by admin | Oct 10, 2019 | Ezra & Nehemiah
What should we learn from Nehemiah’s response to bad news?
(Nehemiah 1 & 2) Blog Oct. 6-12, 2019
Prepared by
Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO
Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the
story of the return of the exiles from Babylon to Judea. This return was
promised by God in Isaiah and Jeremiah and enacted by three Persian kings –
Cyrus, in the first year of his reign (538 BC), Darius in the second year of
his reign (520 BC), and Artaxerxes, in the seventh year of his reign (457 BC). Under
the leadership of Zerubbabel 50,000 Jews returned when the first decree was
made by Cyrus and a smaller number under the leadership of Ezra, the priest,
when Artaxerxes made the last decree. Construction of the temple in Jerusalem
was completed in the sixth year of Darius (516 BC).
Facing bad news (Nehemiah 1:1-4)
1. Whose
“words” are recorded in the book of Nehemiah? Those of Nehemiah, himself.
2. Whose
“word” do we have in the book of Nehemiah? We have God’s Word – his thoughts –
his message.
3. According
to Hanani what was the condition of God’s remnant people in Judea? They were in
great affliction & confronted with opposition.
4. On what
aspect of Jerusalem did Hanani report? On her broken down wall & on her
burned gates – not on her sanctuary.
5. When Nehemiah
heard of the condition of God’s remnant people and of Jerusalem what five
things did he do? He sat down, he cried, he mourned for some days, he fasted,
& he prayed.
6. What
should we learn from Nehemiah’s response to bad news? That when we hear of
stagnation or corruption in God’s church we should stop what we are doing
rather than accepting it, we should weep over the condition of God’s
people rather than gloat over it, we should mourn because we too are
part of the problem, we should fast in order to think more clearly about
the situation, & we should pray to God for the remedy.
Nehemiah’s
prayer (Nehemiah 1:5-11)
7. What was Nehemiah’s occupation? He was
cupbearer to Artaxerxes, the king of Medo-Persia.
8. As Nehemiah begins his prayer to the God of
heaven what two characteristics of God does he mention? That he keeps his
covenant promises & that he is merciful towards those that love him.
9. From where does Nehemiah get the expression “mercy
for them that love him and observe his commandments”? From the second
Commandment & from Deuteronomy 7:9.
10. What does Nehemiah do in his prayer like
Daniel did in his in Daniel 9? He
identifies himself with the sins & corruption of God’s people.
11. After his
confession of sins of what does Nehemiah remind God? That he is a God who keep
his promises & that he promised that after scattering his people for their
sins he would gather them again if they repented & kept his Commandments.
12. With what request
did Nehemiah end his prayer? That
God would help him & grant him mercy from the king.
Nehemiah’s mission (Nehemiah
2:1-20)
13. What would sadness on the part of the
cupbearer suggest to the king? That his servant was part of a plot to take the
king’s life.
14. After telling the king why he was sad what
did Nehemiah do? He sent a prayer up to heaven.
15. What favor did Nehemiah ask of King
Artaxerxes? That he be sent to rebuild Jerusalem.
16. What influenced King Artaxerxes, the
greatest ruler in the world, to grant Nehemiah’s request? The moving of God’s
Spirit upon him as the result of Nehemiah’s prayers.
17. Besides asking for letters of safe conduct
what other letter did Nehemiah request of the king? He asked for a letter to
the keeper of the king’s forest that he might receive lumber for rebuilding the
city.
18. What is sure to occur whenever a person
works to advance God’s kingdom? Opposition inspired by Satan will arise.
19. What did Nehemiah add to God’s call,
protection and provision? He added personal thought, planning, & human effort.
20. What inspired Nehemiah’s thought, planning,
and effort? His faith in God & in God’s Word.
by admin | Oct 3, 2019 | Ezra & Nehemiah
When was the rebuilding of the temple completed?
(Ezra 1:1-7; 4:1-7; 7:1-28; Isa.
45:1-5, 13; Jer. 21:11-12; Dan.
9:1-21) Blog Sep 29-Oct 5, 2019
Prepared by
Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO
Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
INTRODUCTION: This quarter we will consider the
books of Ezra and Nehemiah. They tell the story of the return of the exiles
from Babylon to Judea. This return was promised by God in Isaiah and Jeremiah
and enacted by three Persian kings. Unlike Israel’s escape from Egyptian
slavery only a small portion of God’s people came out of Babylon but it was
through them and their descendants that Jerusalem and its temple would be
rebuilt, God’s law would be preserved, and Messiah would come to fulfill God’s
everlasting covenant.
Precursors
to freedom (2 Chron. 36:15-23; Ezra 1:1-11; 2:64-65; Isa. 44:24-28; 45:1-6, 13;
Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan. 1:1-4; 9:1-4)
1. According to Daniel 1:1-4 what was the
condition of God’s people after Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem? Their
kingdom was defeated, their king was dethroned, their sanctuary was sacked,
& their people were carried captive.
2. Why
did Daniel seek God by fasting, humiliation, and prayer as recorded in Daniel 9?
Because he desired for God to fulfill his promise to release his captive people
& restore their sanctuary.
3. What was the basis of Daniel’s prayer in
Daniel 9? The Word of God as recorded in Jeremiah 25 & 29 that promised
that the Babylonian captivity would only last 70 years & God’s instruction
that his people should pray for its fulfillment.
4. Who did God use for the fulfillment of
Daniel’s prayer for the restoration of God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem? God used
Cyrus the king of Persia to release his captive people so they could rebuild
God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem.
5. When did Cyrus, the Persian King, make a decree
to release the Jewish captives in Babylon? In the first year of his reign (538
BC), two years after having conquered Babylon during which Darius the Mede was
king.
6. What convincing evidence of the true God and
his mission for himself must Cyrus have seen before making his decree of
freedom for God’s people? Cyrus must have observed Daniel’s freedom from the
lion’s den & the prophecies of Isaiah 44 & 45 concerning himself &
God’s will for him.
Freedom
decreed (Ezra 1:1-7; 6:1-12; 7:10-21; Neh. 2:1-5)
7. Who led the Jewish captives back to Jerusalem
when Cyrus decreed their freedom? Joshua the high Priest, Zerubbabel the
governor, & Sheshbazzar (or that is another name for Zerubbabel) the
treasurer led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem.
8. In response to Cyrus decree how many Jews
returned to Judea? Approximately 50,000.
9. Besides decreeing their freedom what else did
Cyrus do for the Jews? Cyrus not only decreed the Jews freedom but also loaded
them down with the sanctuary vessels, contributed to their mission, &
legislated that the provinces where they were to travel provide their needs as
well.
10. When opposition to the work of restoring
God’s sanctuary arose years later who made the second decree to rebuild God’s
sanctuary? Darius the Persian made the second decreed to rebuild God’s
sanctuary in Jerusalem (probably in the second year of his reign – 520 BC).
11. When and by whom was the third decree made
to restore God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem? The third decree to restore God’s
sanctuary in Jerusalem was made by Artaxerxes in the seventh year of his reign
over Persia (457 BC).
12. Who led the return to Jerusalem under the
third decree? Ezra led the return to Jerusalem under the third decree in the
seventh year of Artaxerxes reign.
13. When did Nehemiah go to Jerusalem? Nehemiah
went to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes reign (444 BC).
Leaders of freedom (Ezra 2:1-2;
3:1-13; 4:12-13; 6:15; 7:10)
14. When Zerubbabel led 50,000 Jews back to
their homeland under Cyrus’ decree what did they celebrate in the seventh month?
After establishing themselves throughout the land they all gathered in
Jerusalem to rebuild God’s altar & celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
15. When did the returned exiles begin to
rebuild God’s temple? In the second month of the second year of their return
under the decree of Cyrus (about 536BC).
16. When was the rebuilding of the temple
completed? In the sixth year of King Darius after he made the second decree.
That was in about 516 BC – approximately twenty years after it was begun in
536BC.
17. Before Ezra led captives back to Jerusalem
under the third decree what did the surrounding tribes do to hinder the
rebuilding of Jerusalem? After trying other means they sent letters to King
Artaxerxes asking him to stop the rebuilding because Jerusalem was known as a
rebellious city.
18. Besides diligently studying and teaching
God’s law what made Ezra a great spiritual leader? Ezra not only studied &
taught God’s law, he also obeyed the law, making him a great spiritual leader.
