalm 126

BACKGROUND

The Book of Ezra

Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C., and the exiles were deported to Babylon. Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia in 539, and the exiles began their return to Jerusalem in 538.  Temple construction began in 536, was halted in 530, resumed in 520, and was completed in 516. Ezra came to Jerusalem in 458.

This book was written around 450 B.C. recording the events from about 538-450 B.C. with nothing recorded from 516-458 B.C. Ezra follows 2 Chronicles in the history of the Jews. 

Ezra and Nehemiah are one book in the Hebrew (Jewish) Bible. With Esther, they make up the "post-captivity" historical books. We will be reading Haggai and Zechariah interspersed within Ezra because they prophesied during the reconstruction period. Since we will read Nehemiah as a character study, I will not be interspersing it with Ezra. 

Here is the historical flow along with the events in Daniel and different Persian kings:

Ezra 1:1-4 (538, edict of King Cyrus [559-530] for return) 
Daniel 6:1-28 
Ezra 1:5-2:20 (538, first return of 49,897 exiles under Zerubbabel) 
Nehemiah 7:26-73a 
Ezra 3:1-13 (536, the altar and the temple foundation built) 
Daniel 10:1-12:13 
Ezra 4:1-5 
Ezra 4:24 
King Cambyses (530-522) 
King Smerdis (522) 
Haggai (520, Persian King Darius I [521-486]) 
Zechariah 1:1-8:23 (520-518) 
Ezra 5:1-6:22 (515, temple completed) 
Ezra 4:6 (486, accusation against Judah, King Xerxes/Ahasuerus [485-465]) 
Esther (479, Esther becomes queen) 
Ezra 4:7-23 (ca. 464-458, King Artaxerxes I/Artashasta [464-424] stopped rebuilding of Jerusalem) 
Ezra 7:1-10:44 (458, Second return of 4,000-5,000 exiles under Ezra) 
Nehemiah 1:1-7:3 (444, Third return of exiles under Nehemiah to rebuild walls) 
Nehemiah 7:73b-11:36 
Nehemiah 12:1-13:31 (ca. 430, Nehemiah's second return) 
Malachi (450-430)

Ezra 1 - Cyrus' Edict

This chapter opens in 538 B.C., 47 years after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem (2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36). The Persians had overthrown the great Babylonians, and Cyrus became king of Persia in 559 B.C. Isaiah 44:28-45:6 prophesied that Cyrus would help the Jews return to Jerusalem. He allowed them to bring back articles belonging to the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away. 

Persian records show that many Jews had accumulated much wealth while in captivity. Consequently, many remained, preferring a comfortable life in Babylon. 

Ezra 2 - A List of Returning Exiles

There is a parallel list in Nehemiah 7. The Nehemiah in Ezra 2:2 is not the same Nehemiah who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Also, this Mordecai is not the same person in the Book of Esther. 

This is the listing of the southern kingdom of Judah consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. 49,897 returned back under the direction of Zerubbabel to build the temple. They gave their wealth according to their ability to build the temple. 

The walk back to Jerusalem would have been almost 1,000 miles and there was danger of constant ambush by robbers, especially because they had the temple treasures with them. But God was leading, and the people who had a heart for Him were stirred to go. When they got there, the people settled in the respective towns and villages of their ancestors. 

Ezra 3 - The Rebuilding of the Altar and Temple

The people united together to rebuild the altar first because it was the center of worship. They needed to make atonement for their sins through blood sacrifices and start the regular ritual of morning and evening burnt offerings prescribed by their Law (Leviticus 1-7). These would have been the first burnt offerings in 50 years, since 586 B.C. They did this all even though they feared the foreigners who had been deported by the Assyrians into Palestine.

They began the period of preparation for building the temple May-June 536 B.C., exactly 70 years since the first deportation in 605. They traded food and olive oil for cedar wood imported from Lebanon just as Solomon had done in the building of the first temple 430 years earlier (966 B.C., 1 Kings 5:1-10, 18; 2 Chronicles 2). 

After the foundation was laid, the priests and Levites praised God as David had prescribed (1 Chronicles 16; 25) and similarly to how Solomon brought in the ark (2 Chronicles 5:12-13). 

There was great joy but great sorrow by those who remembered the glory of Solomon's temple compared to the current one. 

REFLECTION 

In July 2012, I walked the 120 acres of the land of my ancestors in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania. My grandmother left that town in 1906 after her parents both died within two weeks of one another, leaving her an orphan at 11 years of age.  I am the first to return to the land of my forefathers in over 100 years! I have wanted to go there for much of my life. It is a dream come true to finally have done it (it took the wedding of a dear friend in Pittsburgh to prompt us to go).  

My grandmother never returned to that land, and sadly, because of the bitterness of becoming an orphan at such a young age and dishonest dealings from church families in Cross Fork that caused her to lose her inheritance, she was always bitter toward God. She never returned to Cross Fork or God, and she did not like that I had decided to make Jesus my home. I walked that land by Kettle Creek with both joy and weeping. 

My Ancestor's Land along Kettle Creek in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania, July 2012

This gives me just a little bit of a glimpse of what it must have been like for the exiles to return to their homeland and settle in the towns and villages of their ancestors after 70 years. They were returning home. What joy but also what sorrow to remember the stories of the past glory and what once was. 

Jesus is our home. He is where we need to return every day. Many of us are held in captivity in our souls, and we need to return to Him where we can settle and find peace and rest there. 

APPLICATION 

Return to your true home today. Walk His land. Find rest and peace. 

PRAYER 

Psalm 126 is a "Song of Ascent" recalling the joy of the returning exiles. The agricultural reference in 126:5-6 indicates that they would face bad seasons (Haggai 1:9-11), but God would give them rain and harvests (Haggai 2:15-19) and keep His covenant promise.  Let it be your prayer today:

When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter

And our tongue with joyful shouting;

Then they said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us;

We are glad.

Restore our captivity, O Lord,

As the streams in the South. 

(The Negev desert south of Judah that overflowed in the rainy season)

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,

Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

(Psalm 126:1-6)

I love verses 5 and 6 in The Message translation:

So those who planted their crops in despair
       will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
       will come home laughing,
with armloads of blessing.

And here is a beautiful rendition of this Psalm by Bifrost Arts:

Ezra Character Study Summary

EZRA CHARACTER STUDYHere are my observations and thoughts. Please feel free to continue sharing yours.

The man Ezra
Ezra was a direct descendant of Aaron, through the line of Eleazar and Phineas. While living in exile in Babylon, he took his role as priest very seriously and studied God's word and became "skilled in the law of Moses" (7:6). He lived a life that gained favor with King Artaxerxes (7:21). Artaxerxes trusted Ezra and gave him authority to appoint civil leaders (7:25).

Character Traits
Trustworthy - Artaxerxes transfered a considerable amount of authority to Ezra and trusted him not to use that authority against him.

Passion - Ezra had a passion for God's Word - knowing it, keeping it, teaching it. He states his passion in 7:10, and demonstrates it through his actions in chapters 9-10.

Trust God rather than man - He chose not to ask for troops and horsemen to protect them while they traveled (8:22), rather, he trusted God to provide safety.

Humility - Ezra was totally humbled before God. He gave God the credit for everything (7:27-28), and demonstrated his humility when he tore his garments, pulled out some of his hair, and prostrated himself before the temple (9:3-5). He was focused entirely on God, not what others would think.

Sensitive to sin - Ezra truly mourned the sin of the people even though he himself had not committed the sin and continued to mourn even after the decision to put away the foreign wives had been made (10:6).

Leadership Style
Ezra gathered people around himself to whom he could teach God's law (7:10). He also gathered people to volunteer to return to Jerusalem to establish worship of God there (7:13).

He led the people mostly by example. He led the people to fast and pray when confronted with safety issues (8:22). When he was informed about the sin among the people, he responded to the sin himself (9:3). He didn't tell everyone else how they should respond; he simply acted. The people followed his lead and wept bitterly over their sin (10:1).

When it came time to execute a plan, Ezra relied on the advice of Shecaniah. Shecaniah encouraged Ezra to tell the people what they must do (10:2-4). Ezra took the responsibility to require the men to put away their foreign wives, but when it came time to actually carry that out, he delegated the task to capable leaders (10:16). Ezra was not an administrator, but was wise enough to assign those administrative tasks to trustworthy men so they would still get done.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
This is my own personal reflection. Yours may be different, and you are welcome to share.

Ezra is a kind of leader I can relate to. I, like him, have a passion to study and know God's word, to practice it, and to teach it to others. I tend to gather small groups around me to teach. Although I can do administrative type work, I'd rather not. The more I spend time with God and his word, the more I come to detest sin, but I think I'm more desensitized than Ezra to the sin around me. I have sometimes wept bitterly over my sin, though. I tend to be reserved, so I've thought a lot about Ezra's public display of emotion over the sin of the people. I think his outward example was very valuable to the people, so I wonder if a little more outward expression of my heart would be beneficial to others.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for your word. Thank you that you are a personal God who is involved in our lives. Thank you for the opportunities to teach others about you and your word. Teach me to see sin more like you see it and not to take it lightly. Keep teaching my heart to conform to you and always point people to Jesus. Amen.

Ezra 10 - Character Study

LINK: Ezra 10
CHARACTER STUDY
How does Ezra's behavior demonstrate his heart attitudes?

How does Ezra act on what he believes to be true?


SUMMARY
I have enjoyed doing a character study. I hope you have, too. Summarize what you have observed about the man Ezra in these four chapters. Please post a comment sharing your observations. What have you learned from Ezra about prayer, obedience, view of God, response to sin, actions, reactions, etc.? What character qualities did Ezra demonstrate? How can you apply what you've learned to your own life?

I will post my summary later today in a separate post.

Ezra 9 - Character Study

LINK: Ezra 9

BACKGROUND
A few months after his arrival in Jerusalem, Ezra met with some of the leaders and was informed of the many mixed marriages among the priests, Levites, civil leaders, and the people in general in the land. It's possible that this occurred after the reading of the law described in Nehemiah 8. This was likely an official report, in accordance with the decree of Artaxerxes to "keep the law of your God and the law of your king" (Ezra 7:25-26). The law was given in Exodus 34 and Deuteronomy 7 that they were not to marry the pagan Canaanites when they entered the land. The sin is not mixed racial or ethnic marriages, rather it is an issue of religious holiness.

CHARACTER STUDY

What kind of attitudes, actions, reactions, etc. do you see in Ezra in this chapter?

How does Ezra view God?

What is his view of himself and the other Israelites before God?

How does Ezra respond to sin?

Ezra 8 - Character Study

LINK: Ezra 8

CHARACTER STUDY

What do you learn about Ezra's prayer life in this chapter?

How did he respond to fear?

What is his view of himself in relation to God?

Add any other observations you might have about Ezra and his leadership.

Ezra 7 - Character Study

LINK: Ezra 7

We are going to switch gears a bit here and do a character study on Ezra. Later, Carol will lead a character study on Nehemiah and then a comparison between the two men. As we read these four chapters about Ezra, I will pose questions each day to help us consider who Ezra was and what he did. My main purpose is to get us thinking along the lines of a character study. Please feel free to go beyond these questions as you consider the man Ezra and what you can learn from his character. On Friday, when we finish this book, I'd like to invite you to share your observations summarizing the character of Ezra.

BACKGROUND
Ezra chapter six ends in 516 B.C. with the completion of the temple in Jerusalem. Priests and Levites were performing their duties and the spiritual rituals were being observed. Now we fast-forward 58 years to chapter seven. (The story of Esther took place in Persia during that 58 year gap.)

Chapters 7-10 of Ezra describe Ezra's return to Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes. Ezra led a group of people from Babylon to Jerusalem in 458 B.C. Artaxerxes provided Ezra with a decree that allowed any and all Israelites in the kingdom of Persia to join Ezra if they so chose. This decree also provided financing and gave Ezra authority to institute God's law in Jerusalem.

CHARACTER STUDY

What is the purpose and significance of Ezra's genealogy?

Who is Ezra? What kind of work did he do in Babylon?

What do you learn about Ezra's heart in this chapter?

What can you learn about Ezra's relationship with God from the final two verses?

Based on his decree, what do you think Artaxerxes thought of Ezra?