Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Flashcards
What were the three specific returns of Jews to the land of Judah under Persian rule? (ezra)
- The first was led by Zerubbabel and involved an initial rebuilding of Jerusalem.
- The second was led by Ezra who oversaw the reinstitution of the sacrifices.
- The third was led by Nehemiah and involved the rebuilding of the defensive walls of Jerusalem
Who was Ezra?
A scribe and priest
Doctrine of God’s Sovereignty (Ezra)
is crucial to the book of Ezra, it shows that God can use a polytheistic king of Persia to make possible His will.
What are the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, even now, a reminder of to God’s people?
- To highlight worship as their top priority
- To emphasize the need for and use of God’s Word as the only authoritative rule for living
- To be concerned about God’s people being seen as holy before the world.
Book of Ezra deals with three different leadership
Political Leadership- Zerubbabel
Priestly leader ezra
Prophetic leadership- Haggai and Zechariah
Spiritual application of the book of Ezra?
More than a story of a nations return to God. Ezra is a book about the returning, rebuilding, and restoring one’s personal relationship with the Lord. As in the time of Ezra, such a journey is not necessarily an easy one and can be filled with backsliding and temptations. But the journey home is worth the effort.
Zerubbabel (Ezra)
A direct descendant of David
What did Ezra write about?
Nehemiah?
rebuilding the temple under Zerubbabel
concerning rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls
Building the wall of Jerusalem can be seen as? (neh)
part of our spiritual walk, of balancing being in the world but not of the world.
What does Nehemiah demonstrates ?
a balanced theology between dependence on God and personal discipline: prayer and planning and both sacred and necessary
What problems may arise when we try and grow closer to God? (neh)
Mockery
Military Threat
Conspiracy
Intimidation through false prophets
Significance about the wall? (neh)
It was finished in 52 days, showing God’s hand in it
What does the book of Esther explain?
explains the origin of the annual festival of Purim
Why Esther was included in the Bible?
~Purim has never been seen as connecting with Christian truths.
~Some didn’t like the fact that it deals with the Jews who preferred the comforts of Persia rather than returning to Jerusalem.
~God’s covenant name (Yahweh) is not mentioned.
~There is no mention of worship, prayer, or sacrifice (fasting is mentioned).
~Esther receives no mention outside of Scripture in any secular record so far discovered.
~It is not even quoted in the New Testament
What is Esther the last of?
Historical book
Esther is the only book that speaks about?
the Jews who were exiled that decided to remain in the lands to which they were exiled.
Who is the author of Eshter thought to be?
Mordecai
The word “Jew” was derived from?
“Judah” because of the predominance of this tribe
Esther is not just about God’s prominence, but about (in relation to Salvation History?
~God’s unfailing promise to be with and deliver His people, whatever the historical details is evedent.
~The gates of hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18).
~This is a documented example of Romans 8:28 being worked out in history.
~Covenantal faithfulness is shown in that God continued to be faithful to his covenant people even when His people refuse to return from their exile.
In Ester how does God act?
not in an overt way, but hidden “in, with, and under” the fumbles and foibles of mankind
It’s better to see Ester as an inspired record of God’s interaction with His people in both …
judgment and grace toward His overall redemptive plan.
In Esther there are an unusually number of ?
“coincidences”
What does Esther record about the Amalekites?
Their final effort in the Old Testament to completely destroy the Jews
