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2 Chroncles 21-Ezra 6

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2 Chroncles 21-Ezra 6 II Chronicles 21-Ezra 6 May 4: II Chronicles 21-23; Psalm 119:121-128 (Ayin) 1. In spite of Jehoram’s evil reign, why does God not destroy his dynasty, according to 21:7? On what basis does God preserve and save us, even when we sin? 2. Who orchestrated the judgment of Ahaziah? Why? 3. Psalm 119: There are only two verses in the entire Psalm that do not include a reference to God’s Word. One of them is in this section. Which verse is it? May 5: II Chronicles 24-26; Psalm 119:129-136 1. In 24:20-22, we learn of Joash’s tragic end. How did he go from obeying God to murdering God’s prophet? 2. Uzziah is yet another king who began well but ended poorly. What was his downfall in 26:16? How does God deal with his sin? May 6: II Chronicles 27-29; Psalm 119:137-144 1. How did Ahaz respond in distress (28:22)? Why do some people turn to God in distress and others turn away from Him? Why did Ahaz turn to the gods of Damascus (28:23)? 2. The removal of Judah’s horrific sin required cleansing (29:11-19) and atonement (29:21-24). Is it possible that a single sacrifice could deal with Judah’s sin? What do you think this sacrifice is ultimately pointing to? May 7: II Chronicles 30-32; Psalm 119:145-152 1. Why is the celebration of the Passover connected with revival (chapter 30; cf. 35:1-19)? What does the Passover point back to? Point forward to? 2. To what divine characteristics does Hezekiah appeal in 30:9 as he summons the nation to obedience to God? May 8: II Chronicles 33-36; Psalm 119:153-160 1. II Chronicles 33:12-13 is one of the greatest displays of God’s grace in the entire Bible. How does it illustrate the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14? How does the NT advance the thought in I Peter 5:6 and James 4:7-10? 2. Although God promised Josiah a peaceful death (35:28), this promise was conditioned on Josiah’s continued adherence to God’s Word. Tragically, he refused to hear God’s warning from Pharaoh Necho (35:22). How do you ignore God’s warnings in your life? 3. Chapter 36 records the final downfall of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar deports the first wave of exiles in 605 B.C., a deportation that included Daniel and his friends (36:6-7). Next, in 597 B.C., the second wave went into captivity, a group that included the prophet Ezekiel (36:10). Finally, in 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, the temple, and took the final wave of exiles to Babylon. Jeremiah prophesied during these dark days. Why was King Zekekiah judged according to 36:12? How does this contrast to 34:27, 33:12-13, and 7:14? May 9: Ezra 1-3: Psalm 119:161-168 Ezra-Nehemiah: The books of Ezra-Nehemiah pick up the story from the end of II Chronicles and show God’s faithfulness to His people, even after 70 years of exile in Babylon. In spite of the fact that the Jews were now under the domination of foreign powers, God still saw fit to give them the opportunity to return to their land and begin rebuilding in anticipation of the coming Messiah. Traditionally, Ezra is understood to be the author of these books. He was a man of great learning, sent by the Persian emperor to teach the Law to the Jewish people (7:6). With his learning, Ezra is the best candidate for the authorship of this book. The use of the 1st person later on in the book validates this understanding (e.g. 8:15ff). In his position, Ezra had access to historical records and was able to skillfully draw from these resources in the writing of this record. Although Babylon had defeated and deported Judah in 605-586 B.C. (there were three deportations), it was the Persian King Cyrus who decreed their return. The Persians defeated the Babylonians 539 B.C. and took over their empire. The very next year Cyrus gave his decree permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The books of Ezra-Nehemiah record the three returns to the land, corresponding to the three deportations from the land. True to God’s Word (Jeremiah 25:11), the exile lasted 70 years, from the destruction of the temple in 586 B.C. to its completion in 516 B.C. Ezra 1-6 records the first wave returning in 538 B.C., culminating with the rebuilding of the temple in 516 B.C. Chapters 7-10 record the second return under Ezra, over fifty years later, in 458 B.C. The book of Nehemiah records the third return to the land in 444 B.C. While Ezra led the people in spiritual renewal, Nehemiah led them politically, guiding them to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the face of local opposition. During the time of the first return, Haggai and Zechariah prophesied. Malachi prophesied decades later during the end of Nehemiah’s service (roughly around Nehemiah 13). These books provide the last recorded history in the Old Testament (the events of Esther likely occur during the 50+ year gap between Ezra 6-7). Together, Ezra and Nehemiah demonstrate God’s sovereign control over history and empires. They further demonstrate His faithfulness to His people, as He brings them back to the land in a second Exodus. Indeed, the Exodus from Egypt and the Exile from Babylon are the two major events in Old Testament history, both of which point ultimately to deliverance from sin’s domination. The return to the land is essential, for it is there, in the land of Israel, that the Messiah would come. The books unfold as follows: I. The First Return under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6). A. The Return to the land (Ezra 1-2). B. The Rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 3-6). II. The Second Return under Ezra (Ezra 7-10) A. Ezra’s Arrival (Ezra 7-8). B. Ezra’s Revival (Ezra 9-10). III. The Third Return under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-13). A. Return (1-3). B. Reconstruction (3-7). C. Revival (8-10). D. Restoration (11-13). 1. Did you notice that Ezra 1:1-4 overlaps with 2 Chronicles 36:22-23? This shows the literary unity of Scripture. It’s ultimately one story with one main Character. Why did Cyrus make a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, according to 1:1? 2. Chapter 2 lists out the people included in the first return with Zerubbabel. Why do think it was so important for the people to return to the land? Why not stay in Babylon (many did)? How is this return important to God’s great plan of redemption? 3. What was the people’s reaction when the foundation of the temple was laid in 3:10-13? May 10: Ezra 4-6; Psalm 119:169-176 1. What strategies do Judah’s enemies employ in 4:2, 4:4-5, and 4:6 to thwart the rebuilding of the temple? What’s the result in 4:24? 2. In chapter 5, the people step out in faith to re-start the building of the temple. According to Haggai 1:2-11, why had they really stopped the work? How does God honor the Jews’ obedient faith in Ezra 6? .
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