How did God try to awaken his lethargic people?
(Ezra 4:1-24; 5:1-5; Neh. 4:1-23; 6:1-16; Haggai 1:1-14; Zech. 1:1-4, 14-17) Blog Oct. 20-26, 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 to Judea. Three Persian kings made decrees for their return: Cyrus in 538 BC, when Zerubbabel led 50,000 Jews back; Darius in 520 BC; and Artaxerxes in 457 BC when Ezra led a smaller number back to Judea. Thirteen years later in 444 BC, Nehemiah joined Ezra in Jerusalem. The temple had been completed in 516 BC, so they directed their efforts towards rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall and gates. They were men of strong faith and diligent effort whom God chose at an important time of prophetic history.
Opposition (Ezra 4:1-5; 5:1-5; Nehemiah 4:1-23; 6:1-16; 2 Chron. 36:13; 2 Cor. 6:14)
1. When does opposition arise against God’s work? When God’s people put for effort to advance God’s work.
2. According to Ezra 4:1-3 why did God’s people not accept the offer of help from their neighbors? Because their neighbors were really opposed to the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
3. What demonstrates that Israel’s neighbors were not sincere in their offer to help? The fact that immediately after making their offer they turned face & opposed the rebuilding.
4. What should we learn from Zerubbabel’s refusal of help from Israel’s neighbors? That when working to advance God’s kingdom we should only include true believers in our team.
5. Where is this principle of having only believers on our team given and illustrated in the New Testament? In Second Corinthians 6:14 it is stated & it is illustrated in Acts 16:16-18.
6. During the reigns of Darius the Persian, Xerxes (Ahasuerus), and Artaxerxes how did Israel’s enemies try to stop the building? By writing letters of accusation to the king.
7. Were Israel’s enemies correct in saying that Jerusalem had been a rebellious city? Yes, Zedekiah & other Jewish leaders had rebelled against their conquerors.
8. What resulted from the letter of accusation sent to Darius? Search was made in the royal archives & the king responded with a new decree in favor of the rebuilding & the temple was completed within four years of this decree.
9. What resulted from the letter of accusation sent to Artaxerxes? The king replied in favor of Israel’ s enemies who then forcefully stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.
10. When Nehemiah had closed the breaches in Jerusalem’s wall what approach did his enemies make to hinder further construction? They invited him to come down & discuss things with them.
11. How many times did Nehemiah’s enemies call him to come counsel with them? Five times.
12. What tactic did Nehemiah’s enemies try after he refused five times to come counsel with them? They told him to hide in the temple because there was a death threat on his life.
13. Who else joined the effort to make Nehemiah afraid? The prophetess Noadiah, together with other Jewish prophets.
Encouragement (2 Chron. 20:20; Ezra 5:1-5; Haggai 1:1-14; Zech. 1:1-4, 14-17; 8:1-6)
14. In addition to the king’s decree how did God encourage the rebuilding of the temple during the reign of Darius? He sent the prophets Haggai & Zechariah to help & encourage God’s people thus increasing their faith.
15. What does God promise in 2 Chronicles 20:20 to those who believe his prophets? Prosperity.
16. When Haggai first spoke to God’s people in Jerusalem what was their condition? They were content to live in their sealed houses while neglecting the rebuilding of God’s temple.
17. According to Haggai how did God try to awaken his lethargic people? By diminishing their income & by sending drought.
18. When God’s people in Judea responded to God’s message through Haggai what was the result? God told them that he would be with them & they returned to the rebuilding of God’s temple.
19. How did the prophet Zechariah encourage the rebuilding of Jerusalem? By telling God’s people that if they returned to God he would return to them & Jerusalem would be rebuilt eventually becoming God’s eternal dwelling place.
Action (Nehemiah 4:1-23)
20. According to Nehemiah 4 what did Nehemiah do when Sanballat and company made fun of their rebuilding project? He asked God to hear & return their reproach upon their own heads.
21. When attacked by Sanballat and company what did Nehemiah and God’s people do? They prayed & armed themselves.
22. What should we learn from these stories about rebuilding God’s temple today? That when faced with ridicule & opposition (from within & from without) in building up God’s church we should heed God’s prophets, pray, arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, & work diligently, not idly expecting God to do everything.