Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Ezra. May we remember to ask God to show us what He wants us to learn? Psalm 19:14; “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, I think there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are as follows:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Ezra
- Author: Ezra
- Audience: The exiles who returned from captivity
- Date Written: Around 450 B.C
- Length: 10 Chapters
- Key Words: The Word of the Lord
- Key Verses: “So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord , the God of Israel. For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.” (6:21-22)
- Key People: Cyrus, Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Darius I, Artaxerxes I, Ezra.
Summary of Ezra:
Ezra was a priest, scribe, and gifted writer. In this book, he presents us with a clear message on the place and power of the word of God in the religious, social, and civil life of His people. Ezra’s extensive training, attention to detail, and passion for the Word of God would prove instrumental in helping lead people’s hearts back to God through His Word. We owe a great deal to Ezra because he was one of the most influential leaders in the latter half of the Old Testament. Besides writing 1 & 2 Chronicles, he is the reputed author of Psalms 119. Additionally, a revival under Ezra moved the people to study and apply the word of God. Finally, this book tells the story of rebuilding the temple and the city walls.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Ezra has three sections which are:
- The exiles return (Chap 1-2).
- Rebuilding (Chap 3-6).
- Ezra’s Return and Reforms(Chap 7-end).
Messages in Ezra:
We find several lessons in this book that we can still apply to us today:
- God has a plan for us even when the darkness of sin obscures our view of it.
- Revival begins with the study of God’s words.
- We, God’s chosen, are set apart for His purposes.
- God’s Sovereignty is about all earthly rulers.
- And, like the entire Bible, all roads lead to Christ.
We also see God’s characteristics displayed in the following ways in the book:
- Good – 8:18
- Powerful – 8:22
- Righteous – 9:15
- Wise – 7:25
- Wrathful – 8:22
Final thoughts:
Ezra was also called “the father of Judaism” or “the second Moses” by some. Throughout the book, we see Ezra’s passion for God’s Law. Ezra used God’s law as the foundation of his life, and he taught the Torah to others to remind the people how to live righteously. This prophet was also an intercessor and actively sought the Lord’s mercy for himself and others. He knew the power of confession and repentance. And he wanted those returning from exile to adapt these themes into their lives to have a deeper relationship with God.
A life of intercessory prayer, confession, and repentance can also reawaken and deepen our faith.
Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prayer
Grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps. Amen.
Thank you for this thorough overview of Ezra and your beautiful prayer.
Thanks Jeannie. God bless.
Every word in Scripture is important. Thank you for sharing about Ezra. There are many lessons to be learned when we read/hear His Word. Have a blessed week! 🙂
You too my friend
I learned so much from your post, Yvonne. The format is so easy to follow and provides details about Ezra that I didn’t know (or had forgotten). Thank you for this reminder: “A life of intercessory prayer, confession, and repentance can also reawaken and deepen our faith.” A wonderful message!
Thanks Katherine. My dad started this project years ago so I’m trying to honor him by doing these Bible study monthly. Blessings
What an excellent write-up on Ezra and that period of Jewish history! Thank you for sharing your father’s notes with us. They are a treasure. I love the graphics you’ve chosen each week.
Those graphics come from The Bible Project. You should check them out, really cool. Thanks Melinda.
Always great insights, inspiration, and encouragement to go deeper Ms. Yvonne. Thank you for your enlightening post ma’am .
Thanks so much JD. I’m learning so much as I study. It has been such a wonderful experience. Blessings
Another great overview!
I love how you are honoring your father’s notes by introducing them to a whole new audience!
Thanks Ava. I feel him smiling each time. Blessings
I love Ezra’s focus on hope when hope seems lost. I had not realized he was possibly the writer of psalm 119; it would not surprise me as the love letter to the Word of God.
I found that very interesting too about Psalm 119. Thanks Candice. Blessings
Ezra is such a beautiful picture of revival.
I pray for such a revival for us today. Thanks Jennifer. Blessings
Thank you for that recommendation. I’ll check it out. I’d love to include your link here for this article on Ezra when I arrive at Ezra in my journey through OT history. I’ll be there soon. Can I add a link that will bring my readers to this article by you?
Yes, I approve you using it. Thanks
Thanks for this concise and clear summary of Ezra. It inspires me to not only take the important concepts you shared, but dig deeper into this book to see what else God wants to reveal to me. I never realized how important Ezra was to Hebrew history.
Me either. Ezra was more significant than I ever realized. Thanks Barb. Blessings
So good! I love your point that “Revival begins with the study of God’s words.” I truly agree. We stray and are often influenced by others. When these others are good people, acting in accordance with the Holy Spirit, it’s fine, but when we are led by those NOT in accordance with the Lord, that can be so dangerous and lead to bad things. This is why continuing to read God’s words for ourselves (rather than get our info about God’s word from others) is crucial.
Oh so very true Jessica. With the world in such bad shape, we need to be in the word so we know the truth of God instead of the lies of the world. Thanks and God bless
Great work, Yvonne. So much information here! I listened to a message this morning that asserted revival begins in the Church–“when we become clean.” Getting clean in our hearts starts with God’s Word. Thanks for encouraging us this way! God bless!
Thanks Nancy. I’m praying for a revival across our country. We need to pray for God to cleanse all our heart to start. Blessings
A wonderful overview, Yvonne. I love that Ezra brought the people’s hearts back to the Lord through the Word. And this thought jumped out to me, “Revival begins with the study of God’s words.” Yes!
Amen. And I pray for that kind of revival to spread across our land. Thanks Karen. Blessings
Great study! I did not know that Ezra was called, by some, the “second Moses.” He certainly did have a lot of work to do to get his people back to ‘building’ God’s purposes!
Thanks Lisa. Blessings