Bible Study: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH Week # 6

"Re-Building God's Temple"

Subject:  Re-building of the Walls of Jerusalem:

 

Scripture Reading:        Nehemiah chapter 1 and 2

 

"Why was it important to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem?"

 

The answer to why it was important to rebuild Jerusalem's walls is found in Nehemiah 1:3. Some Jews who visited Jerusalem returned to Persia and reported to Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer. The men said, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
After the Babylonian Captivity, a remnant of the Jewish people had returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra. These returned exiles had rebuilt the temple, but they were now in need of protection. The lack of fortified walls around the city left the people defenseless against enemies. Weather, wild animals, opposing people, and other opponents could easily enter and cause "great trouble" to the people.
According to the report Nehemiah received, the remnant in Jerusalem was shamed. A city with broken walls revealed a defeated people. The Jews who had returned to their homeland were both in unsafe conditions and humiliated at living in a destroyed city. In Nehemiah 2:17, Nehemiah told the Jewish leaders, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."
Also, the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls would show God's blessing upon His people again. Nehemiah quoted God's words to Moses in his prayer, saying, "If you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name" (Nehemiah 1:9).
Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was an important sign to the enemies of Israel. Nehemiah told their enemies, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it" (Nehemiah 2:20).
And rebuilding the walls showed that God was with His people. Upon the completion of the walls, Nehemiah wrote, "When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God" (Nehemiah 6:16)
The destruction of Jerusalem's walls left its people exposed to great trouble and shame. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was important because it revealed God's blessing, served as a sign to Israel's enemies, and showed God was with His people. The walls provided protection and dignity to a people who had suffered the judgment of God but had later been restored and returned to the Promised Land.

Week # 6      QUESTIONS:

 

Questions for Review  

1. Why was it important to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem?
2. The lack of fortified walls around the city left the people in what state?
3. What did Nehemiah tell the Jewish leaders concerning the state of their city?
4. What was the quote of Moses did Nehemiah quote?
5. Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls was what kind of sign to the enemy?
6. When was the completion of the walls?
7. Why do you suppose Nehemiah made this statement? (Nehemiah 6:16)
8. How did the destruction of Jerusalem leave the people then?
9. What did the rebuilding reveal about God?
10. Who did Nehemiah say would fight for the people if their enemies attacked?
11. What did the men do while rebuilding the wall concern protection?
12. How many times the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt?
13. In what ways do the enemies of Nehemiah from without begin to oppose his work?
14.  How does Nehemiah respond?
15. With what kind of trick do the enemies continue to oppose Nehemiah?
16. What kind of defensive action does Nehemiah take this time?
17. What kind of problems arise from within Jerusalem?
18. What action does Nehemiah take to settle this problem?
19. Show how enemies from both without and within try to lure Nehemiah into a trap.
20.  What have you learn from these studies?
    
     Word # 6: Veil (Curtain)
    Weekly # 6  Our weekly reading for this week:    Nehemiah 6-8
    

Our weekly reading for this week:

 

Nehemiah 3-6

Thank God, He gave me time to read my weekly reading; Finished

ANSWERS WEEK # 5

 

Questions for Review

1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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. 
5. What was contrasted repeatedly in this review?
   
   God's grace and mercy was repeated, as well as their sins repeatedly
6. 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!
7. What occasion is described in great detail in the book of Nehemiah?
   
   The attack as they rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
8. 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.
9. 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)
10. 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).
11. Who played a leading role in the reforms that follow?
    
    Nehemiah
12. 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.
13. 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).
14. 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."
15. 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!
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
    

EXTRA READING:

Pollution of God's House:

 

2 Chronicles 33:7

And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

2 Chronicles 36:14

Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 7:30

For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the Lord: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.

Ezekiel 8:16

And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Ezekiel 44:7

In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.

Zephaniah 3:4

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

John 2:14

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

SHARING

WEEK # 5        

 

"What can we learn from the life of Nehemiah?"

Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries, and they both wrote about the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which occurred many years after its destruction by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. Ezra wrote about the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel, while Nehemiah wrote concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. From ancient times, the cities located in the Middle East were surrounded by stone walls with gates that were guarded for the protection of the citizens. The important men of each city would gather at the gate where they would conduct the business of the city, share important information, or just pass the time of day. 

Nehemiah's account begins in 445 B.C., and this date is important because the prophet Daniel, a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, wrote the "70 weeks of years" prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) based on a very specific date—March 15, 445 B.C. This date is crucial to the beginning of the prophecy; it kicks off the start of the timeframe, which ends with the second coming of Jesus Christ. This prophecy was written long before Jesus came the first time, but it continues through those years leading up to His being "cut off." It gives details about the antichrist, how he will come onto the world scene, and how he will move against Israel in his final assault on God and His people. 

Daniel's prophecy is found in Daniel 9:25: "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." Little did Nehemiah know that he was fulfilling the prophecy written by Daniel, but this faithful servant, who was also captive in Babylon at the time, begins his writings with intercessory prayer for his people, Israel, just as Daniel constantly prayed on their behalf, beseeching God to have mercy on them and return them to their homeland. Nehemiah listed specific dates, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in order that there might be a written record as to the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. 

Before he asked the king's permission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah prayed, and God granted his request. As he was leaving Babylon, he met some Arab men who mocked him for what he was about to do. Nehemiah 2:20 records his statement, which stands even today as a testament to who has the right to the city known as Jerusalem: "I answered them by saying, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'" 

Nehemiah continued in his quest to rebuild Jerusalem. God provided all the necessary workers, and the building began. However, they were not without enemies, those who desired to stop the rebuilding. But God intervened as He had done with Moses (Exodus 14:14). Nehemiah 4:20 records, "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" This was God's pre-ordained plan to bring His people out of bondage and back into their land to worship in the temple once again. 

We can learn from the life of Nehemiah valuable lessons in restoring and maintaining a relationship with God. As the people returned to the rebuilt city, the first order of business was to make certain that they understood the Law of Moses. So Ezra, a priest, spent many hours reading the Law before the assembly, making sure they understood what God desired. Nehemiah 8:18 records what should be part of every believer's life, the daily reading of God's Word: "Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly." 

Nehemiah stands as a testament to faithfulness and perseverance. He lived far away from his home, yet he never gave up hope that someday he would return to it. He spent most of his life in exile in a pagan land, yet he never wavered in his faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was a prayer warrior, putting everything before the Lord in prayer, interceding on behalf of his people, and he was rewarded for his diligence and perseverance. Nehemiah cared so much for his people that he never gave up the hope of their restoration, not only to their homeland, but to the God that first called their forefather, Abraham, out of the same area and made a covenant with him, one which Nehemiah believed would stand forever.

OUR WEEKLY WORD

Altar of Incense

 

The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four "horns," one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard (Exodus 27:2). Rings of gold were built into the altar so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles that were slipped through the rings. The altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On the other side of the veil was the Ark of the Testimony, where the presence of God was (Exodus 25:22).

Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7–8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Never was the altar of incense to be used for a burnt offering, a grain offering, or a drink offering (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. The altar of incense was called "most holy to the Lord" (verse 10).

Of course, God's primary desire for His people is that they be holy. Simply going through the rituals required by the Law—including the burning of incense on the altar of incense—was not enough to make the Israelites right with God. The Lord wanted their hearts and lives to be right, not just their formalities. During Isaiah's time, the people were disobedient to God, yet they still maintained the temple rites, and that's why God said through the prophet, "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me" (Isaiah 1:13). More important than burning the proper incense at the proper time with the proper fire with the proper implements was having a proper heart before God.

In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people" (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, "all the assembled worshipers were praying outside."

The altar of incense, then, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. As the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offering, our prayers must be kindled with heaven's grace. The fact that the incense was always burning means that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus' sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God. 

The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ's death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ's mediation on our behalf—Christ's work on earth and in heaven. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy-seat of the Ark—a picture of our Advocate's standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). The incense was to be burning continually on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation. Christ's intercession on our behalf is a sweet-smelling savor to God.

It is beautiful to know that God considers the prayers of believers to be like a sweet smell of incense. Because of Christ, we can now enter God's holy presence by faith, with full assurance (Mark 15:38; Hebrews 4:16). We offer our prayers upon the altar, trusting in Jesus, our eternal, perfect, and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 10:19–23).

OUR WEEKLY PRAYER:

Our Father which art in Heaven, Honor and glory is Yours alone. You are to be praised, and no one can take that from You. Thank You, Lord, for Who You are in this earth, even though sometimes it does not seem that way, but we know You are in control of everything on this earth. Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.  Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away  from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart. In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar. Hear our prayer, O Lord God of our hearts, in Jesus' name, AMEN.