EZRA/NEHEMIAH: A BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 4: Ezra 4-5

1. (Read 6:1-2) What does this order by King Darius tell you about this king?  How many archives had to be searched, collected in the fifty years that Persia had ruled?  How long might that have taken?  In our technological age, does data get lost?  Allegations abound in a presidential election year.  How extensive are the allegations researched for truth?  Would want Darius as president?

2. (Read 3:3-12) The first letter of Cyrus was written in Hebrew, the language of the Jewish captives.  The second, reported in Chapter 6, was written in Aramaic for the official record.  What important differences are there between the two letters?

            a.  We don’t know who the trouble makers were in Chapter 4, but we know from Cyrus’ letter that Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai were in power back then.  At least, they did not do enough to stop the mischief.  Does that change your opinion of Tattenai?  We are all guilty of making assessments about people without knowing all of the facts.  Relate one time you found you had misjudged someone.  What happened after you found out the truth?

            b. How did you react to 6:11?  Did it produce conflicting emotions?

3.  (Read 6:13-13-18)  Does reading this make you want to read Haggai and Zechariah to find out what they were telling the elders as they built?  Will you read them on your own?  Would you read them if we have a Bible study on them?

            a.  They finished 42 years after Cyrus first allowed the captives to return to Jerusalem.  The commitment had to pass from one generation to the next.  As parents, how can we instill commitment to do God’s work in our children? grandchildren?  What values do you see in your children that you know came from your home?

            b.  Intercessory prayer is part of our faith. As a sin offering for all Israel, they sacrificed 12 goats, one for each tribe, even though 10 of the tribes had been disbursed and assimilated more than 100 years before.  As Americans, we need to commit ourselves to praying for forgiveness and repentance for ourselves and for our country and to recommit ourselves to being obedient to Christ.  Are you willing to do that once a week?  On your own or, perhaps, just before or just after Tuesday Bible study?  Discuss.

4.  (Read 6:19-22) Again they sacrifice, this time the Passover lamb, on behalf of all of the exiles, whether they had returned with them or not.  This sacrifice is a picture of the Passover Lamb of God who died for those who had and will turn to Him and for those who did and will not.  When you came to faith, were there people praying for you?  Did you know before you came to faith they were praying?  For whom do you pray as their intercessor?

5.  What was the significance of their finishing in time for Passover?