EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 3: Ezra 3

BACKGROUND: (Read 3:1-2 and Lev. 23:23-44) Note: These are the Holidays of the seventh month. The Feast of Trumpets, Seventh Month, 1st day: There is no reason given in the Bible for the Feast of Trumpets Lev 23:23-25 (Rosh Ha Shannah, what the Jewish people call the New Year). It is treated as the start of a ten day period of soul searching before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  Because it is a day of rest, as the Sabbath is and the Sabbath commemorates creation, at some point they decided it commemorated the specific day the world was created. Because, according to 1Thessalonians 4:16, the Lord is to return with the sound of the trumpet call of God, Christians who celebrate this holiday focus on the promised return of Christ.

            The Day of Atonement (Hebrew: Yom Kippur), Seventh Month, 10th day: Lev. Chapter 16 describes in detail how Aaron was to make substitutionery atonement for the whole of the people of Israel. It is like our National Day of Prayer, when we, as a nation are called to pray for our country.  Christians who celebrate this holiday focus on Jesus’ substitutionally death for us and pray for revival in our country and salvation for unsaved loved ones.

            The Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths (Hebrew: Succoth), Seventh Month, 15th day.  This holiday commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and God’s provision through the years in the desert.  Christians who celebrate this holiday, celebrate God’s sustaining us and His provision of everything we have.

1.  Jesus focused on heart attitudes.  Our actions follow our heart.  Commandments like not worrying, not gossiping, trusting the Lord in all things, being humble in all things,  loving those who hurt us, are all difficult at times.  Often we do not understand the benefit which will be to us by our obedience. With which attitudes do you struggle?  Have you outwardly obeyed God’s word without the appropriate heart attitude? (Share if you are comfortable)

2.  (Read 3:3-6)  They sacrificed because they were afraid of their neighbors.  They knew they could not survive without God’s protection.  God has surely put a hedge of protection around this country until now. We now have terrorists who would destroy our country.  What, as Christians, can we sacrifice?

3.  (Read 3:7-10) Why did they appoint the Levites to oversee the work?  What special knowledge did they have?

4. They celebrated according to the direction of King David.  That is tradition and ritual. Was that bad? What did Jesus say about ritual? (Read Matt. 6:7) What makes repetition meaningless? What are some of the traditions and rituals that enhance our worship here at Catalina Foothills Church?

5. (Read. 3:11-13) Why did some of the people weep?  If you had been alive to see the first temple, had been taken to Babylonia and came back to see the foundation of the temple rebuilt, would you have wept?

6.  One of the songs we sing goes, “Shout to the Lord all the earth....”  When have you been so full of joy you have shouted or wanted to shout aloud?  If you didn’t, what prevented you?