Ezra, Chapter 1 Lesson

1.  Whose spirit did the Lord "stir up" to have the Jews return from captivity to rebuild His house in Jerusalem? vs.1,2Cyrus king of Persia

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Note: It is quite possible that the Prophet Daniel was instrumental in this stirring of Cyrus. He may have showed the king the prophecies of Jeremiah 25:8-13 and Jeremiah 29:10-14, which refer to the punishment of Babylon and the end of Israel’s exile. And if he showed Cyrus such prophecies, he almost certainly would have included Isaiah 44:28-45:5, which mentions Cyrus by name some 150 years before he was born.

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2.  Who had the Lord spoken through in a prophecy ahead of time about this? vs. 1  Jeremiah

3.  What did the king of Persia put into writing? vs. 2 The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

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Note: This remarkable recognition of God’s hand upon his life may be connected with the remarkable prophecies regarding Cyrus in Isaiah 44:28-45:4.

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4.  Who were invited to participate in this? vs. 3 God's people

5.  As a remnant would return for this, what were the other survivors of captivity in the various locations supposed to do for those who went back to Jerusalem? vs. 4 Help  with gold ,silver, and other goods.

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Note: This introduces a central theme for the Book of Ezra – the rebuilding of the temple. Beginning with the decree of Cyrus, the intention was not merely to return and reoccupy Jerusalem but to also rebuild the temple.

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6.  Who among the heads of the father's households of Judah and Benjamin and the Levites actually arose to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem?the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised   What happened to their hearts to cause them to go up? vs. 5  spirit God had raised

7.  How did the survivors around them encourage the ones who were going up to rebuild? vs. 6  vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things.

8.  Besides caring for their practical needs, what else was given to them? vs. 6 beside all that was willingly offered.

9.  What did King Cyrus of Persia bring out to send back of things that Nebuchadnezzar had taken and put into the house of his gods? vs. 7  the vessels of the house of the LORD.

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Note:  These articles had been taken when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem and placed in the heathen temples of Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:7,18; Daniel 1:2; Ezra 5:14; 6:5). Later, as recorded in Daniel 5, Belshazzar had used them in an idolatrous feast. At that time God sent a moving hand to write on the wall a warning to Belshazzar that his doom was sealed. Daniel interpreted the meaning of the message, and that night the Persians overthrew Babylon.

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10.  Who did the King of Persia appoint to do this and who was the account given to? vs. 8 Sheshbazza

11.  List the things that were given to be returned to the Lord's house when it was rebuilt? vs. 10 - Name 6 items 1)  gold_
2) silver basons
3) 
4)
5)
6)

12.  Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem. (vs.11)  What was the total number of articles of gold and silver? vs. 11  five thousand and four hundred

Applications:

1.  God is faithful to complete what He has started in His people.  He is faithful to His promises even when we fail to be faithful to Him at times.  He had a future and a hope for the nation of Israel to bring the promised Messiah to the world and though there were interuptions to that plan along the way, the road always brought it back to God's plan for the ages.  Remember when the Lord told Peter He knew He would deny Him 3 times, and yet He told him that He would return and strengthen his brothers.  Aren't you glad that He will finish what He started in each one of us?  Comment on the following Scriptures on the faithfulness of God. 

• Ezra 1:1,2 - God  had  proimesed  HIs people that  He would bring  tham back  to  thei won country.  He used a non-believer to do this  but  the  best  thing  that  He did was tell  about  this king  over 150 years  before  the king was  even thought of.  Jsut  think God knows  us before even our parents  did  what a awsome God  we have.
• Isaiah 44:24-28 - God's  work as Creator of all the earth supports His ability to form Israel as a people and secure the promised redemptio
• Isaiah 45:1-13 -  God raised up Cyrus for the purpose of saving Israel. He forgives Israel’s sin for His own sake in 43:25; they had not repented, but He still delivers them because of their status as His chosen
• Jeremiah 29:10,11 -
• Luke 22:31-34 -
• John 21:17 -
• Romans 8:28 -
• Philippians 1:6 -
• 2 Timothy 2:13 -

2.  We are a product of God's faithfulness through the ages.  What are we told happened in the 'fullness of time"? Comment on the following verses:

• Galatians 4:4-5 -Refers to the incarnation of Jesus—when the eternal Son of God became a human being (John 1:14). As a Jew, Jesus was born “under the law” and was obligated to fulfill its requirements during His life on earth. As one “under the law,” His crucifixion involved His becoming a curse (Deut 21:23). Because of His sacrificial act, the curse was removed from others (3:13).

3.  When we return to the Lord after a time of unfaithfulness, He is so delighted to have us back!  In light of this, read the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the book of Luke.  In the same way, the Father is waiting and there will be a celebration in heaven, even with the angels, when we come back home.  Have you been away from Him?  He is waiting and watching for you to come down that road home.  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Luke 15:4-10 -
• Luke 15:11-32 -

4. Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you like.  Offer the Lord your thanks for bringing you back from the exile of sin. 1.        In the first year of his reign Cyrus the king issued a permit to rebuild the temple.

2.        The leaders of Judah and Benjamin, priests and Levites responded to this permit.

3.        Exiles returned to Judah.

4.        Other inhabitants of Judah helped them to build a temple.

5.        King Cyrus gave the temple vessels to Sheshbazzar.

6.        Sheshbazzar brought the vessels from Babylon to Jerusalem and placed them in the temple.

I found  this  looking up the  prince ofSheshbazzar.  Here: 

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