P a g e | 1 Third Presbyterian Church Tuesday Bible Study Old Testament Tour – Ezra Lesson 104 – The Hand of God Read all of Ezra Chapters 7-8 Ezra 7:25-28 (NIV) 25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates--all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. 27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 8:18-19 (NIV) 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah's sons and brothers, 18 men; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 men. Ezra 8:31-32 (NIV) 31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days. Questions 1. How do you think Christians should respond differently from unbelievers to success in life? A. When have you responded inappropriately to success and what was learning experience from that response? 2. Ezra’s great success was explained by the hand of God being on him. Do you have a remembrance of a success you enjoyed that you directly testify to the hand of God being on you? Please share. 3. How can you change your spiritual habits to become more devoted to God? 4. Why do you think God grants power and financial security only to some people? 5. What makes you feel safe? 6. How does the average person protect himself or herself from the dangers in life? 7. Share a story where you were vulnerable but you know the hand of God protected you from evildoers. 8. Ezra chose to fast and pray on this occasion, because he wanted to acknowledge the power and protection of God in this situation. A. What does this account reveal to you about God’s protection of His people? 9. Israel financially sacrificed and worshipped God greatly for His protection from enemies. A. What has been your response to our acknowledged protection of God from your enemies? Do you feel you owe God more? Why or why not? 10. What steps could you begin to take this week to depend less on your own strength and more on God’s power to help you through the challenges you face? P a g e | 2 (7:1-28) Introduction: if there has ever been a day when strong men and women and strong leaders are needed, it is today. There are few people of integrity, few who are upright and honest, moral and pure, decisive and steadfast, enduring and persevering. Far too many of us are weak, lacking the strength to follow through with decisions and commitments. How many of us make a commitment to marriage and then break the commitment? How many work hard at our jobs, giving our employers a full days’ work for a full days’ wage? How many employers are fair and just with their employees? How many are filled with greed and covetousness, craving more and more instead of giving to meet the needs of the world? How many of us are genuinely gripped with a spirit of compassion and mercy, forgiving those who wrong us? Where are men and women of integrity who turn away from lying and deception, speaking the truth in love? Where are the men and women of morality who will uphold the bond of marriage and other commitments? Who will develop strong but tender hearts that are decisive yet compassionate and merciful? Where are the men and women who will build up society, strengthening others instead of tearing them down through selfishness, gossip, rumors, and a negative spirit? In the present Scripture, a man of enormous strength and leadership skills steps forth to introduce himself. This man is Ezra, the man for whom this great book of Holy Scripture is named. It had been about 57 years since the end of chapter six and the beginning of chapter seven, 57 years since the temple had been completed and dedicated by the first returnees to Jerusalem (vv.7-9; 8:31). Now the LORD raised up a man to lead a second group of exiles back to the promised land of God. This is, Ezra’s Royal Commission to Return to the Promised Land: the Picture of a Strong and Dedicated Leader, 7:1-28. 1. The introduction of Ezra: a man wholly committed to the LORD and His Word (vv.1-10). 2. The royal commission to return given to Ezra by King Artaxerxes: a man sent on a mission (vv.11-28). 1. (7:1-10) Word of God, Commitment to—God, Commitment to—Bible, Study of—Devotion, to the Word of God—Commitment, Duty—Ezra, Genealogy of—Ezra, Leadership of—Ezra, Commitment of—Exile Returnees, Under Ezra’s Leadership—Jewish Exiles, Returned, Under Ezra’s Leadership: the man for whom this book is named finally steps on the scene. Ezra is now introduced to the reader. Four significant areas of Ezra’s life are covered by Scripture: his godly roots, his profession, his skilled leadership, and his devotion to the LORD and His Holy Word. 1. Ezra had a strong, godly heritage (vv.1-5). He was a priest from a long line of spiritual leaders. These leaders had served as priests to the nation of Israel down through the centuries. A few of these leaders were… Hilkiah, who had discovered the Law of God while the temple was being repaired during the days of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-20). Zadok, who served as High Priest during the days of David and who proved loyal to David during some of the most difficult trials confronted by the king (2 Sam. 15:24-37; 17:15; 1 Kings 1:8, 26). Phinehas, who proved his zeal and loyalty for the LORD during the wilderness journeys. He helped purge the land of apostasy and immorality (Nu.25:1-25; Ps.106:30). Ezra could also trace his ancestry all the way back to the very first High Priest, Aaron, who was the brother of Moses himself (v.5). In Ezra is seen the fulfillment of God’s wonderful promise to bless the descendants of the godly (De.4:40; Ps.128:1-6). 2. Ezra was a scribe or teacher by profession, well versed in the Law, God’s Holy Word (v.6). Note the statement that the Law is God’s Holy Word. The LORD Himself had given the Law to Moses. How much of the Law did Ezra have? Probably most of the writings that had been completed up to that time, which would have included the Pentateuch, some of the historical writings, and some of the prophets’ messages. Whatever the P a g e | 3 case, the fact that Ezra was well versed in the Law of God shows that the exiles at least had access to many of the writings of Holy Scripture. 3. Ezra was a man of exceptional leadership skills. He was also a man wholly devoted to the LORD and His Holy Word (vv.6-10). He was the man appointed by the LORD and King Artaxerxes to lead the second group of exiles from captivity back to the promised land of God. His exceptional skills are seen in four facts: a. Ezra was very skilled in the art of persuasion (vv.6-7). Everything he asked of the king, the king granted. Nothing was withheld, and no request was left unanswered, for the hand of the LORD was upon him. Note that this statement is used six times concerning Ezra (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31). God had definitely chosen Ezra to be the man to free the second group of exiles from captivity, and the LORD was proving His call by giving exceptional skills of persuasion to Ezra. Using his skill to the fullest degree possible, Ezra was able to convince people to leave their homes and security to make the long, hard, dangerous return to an uncertain future in Jerusalem (v.7). b. Ezra also had an exceptionally strong will and an iron determination (vv.8-9). Lying out before Ezra was a long, treacherous journey of about 900 miles. The roadway was infested with bandits and led through the territory of enemies who bitterly despised the Jews (8:22, 31). Despite these difficulties, the major problem did not lie with Ezra himself making the journey. The problem was that he personally had to lead a caravan of 5,000 exiles through the dangerous territory.