Written by David Self Sunday, 10 December :00 - Last Updated Thursday, 04 January :42

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview Dec. 17, 2006 "Following Godly Spiritual Leaders" Background: Ezra 7:1-10:44 Lesson : Ezra 7:8-10; 9:1-2, 4; 10:1-5 Motivation: What is God willing to supply to His servants who trust and obey? Paul says, "And my God shall supply all your needs..." (Philippians 4:19). In this passage, God supplies protection, material resources and joy. Examination: I. Returning to Jerusalem (7:1-8:36) A. Leader (7:1-10) 1. Pedigree: Ezra's ancestry is listed in verses 1-5 both to identify him &q uot;this Ezra" (6) and to show his descendance from Aaron, the first high priest. 2. Profession: Ezra was a "ready" or "skilled" scribe, a reference not only to his manual dexterity but also to his knowledge and interpretation of the Law. By Jesus' time, the scribes seemed to be the main source of interpretation of the Law and rabbinical writings. 3. Practice: "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." (10) (Ps. 19:7-14) a. Ezra Prepared his Heart - Our relationship with God is a heart issue. We seek his face through confession, repentance and obedience. (Prov. 4:23) b. Ezra Pursued the Word - "to seek the Law", 2 Timothy 2:15 admonishes us to rightly divide the word of truth. Bible study is more than Bible reading, we must make a conscious effort to study, learn and apply God's truths. 1 / 7

2 c. Ezra Practiced the Law - "to do it", James 4:17 says &q uot;therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." Bible study, no matter how diligent, is worthless without Bible practice. In other words, we measure our conduct and attitudes against the rule of the Word. (Rom. 8:28-29, 14:23) d. Ezra Pronounced the Truth - "to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." Notice that preparation, pursuit and practice precede pronouncement. A teacher must make God's Word a part of his/her life before sharing it with others. However, once that is done, no one influences people more than a Godly teacher who practices what is taught. (Ps. 119:11, Matt. 5:20) B. Letter (11-26) Features of Artaxerxes decree included: 1. Support for the Temple (12-24) - Ezra received freewill offerings as well as an ample endowment from the King's treasury. In addition, the temple workers were tax exempt. This lavish support was designed to ward off God's wrath (23). 2. System of Justice (25) - Ezra was to set up a system of "magistrat es and judges" to enforce the Law. Evidently, he was placed in authority over the Jewish population with instruction to teach the law to Jews who were ignorant of it. 3. Sure Punishment (26) - Ezra was given the authority to inflict "deat h or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment." This much power given to a non-persian attests to the high regard for Ezra in the king's court. C. Laud (27-28) "Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes." Ezra was 2 / 7

3 grateful to God, realizing that He had "put such a thing as this in the king's heart" (27). Ezra also praised God for His mercy and encouragement. Gratefulness is perhaps the crowning virtue from which many Godly qualities spring. D. Leave "...those who went up with me from Babylon..." (8:1) In chapter two we read a list of families who made the journey from Persia to Judah. In this account, we see those who actually accompanied Ezra. 1. Leadership Is People Centered (1-14) These verses detail names. H. Ross Perot once said, "Inventories are managed; people are led." Leaders cannot be so project centered that they forget the people they're leading. 2. Leadership Identifies the Gaps (15-20) After an "inventory" of resources, Ezra found no Levites. Since Levites would be necessary to the ongoing upkeep of the Temple, Ezra had to fill this gap. 3. Leadership Inspires the Followers (21-22) "Then I proclaimed a fast..." Fasting and prayer are often found together in Scripture. The denial of physical needs heightens the sensitivity to spiritual things. Unless leaders continually point their people to spiritual applications, church work can become like any other work. 4. Leadership Involves Making Tough Decisions "For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort..." (22a) Because Ezra had told Artaxerxes that God would protect His people (22b), he didn't request an armed escort. As we studied in Nehemiah 2:9, an armed escort was a valuable asset. A leader often has more information and more aspects of a decision to consider than any one follower. So, at times, decisions don't seem to make sense to everyone. 5. Leadership Influences Integrity (24-30) Ezra was careful to publicly weigh and inventory the valuables before and after the trip. He involved trustworthy guardians (29) for accountability. 3 / 7

4 6. Leadership Insures a Good Result (31-36) a. Safe Passage (31-32) - Ezra had prayed for "traveling mercies" and was quick to praise God for answered prayer. Burnt offerings were given to God to highlight the answered prayers and to demonstrate a spirit of obedience. (Ps. 121) b. Sure Passage (33-34) - In verses 24-30, gold and silver had been parceled out to the leaders for safe keeping during the pilgrimage. Now there was an accounting for all that was given out. We are accountable, also, for what God has given us. (Matt. 25:14-30) c. Sacrifices (35-36) - Notice the lavish number of animals sacrificed. The great sacrifice reflected their deep gratitude. II. Confessing Sin (9:1-15) A. The Problem (1-4) 1. Sin Exposed (1-2) The sin that condemned Israel to exile was primarily one of idolatry. Historically, this can be traced back to intermarriage with pagans and adoption of their idols (cf. Solomon, I Kings 11:1-13). To fall back into the same sin so soon after their return from exile was staggering to Ezra. The law was clear: Deut. 7:3. 2. Sin's Extent (1-2) a. Religious leaders: "priests and Levites" (1) The religious leaders broke God's covenant and set a terrible example for all the people. b. National leaders: "the leaders and rulers have been foremost in the trespass" (2) Malachi 2:11-16 suggests that some of these "marriages" were between Jewish men and cultic prostitutes. 4 / 7

5 3. Sin's Effect (1-4) a. "Abominations" (1) - This includes all foreign worship practices abhorred by God. (Jer. 10:3-5) b. "Mingled" (2) The consequences of intermarriage for the Jews went far beyond the desire for racial purity (Gen. 17:7-8). By marrying outside their religion, the Jews opened themselves to idolatrous practices and beliefs. c. "Astonished" (3, 4) - Ezra was so affected by the rampant sin that he tore his clothes and plucked his hair, actions associated with intense grief. (Job 1:20). d. "Trembled" (4) Ezra's example drew others to him who also feared God. Putting God on the throne of our hearts is the only way to truly recognize sin and appreciate its consequences for us. B. The Prayer (5-15) 1. Ezra Identified with the People in their Sin (6) 2. Ezra Recognized That Their Captivity Had Come as a Result of Sin (7) We will never deal with sin as long as we excuse it as "indiscretion", "character weakness" or "slips." Ezra called sin, sin and owned up to it. 3. Ezra Glorified God for His Grace and Mercy (8-9) God had redeemed His people out of slavery once again. 4. Ezra Agonized Over the Nature of Their Sin (10-12) Ezra admitted that the people had no defense or rationale. The law was clear; they had broken it. 5. Ezra Apologized and Asked for God's Mercy Again (13-15) Ezra recognized that God had dealt mercifully with them in the past and that the people had returned immediately to their sin. He had no defense other than to throw himself and the people on "the mercy of the court." (Heb. 10:15-25; 4:15-16) III. Turning from Sin (10:1-44) A. Response (1-5) 1. Remorse "Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God..." (1a) "...for the people wept bitterly" (1b) Believer's Study Bible, p. 646: 5 / 7

6 10:1, 2 "This example of the leadership of Ezra, who is weeping and bowing down before the house of God' (v. 1), and the response of the people in confessing that we have trespassed against our God' (v. 2) are the ingredients of sustained revival and renewal." 2. Repentance "Let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives..." (3) Ezra's strong spiritual leadership led to a strong "gra ss roots" movement of revival. The people met, confessed their sin, and made arrangements to correct the problem. The decision to "put away" their idolatrous wives should not be seen as an approval passage for all divorce. The Hebrew word "put away" is not the usual word for divorce. Also, the Hebrew word for "take strange wives" strongly suggests that those were not legal marriages at all. Christians should be the best spouses in the marriage they have. Application 1. Teachers must be willing to first study then practice God's truth. Every parent is a teacher. (John 17:17) 2. Certain issues cannot be compromised in the Christian life; they are non-negotiable. 3. The only proper response to sin is repentance. 4. The words of repentance must be followed by the deeds of reform. Teaching Packet: Item 6: Poster: Lesson Outline Biblical Illustrator: p. 47, "Ezra: Scribe & Priest" Notes/Dates: 9/21-3/22 - Men's Life, Thurs. 6-7:30 am, Dec Living Proof Event, Dec / 7

7 CSI Houston, Dec Children's Ministry "Wintry Blast" 9-11 am., Dec Closed (except adult choir), Dec Christmas Eve - (both a.m./ss opt; 5 & 11 pm), Dec Closed Wed. eve., Dec New Year's Eve (Full Schedule - Jeffrey DeLeon preaching), Dec Summit New Year's Eve Masquerade, Jan. 4-3/22 - Men's Life - Thurs. 6-7:30am, Jan 7 - Bob Reccord in AM services / John Ashworth in the PM service, Jan Share Your Faith Training. 7 / 7