1.Historical background and purpose of the prophet:
As it's written in Nelson's, Ezra is supposed to be the author of this book. And, he probably wrote this book between 457 BC and 444 BC.
Ezra relates the first two returns from Babylon, the first led by Zerubbabel and the second led decades later by Ezra. Its two divisions are the restoration of the temple(Ch.1-6) and the reformation of the people(Ch.7-10).
As described in Nelson's, the basic theme of Ezra is restoration-the restoration of the temple, and the spiritual, moral, and social restoration of the returned remnant in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra.
2.What does this book show about the Character and Nature of God?
In 1:1"~the Lorda fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.He stirred the heart of Cyrus~", we can find God is so faithful that this prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled after about 150years later.
And, in 6:3-8, "~a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.~You must pay the full construction costs,without delay,from my taxes collected in the province~", God used the King of Persia Cyrus to provide expenses for the rebuilding of the Temple, here we can meet God, who provides fully to our needs.
3.What does this book show you about God's redemptive plan for mankind?
In Ch.10, Ezra and the people confess their sin, and Ezra ordered to the people who married with pagan women to divorce and send them away with their children.
To the heads of the families, the first importance was probably their wives and children. So, when they obeyed to send their wives and children, it means they repented verily and gave up their idolatry. Like this, we can expect God's redemption just after we repent our sin and give up all kinds of idols which we raised up higher than God.
4.Personal application:
It's easy to confess that nothing is more important than God. But, it's not easy to give the priority to godly thing in any cases. How easily I delay or skip reading God's words because of the ordinary things! How weak devotion of mine compare to the devotion of the Israellites who returned from exile! One by one, I have to practice to delay the ordinary things later before I do the godly things.
5.Point of Passion Assignment
I want to be an evangelist for unbelievers who rejects the gospel because of their stubborn mindset. How can I understand them about Jesus' love? How can I equip the Israellites' devotion and touch their mind ? My first step can be giving up all of my idolatry and give the priority to the godly things. -end-
Ezra relates the first two returns from Babylon, the first led by Zerubbabel and the second led decades later by Ezra. Its two divisions are the restoration of the temple(Ch.1-6) and the reformation of the people(Ch.7-10).
As described in Nelson's, the basic theme of Ezra is restoration-the restoration of the temple, and the spiritual, moral, and social restoration of the returned remnant in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra.
In 1:1"~the Lorda fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.He stirred the heart of Cyrus~", we can find God is so faithful that this prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled after about 150years later.
And, in 6:3-8, "~a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.~You must pay the full construction costs,without delay,from my taxes collected in the province~", God used the King of Persia Cyrus to provide expenses for the rebuilding of the Temple, here we can meet God, who provides fully to our needs.
3.What does this book show you about God's redemptive plan for mankind?
And, in 6:3-8, "~a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.~You must pay the full construction costs,without delay,from my taxes collected in the province~", God used the King of Persia Cyrus to provide expenses for the rebuilding of the Temple, here we can meet God, who provides fully to our needs.
3.What does this book show you about God's redemptive plan for mankind?
To the heads of the families, the first importance was probably their wives and children. So, when they obeyed to send their wives and children, it means they repented verily and gave up their idolatry. Like this, we can expect God's redemption just after we repent our sin and give up all kinds of idols which we raised up higher than God.
5.Point of Passion Assignment
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