Questions for Review
- In what ways did Ezra reinstitute spiritual rededication (Nehemiah chapter 8)?
Teaching the Law and Keeping the Feast of Tabernacles ; in Useful Service to God: Restore God's Service by Teaching People His word. 8:1-3 – The people gathered for the reading of the law, and they celebrated. - What festival was again celebrated as a result?
Nehemiah 8:13-15 – The people prepared to keep the Feast of the Tabernacles. On the next day there was another meeting to read the law, the heads of the houses this time meeting with Ezra, the priests, and the Levites. Note that one day of reading and studying the law was not enough. In fact, we will see that they met together to read and study the law all week long during the Feast of Tabernacles. This is similar to what we would call a gospel meeting. It was a special concentrated time of reading and studying God's law.
This feast began on the 15th day of the 7th month and lasted for seven days. The people were to get branches from various trees (olive, myrtle, palm, etc.) to make booths (temporary dwelling places). This was a reminder of the time when they were dwelling in temporary dwelling places in the wilderness after they left Egypt. Many offerings were associated with each day of the Feast of Tabernacles, as listed in Numbers 29:12-38 - Which covenant was again renewed?
God's divine presence with His people; and it includes the divine counsel, holy confession, and covenant living. Nehemiah 8 speaks of the centrality and priority of God's word-it is the divine counsel, the authoritative word, which is to regulate all of our life. Nehemiah 9 speaks of the genuine repentance and holy confession which the word of God produces in the lives of God's people; it is the longest chapter in the Bible on confession. Nehemiah 10 speaks of covenant renewal and of the particular changes true repentance will bring about in our lives, and the renewal of the covenant of Abraham. - In what manner were the great acts of God reviewed?
I truly believe that God's great acts was revealed and reviewed in these kings participation in the Jewish people return, in their protection, and most of all, in their faith in Him as a God of power to bring His people back to Him, the act of God's grace and mercy, not only to rebuild the natural Temple, but to rebuild the spiritual temple of His people's hearts. - What was contrasted repeatedly in this review?
God's grace and mercy was repeated, as well as their sins repeatedly - What importance do the detailed lists of priests and leaders have for us today?
The role of the Levites , of the leaders of the people, and the two choirs are highlighted. The sacrifices, the singing and rejoicing, including "the women and the children," bring to a climax a great day of celebration that "could be heard far away" (v 43). This could serve as an excellent text for a dedication service during our time now! - What occasion is described in great detail in the book of Nehemiah?
The attack as they rebuild the walls of Jerusalem - What application lies in this occasion for us today?
The main thing is overcoming hindrances in our life spiritually. Stay focus on God as God see you through, stay encourage as you encourage others to rebuild their lives with God. - What disturbing problem again arose?
They had taken strange wives of the land, which mean they had transgress against God's commandment, so Ezra and Nehemiah address the problem in (Ezra 10 and Nehemiah 13:23-30) - How did this problem come to light?
This came to light when they read the law of Moses, and God revealed to Nehemiah that this was happening (Nehemiah 13:23-30). - Who played a leading role in the reforms that follow?
Nehemiah - For what does Nehemiah especially want to be remembered?
Nehemiah 13:31 "31 and I arranged at the appointed time for the supply of wood, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, with favor." (SIV). Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion He prays, "Remember them, O my God." Lord, convince and convert them; put them in mind of what they should be and do. The best services to the public have been forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah refers himself to God, to recompense him. This may well be the summary of our petitions; we need no more to make us happy than this; Remember me, O my God, for good. We may humbly hope that the Lord will remember us and our services, although, after lives of unwearied activity and usefulness, we shall still see cause to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes, and to cry out with Nehemiah, Spare me, O my God, according to the greatness of thy mercy. - How can we apply this to the present-day work of the church?
In order for the church to complete God's Great Commission to teach the lost of the world each member must be willing to personally apply the elements that allowed Nehemiah to successfully complete his mission. Each Christian must ask himself if he has faith that God will providentially assist the church in carrying out the Great Commission. Each member of the church must be able to say that he is motivated by a love for God and a love for the people. The Christian must also be able to examine himself and discover that he is driven by an urgent need to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Each Christian must become personally involved in completing God's Commission. Finally, every member of the Lord's body must be willing to give up peace with this world in order to defend the will of God. If every Christian adds these elements to his Christian character, then it could be said today, as it was in the first century, that "...the truth of the Gospel... has been proclaimed ...in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit..." (Colossians 1:5-6). - Can you think of a time in church history when lay leaders took a prominent part in reforming the church?
I don't think there has been any time sure as Ezra and Nehemiah's time to rebuilding the Temple and the Wall; In the sixteenth century Martin Luther was use to reform the church; here is a quote from him, "At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith. Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open." - In what ways did the study of Ezra and Nehemiah increase you knowledge of church history?
Wow! I have enjoyed this study concerning the work, the faith, the obedient, the trying time of these men, and how God responded to them because of their faith in Him. Concerning the question above, to me, there has not been quite a time as this! - What applications can be made from these books to the work of the church today?
What application! Well, we must have faith in our God first of all, we must believe that God is and that God is the creator of all being; these men truly believe this, and they had tenacity in the work they were called to do. No matter what, the church must be rebuilt on the solid rock, which is Jesus. - What does the word Ebenezer means in (I Samuel 7:12)?
The name "Ebenezer" actually comes from the Bible. In 1 Samuel 7, during the end of the time of the judges, Israel experiences revival under the leadership of Samuel. The nation repents of their sin, destroys their idols, and begins to seek the Lord (1 Samuel 7:2–4). Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah where they confessed their sin, and Samuel offered a sacrifice on their behalf (verses 5–9). Ebenezer means "stone of help." From then on, every time an Israelite saw the stone erected by Samuel, he would have a tangible reminder of the Lord's power and protection. The "stone of help" marked the spot where the enemy had been routed and God's promise to bless His repentant people had been honored. The Lord had helped them, all the way to Ebenezer. - What wisdom can we gain concerning the Temple building first, then the walls?
The heart must first be restored to proper worship and the temple of God's grace must be established upon the foundation of our lives. Wisdom begins with the heart being established with trust in God and not trust in men. Building the temple is affirming the presence of the Lord. The temple is a place of holiness and purity. It is a place of security and safety. The captives first put their trust in the Lord. Their faith and courage in the face of discouragement led them to build the Temple of God. Our faith and courage will lead us in the challenges of life to build the temple of God upon our hearts. There will be opposition to the building the temple of God upon our hearts as there was in the captive's days. With the power of God we can overcome and succeed in setting up our own "Ebenezer" (1 Samuel 7:12) as the stone of help. Building the Temple first sought the help of God first. Let us build our temple of faith to the Lord. The walls will come later. First, build the temple. - Who is Isaiah 28:16 talking about?
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."
That is, Christ, by whom all the building must be tried and upheld, Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, Romans 9:33, and 1Peter 2:6. The sure foundation is Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, amen. - How long did the rebuilding of the Temple stopped?
"So the work stopped on God's Temple in Jerusalem. The work did not continue until the second year that Darius was king of Persia" Ezra 4:24 the work stopped Here, this refers to the time of Xerxes, when work on the Temple was stopped, not to the time of Artaxerxes, when work on the walls around Jerusalem was stopped. Ezra 4:24 second yea.r That is, 520 B.C. - Explain what the word Restoration means to you?
It means to return something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition. It is the restitution of something taken away or lost. It means something that is restored as the creation of God is restored by Jesus' blood.
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