2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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WHAT IS EZRA ALL ABOUT?
AUG 9
Ezra 1, 7
Memorise Ezra 7:10 "according to the good hand of his God upon him"
WHAT IS EZRA ALL ABOUT?
605-586 BC was the period that Jerusalem was under siege, sacked, had her temple destroyed, and experienced the final Babylonian invasion that sent all of Judah into captivity. However, God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that they would not stay captive forever, but the punishment would last only for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11, ref. 2 Chronicles 32:21). After that, God would bring them back into their land once again. The close of 2 Chronicles mirrors the beginning of the book of Ezra, where the period of captivity had passed, and the Jews were now allowed to return home to rebuild Jerusalem. The date is 538 BC. King Cyrus and the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, and were now the largest kingdom in the world. As was predicted by the prophet Isaiah, King Cyrus decreed that the Jews should be allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild, and so begins the events of the book of Ezra.
There are two main segments in the book of Ezra, set about 80 years apart from each other. The first, from chapters 1-6, describes the first return to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel in 538 BC. He leads a band of close to 50,000 returnees and straightaway initiates the task of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite facing numerous oppositions, setbacks and delays, they eventually complete the task, and celebrate a Passover in Jerusalem for the first time in many years.
The second part, from chapters 7-10 describes the second return led by Ezra (who is the writer of this book) in 458 BC. Whilst Zerubbabel led in the physical restoration of Jerusalem, Ezra’s focus was more with regard to their spiritual restoration. Many years had elapsed since they had joyously consecrated the temple and they had again lapsed into sin. Many of them had committed the grave sin of marrying foreign husbands and wives. Ezra’s purpose therefore was to preach the Word of God to them, to cause them to repent and turn back unto the Lord. In this he was successful, for he led them in a time of national mourning for their sin, confessing their faults and taking concrete action to make amends.
Through these events, we remember that God will always be faithful to His people, to fulfil His promises to them, and to draw them back unto Himself whenever they stray. Indeed, we serve such a wonderful God!
Thought: God will always be faithful to His people.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness. Help me to be faithful!
Posted in Teens RPG
Ezra 1, 7
Memorise Ezra 7:10 "according to the good hand of his God upon him"
WHAT IS EZRA ALL ABOUT?
605-586 BC was the period that Jerusalem was under siege, sacked, had her temple destroyed, and experienced the final Babylonian invasion that sent all of Judah into captivity. However, God had promised them through the prophet Jeremiah that they would not stay captive forever, but the punishment would last only for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11, ref. 2 Chronicles 32:21). After that, God would bring them back into their land once again. The close of 2 Chronicles mirrors the beginning of the book of Ezra, where the period of captivity had passed, and the Jews were now allowed to return home to rebuild Jerusalem. The date is 538 BC. King Cyrus and the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, and were now the largest kingdom in the world. As was predicted by the prophet Isaiah, King Cyrus decreed that the Jews should be allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild, and so begins the events of the book of Ezra.
There are two main segments in the book of Ezra, set about 80 years apart from each other. The first, from chapters 1-6, describes the first return to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel in 538 BC. He leads a band of close to 50,000 returnees and straightaway initiates the task of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite facing numerous oppositions, setbacks and delays, they eventually complete the task, and celebrate a Passover in Jerusalem for the first time in many years.
The second part, from chapters 7-10 describes the second return led by Ezra (who is the writer of this book) in 458 BC. Whilst Zerubbabel led in the physical restoration of Jerusalem, Ezra’s focus was more with regard to their spiritual restoration. Many years had elapsed since they had joyously consecrated the temple and they had again lapsed into sin. Many of them had committed the grave sin of marrying foreign husbands and wives. Ezra’s purpose therefore was to preach the Word of God to them, to cause them to repent and turn back unto the Lord. In this he was successful, for he led them in a time of national mourning for their sin, confessing their faults and taking concrete action to make amends.
Through these events, we remember that God will always be faithful to His people, to fulfil His promises to them, and to draw them back unto Himself whenever they stray. Indeed, we serve such a wonderful God!
Thought: God will always be faithful to His people.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness. Help me to be faithful!
Posted in Teens RPG