Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

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Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Ezra Teaches The Law Nehemiah Builds The Walls


The Altar & Foundation Ezra 3 The Altar Is Built vv. 1-7

It was the 7th month v. 1 Important on the Hebrew calendar

Jeshua & Zerubbabel erected the altar of burnt offering upon its “foundation” or its chosen site vv. 2-3a They had all they needed 1:7-11 2:68-69



Re-establishing the altar was significant… It had been 49-50 years since sacrifices

had been burned & offered in Jerusalem This was done first because they feared

the peoples of the land v. 3b They sought God’s favor for protection



They celebrated the Feast of Booths v. 4


The Feast Of Booths Also called “Feast Of Tabernacles” or

“Feast Of Ingathering”

Celebrated after the harvest had been gathered Lev 23:39 Deut 16:13-15

Observed for 7 days, starting on 15th day of the 7th month Lev 23:34

Jews built “tabernacles” (booths or tents) from tree branches and lived in them


The Feast Of Booths Even though it occurred after bringing in a

plentiful harvest, it was observed annually to remind Israel of how they had lived under God’s care following their redemption & during their wandering years in the wilderness Lev 23:39-43

Prosperity was to be enjoyed…but not at the expense of forgetting how they had survived in their years of adversity



They made sure their worship was proper The altar was built & sacrifices offered “…

as it is written in the law of Moses” v. 2 They observed the Feast “…as it is written”

& offered the fixed number of sacrifices “…according to the ordinance” v. 4



They made sure their worship was proper The remnant Jews were trying their best

to follow the word of God re: everything they did in worship

A noble, commendable trait to imitate !!



They also made sure other sacrifices and festivals were observed vv. 5-6a From the 1st day of the 7th month, regular

sacrifices & burnt offerings were offered Yet, the temple foundation still had not

been laid v. 6b



Preparations for temple construction v. 7 Money given to workers Food, drink, & oil given to Sidonians &

Tyrians for Lebanon cedar wood All this had been previously approved by

Cyrus



Apparently, they decided to wait until winter passed before actually beginning construction work the next year v. 8


The Altar & Foundation Ezra 3 The Foundation Is Laid vv. 8-13

In the 2nd month, overseers began their work re: the foundation vv. 8-9 7 months since the altar was built vv. 1-2

The priests were arrayed in their garments and had their trumpets vv. 10-11 It was a time for praise & thanksgiving



The remnant thought it appropriate to praise God for allowing them the opportunity to return from captivity, be His people again, and offer Him the worship prescribed in the Law



Laying the foundation was more than just arranging stones

It represented the first opportunity in approx. 50 years for the Jews to properly worship God (something they couldn’t have done in captivity)



The remnant also made efforts to worship God acceptably re: their music v. 10 According to the directions given to David

1 Chron 25 2 Chron 29:25

Application for the N.T. church today?



Once the dimensions became visible, there was a “mixed reaction” vv. 12-13 Older ones who remembered the size and

glory of Solomon’s temple wept Hag 2:3 Younger ones rejoiced at the present

“accomplishment”



Lesson sin has bitter consequences often lasting beyond the fruits of repentance Heb 12:16-17

Too many times we do not realize the value or worth of something until it is gone

Where was this “concern” before 586 B.C.?


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Biblical Lessons From Ezra & Nehemiah

Documents

lawthe altar foundation

bthe altar foundation

cyrusthe altar foundation

properthe altar

temple foundation

altar of burnt offering

feast of tabernacles

feast of boothsalso