Message Theme & Verses: Ezra
Memory Verse: Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy.
God’s has just freed His people from exile in a foreign land. He moved the heart of the foreign king to let them go and now the people arrive back in a Jerusalem where the temple has been destroyed and foreigners are all around. Ezra, a priest and scribe begins to teach the people how to love and follow God. God’s people have been freed to love and serve Him in accordance with the Covenant because God’s mercy exceeds His anger.
This book was originally combined with Nehemiah, the next book, and still is in Jewish Scriptures. The written word is very important in this book. A written decree frees God’s people and letters start and stop the rebuilding of the temple. It is during this time, as God’s people return from exile, that the prophets begin to be silent and will not speak for 400 years until John the Baptist becomes the final prophet. The people of God then, just like us now, must rely on the written Word of God to teach us who God is and what He has to say to us. Here, in the Bible, we have our authority, our encouragement, and our hope.
Ezra is telling the story of God’s faithfulness to His people through this story that is interrupted by lists, historical documents and decrees, genealogy and prayers. The two major events are the building of the second temple and the Israelites marrying foreign women who worship false pagan gods. We see in Ezra that all of God’s people, not just leaders are important and are used by God in completing His purposes. Behind the acts of the people, both Israelites and foreigners is God’s Spirit, hand, providence, and purpose.
God’s people belong to Him not simply based on their race or birth, but they are a covenant people, chosen by God to be separate from the world, to worship Him, and to bless others. Worshiping God in the way He chooses shows God that the people love and honor Him. Ezra is sure to restore proper worship and the people worship God with great joy.
It is beautiful to see that the story of God’s people did not end with them being sent into exile. God has great mercy on His people and is faithful to His promise to spread the light of His Kingdom across the world, through His people. The people have felt God’s wrath in the exile, repent, and seek to remain faithful to our mighty God. There is celebration in the midst of conviction and confession as the people hope in the ancient promises of freedom to serve God as His holy people.
Read Ezra 1:1-11
Jesus in Ezra
Once again, though they have sinned and felt the judgment of God, we see God’s people turning back to Him in repentance as they are convicted by the Word of God. Just as in the days when Josiah was presented with the found Book of the Law, the people once again celebrated the Passover, remembering God’s salvation of their fathers and looking forward to the salvation to come through Jesus, the Messiah. Ezra is willing to confront the people with their sin, just as Jesus will in the New Testament when He comes preaching the message, “repent and believe.” We see the hearts of God’s people softened by God’s great mercy and grace, and they long to worship in a way that is pleasing to God. The people build a physical temple because they want to feel God’s presence, dwelling with them. Jesus will later call Himself the temple and is a much better way for God to be with His people, than through bricks and stones. We will also see that God’s people, the church, becomes the temple as the Holy Spirit dwells within believers to empower them as ambassadors of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We no longer need the temple and there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem, because Revelation 21:22 tells us that “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” When Jesus returns, we will rejoice and celebrate with even greater joy than when God’s people saw the new temple built after their exile.
Questions
What is the building you have seen that is the most beautiful or has given you joy?
Have you ever been both happy and sad at the same time? Tell us about it.
God works through His people, but here, we also see Him using a foreign, unbelieving king for His purposes. What do you think about this? Does this give you hope? (Of course, God made all things and all people and can use them for His purposes. Here God uses King Cyrus to send His people home in His great mercy, but God also used the kings of Babylon to capture His people in judgment. This was for the good of God’s people, to turn them back to Him. God is free to do as He pleases and does all things for His own glory and the good of those who love Him.)
Cyrus had the temple built in Jerusalem by issuing a decree. What is one law that you think is very good and helpful to the people here in the Philippines?
God could have made a temple appear in Jerusalem, but instead, He used people like the King, craftsmen, priests, and Levites. Why do you think God uses people? (God loves to include people in His plans. This does not always seem to be the best or most efficient way because people are sinful and not perfect like God. But just like when a father lets his son help to repair a broken wall to teach him and give him purpose, God uses His people. God is drawing His people closer to Himself, teaching them to love and be like Jesus, and giving them purpose in life.)
Do you think God has judged or will judge the Philippines? What would that look like?
Why were the people not allowed to marry foreigners? (God is not a racist. This command was to protect God’s people and to keep them holy. They could marry foreigners if the foreigners would commit to worshiping God alone and forsake their false idols. God knew that the people would be tempted to worship false gods by their spouses.)
If you were Ezra and came into your community today, what do you think would be the biggest sins that you would tell the people to repent and turn away from?
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