Bible Study - God's Story - GOD Restores HIS People - Ezra 1, Nehemiah 8, Jeremiah 29 - July 21, 2013

Bible Study – God’s Story – GOD Restores HIS People – July 21, 2013

This is lesson eight in our series entitled “GOD’S Story.”

Our scripture is Ezra 1:1-5; Nehemiah 8:1-6; Jeremiah 29:10-14.

Our last lesson focused on GOD’S discipline. This lesson focuses on GOD’S restoration. GOD is all about restoration. Often, HE has to get our attention before HE can restore. We must keep in mind that HE made us and knows us intimately. HE watched over us as we were being knitted together in our mothers’ wombs. HE knows our DNA and HE knows our hearts. HE has plans for each one of us but each of us has the freedom to choose how we live our lives. HIS desire is for us to choose to live our lives in obedience to HIM through our relationship with CHRIST.

It is interesting to me to look back at the history of Babylon. About 1270 B.C., the Assyrians conquered Babylonia. Assyria was the dominate world power for 700 years. Babylonia was a second rate power but in 626 B.C. Babylonia succeeded in getting out from under Assyrian rule. It took the Babylonian Empire about 44 years to reach their peak as an ancient world power, which would be 582 B.C.

Based upon our last study, we know that the Northern Kingdom was defeated by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. This resulted in the Israelites who lived in the Northern Kingdom either being brutally killed or exiled to other areas in Assyria. Those who were exiled intermarried and did not try to return to Israel to rebuild it. This resulted in the Israelites from the Northern Kingdom Jews losing their identity as a race.

Now, compare that result to what happened to Judah, the Southern Kingdom, when the Babylonians defeated them. GOD had prepared Babylon to conquer the Southern Kingdom, which they did in 586 B.C. History records three deportations of the Jews to Babylon:

-         606 B.C. – Daniel and other youth.

-         597 B.C. – Ezekiel along with King Jehoiachin and 10,000 others.

-         586 B.C. – King Zedekiah and others.

Babylon rose to a world power at just the right time. Assyria declined in its power. We learned about GOD’S plan for Babylon in our study of Habakkuk. The Jews in Judah had an opportunity to repent but they did not. GOD had a plan for Judah because the “the line of promise” was coming through them. GOD knew the hearts of the exiled remnant. They did not intermarry and maintained a pure bloodline. The Prophet Ezekiel was taken to Babylon where he ministered to the exiled Jews. There were false prophets in Babylon telling the exiles that GOD was going to deliver them sooner than what GOD was revealing to Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

The Prophet Jeremiah ministered to the Jews in Judah during that period and wrote to the Jews in Babylon to give them hope in troubling times. Contrary to the fate of the Jews carried off by the Assyrians, the exiled Jews from Judah had the desire to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, the temple and to build their relationship with GOD. GOD orchestrated the political climate and leaders to produce HIS desired result to restore HIS chosen people back to Judah.

We must keep in mind that GOD makes history according to HIS plan and purpose. HIS plan and purpose was for HIS only Son, JESUS, to come to earth through “the line of promise” and HE would come through the lineage of Judah. JESUS would be born and live as a human. HE would give HIS life to pay, in full, the debt for sin and conquer eternal death for all who would place their faith in HIM.

We have the opportunity to see the hand of GOD working to accomplish HIS plan and purpose which began when Babylon rose to power in 626 B.C. The Assyrians were in a state of decline because of their mighty warriors being killed when they fought battles. This constant state of war eventually left Assyria with weaklings to defend themselves and resulted in their defeat. When Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria, fell in 612 B.C., Assyrian rule, as a world power, ended. With Assyria out of the picture, Babylon swept in to defeat Judah. Judah had risen to a power but it was not sufficient to hold up against the Babylonians. GOD was allowing the Babylonians to discipline HIS chosen people.

But notice that GOD had groomed the events to take care of HIS chosen and accomplish HIS plan and purpose. The Babylonians allowed the Jews to maintain their identity as a race while in exile.

During their exile, the Jews were facing false prophets in Babylon. These false prophets were telling the Jews that GOD would rescue them shortly. Jeremiah wrote to the Jews in Babylon and told them what the LORD GOD had to say about those false prophets. False hope discourages. GOD wanted HIS chosen to know the truth. It would be 70 years before they would be free to return to Judah and in the mean time they should make the best of their situation. The Prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah spoke truth as revealed by GOD.   

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Jeremiah 29:8-9:

8 For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

The Prophet Jeremiah revealed GOD’S Word. There were false prophets telling the exiles that GOD would deliver them soon. GOD wanted HIS chosen to know that they were going to be in exile for an extended period of time. HE wanted them to plan accordingly by building houses, have children and function as a normal family and community. Why? Jeremiah tells them in our next scripture.

Let’s read Jeremiah 29:10-14: (The Promise of GOD)

10 For this is what the Lord says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration —“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.”

The Prophet Jeremiah spoke GOD’S word of warning to the Israelites before Babylon captured them and exiled them to Babylon. This gave him credibility with his fellow countrymen when it happened.

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. The Israelites refused to heed the message of GOD and repent. His ministry was from 627 B.C. to 586 B.C.

The message from GOD to the Jews was that their time in Babylon would not be short. They should settle down and establish a family life and community in Babylon because they were going to be there for 70 years. GOD wanted to give them the right kind of hope and to let them know that HE was in control and HE would take care of them in exile. After all, HE had a plan for them.

GOD had plans for them and would watch over them. HE made it clear that HE had not abandoned them. HIS desire was for them to build an active relationship with HIM. HE made them a promise. If they returned to HIM, HE would restore them Spiritually, materially and return them to Jerusalem. They had to do their part and HE would do HIS part because HE had a plan for them.

In trying to calculate the 70 years, Bible scholars offer several possibilities:

-         Some say it refers to the time period from 606 to 536 B.C., which is 70 years. This time span is based upon the first deportation to Babylon to the first arrival back to Jerusalem.

-         Another time span is from 586 B.C. the recorded date for the fall of Judah and deportation of the Jews and the destruction of the temple, to the rebuilding of the temple in 516 B.C.

-         Another concept is that 70 years refers to a lifetime.

-         GOD wanted them to know they would be in Babylon for an extended period, so they should settle in.

GOD revealed to them, that HE had NOT abandoned them but HE had disciplined them. HE made it clear that when they chose to seek HIM, they would find HIM. The same is true today. When we seek HIM, we will find HIM through faith in CHRIST. GOD is love and HE cares for HIS children. Never, ever forget that.

So the Jews are in exile in Babylonia. The exiled Jews cannot muster up an army strong enough to overpower the Babylonians but GOD can. Let’s see GOD at work to free HIS chosen.

Let’s read Ezra 1:1-5: (The Return of GOD’S People)

The Decree of Cyrus

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: 2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.” Return from Exile 5 So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites —everyone God had motivated —prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord ’s house in Jerusalem.

The scribe Ezra taught Jewish law to the exiles. Ezra was not a prophet but he knew the reason for the fall of his countrymen was that they had abandoned the scriptures, which led to unrepentant sin.

GOD had a dynamic duo, Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah had engineering, organizational and statesman skills. GOD called him to rebuild the walls, gates and to become governor. Ezra knew the scriptures and GOD called him to teach the Jews about the scriptures and encourage them to study GOD’S Word and build a relationship with GOD.

The Assyrians had a philosophy of blending their captives into the landscape of Assyria. Dispersing captives was a way to keep them from uniting and rising to be a threat to them. Thus, the captives of the Northern Kingdom never returned to try to rebuild Israel, whereas, the Babylonian captives were allowed to stay together as families and function. GOD gave the Jews in Babylonian 70 years to multiply and have an opportunity to refocus on GOD and HIS Word. In the meantime, GOD raised up the Persians, who defeated the Babylonians. King Cyrus of Persia had a different mind-set regarding those who had been relocated from their native land.

It is exciting to see the hand of GOD at work in the lives of HIS chosen. HE still works that way today. Christians are to stay focused upon HIM and HIS Word. Compromise will lead Christians away from GOD and we see the result in the scriptures we have studied so far, it leads to sin.

When King Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. there were three returns to Jerusalem:

-         536 B.C. – Zerubbabel, Joshua the Priest and 50,000 of the exiles.

-         458 B.C. – Ezra and 1,800 of the exiles.

-         445 B.C. – Nehemiah and an unknown number of the exiles.

Ezra led a contingent back to Jerusalem 80 years later in 458 B.C. The Prophet Jeremiah was the messenger of GOD in the years leading up to the downfall of Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were called by GOD to minister during the time of restoration.

GOD still calls HIS chosen to obediently serve HIM. When HE calls we have a choice to accept or reject it.

At one time, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were one book. There is a dispute over who came to Jerusalem first, Ezra or Nehemiah. The important matter is that both men were called by GOD to serve an important purpose in restoring the Jews back to Jerusalem and Judah. The walls needed to be restored and the gates rebuilt for protection as the physical structures were rebuilt. But equally important was for Jews to rebuild their relationship with GOD and that was Ezra’s role, which leads into our next scripture.

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:1-6: (The Response of GOD’S People)

1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “ • Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Notice, it was the people who gathered at a certain water gate and asked Ezra, the scribe, to bring the book of the Law of Moses.

It is interesting that GOD had revealed, through the Prophet Amos, that a new kind of famine would come to the land before the fall of the Northern Kingdom. Let’s read Amos 8:11:

11 Hear this! The days are coming— this is the declaration of the Lord God — when I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

When we neglect GOD’S Word we starve Spiritually. Wake up America, is a famine coming our way? We either take a stand or we will lose our freedom to read in public, study and apply GOD’S Word. It happened to Israel and Judah and it can happen to us.

The assembly of people was of one accord. They were hungry and eager to hear the Word of GOD. They did not have the scripture in every house. They wanted their children, of suitable age, to not only hear the Word of GOD but to understand it. They were hungry. We can go to church and Bible studies to check off the fact that we have attended but the most important thing is for us to comprehend, understand and apply what we are hearing and studying.  

The first day of the seventh month likely corresponded to our September-October time period. It could have been a festive occasion. They assembled outside. There was a type of dais in the square and Ezra faced the square in front of the water gate. He stood high on a wooden platform so all the people could hear him as he read the scripture.

He was flanked on each side by Levites. It is interesting counting Ezra and to his right there were 6 named Levites for a total of 7, including him and to his left, not counting Ezra, were 7 named Levites. That is all I know about these Levites. The number seven, to the Jews, represents a complete number. This was a serious, holy and life changing occasion and the people needed to be complete in their worship of the true GOD of Israel. It, to me, meant they were serious about their relationship with GOD.

Bible scholars have speculated that the people had been speaking Aramaic and the scripture had been written in Hebrew. The objective was for the people and their families to understand and comprehend what was read. Bible scholars believe that the Levites standing with Ezra went out into the congregation to help those who needed help translating what was being read in Hebrew so they could understand.  

The people listened attentively and were engaged in the worship of GOD, as recorded by their actions. They confirmed GOD’S Word and their understanding of what they were hearing by voicing a hardy AMEN, AMEN (So be it).

When a person is hungry for GOD’S Word he/she cannot get enough. Ezra read for six hours from daybreak to noon. Yet, we have to get a sermon or lesson done in 30-45 minutes. Are we hungry for GOD’S Word?

The people wanted Ezra to read the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses contained the delivery of the Israelites from Egypt and GOD manifesting Himself to them. They agreed to be HIS chosen people and agreed to the covenant HE made with their forefathers.

When we consider the delivery of the Israelites from Egypt, it is a graphic example of our delivery or salvation from sin and death through our faith in CHRIST. The Israelites needed to be reminded of what GOD had done for their forefathers. They needed to be reminded that GOD is real and even they could look back over their history and see the hand of GOD working for their good. They needed to renew their relationship with GOD.  Even today, when we, as Christians, have been out of fellowship with GOD, we need to go back to our salvation experience and remember how HE has delivered us and guided us along the journey of our lives. GOD never moves from us or abandons HIS children. Our part is to confess our sins, repent and come back to HIM. HIS part is to forgive, cleanse and restore.

Have you received CHRIST as your Savior? If not, ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your heart. Blessings!!!