EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 4: Ezra 4-5

1.  (Read Ezra 4:1-5) Enemies will not always attack with weapons of war. This is a political hot potato today. To what extent should the Israelis trust her neighbors?  We in the U.S. have sworn enemies.  It is dangerous to trust other countries. How can we know when to trust them? (Read James 1:5) How can we fight against those who would destroy us from within by discouraging us?

2.  (Read Ezra 4:6-16) There has been a change of leadership in Persia.  Cyrus is no longer alive.  The new king, Ahasuerus, was a shallow leader (see Esther). The enemies of the Jews were able to use the Jews’ past against them.  What the enemies reported was correct. It is so hard to live down our past. It is crushing when our past is used against us.  We have no defense except to say that it won’t happen again. But who will trust us? (Read Jer. 31:33-34) You have been grafted into the same tree as the house of Israel.  The promises for Israel are promises to you by your faith.  What does it mean to you that God promises to remember your sins no more?  Does that knowledge influence how you behave toward others?

3.  (Read Ezra 4:17-24)  Artaxerxes looks only at what the enemies told him to look at.  It appears the enemies have won. Throughout history people have been deceived by wrongdoers.  Think of Chamberlain just before Hitler turned on England.  Think of the number of people killed by the crusaders who thought they were doing God’s work.  The enemies may win temporary victory, as they did here.  How do you keep going when faced with temporary defeat?  Describe a time when you were at the end of your rope.  What happened?

Chapter 5

4. (Read 5:1-5) There has been another change of kings.  Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes) ruled for only 10 years. To those who are thwarted, ten years seems like forever. It is important for us to remember that in God’s economy, ten years are not even a nanosecond. Darius has replaced Ahasuerus.  Tattenai, the pagan governor of the province beyond the river, does not appear to be an enemy.  He seems willing to listen and to find out the truth.  The Jews had the knowledge of the permission from Cyrus, the hope that Darius would support them, and they had the support of the prophets. There are many elements of this part of the scripture from which we can learn, so many that touch our lives: Their willingness to stop, to follow the law of the land, as God commands us in Hebrews (13:17); Their faith throughout the waiting period; Their willingness to begin again; The importance of the support of the prophets; Their surety in God’s purpose in their lives.  Which of these elements are in your life too? How will your life change if you live by their example?

5.  (Read 5:6-17) Based on what Tattenai wrote, tell us what kind of governor he was.  What was it he said, or how he said it that gave you that impression?  Would you vote for him for governor of Arizona?