Ezra & Nehemiah
A Hope of Glory Study
Lesson 9
November 18, 2021 • Meg Rice
It would be lovely to say that after the glory of the rededication of Jerusalem, they all lived happily ever after. Sadly, that was not the case. It seems that Nehemiah left for a period to return to Susa and his duties there. Chapter 13 is what he found when he finally returned to Jerusalem.
Lesson 8
November 11, 2021 • Meg Rice
We are coming to the end of Nehemiah. The city of Jerusalem that was deserted and a ghost town for 70 years was reestablished, and the Temple was rebuilt. This is a picture of our being brought back to a new relationship with Jesus Christ, the reigniting of our faith. Time passed for the ancient Hebrews, and they failed to put up the defensive wall to secure their sacred city. Enter Nehemiah who by God’s sovereignty and his faithfulness rebuilt the walls to fortify the city of God. This represents our putting up defenses to combat those worldly attitudes and stumbling blocks. These attitudes can keep us from God’s best in our lives. Now the wall is complete but there is a problem.
Lesson 7
November 4, 2021 • Meg Rice
The Hebrews of the restored Jerusalem had just completed celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles where they commemorated God’s provision of freeing them from slavery in Egypt and providing for them in their wilderness journey. They remembered and praised God and lived in community. This can equate to our being freed from the slavery of sin and God providing for us when we wandered from Him. During this time, the people were soaked in the Word of God. Chapter 9 marks the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.
Lesson 6
October 28, 2021 • Meg Rice
Nehemiah had a calling on his life which was to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. He accomplished that goal even through intense persecution. Remember, the walls in our lives represent defenses against worldly pressures that can compromise our faith walk. With strategic walls in place, we are able to grow in our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Chapter 7 is the longest chapter in Nehemiah. It seems full of names that are unpronounceable, but if you look closely there are nuggets of wisdom.
Lesson 5
October 21, 2021 • Meg Rice
Nehemiah and his group of faithful followers are on the road to achieving their goal to surround Jerusalem with a defensive wall, but when things seem to be going well, Satan rears his ugly head in the guise of Sanballat and Tobiah. Sanballat was a pagan from Samaria, and Tobiah was a marginalized Jew from the descendants of Lot.
Lesson 4
October 14, 2021 • Meg Rice
It is apparent to me how God strategically placed Nehemiah so that His kingdom work could be accomplished. We each have a calling on our lives for kingdom work. As you read through Nehemiah 3 notice how everyone from nobles and high priests to common everyday folk all work in unity to accomplish the task. Each person was strategically placed to repair the wall and restore protection to the city. The pattern of the repairs was from gate to gate in the ancient city. Each of these gates symbolize a reality of our Christian walk.
Lesson 3
October 7, 2021 • Meg Rice
In the last lesson, we left Nehemiah in Susa (Persia) serving as the cup bearer to King Artaxerxes. This role was one of complete trust since he tested the wine to make sure it was not poison before the king drank it. Nehemiah was uniquely positioned to accomplish powerful work for God’s people and his holy city of Jerusalem.
Lesson 2
September 30, 2021 • Meg Rice
The first wave of Jews had returned under Cyrus, King of Persia. He appointed Zerubbabel to lead his people back to the Promised Land. They were successful in building the Temple, but it lacked the splendor of the first temple built by King Solomon. However, the people of God were back in Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside. Over time, the Jews lapsed back into the ways of the world, intermarrying pagan women, and not continuing with the mission of reestablishing Jerusalem. Ezra led one revival, but the people seemed to be unable to keep the covenant with God that they had agreed upon.
Lesson 1
September 23, 2021 • Meg Rice
The book of Ezra is a historical account of the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon which had taken place 70 years prior to the events in this book. It can also be viewed as a lesson in how God moves to restore His people who have fallen away. If you read through the accounts of 1 and 2 Chronicles, you see a pattern emerging in the history of the Jewish people. The Jews were settled in the Promised Land but over time would become complacent and turn to idolatry and other pagan practices while forgetting the God of Abraham. Then hardships would happen, and they would plead to God for restoration. God would restore them because of his mercy and promises to Abraham. Then again, the Jews would become complacent. This yoyo syndrome came to an end with the conquering of the Hebrews by the Assyrians and then by the Babylonians.