MISSING QUESTIONS

18.  What wisdom can we gain concerning the Temple building first, then the walls?

19.  Who is Isaiah 28:16 talking about?

20.  How long did the rebuilding of the Temple stopped?

21.  Explain what the word Restoration means to you?

Bible Study: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH Week # 5

"Re-Building God's Temple"

 

Subject:        Re-Building the Temple First:

 

Scripture Reading:        Ezra and Nehemiah

         

Seventy years had passed and the city lay in ruins. Its walls were broken down and the gates burned with fire. Nehemiah would refer to the once majestic Jerusalem as a city lying in "waste" (Nehemiah 2:17). Cyrus king of Persia, stirred up in spirit by the Lord, decreed that the people could return from the land of captivity to their home in Judah (Ezra 1). Along with 5,400 articles of gold and silver taken from the temple seven decades earlier, the captives made the long journey to Zion. The year was 536 B. C. Worship was restored at Jerusalem and the restoration of the Temple began (Ezra 3). The foundation was laid with great ceremony and old men weeping for the glory of the first Temple. Resistance to the building arose and work stopped nearly sixteen years. Finally in 520 B. C. the rebuilding of the Temple began in earnest and completed in 516 B. C. (Ezra 5). Nehemiah would come later and the walls of Jerusalem would be rebuilt in fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). 

It should not be lost on the student of scripture that unlike the wisdom of men, the walls of the city were not first built but rather the Temple. The walls of the city were built ninety-two years after the first group of captives returned. What we find in the wisdom of God is that strength and power comes first from the Lord. The Temple represented the protection of Jehovah upon the people; the walls represented the protection of the people by the people and for the people. First they needed to restore the worship to God before seeking to build walls of stone. Restoration begins first in building the Temple, then the walls. 

In our life, restoration begins in building the temple of the heart before the work of building the walls of our lives. Often we seek to build walls of protection without the help of God and we struggle and fail. We have missed the point of Haggai 1:4 - "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" We cannot long serve God without establishing on our heart the temple of God. The walls of our life offer no protection. What gave the city of Jerusalem security were not the walls of stone but the stone of Zion. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;' whoever believes will not act hastily" (Isaiah 28:16). 

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.

         

WEEK # 5      QUESTIONS:

Questions for Review

 

1.  In what ways did Ezra reinstitute spiritual rededication (Nehemiah chapter 8)? 2. What festival was again celebrated as a result?

3. Which covenant was again renewed?

4. In what manner were the great acts of God reviewed?

5. What was contrasted repeatedly in this review?

6. What importance do the detailed lists of priests and leaders have for us today? 7. What occasion is described in great detail in the book of Nehemiah?

8. What application lies in this occasion for us today?

9. What disturbing problem again arose?

10. How did this problem come to light?

11. Who played a leading role in the reforms that follow?

12. For what does Nehemiah especially want to be remembered?

13. How can we apply this to the present-day work of the church?

14. Can you think of a time in church history when lay leaders took a prominent part in reforming the church?

15. In what ways did the study of Ezra and Nehemiah increase you knowledge of church history?

16. What applications can be made from these books to the work of the church today?

17.  What does the word Ebenezer means in (I Samuel 7:12)?

 

Weekly Word # 5: Altar of Incense

 

Our weekly reading for this week:    Nehemiah 3-6

 

Extra Reading:

 

Pollution of God's House:

2 Chronicles 33:7

2 Chronicles 36:14

Jeremiah 7:30

Ezekiel 8:16

Ezekiel 44:7

Zephaniah 3:4

John 2:14

Our weekly reading for this week:

Ezra 10- Nehemiah 1-2

 

I have finished reading up to Nehemiah 2 chapter; also, I am reading II Chronicles 28 chapter where King Hezekiah becomes king of Judah. Very interesting story!! 

WEEK # 4 Questions/ANSWERS:

1. How does Nehemiah identify himself?
   
   Nehemiah introduces himself as the writer.
    
2. What was Nehemiah's job in Susa?
   
   He refers to himself as a "cupbearer of the king of Persia."(v.11)
    
3. How long was Nehemiah governor of Judah?
   
   Nehemiah 5:14 says 12 years.
    
4. Was God in Nehemiah's desire?
   
   Yes. God put it in his heart to rebuild Jerusalem; Nehemiah 2:12.
    
5. What did Nehemiah desire to do?
   
   He desire to please God by rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:5
    
6. Did the king let him go?
   
   Yes. King Artaxerxes II honored every request concerning Nehemiah's return and provisions. Nehemiah 2:8
   
   
7. How did Nehemiah distinguish himself from the other Israelites?
   
   Nehemiah didn't take a food paycheck because former governors did that with gusto. He also paid to feed 150 Jewish officials who ate at his table out of his own pocket. Nehemiah 5:14
   
   
8. Why did he do this?
   
   Because the people were struggling to survive already. The food paycheck came from their heavy taxes. Note: Do you have an opportunity to stand out for God? Be a testimony through personal sacrifice. Just do it! Nehemiah 5:18
    
9. What is the correct way to respond when enemies come against us and/or wish us harm?
   
   Continue in God's work no matter what. If you are doing something great for God, opposition will come! Nehemiah 6:9
   
   
10. What benefits does sticking with your mission through times of trouble have?
    
    It brings fear and humiliation to your enemies because they will realize that God has helped your mission be successful. Nehemiah 6:15-16
     
11. Does God exonerate His people when one's respected friends trash them before their mutual friends?
    
    Yes. But sometimes it takes a while. Stick to the mission! Nehemiah 6:17-19
    
    
12. Did folks in Old Testament times lift their hands toward heaven, shout "Amen!" and chant "Amen!" while praising God?
    
    Yes! They even bowed down with their faces to the ground to worship God. Nehemiah 8:6
    
     
13. When the bible was read, did they just read it or did they stop to explain each part?
    
    They went through it slowly so they could explain each part. Nehemiah 8:8
    
     
14. What is the strength of the believer?
    
    The joy of the Lord!  I love this scripture! Nehemiah 8:10
    
     
15. The Israelites celebrated the Festival of Shelters during Nehemiah's time. When was the last time it was celebrated properly?
    
    When Joshua was prophet! Nehemiah 8:17
    
     
16. This celebration of the Temple along with Jerusalem being rebuilt and completed was a special time. On what day did the people confess their sins to one another?
    
    October 31. Note: Halloween, a totally non-God national day, totally distracts from the real use of the day. Think about it: God's people confess their sins to one another. A day of repentance. Later, Halloween became a gruesome day of hell let loose. Today, we forget the dark side of Halloween, still a day of havoc in some places. Children receive sweet gifts from kind adults and we get acquainted with neighbors and elderly shut-ins. I like the original celebration, don't you? The completion of a mission and the confessing of sins to one another. How righteous is that? Nehemiah 9:1
    
     
17. That's interesting. What else set October 31 apart?
    
    1). God's people separated themselves from all foreigners
    2). They heard the Word read to them for 3 hours
    3). They worshipped God for 3 hours
    4.) Some Levites stood on stairs, crying out to God, and later, ordered the people to stand up and praise God too. Nehemiah 9:2
    
    Note: No wonder Satan has corrupted this day! Halleluiah! What a day!
    
     
18. What causes people to praise God so greatly?
    
    The reading and understanding of God's word. You can't help but praise God for His awesome love. Nehemiah 9:5-31
    
     
19. What else does knowing God's word bring?
    
    Life, if people obey God's word. Nehemiah 9:29
    
     
20. What was the irony of this era of the Jews?
    
    They were in the land of plenty, having an abundance, yet still slaves to Persia. Nehemiah 9:36
21. What time period does Nehemiah cover?
    
    During Ezra's time. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after Ezra. Nehemiah 1:1
    
     
22. What lessons can we benefit from in Nehemiah?
    
    Lesson 1: While we are focused, as the Israelites were at the ceremony that went on for days, we love God and praise God. But when life resumes its routine, we don't think of God in everything. We need to focus. The Holy Spirit helps us to stay focused.
    Lesson 2:  Don't compromise; learn from history; God loves you in any case. You do well for yourself to be in God's will.
    Lesson 3:  You may live out your whole life with an enemy close by. You may not have to today! Ask God to remove your enemy or else bring about peace between the two of you. God may decide to leave your enemy there for reasons you won't learn till the end of days. Nehemiah had such a challenge and was unable to alter his circumstances. Keep doing the ministry anyway! 
    Lesson 4:  Our modern Sunday worship service resembles this celebration.

Week # 4 Our weekly word………Table of Shewbread

The bread of the Presence (also called the showbread or shewbread in some translations) was special bread always present on a table in the tabernacle (and later in the temple). Leviticus 24:5–7 describes this bread: "You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord." This bread of the Presence was 1) made of fine flour, 2) baked in 12 loaves, 3) arranged in two piles of six loaves each on a table of pure gold, 4) covered with frankincense, and 5) served as a memorial food offering to the Lord. The bread could only be eaten by Aaron and his sons in a holy place and was set out every Sabbath day (Leviticus 24:8–9). The bread of the Presence is first mentioned in Exodus 25:30. God instructed for it to be placed on the golden table in the tabernacle. The bread is also listed in the contributions for the tabernacle in Exodus 35:13 and noted as part of the completed tabernacle in Exodus 39:36. In Numbers 4 the Kohathites, who were sons of Levi, were given responsibility for the care of the table of showbread.  First Chronicles 9:32 says, "Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath." This bread was likely prepared on each Friday and placed in the tabernacle on each Sabbath in two piles of six. It would be replenished each week, allowing the priests to eat fresh bread in the holy place. At one point in David's life, when he was on the run from Saul, he asked the priest Ahimelech for food. The priest gave David the bread of the Presence, since it was the only bread available (1 Samuel 21:1–6). David was not a priest, so it was technically unlawful for him to eat the showbread. Jesus later refers to this event, using it as proof that the Law was designed for man's benefit, and that Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:25–27; Luke 6:3–5). The Old Testament showbread placed on the table in the tabernacle provides a wonderful picture of Jesus, the Bread of Life. Jesus is holy before God, He provides true sustenance, and He is always present. "Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry'" (John 6:35). One other New Testament reference, Hebrews 9:1–2, mentions the table of showbread as one of the items in the first section of the tabernacle. Also included in that place was the lampstand. Verse 15 notes, "Therefore [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance." The context explains that the important aspects of the Jewish law were no longer necessary since Christ has become high priest once and for all.

Sharing…………

Roman 8:11 says,

 

¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit just as it says in these scriptures

 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

 

1 Corinthians 6:15-20

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

 

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

 

Ephesians 2:19-22

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

 

1 Peter 2:5

You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

 

When this was written, temples were the places where the gods were thought to live. More than places of worship, these were places of presence. So when Paul reminds us that we are temples of God's presence through the Holy Spirit, he is saying something quite profound. God lives in us! We are the place of God's dwelling. We are holy temples, not because we cleansed ourselves or made ourselves into some incredible dwelling place but because God bought us with the price of Jesus' life. We are his purchased prime real estate so that his glorious presence can be seen in the world in which we live. As the place where God lives by his Spirit, we are challenged to honor and glorify God with our bodies, his temples. No matter how you may look at your physical appearance, remember this: you are holy, precious, and glorious because the King of Glory has made his home in you through the Holy Spirit!

WEEK # 4: WEEKLY PRAYER………

 

O my Father, this study reminds me of Your incredible nearness to me, even within me. Forgive me when I have not realized Your presence in me through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I have devalued myself and my body as a temple of Your holy presence. Please be glorified in who I am, what I say, how I live, and what I think. To You be all glory, in Jesus' name and through your Spirit's presence.  Lord God, bless all to know this day that You will dwell in them when invited; please help them to accept You, Jesus, as their Savior, in Jesus' name, Amen.