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Home , Ezra 7, Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah 4

RESTORATION & REFORM

Week 26: Reestablishment of the Walls and Laws back in (Nehemiah; ; Malachi)

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah traces the story of the people of God returning to the land of Israel after the 70-year captivity in . The return under (-6, covered in week 24) was the earliest return, dated 536bc. During the 60 year break between the dedication of the temple and the ministry of Ezra, the events of the happened in far-off Persia as discussed in Week 25’s readings.

Then, God called Ezra. Ezra had mastered the Scriptures of his day—the books of —while in the land of captivity. With great skill as an interpreter of the old law for a new day, Ezra persuaded 2,000+ Jews to return to Jerusalem (-10). They arrived in 458bc. Once there, Ezra began to teach a new generation of Jews how to live according to God’s law.

At this point in God’s Week Twenty-Six Reading Plan Story, Jerusalem had a temple and a prepared Ezra 7:1-10; 8:15-36 Ezra and the Second Return people but there was no :1-2:20 Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem protection for the city :1-5:19; 6:15-7:3 Nehemiah Deals with Oppression Within and Without from further attack. It :1-9:3 Ezra Reads the Law is in this situation that :1-31 Nehemiah’s Reforms Nehemiah travels to Malachi 1:1-14 The Lord’s Love Given Unworthy Sacrifices Jerusalem and uses his leadership skills to rally Malachi 3:1-4:6 Great Day of God a citywide construction crew for the rebuilding of the walls.

Just as there had been opposition to rebuilding the temple, so there was opposition to the wall project. Sanballat (the Persian- appointed governor of to the north) and (the Persian-appointed governor of the land east of the Jordan River) became Nehemiah’s great enemies during this period. They accused Nehemiah of wanting to set up Jerusalem as a rebel city. This hostility, however, did not succeed. Nehemiah set up armed guards to protect the builders, and the entire project was completed in a mere 52 days! The dedication for the wall was full of joy, including two great choirs that proceeded around the city and then converged at the temple. After an interval of more than 140 years (586-445bc), Jerusalem stood as a complete city once more in covenant with Yahweh as their God.

Nehemiah served as governor in Jerusalem for 12 years (445-433), after which he returned to the king’s service. He was away for an unknown length of time during which the people of Jerusalem became lethargic about their worship of the Lord. God called one final prophet to address the situation. Sins that the book of Malachi condemned match those that Nehemiah attacked. The priests were corrupt; the tithe was neglected; Jewish men had married pagan wives; and people were cutting corners on the quality of sacrifices being offered up to the Lord. But in the midst of this rebuke for these specific violations of the covenant, he also prophesied the coming of the Messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. His heart, as well as Nehemiah’s who had returned again to deal with these same issues, was to prepare a restored people in the holy city of Jerusalem for the coming of the Messiah.

The books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi show how God fulfilled His word concerning the return of His people from 70 years of captivity. And how He was able to accomplish this by changing the hearts of great kings—Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes and Artaxerxes. He also worked through leaders like Joshua, Zerubbabel, , Zechariah, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi in order to rebuild the temple, the wall of the city of Jerusalem, reestablish the law of Moses and revive heart-felt worship. God is trustworthy—Trust Him. The New Testament will show us more fulfillments of His great promises! ESTHER

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter 1 7 1 NEHEMIAH 13

536 Week 24 516 458 445 “Rise up and build!” 425

Cyrus’ decree Temple completed SeeWeek 25’s Overview Teaching of the law Nehemiah returns City fortified

First Return Second Return Third Return to Jerusalem

Susa, Persia 1 Prayers in Persia Construction Construction Instruction 2 Inspection in Jerusalem Political 20 years (445-425

Topics 3 Delegation of Builders Walls Temple People covenant-keeping God Opposition Nehemiah’s trust ina } 4 5 Helping the Poor National Personal 6 Opposition but Finished Organized Zerubbabel Ezra 7 Leader Conviction by the Law

8 Instruction Spiritual

Confession People Jerusalem 9

Revival and Reformation in Jerusalem bc) 10 Covenant

Topics } 11 Resettlement God Restores 12 Dedication of the Wall 13 Final Reforms } Place Time Chapters Topics MALACHI: Calling People to Authentic Faith

some time in the 430s or 420s bc during the events found in the The burden of the last prophet was the Theological Historical Prophetical incongruence between identity Looking Up Looking In Looking Ahead as God’s people and living out that truth. Theirs was not 1:1-5 1:6-2:9 PRIESTS’ 2:10-3:15 PEOPLE’S 3:16-4:6 GOD’S the problem of rebuilding the Temple or the walls, for that was GOD’S LOVE HYPOCRISY DISOBEDIENCE PROMISES OF HOPE all completed; rather, it was the Unconditional Irreverence Lies, adultery, blasphemy, The Sun of Righteousness issue of holy living and service in Unchanging Cynicism oppressions, stealing... will arise with healing in the aftermath of all the external But doubted “Who? Me?!” “Not us!!” His wings! accomplishments.