An Introduction to Ezra

What is in store for 2024? There really is no way to answer that authoritatively other than to say, if you belong to Him, He will care for you. Apart from trusting in God’s faithfulness, there are no guarantees about what this year holds. You might have plans, but those plans might not line up with God’s plans.

Even if we can’t know what will happen this year, we should live with the confidence that God does. From the beginning of life into eternity, God is watching over us, and He is guiding us every step of the way.

David understood God’s nearness and care on a personal level when he wrote Psalm 139. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he wrote—Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it… Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Just like David pointed out God’s concern at a personal level, we also see biblical references to it at a corporate level. God loves and cares for all His people, and He cares for them as a people, not just as individuals. Ever since the beginning, God was guiding His people, guiding the nation He had raised up.

The Psalmist Asaph, in praise to God, says in Psalm 77:20—You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. And in the opening verse of Psalm 90, Moses expresses His confidence when He says—Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Throughout the history of Israel, God’s concern for His people, both individually and corporately, was something that many people questioned. When life was good, people could easily thank God for His blessings, but when challenges came, many doubted that God was being faithful to His promises. Instead of examining their own hearts, it was much easier to blame God for what was happening.

You and I face the same kind of temptation. When life gets hard, we need to be reminded about God’s promises, God’s faithfulness, and God’s instruction. We need to be encouraged in the truth and encouraged in our walk.

So, to that end, as we begin a new year, today we are beginning a new study through two books of the Bible focused on the themes of God’s goodness, God’s faithfulness, and our obedience to Him. Those books are known to us as Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah. In our Bibles, they appear as two separate books, but they were intended to be two parts of one story—like 1 and 2 Samuel, or 1 and 2 Kings. Or even Luke and Acts. So, you will hear me sometimes refer to them as the book (singular) of Ezra-Nehemiah. Both are the names of men whom God used in a special way at a special time in Israel’s history.

When I was a kid, I thought Ezra was a girl’s name; it sounded like Esther. Now I know better, but I also recognize that Ezra and Nehemiah are not very well-known figures in the Old Testament.

You are probably familiar with leaders like Moses and David. If you’ve studied the Bible more, you might know something about men like Hezekiah, Josiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. But Ezra and Nehemiah may not be as well-known. They weren’t kings; the books with their names on it aren’t very long; neither of them is mentioned in the New Testament; and they come from a period of time in Israel’s history that is lesser known to many people.

If you read the Old Testament history of Israel in chronological order, Ezra and Nehemiah would be near the end of the story. They would come alongside prophets like Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Ezra and Nehemiah’s portion of the story comes later than many people’s commitment to Bible reading. In other words, we know Genesis pretty well, but we don’t all read to the end, so the latter books are not as familiar to us.

Today, we’re not going to fully jump into the books, but what I’d like to do is give you some background and introductory information, which I hope you find helpful and also useful. We will be covering four sections of background information, and I think they’ll help prepare us for the weeks and months to come. Again, I’ve organized our time into four sections.

The first bit of information I want to give you is to simply point out that Ezra and Nehemiah are a different genre of writing than our previous studies. The last two studies we did, before the Christmas season, came from the epistles of Paul. We did all of 1 Thessalonians, and then we did a couple chapters out of 1 Timothy. Ezra and Nehemiah are different kinds of books. They’re not personal letters characterized by explicit theology and doctrine and instruction for a church.

Ezra and Nehemiah are stories. They are primarily narratives. They have theology and doctrine in them, but they come to us in a different format. And for some of you, it might be a format you prefer. Stories might be more engaging to some of you than a letter.

A second bit of background information is also another difference to be aware which will be obvious to many of you. Not only are looking at a different genre, we are looking at a different testament. Paul’s letters are part of the New Testament and Ezra-Nehemiah is part of the Old Testament. These are books that were written before the coming of Christ.

The word “testament” comes from a Latin word that means covenant. The Old Testament focuses on the Old Covenant between God and His people, which is mainly found in His covenant with Moses. We call that the Mosaic Covenant. The New Testament focuses on the New Covenant which Christ came to inaugurate with His blood, which is what the Lord’s Supper commemorates.

We are not bound by the Law of Moses—the Old Covenant—but we are New Covenant people. We are New Testament Christians. That’s why, unlike Old Testament Israel, we can eat shrimp and bacon, if we want. That law was fulfilled in Christ, and God declared all foods clean.

So, if we are New Testament Christians, why are we going to be studying books in the Old Testament? I’m glad you asked because I have four answers to that question. More than just addressing Ezra and Nehemiah, I want to share with you four reasons why you should care about and read the Old Testament. If these responses sound familiar to you, congratulations, because it’s been a while since I taught them, and I’m not sure if it was part of a Sunday morning sermon.

Number one, we read the Old Testament because of its essence. The essence of the story—the most significant element of the Old Testament—is that it prepares us for, and points us to, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’d like you to turn with me to the gospel of John, chapter 5. Gospel of John, chapter 5. In the second half of the chapter, Jesus mentions multiple witnesses or testimonies concerning His identity as the Son of God. He is talking here to legalistic, unbelieving Jewish leaders who want to kill Him. Notice what He says to them in John chapter 5, verses 39-40.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

What is Jesus saying? He’s effectively saying, “You’re missing it! You’re so caught up in the minutia and the details of the Bible, but you missed the whole point! You’re so worried about studying the trees that you missed the forest! The Bible points to me!” And the Bible of the Jews at that time was the Old Testament.

Now, it wasn’t just the Pharisees that missed the point of the Old Testament; even Jesus’ disciples had to be taught to read their Bible properly. Turn with me to Luke 24. Just go back to the end of the previous book. Luke 24.

At the end of Luke’s gospel, after the Resurrection of Christ, Jesus walks with two of His disciples. They are on a road leading to the city of Emmaus. As they walk, we see that they aren’t sure why Jesus died, and they doubt that He resurrected, even though they know the tomb is empty. They didn’t know it was Jesus who was talking to them. His identity was hidden.

Look at verse 25. Luke 24:25—And [Jesus] said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So, in order to understand the Messiah more, Jesus gives them a lesson on the Old Testament. Emmaus was seven miles away from Jerusalem, so they could have had a two-hour lesson walking through the story and the significance of the Old Testament. Jesus showed them how the story of Israel was preparing the people and pointing to Him.

What’s the significance of that in your own life? Well, do you want to know Christ more? Do you want to appreciate who He is and what He’s done? Then read the Old Testament. The essence of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ.

As we work our way through the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah, if I don’t help us know Christ more and marvel at what He’s done for us, I won’t be fully honoring God’s word and God’s story for us who are now on the other side of Christ. I will be shortchanging and diminishing the full impact of God’s word. Don’t let me do that. And don’t do that yourself as you read the Old Testament. Don’t ignore where it’s all heading. Don’t forget the essence of the Old Testament.

A second reason you should read the Old Testament is because of its encouragement. Its encouragement. Jump over with me to Romans 15:4. Romans 15:4. Paul is giving practical instruction here, and he quotes a passage from the Psalms and applies it to Christ. Then he instructs the church to follow in Christ’s footsteps. In Romans 15:4, Paul writes—For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Your life, like mine, is hard. You need encouragement and endurance to face whatever is happening and to live at peace with one another. Reading the stories of the Old Testament reminds us that God upholds His people in tough times.

Let’s keep reading in Romans 15, verses 5-6—May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isn’t that a beautiful picture? It’s a wonderful prayer and desire—one that we all should have. The Old Testament gives us positive examples that teach us, encourage us, and give us endurance. That’s what we see, for example in Hebrews 12. The author reminds us of Old Testament saints who lived out their hope, so that we would do the same. I hope our study in Ezra and Nehemiah encourages us in our walk.

A third reason we should read the Old Testament is because of its examples. Its essence, its encouragement, and now, its examples. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 6. This is the book right after Romans. First Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 6. Positively, the Old Testament gives us encouragement, but we also see negative examples.

Paul is urging the Corinthians to stay away from the idolatry and immorality of their culture, he reminds them about the history of Israel. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Israelites were God’s chosen people, but they were not exempt from God’s judgment. God mad His displeasure known, sometimes in very vivid ways.

So, in 1 Corinthians 10:6 Paul says: Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did, Paul goes on to talk about how God killed thousands in one day. And in verse 11, he adds—Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

All of us face the temptation of worldliness. This world values and pursues things that do not line up with the holiness of God and the mission of God. Those things pull at us. Left to ourselves, we would be conformed to the mold of this culture.

How do we avoid that? We need to have our minds transformed and renewed. And the Old Testament helps that happen. It gives us positive examples that motivate us to faithfulness, and it gives us negative examples so we can be reminded about judgment. As we go through the story of Ezra and Nehemiah, you’ll see characters that impress you, and you’ll see characters that frustrate you. Let them be examples that motivate you in holiness.

The fourth and final reason to read your Old Testament is because of its effect. For this point, go forward to 2 Timothy 3. This was Paul’s final letter, and it was written to Timothy, his son in the faith. A big part of the exhortation in this book is to stay faithful to God’s word. At the time, however, the Scriptures were not the Bible we have today. The New Testament wasn’t finished yet. What Timothy understood as the Scriptures—the written word of God—was the Old Testament.

Look at 2 Timothy 3, starting in verse14. In contrast to the wickedness of this world, here’s what Paul says to Timothy—But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

How do you get more equipped to be used by God in ministry to others, whether that be in evangelism or in discipleship? It happens by the word of God. That’s what Paul is saying. If you want to grow and mature in your faith, read the Old Testament. Its essence is Christ. Its encouragement will give you hope. Its examples will help you pursue holiness. And its effect will be an equipping for the glory of God.

Well, that was a much longer section than the first one, but my point is that even though we are going to be in the Old Testament, that doesn’t mean we are going to benefit any less from it. This is still the true and powerful word of God.

The third and fourth preparatory messages I want to give you are going to focus more specifically on Ezra and Nehemiah. So, let go ahead and turn there finally. Turn with me to the book of Ezra. If you open your Bible to the middle, you might hit one of the larger books like Psalms, Isaiah, or Jeremiah. If you see those books, go backwards. If you see the Old Testament books with a 1 or a 2 in front of the name, like 1 or 2 Samuel, 1 or 2 Kings, or 1 or 2 Chronicles, go forward and you should find Ezra and Nehemiah. They come right before Esther and Job.

The third bit of background information is historical. What are these books about. What are we going to cover? What is happening at this stage of the story? Let me do a very brief overview, so you know where we are.

Israel began as a nation under the leadership of Moses. They leave Egypt; they get God’s law, and they make their way toward the Land promised to Abraham and his descendants. Moses leads the people out of Egypt and across the desert. Then there came Joshua who led the people into the Promised Land. Once all the elders who knew Joshua died, we come to the time of the judges, which lasted about 325 years and  leads us to the period where Israel is united under one king—first Saul, then David, then Solomon. The united kingdom lasted for 120 years.

After Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms, and the nation continued to fall away from the law God had given them. God sent prophets to call the people back, but the majority didn’t listen, including the kings. So, as part of God’s judgment, the northern kingdom was destroyed. Lots of people died, and many of the survivors went off into other parts of the world. A small portion, however, fled south into Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, which survived another 150 years. But eventually, the south was destroyed by Babylon. The Temple was destroyed, the city was destroyed, and the people were scattered. Israel was no longer a nation in its own land. They were taken captive. They were exiled.

This was a devastating time for the Israelites. The faithful Israelites saw it coming, but others felt blindsided. Where was God? How could He let this happen?

Well, despite Israel’s rejection of the truth, God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that the captivity would only last 70 years. God said He would judge the Babylonians and get the Israelites back in the Land He had promised them. And that’s exactly what happened. The Persians conquered the Babylonians, and a new king came to power. This Persian king was named Cyrus, and he was now in charge of all the nations that made up his empire.

Look with me, now, at the opening verses of Ezra. Ezra 1:1 says—In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

Lord willing, we’ll cover the king’s proclamation next week, but the gist of it is that the Israelites are allowed to go back to the way things were. They can travel back to the Land, they can rebuild their homes, and most importantly, they can rebuild the city and the Temple.

This is what the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are about. The people are going back to rebuild Jerusalem. They have an incredible task ahead of them and how is that going to go for them?

It’s been about 70 years since the city was first attacked and people began to be deported. It’s been over 400 years since Solomon built the Temple. And it’s been over 850 years since Joshua led them into the Promised Land in the first place. But now they get to go back. What’s going to happen?

Just to help you understand the big picture, the people don’t go back all at once, and the work isn’t easy. Three different groups return to Jerusalem, each under the leadership of a different man. The first group returns under a guy named Zerubbabel. The second group leaves over 75 years later, and they are led by Ezra. And the third group leave about 12 years after the second group, and that leader is Nehemiah.

You don’t have to know all this today. There’s not going to be a test. But I just want to start exposing you to the big picture. And I’ll keep reminding you where we are along the way.

The story of Ezra-Nehemiah is the story of the rebuilding of Jerusalem as the people return to their Promised Land. Historically, it fills in the gap between the exile at the end of 2 Kings, and the beginning of the New Testament, when the Jews are back in Jerusalem.

More important than the book’s historical value, I want to tell you about its spiritual value. And this will be our fourth and final segment of our background information. It’s not going to be very long, but it’s so important.

The key theme in this story is God’s faithfulness. Don’t let the titles of the books fool you. Ezra and Nehemiah are not the main characters; God is the main character, and what He continues to showcase is His faithfulness to His people. He has preserved them this far, and now He wants to restore them.

Isn’t that the story of our lives? God has preserved us. He’s brought us this far, but He’s not done with us yet, is He? God has plans for us individually and corporately as a church. And as we begin a new year, or a new chapter in our lives, the question we always need to be asking is: Is my plan for my life the same as God’s plan for my life? Are my plans the same as God’s plans?

When my plans and God’s plans are not aligned, it’s not God’s plans that need to change, right? My plans need to change. That’s the lesson Israel is going to have to learn if they are going to be successful as they rebuild.

God is going to do His part. God is going to be faithful. God is going to be as loyal to His covenant in the restoration of Israel as He was in the history of Israel. The question is: Will Israel be faithful? Will the people be obedient? Have they finally learned their lesson? Or will the fulfilment of God’s promises have to wait another generation?

Like I said, we are on the other side of Christ, so we know that Israel doesn’t figure it out. They end up rejecting the Messiah. But through it all, God stays with them.

And what an important message that is for all of us. You mess up. You do stupid things. But God hasn’t left you. God is still here. God is still with you. He cares for His people individually, and He cares for His people corporately. Here’s how Jesus said it—Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

On the one hand, that should give you confidence. You can rest in the finished work of Christ to forgive you and reconcile you to the Father. One the other hand, however, it also means it’s time to get to work. Jesus is with us, not just for comfort and confidence, but also for power.

Yes, God cares for and provides for His people. Yes God is going to grow His people as well. But He works through human instruments, not apart from them.

So, as we learn about how God used amazing leaders like Zerubbabel and Ezra and Nehemiah to accomplish His purposes and bless His people, don’t just ask yourself, “Who is God going to use to minister to me?” Ask yourself, “How can God use me to minister to someone else?”

You and I are not dead leaves flowing down the river of God’s sovereignty. But we aren’t the author of the story, either. We are instruments in His hands, and He wants to use us for His glory and His purposes.

It’s time to get to work. It’s time to rebuild.