Ezra

Write one paragraph explaining the historical background and purpose of the prophet.

      Ezra is thought to have wrote the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. Chapter 7 verses 1-6 give us a little bit of background for Ezra. His father was Seraiah and his ancestor was Aaron. He was a scribe and new the Law of Moses well. He was highly favored by God and was granted the things he asked of King Darius. The original readers had seen the temple rebuilt and the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt. They found themselves back in the land of their ancestors after many of them had been in exile to Babylon. They would have been lacking in confidence as a people and probably didn't know all that had happened to bring them where they now were. The people of Israel were highly favored by God and the phrase “the gracious hand of our/his God” is used three times in 10 chapters. 9:8-15 sums up the book well. Ezra wrote it to show how God had rescued them though they sinned against him over and over. God rebuilt their temple with the financial backing of Persia and now they were in sin again and Ezra was addressing this to the original hearers. This book shows the care that Ezra had in establishing a holy nation once again. Free from sin and free from the influence of the pagan nations around them.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      Overall this book shows God's incredible love for his people. Though they sinned against him so many times he still redeemed, he still met them and forgave them of sin. God gave them favor with King Darius and they were given everything they needed to build to temple. We can see God's longing to be worshiped as he leads the people to build the temple first before anything else. In 8:22 Ezra says, “Our God's hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” God longs to be worshiped by his people so that they would see him for he truly is. As the one who has continually pursued them and loved them and brought them back and sought relationship with. God is their restorer, the one who always gives them a way out of their trouble and who is just in all that he does (9:8-15).

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      A see God's redemptive plan in 2:64. It's not a moving passage of scripture, but it gives the number of people who returned to Judah. Over and over God promised that his people would return to their land. He promised that after 70 years in exile they would be able to return to their land. This is it, the number of people who went back to Judah. The promises is fulfilled and they 42,360 people got to be the first people to be the completion of that prophecy. The first thing they did was focus on the temple. At least until this point all is going well, but when things get sticky again God sends Ezra to again, bring the people back to righteousness. Ezra knows the law and upholds the law before the people and they follow his leadership. God again uses a prophet to redeem his people and the book of Ezra ends on a very encouraging note.

Personal Application

      Ezra 7:10 is a key verse in the book and also a verse that gives great application. Ezra had just got the king to give them back their land and their treasures, as well as funding for the temple. Ezra then says that he is determined to do three things. He determines to study, to obey, and to teach the law of God. Ezra's example as a prophet and teacher is an excellent one. We must first study and learn the word of God. If we can't live out the word of God and obey what it says then we have no authority to teach it. So Ezra's second thing is to obey the Law of God. This means that what he studied was not simply head knowledge, but it gripped his heart and changed him. Because he lived above reproach and had obeyed the word of the Lord in his own life he was able to teach others. His authority didn't come from his knowledge of the law, but it came from a life that obeyed the law. Ezra challenged me to study, but to live out what I am learning in the word of God and to become transformed by it. If the bible doesn't transform my life, then what authority will have to teach others in order to transform theirs. I must first be transformed and teach from that place and not from a place of just my knowledge of things. That becomes dry and boring, but it becomes life giving when I have applied the law of God to my life and live out what I am teaching.