Chapter 21 of The Story February 22, 2015

Rebuilding the Walls

Ezra 7; Nehemiah 1-8; Malachi 1-4

Even after God’s people had returned to their homeland, Jerusalem was still in disrepair. God used Ezra and Nehemiah to focus the people on the work and the Word.

After seventy years in captivity, God begins to restore His people to their homeland. This process happened in three segments.

1. The first group was made up of about 50,000 people that returned around 538 BC. This group was led by Zerubbabel and their first objective was to rebuild the altar and the Temple of God. This Temple was completed in 516 BC. This group was encouraged and challenged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.
2. The second group went back to Jerusalem in 458 BC with Ezra as their leader. Ezra’s main task was to turn people’s hearts back to God. After all they had been through you would think that Israel would be closely following God. But this was not the case.
3. The third group was led by Nehemiah in 445 BC and their goal was to rebuild the walls of the city. It is during this time that the prophet Malachi speaks bringing a close to God’s revelation until we hear from John the Baptist.

Chapter 21


Key Question

How can we prepare for and carry out the tasks God gives us to help others?

Ezra Prepares: Pages 291–294

Back in the Garden of Eden, Satan tricked Eve into thinking God didn’t have her best interests in mind when He forbade eating fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Though that disobedience brought death to mankind, God promised Eve a seed—an offspring—who would one day crush the serpent’s head. We traced that seed through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. We saw a nation built, divided, and fallen. We saw Jacob’s descendants restored to the land, but not to self-rule.

Each time God’s people failed to show God’s righteousness on earth and the serpent appeared to be winning, God revealed a bit more about the promised seed and told His people not to give up hope.

Our story today opens nearly 60 years after Zerubbabel led 43,000 exiles carrying temple treasures, gold and silver back to Judah to rebuild the temple, and 15 years after Esther saved the Jews. The majority of the displaced Jews did not return, having settled well in their new communities.

As at all times in history, some people had hearts fully set on God, and some didn’t. God sent three people with very different gifts to help and strengthen those in the Persian province of Judah who wanted to know Him. The first was Ezra, who had been serving the king in Babylon.

1. (a) What was Ezra (Ezra 7:6)? He was also a priest. (b) Why had the king given Ezra everything for which he asked? (c) Describe a time someone who was well-versed in the Bible helped you to understand something about God. What difference did that make in your life?

2. (a) How had Ezra developed his teaching gift (Ezra 7:10)? (b) How are you developing the gifts God has given you?

Ezra asked the king to allow him to go to Judah and teach the people how to live according to God’s laws. The king agreed and gave Ezra a letter granting authority, people, and supplies to accomplish his task.

3. For what did Ezra praise the Lord (Ezra 7:27)? (b) Now that the king had given him what he needed, how did Ezra prepare for the task ahead of him (7:28)? (c) Describe a time God called you to do something that required courage. (d) What tasks do you have before you today that require courage?

Ezra brought 1,500 men and their families with him to Jerusalem, along with a huge amount of gold and silver donated by the king and others. There he soon discovered the city’s leaders had been unfaithful to God. Ezra mourned, fasted, and prayed over the situation. He led the people into confessing sins and repenting. Then he taught them about God, His laws about loving God and loving people, and God’s purpose for the descendants of Abraham.

Nehemiah Prepares: Pages 294–296

Ezra ministered to the people’s spiritual needs, but they had other needs too. In particular, Jerusalem’s walls were broken down, and in those days, a city needed walls to protect its inhabitants from raiders and other enemies. For these physical needs, God called another gifted leader: Nehemiah.

4. (a) What did Nehemiah do when he heard about the trouble in which Jerusalem’s inhabitants were (Nehemiah 1:4, 6b)? (b) These were the same actions Ezra took when he discovered the problems in Judah and he wanted to know what God would have him do; why do you think this was their first response when encountering a major problem? (c) What can we learn from this?

Nehemiah’s heart ached for his people. He wanted to help. But he was the king’s trusted cupbearer and couldn’t take a leave of absence without permission. He decided to present a plan to the king.

5. (a) What did Nehemiah pray before talking to the king? (b) How might the king’s response provide direction as to what God wanted him to do? (c) Briefly describe a time God gave you direction through the response of someone who had the authority to advance something or stop it.

The king granted Nehemiah’s request, made him governor of Judah, and gave him everything he needed.

Nehemiah Builds: Pages 296–299

The Jews’ enemies were angry that Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall. They wanted them unprotected so they could attack at will.

6. (a) How did they try to stop the work (Nehemiah 4:1–3)? (b) The New Testament tells us we’re in a struggle against the devil and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. What kind of “protective walls” are you trying to build for yourself, your family, and your areas of ministry? (c) Why don’t your spiritual enemies want you to succeed? (d) Describe any discouraging thoughts you have been encountering as you try to build these walls. How are they similar to Nehemiah’s enemies’ taunts? Might your discouraging thoughts be coming from a spiritual enemy who wants to stop you from your work?

Nehemiah prayed for God to turn the insults back on the insulters, and got back to work. He didn’t let the mocking stop him.

When the wall was halfway up, new problems arose.

7. (a) How did the enemies respond to the workers’ progress (Nehemiah 4:7–8)? (b) How did Nehemiah respond back (4:9)? (c) What other problems did the workers face (4:10–12)? (d) Briefly describe any similar challenges you’re facing in your spiritual “wall building.”

8. (a) How did Nehemiah respond to his problems (Nehemiah 4:13–14)? (b) How can you respond like Nehemiah in your spiritual battles?

In all, the Jews’ enemies tried to stop the work by using mockery, distractions, threats, intimidation, false accusations, and temptations to compromise. But Nehemiah stayed focused and helped the workers in every way he could. They completed the wall in just 52 days.

9. (a) Why were the Jews able to succeed (Nehemiah 6:16)? (b) Why will you be able to succeed in the things God calls you to do?

Ezra Teaches: Pages 299–301

Nehemiah completed the wall on October 2, 455 BC. On October 8, Ezra climbed on top a high wooden platform and read God’s word to the people assembled around him.

10. (a) Ezra read from dawn to noon. What did the people do (Nehemiah 8:3)? (b) When Ezra opened the book of the Law and praised God, how did the people respond (8:6)? (c) What did the Levites with Ezra do (8:8)? (d) What can we learn from this?

11. (a) As the people listened to the words, what did they begin doing (Nehemiah 8:9)? (b) What might have been some of the reasons for their tears? (c) Why did Nehemiah tell them not to grieve that day (8:10)? (d) What did he mean by, “The joy of the Lord is your strength”? (e) What did the people then do (8:12)? (f) How can you joyfully celebrate something you’ve learned from God’s word recently?

Malachi Exhorts: Pages 301–304

As always, not everyone had hearts after God. Eliashib the priest maintained ties with the Jews’ enemies. When Nehemiah returned to his cupbearer job, Eliashib misused the temple and quit giving the Levites their pay. Some Jews ignored the laws Ezra taught them about sacrifices. People stopped keeping the Sabbath holy. Divorce became common, and some married non-Israelite worshippers of other gods.

God sent the people another prophet: Malachi.

12. (a) Malachi said those who offered defiled animals as sacrifices dishonored God (Malachi 1:6–7), and those who refused to bring the required tithes robbed God (3:6–10). What do those actions tell us about the relationship the people doing these things had with God? (b) What did God hear the people saying about Him (Malachi 3:14–15)? (c) What does that tell us about their reason for serving God? (d) What is the difference between serving God only because we think He’ll prosper us on earth, and serving Him because we recognize He is the Almighty Creator who loves us?

Those who feared the Lord responded well to Malachi’s message, and God promised to remember them. Malachi told the people about a future Day of the Lord.

13. (a) What did God say about those who feared Him (Malachi 3:17)? (b) On that coming day, what will everyone see (3:18)?

14. (a) What will happen to the arrogant and evildoers (4:1)? (b) What will happen to those who revere God’s name (4:2)?

15. (a) Whom do you most relate to: Ezra, Nehemiah, or Malachi? Why? (b) How can you prepare for and carry out the tasks God gives you to help others?

Yes, God promised Eve a serpent crusher. Next week we meet Him.

YOU READ CHAPTER 21

Journal your answers to these questions as you read through the chapter this week. You may wish to read one day and journal the next, or spread the questions over the whole week.

1. Ezra “devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (p. 292). How has your own devotion to the study of God’s word changed since the beginning of The Story? What have been aha moments along the way?

2. Why did Nehemiah and Zerubbabel respond differently to opposition? How are you most likely to respond when you face opposition?

3. Why would Tobiah and Sanballat have been so threatened by the return of the Jews? The Jews had nearly nothing and returned to a land left devastated. What kind of character and faith would these returning Jews need to make the journey and stand against the intimidation of those like Tobiah and Sanballat?

4. Compare the “first exodus,” Exodus 11:1-3 and 12:35-36, with this second exodus, when God brought Israel back to the promised land. How can you tell that this was clearly God’s response to Ezra’s prayer?

5. Nehemiah demonstrates that faith is a partnership with God when he prayed for God’s protection and also posted guards. What similar experiences do you have, depending on God’s work and also working yourself?

6. Years after the walls had been rebuilt, the prophet Malachi was sent to correct the priests and the people (p. 302). What were they doing that dishonored God? Why does it matter whether we honor or dishonor God?


Our lesson on Sunday:

God’s Remodeling Project

After seventy years in captivity, God begins to restore His people to their homeland. This process happened in three segments.

1. The first group was made up of about 50,000 people that returned around 538 BC. This group was led by Zerubbabel and their first objective was to rebuild the altar and the Temple of God. This Temple was completed in 516 BC. This group was encouraged and challenged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

2. The second group went back to Jerusalem in 458 BC with Ezra as their leader. Ezra’s main task was to turn people’s hearts back to God. After all they had been through you would think that Israel would be closely following God. But this was not the case.

3.  The third group was led by Nehemiah in 445 BC and their goal was to rebuild the walls of the city. It is during this time that the prophet Malachi speaks bringing a close to God’s revelation until we hear from John the Baptist.

Even after God’s people had returned to their homeland, Jerusalem was still in disrepair. 

What have you learned about God’s Story up to this point? What is God’s message throughout the Old Testament?

In an incredible way, this week God moves through the heart of a foreign king to help His people rebuild Jerusalem.  If God could move through a foreign king, how much more should He be able to move through us?

Are you aware of God moving in and around your life?  How can you become more aware of what God is doing?

 (See Jeremiah 18:1-4 and Romans 12:1-2)

18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Why is a worldly Christian the worst combination of two things? (Rev. 3:15-17) 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Why does Jesus promise to spit this sort of person out of His mouth?

After working through opposition, the task of rebuilding the walls was finally completed.  The people had restored the dwelling place of God, and the city was a safe place to live once again.  However, there was one thing still in disrepair – the heart of the people. 

Which is easier for you to repair: issues on the outside or issues on the inside?

(Matthew 9:4-8; 23:25-28)

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Is it easier to learn to say “thank you” or to develop an attitude of gratitude?  Can you more easily develop a habit of driving the speed limit or have a mindset change that you are under authority?

God’s people took care of the Temple and the walls, but their hearts were still in bad shape.  When it comes to the internal issues of the heart, we must learn that we are dependent on God’s help. (Psalm 51:7-12; Ezekiel 36:24-27)

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins     and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

How does God work in our hearts?

One way is through the Bible 

(Psalm 119:9-16; 33-40). 

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. 39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.

Through consistent time in the Word, God can change us from the inside out.

While there will always be areas of life that are in need of repair, the greatest work God desires to do is in your heart.  Here is where God is working to make you more and more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

Malachi’s final words of encouragement are three things that need repairing on the inside:

A.   Worship. You’re bringing leftovers, blind and diseased animals for sacrifice. Do I strike you as the kind of God with whom that might be acceptable? Instead of a fragrant aroma of sacrifice, the Lord says, “Do not light useless fires on My altar.” In other words, stop wasting My time.

Why must a true understanding of God precede our worship of Him? When people believe they are worshiping God, but they have no true knowledge of Him, what are they worshiping?

B.    Marriage. This is no shock at all, since the husband/wife relationship is the analogy that God has used all along with Israel. If you are unfaithful or disrespectful of your wife, you are making a mockery of what I’ve called for in MY relationship with YOU. If you diss your wife, you diss Me.

Why does God care so much about whom we marry?

1 Peter 3:7

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.

C.    Giving. Talked about this a couple of weeks ago. Bring your whole tithe, not just the table scraps, and the loose change under the seat cushion of the couch.

What do all of these have in common? Not giving your best.

What do you think it means to give “your best” to God? What is your best? What gets in the way of your giving your best to God?  

     Put another way, are you phoning it in to God? To your wife? Is your faith some halfway, half-hearted attempt to maintain a pretense of spirituality? If so, let us heed God’s last words to His people before 400 years of silence: Give your best.

Let there be two lasting points we take from the Old Testament:

1.     Repent of any half-hearted attempt to follow God.

2.     Give God your best.

 

 
 
 

PRAYER

God, thank You for always calling me back to Your Word for guidance and direction. Thank You that Your Word is “a lamp for my feet, a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Lord, help me to draw near to You and Your Word in faithful obedience through prayer and my everyday actions.


See you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan