The Character Assassination Begins Ezra 4:1-24

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1 The Character Assassination Begins Ezra 4:1-24 Message by Michael J. Barnard June 5, 2016 Teaching Aim: To come to the understanding that Satan will do everything he can to interrupt the work of the LORD. To realize not everyone who enters into the assembly of the LORD and offers help is really our friend. To recognize our need to remain holy and pure if we want God s blessing on our lives and ministries. To come to the realization we are in this battle with the enemy for the long haul. DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: An attempted infiltration by the enemy (Ezra 4:1-5) 1. Who came to Zerubbabel with an offer to help the tribes of Judah and Benjamin rebuild the temple (vs. 1)? What is the meaning of the word adversary? (See Dictionary) Who were these adversaries and where were did they come from? 2. What request did the Samaritans make to Zurubbabel and the heads of the fathers houses (vs. 2)? According to verse 2, what was the basis of their request? How long did they claim to have worshiped the LORD? Was this claim true? Why or why not? (See 2 Kings 17:29,32-34,41) 3. Why is it important for believers today not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers? (See 2 Cor. 6:14) Is this command only for marriage, or does it include business partnerships and people desiring to serve in leadership positions within our churches? Why? (See John 3:3) 4. How did Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers houses of Israel respond to this attempt at infiltrating their ranks (vs. 3)? Why didn t they think like so many Christian leaders today that putting these unbelievers into ministry might lead to their salvation? What is the danger of putting a non-believer on a church leadership team? What sin played a major part in the downfall of the ten northern tribes to Assyria in 722 B.C. and the two southern tribes to Babylon in 586 B.C.?

2 5. What plan of action did the Samaritans take after Zerubbabel and the others rejected their offer to help (vv. 4-5)? Would the Samaritans have done this if they really wanted to help the Jews? Are churches today still standing down because of fear of attorneys and lawsuits? For how long did the Samaritans frighten and frustrate the work of the returning exiles? 6. Scripture promises us life won t always be easy. According to Matthew 16:24-25, how should believers respond when facing the challenges of life? What are we promised if we remain faithful to the Lord? (See Matt. 5:10-12) In what ways are you being persecuted today because of living out your faith? Part II: The work of God sabotaged by the lies of the enemy (Ezra 4:6-16) 1. In verses 6-23, Ezra steps out of chronological order in order to demonstrate how the enemies of the Jews attempted to stop their work over the next several decades and discourage them. How did the Samaritans make life difficult for the Jews? What are some ways adversaries have made your life difficult? 2. King Ahasuerus (also known as King Xerxes) is a main character in what book of the Bible (vs. 6)? (See Esth. 1:1-4) King Ahasuerus reigned over Persia from B.C. Who was his beautiful wife? What kind of character did this king portray? (Note: Apparently King Ahasuerus ignored the accusatory letter from the Samaritans, however his record keepers did note it in the Persian archives.) 3. In verses 7-23 we find yet another accusatory letter, this time written to King Artaxerxes I of Persia ( B.C.). Who wrote the second letter in this attempt to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem (vs. 7)? (Note: It is important to note here that the work on the temple had been completed in 515 B.C. This letter is attempting to stop the reconstruction of Jerusalem; the temple had been completed over half a century earlier!)

3 4. In what language was this letter written (vs. 7)? Why? In what way was the ancient Aramaic similar to our modern English today? What can we learn about the unusual access Ezra had to the Persian archives from verses 4:9-7:28? How do you think Ezra received this access? 5. Do verses 7-11 seem to indicate this letter was sent to King Artaxerxes I from just a few people or from the majority of the people living in the province known as Trans-Euphrates? Why or why not? Why do you think the introduction was written in this way? 6. The word Jews is used in verse 12, where did this word originate? (Hint: Google it!) According to verse 12, how did the Samaritans portray Jerusalem to the king? 7. What charges were made against the Jews in verses 12-15? How were they spun? Vs. 12 ~ Vs. 13 ~ Vs. 14 ~ Vs. 15 ~ Part III: King Artaxerxes I puts a stop to the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Ezra 4:17-24) 1. How did the Samaritan accusations (which they spun so effectively) affect King Artaxerxes (vv )? What did the king determine after hearing the results of the search? Who were the mighty kings spoken of in verse 20? How powerful were these two kings in the region? How did their kingdoms relate in size to the nation of Israel today? (Hint: See Bible maps) 2. What command did King Artaxerxes issue to the adversaries of Judah in verse 21? How did it affect the nearly 50,000 Jews working on the rebuilding of Jerusalem? Have you ever stopped your work for the Lord because you determined the cost was too great? If so, when? What would the Lord have wanted you to do?

4 3. What glimmer of hope was given to the Jews in verse 21? Did anything ever come out of that qualifying clause, until the command is given by me? (See Neh. 2:1-9) 4. The Jews didn t know the king would change his mind down the road, how do you think the Jews felt after all that harassment? What command did the king issue in verse 22? How are Christians being harassed today in our society? Should we let that stop the work of the Lord from going forward? (See 1 John 4:4) 5. What did Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions do immediately after receiving the king s reply (vs. 23)? Why didn t the Jews resist? 6. Verse 24 picks back up in the chronological order from which we left in verse 5. When did the work on the house of God (the temple) in Jerusalem resume? What year was this? (See Bible Commentaries) 7. According the 2 Timothy 3:12, what should every believer expect who is living a godly life in Christ Jesus? Are you facing persecution for the way you live your life? If not, why? What are some ways that fear can paralyze us and keep us from doing the work God wants us to do? What is the solution to such fear? 8. What are some applications that you can apply to your own life from this study?

5 MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! People offering to help our churches are not always our friends; sometimes people come into churches with a hidden agenda. Fear can paralyze and keep us from doing the work God would have us to do. The way to overcome fear is to trust God and face you fear head on. Those who try to live a godly life will be persecuted. (See 2 Tim. 3:12) Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. (See 1 John 4:4) When all seems to be going wrong, we need to remember God is still on the throne. For the Christian, victory will come in the end; for now we need to trust God and remain faithful to Him!