1. Reread the Assignment for April 18th.
2. Read Ezra 5:1-6:12
3. 5:1-2- This shows us that God had placed them in a position where they could succeed in their mission. What are some of these things that would ensure their success?
4. 5:3-5- After doing everything rightly, what happens?
5. 5:6-17- Summarize the points of the letter.
Especially note vs. 11. Remember, it had been 16 years. How did they remember, so accurately, the details in 11-16?
6. 6:1-12- Summarize the points of the return letter. Did the support from the King increase or decrease? In what ways?
Discoveries:
5:1-2- To ensure success God sent prophets (Haggai and Zechariah) who joined forces with the head of the tribe of Judah (Zerubbabel) and the High Priest (Jeshua).
5:3-5- after doing everything right, they met stiff resistance from public officials.
We should not be surprised when we face resistance after we embark on doing something good. We should expect it and take it as encouragement that we are on the right track.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Assignment for April 18th
1. Review "Assignment for April 11th."
Note: I have not added the notes from our last class yet. Please check on Sunday.
2. Read the book of Haggai.
3. See how many dots you can connect with the book of Ezra.
4. The work of building the temple stopped by royal decree. (4:23-24) What were some of the things the people were doing during the 16 years that the work on the temple ceased?
Discoveries from the 4/25/2018 class:
1. What had they been doing for 16 years? Building their own houses. Not just log cabins but beautiful homes. 1:4 refers to "paneled houses." This type of paneling was used by royalty. They not only turned from building the house of the Lord, they "over did it" on building theirs- selfishness. How do we "overdo it" on ourselves?
2. So, they had nice homes but what else happened? Their were no blessings in their lives at all. 1:5-6- their crops were meager, there was not enough food or clothes and the money they did make "fell through their pockets." BUT, they had really nice houses! Was it worth it? Look at 1:7-11- Their disobedience opened the floodgates for ruin.
3. We noted a repeated phrase (always take note of repeated phrases) in 1:5, 7, 2:15, 18. "Give careful thought..." They hadn't "given careful thought" or they would have realized the pattern of bad fruit in their lives for the past 16 years.
4. We need to do the same thing. Take time on a regular basis to "give careful thought" to the fruit that has been occurring in our lives. As we look back, what do we see? It can be good fruit or bad or a mixture of both. Ask the Lord what changes He may want you to make so good fruit can come in the future.
5. The key to the turnaround in the Israelite's life was repentance. To repent means to turnaround. Godly fear brings repentance. They had lived for themselves for so long that they had developed very hard hearts. Hosea 10:12 was a verse that helped us understand what needed to take place for repentance to occur: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Their hearts were like hard ground that needed to be chisel plowed. Once they submitted to the process, things began to change quickly.
6. Repentance needs to be a regular part of the believers life. Keep short accounts with God. Ask Him daily if there is anything you need to repent of. If yes, do so. If not, move on.
6. By doing some math from Haggai 1:1 and 1:15 we realized that it only took 23 days of "encouragement toward repentance" from Haggai (and Zechariah) to turn the nation around. (And this after a 16 year lull in building the temple.) Repentance brought change on a national level, in just 23 days.
7. Further math from Hosea 1:1 and Ezra 6:15 showed us that it took four more years to complete the temple. As a reunited nation they completed their mission. True, they could have finished it long ago. However, God, who is merciful always, gave them another chance. He is the God of second chances to everyone (and third and fourth chances, etc.)!! Whatever has happened in the past, God wants us to look ahead to see what He can do, in a short time, in our lives. The enemy wants us to live in the past, God wants us to look ahead. Our best days are always ahead of us.
Note: I have not added the notes from our last class yet. Please check on Sunday.
2. Read the book of Haggai.
3. See how many dots you can connect with the book of Ezra.
4. The work of building the temple stopped by royal decree. (4:23-24) What were some of the things the people were doing during the 16 years that the work on the temple ceased?
Discoveries from the 4/25/2018 class:
1. What had they been doing for 16 years? Building their own houses. Not just log cabins but beautiful homes. 1:4 refers to "paneled houses." This type of paneling was used by royalty. They not only turned from building the house of the Lord, they "over did it" on building theirs- selfishness. How do we "overdo it" on ourselves?
2. So, they had nice homes but what else happened? Their were no blessings in their lives at all. 1:5-6- their crops were meager, there was not enough food or clothes and the money they did make "fell through their pockets." BUT, they had really nice houses! Was it worth it? Look at 1:7-11- Their disobedience opened the floodgates for ruin.
3. We noted a repeated phrase (always take note of repeated phrases) in 1:5, 7, 2:15, 18. "Give careful thought..." They hadn't "given careful thought" or they would have realized the pattern of bad fruit in their lives for the past 16 years.
4. We need to do the same thing. Take time on a regular basis to "give careful thought" to the fruit that has been occurring in our lives. As we look back, what do we see? It can be good fruit or bad or a mixture of both. Ask the Lord what changes He may want you to make so good fruit can come in the future.
5. The key to the turnaround in the Israelite's life was repentance. To repent means to turnaround. Godly fear brings repentance. They had lived for themselves for so long that they had developed very hard hearts. Hosea 10:12 was a verse that helped us understand what needed to take place for repentance to occur: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” Their hearts were like hard ground that needed to be chisel plowed. Once they submitted to the process, things began to change quickly.
6. Repentance needs to be a regular part of the believers life. Keep short accounts with God. Ask Him daily if there is anything you need to repent of. If yes, do so. If not, move on.
6. By doing some math from Haggai 1:1 and 1:15 we realized that it only took 23 days of "encouragement toward repentance" from Haggai (and Zechariah) to turn the nation around. (And this after a 16 year lull in building the temple.) Repentance brought change on a national level, in just 23 days.
7. Further math from Hosea 1:1 and Ezra 6:15 showed us that it took four more years to complete the temple. As a reunited nation they completed their mission. True, they could have finished it long ago. However, God, who is merciful always, gave them another chance. He is the God of second chances to everyone (and third and fourth chances, etc.)!! Whatever has happened in the past, God wants us to look ahead to see what He can do, in a short time, in our lives. The enemy wants us to live in the past, God wants us to look ahead. Our best days are always ahead of us.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Assignment for April 11, 2018
1. Re-read the blog: Assignment for April 4, 2018.
2. Read Ezra 4-6
3. Do some "study-digging" in a couple of areas that spring to your attention
4. Write down thoughts or questions that come up.
Our Discoveries:
1. First a simple chart to help you keep the cast of characters straight:
PLEASE do NOT get hung up on trying to keep all these characters straight. Now that you have studied it, you have the information to refer to if you need it. Focus instead on what the information you have learned might mean to YOU.
2. Some discoveries we made:
- Whenever we attempt to do something for God, there will be resistance and opposition. Expect it and plan for it. It is really a confirmation that you are on the right track.
- The opposition in Ezra came from the local peoples who later became known as the Samaritans. They were people who worshiped the God of Israel but added other false gods to their beliefs. Because of their added idolatry they were not fit to help build the temple. If they had chosen to totally convert to Judaism, they would have been eligible. They didn't want to do this and thus were enemies (4:1). They offered to "help" in the rebuilding effort because they wanted to subvert the process from within. Next they tried to stop the building from outward pressure. Thus came the letters to the Kings to request that the building be stopped.
- In our lives we have to be aware of what happens as we endeavor to move forward with God. There will come inward challenges- thoughts of condemnation, confusion, criticism, etc. There will also be outward challenges where people will be used to tempt us away from our directive. Don't be surprised at this. Realize that overcoming these obstacles is part of God's plan to lead you to victory.
-In 4:24 we "read between the lines" again. By doing some math we found that the building stopped for 18 years.
- We see an example of how God turned one of the outward attacks against their enemies. The letter to King Darius backfired on their enemies. He not only confirmed that they have permission to build but he increased the support they were to receive and those who would oppose the rebuilding would receive great punishment. (6:1-12)
- We again were impressed by the accuracy of public records in ancient days.
2. Read Ezra 4-6
3. Do some "study-digging" in a couple of areas that spring to your attention
4. Write down thoughts or questions that come up.
Our Discoveries:
1. First a simple chart to help you keep the cast of characters straight:
PLEASE do NOT get hung up on trying to keep all these characters straight. Now that you have studied it, you have the information to refer to if you need it. Focus instead on what the information you have learned might mean to YOU.
2. Some discoveries we made:
- Whenever we attempt to do something for God, there will be resistance and opposition. Expect it and plan for it. It is really a confirmation that you are on the right track.
- The opposition in Ezra came from the local peoples who later became known as the Samaritans. They were people who worshiped the God of Israel but added other false gods to their beliefs. Because of their added idolatry they were not fit to help build the temple. If they had chosen to totally convert to Judaism, they would have been eligible. They didn't want to do this and thus were enemies (4:1). They offered to "help" in the rebuilding effort because they wanted to subvert the process from within. Next they tried to stop the building from outward pressure. Thus came the letters to the Kings to request that the building be stopped.
- In our lives we have to be aware of what happens as we endeavor to move forward with God. There will come inward challenges- thoughts of condemnation, confusion, criticism, etc. There will also be outward challenges where people will be used to tempt us away from our directive. Don't be surprised at this. Realize that overcoming these obstacles is part of God's plan to lead you to victory.
-In 4:24 we "read between the lines" again. By doing some math we found that the building stopped for 18 years.
- We see an example of how God turned one of the outward attacks against their enemies. The letter to King Darius backfired on their enemies. He not only confirmed that they have permission to build but he increased the support they were to receive and those who would oppose the rebuilding would receive great punishment. (6:1-12)
- We again were impressed by the accuracy of public records in ancient days.
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