Ezra 7 & 8 - Going home with hope
CHAPTER 7
1-10 Ezra returns to Jerusalem with further exiles
11-26 God grants them favour in the eyes of the king
27-28 Ezra thanks the Lord for his blessings
Consider verses 1-10
1. What do we learn about Ezra? His abilities as a scribe? His attitude towards the law? His character?
2. Why do you think the king responded in the way he did?
3. What do we learn about God’s favour and providence?
4. What do you think moved these exiles to go to Jerusalem?
In verse 6 Ezra is described as a teacher (or scribe in some translations).
5. What particular challenges face those who teach from the Bible?
(2 Tim 2.15; Titus 2; 7-8; James 3.1-2; 1 Peter 4.10)
The first group of exiles returned in the first year of King Cyrus (538BC). Ezra returned some 80 years later in 458BC under King Artaxerxes. Most Jews, although dispersed throughout the Persian Empire, still had a love for Jerusalem and the temple, even though they had never been there. To return would have meant a great upheaval – leave behind jobs, homes, friends, possessions and livelihood.
Ezra was descended from a long line of priests and could trace his lineage back to Aaron. Perhaps it was important at this time for him to show his qualifications and authority to lead.
As a teacher/SCRIBE (6) he was seen as an expert on the law, and at a time when there were no printing machines a major task was to copy the law letter by letter, word by word, book by book. People went to the scribes for answers about the law and its application. Ezra had been given a special gift from God.
Ezra took the initiative in going to the king for help – showing his boldness and trust in God. And the king was favourable because he saw God’s hand was upon the Jews – a unifying theme throughout the whole book.
6. Do you think God has a plan for the nations of the world? That God can use non-believers to accomplish his plans? That ultimately God is in control, not world leaders?
The journey (some 1,000 miles) took four months and would not have been easy. They were going to an unknown place because they felt God had called them. Even so four months was a relatively short time for such a journey because … (8-9). It does seem that because Ezra was faithful then God blessed the people.
7. Do you think that a good leader can have a profound impact on others? What makes a “good” Christian leader?
(10 – Ezra set his heart to study God’s word, and to live it out in his life) This should be so of all Christians – to study the Scriptures and to put its teaching into practice. SOS – Study; Obey; Spread
Consider verses 11-26
8. How did the King deal with Ezra, and why was he so favourable?
9. Why would the king give so generously?
10. How were the temple workers treated?
11. What is the significance that Ezra was given authority to punish those who disobeyed God’s law?
Ezra clearly had a good reputation even in the secular world (11). And we see a heathen king going above and beyond his duty to support the Jews:
Any Jews who wanted to return could do so. Impact of this? Many had important roles in Persian life. One thing to allow the old and poor to return, but the skilled and wealthy …
· Ezra was given special authority to act as the king’s representative (14)
· Able to take not only their working skills but their buying power.
· Given great treasure and basically told to use it as they wished. Clearly the king trusted that Ezra would use it for good.
· Also given the equivalent of “vouchers” to be used at the various Empire storehouses along the way.
· Temple workers excluded from paying taxes
Ezra given authority to punish – even to put to death, something very rare (even in Jesus’ time the Jews, although some flexibility in handling their own affairs, could not execute anyone).
Consider verses 27-28
12. How does Ezra respond to the king’s amazing generosity and kindness?
Ezra gave all the praise and glory and credit to God. He saw God’s hand at work in the king’s life; he acknowledged God’s grace and mercy towards his people.
13. Are we really thankful for all God’s blessings in a world where so many have so little? (Psalm 107.1).
“If God wants us to accomplish something, He will give us all the means and resources we need to do it.”
14. Do you agree? Examples from your own life?
DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THIS CHAPTER HAS TAKEN, YOU MAY LIKE TO STOP HERE AND END THE SESSION WITH A TIME OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD – PERHAPS IN PRAYER, IN TESTISMONY AND IN SONG.
If you are carrying on ….
CHAPTER 8
1-14 A list of those who travelled with Ezra
15-20 Ezra requests the helps of some Levites
21-23 The people fast and seek God’s protection
24-30 Accountability for the treasures
31-32 God gives the people a safe journey
33-36 Safe arrival, and valuables counted and checked
Consider verses 1-14
1. What can we learn from the number of people who returned?
1,496 men plus those directly named. With women and children some 5,000+ but much smaller than in chapter 1. This probably means many Jews living in the Persian Empire were very settled in the new life, so this highlights the faith and obedience of this small group even more.
Consider verses 15-20
2. Why set up camp for three days?
3. What was the “problem” and how did Ezra deal with it?
Much to do before leaving – check provisions, allocate duties, final instructions, making sure everyone had arrived (came from far and wide throughout the Empire).
No Levites so Ezra took the initiative – qualities of a true leader to take responsibility. He had to encourage and motivate them and eventually 38 Levites and 220 temple servants came along. We have a responsibility to encourage and spur on one another (Hb 10.24-25). LEVITES were the priests and Ezra saw them as essential as the main purpose of going to Jerusalem was for religious services to take place.
Consider verses 21-23
4. What might we learn from what happened before the group set out?
5. Why did Ezra not ask the king for help? Any principles for us to take on board?
Ezra did not put his trust in numbers but in God. The journey would be difficult with many dangers – and enemies – along the way. Fasting was a way of coming humbly before God, showing their total dependence on him. Declaring a fast was more effective than just saying, “Depend on God”. In this case actions spoke louder than words. It would have seemed hypocritical to say trust in God and then ask the king for help – or would it? God was gracious and protected his people.
Fasting – for spiritual reasons – is not something many Christians in our land do today.
6. Do you think fasting has a role to play?
Consider verses 24-30
7. Why 12 men for this task?
8. Was there a lack of trust?
9. Can we learn anything here about accountability?
Huge amount of treasure involved, some 25 tons of silver and 4 ton of gold – how did they transport it? This shows the richness of the Persian Empire and the generosity of the king. There would have been a temptation to “take just a little” so it was important that the finances were properly controlled. It also meant that there could not be any false accusations since everything was transparent – Ezra was as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove, leaving no opportunity for Satan to derail the mission.
Consider for a moment the importance of ACCOUNTABILITY in the life of our church.
Consider verses 31-32
10. Any lessons to learn? If God is with us, have we anything to fear?
(Deut 31.8; Isaiah 41.10)
Consider verses 33-36
11. Made it – and now what?
Finances were fully accounted for. Everything transparent, honest and above board. And they offered sacrifices to God (very much like the first group) for their safe arrival. They asked God for protection – and then they thanked God for protecting them.
12. Do we do this?
Then Ezra showed his credentials to those who needed to know why he was there.
IF YOU HAVE MANAGED BOTH CHAPTERS, WELL DONE!
PERHAPS EACH PERSON COULD NAME JUST ONE LESSON THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY WITH THEM – AND TURN THIS INTO A TIME OF PRAYER AND COMMITMENT