Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …

Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah Ezra Teaches The LawNehemiah Builds The Walls

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  The enemies of Judah & Benjamin ask to help rebuild the temple vv. 1-2  They were “hold-overs” from prior days of Assyrian rule 2 Chron 17:24-41  They were not totally devoted to Jehovah, but were polytheists who worshiped God only as the god of Judea

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  The remnant refused on 2 points v. 3 Ê They had nothing in common…they were not united in serving God Ë Only the remnant had official permission from Cyrus to rebuild the temple  Any lessons to learn re: fellowship? 2 Cor 6: Jn 1:1-3 Eph 5:8-11

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah GOD BelieverUnbeliever GOD BelieverUnbeliever What do we share with those who are not in fellowship with God? If we fellowship those God cannot, where does that put us with God?

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  After being rejected, remnant enemies “discouraged” & “frightened” the Jews from building the temple vv. 4-5  This opposition took the form of “hired counselors” to frustrate the remnant  This took place in the reigns of both Cyrus and Darius I

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  Not limited to days of Cyrus & Darius I  It even continued into the reigns of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I ) & Artaxerxes I  Some say “Ahasuerus” & “Artaxerxes I ” in vv. 6-7 refer to Cambyses and the “Pseudo-Smerdis”

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  It is now almost universally accepted that Ahasuerus & Xerxes I are the same  More than just rebuilding the temple is referenced in v. 12  Therefore, it cannot be just be during the days of Cambyses

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  Their efforts focused on writing letters of criticism to the king Another illustration at how far God’s enemies will go to stop His work from being done Eph 2:2 Acts 17: Cor 2:11 11:13-15

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  The letter to Artaxerxes I vv  Accusation of rebuilding a “rebellious and evil city” v. 12  If the remnant continued, Jerusalem would eventually stop paying tribute & taxes, damaging the king’s revenues v. 13

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  The letter to Artaxerxes I vv  To bolster their own credibility and their letter’s acceptance, these enemies claimed they only served the king…had his best interests at heart vv

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  The letter to Artaxerxes I vv  It could be argued some elements of this letter were true  Jerusalem did have a past of “rebellion” 2 Chron 36:11-13  The city had been “laid waste” v. 15

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  The reply from Artaxerxes I vv  A search was done as had been suggested  He did find evidence of “rebellion” v. 19  All rebuilding activity was to stop until further authorization from him vv

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  The enemies took the king’s reply to the remnant “in haste” and stopped the rebuilding work “by force of arms” v. 23

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  A “summary of opposition” vv  What could the remnant have done?  Provide authorization from Cyrus’ decree that had been issued 80+ years earlier? 2 Chron 36:22-23

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  Ezra resumes discussing the present opposition in days of Darius I v. 24  The remnant allowed themselves to be discouraged too easily  It produced an indifference to God’s work and selfishness re: their own interests

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  The remnant allowed themselves to be discouraged too easily  Some commentators have suggested the smallness of the re-built temple made it easier for the remnant to quit and become discouraged 3:12

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah The Work Is Stopped Ezra 4  The fact that God sent 2 prophets (Haggai & Zechariah) to rebuke their failure to build and exhort them to get busy emphasizes His disappointment with their quitting

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah …