Ezra 4

Ezra Chapter 4

The temple is repaired

1.  What did the enemies of Judah and Benjamin ask Zerubbabel (the leader) in regard to rebuilding the temple of the Lord? vs.1,2 If they could help.

2.  What did they claim about their relationship to Judah's God? vs. 2 The   lied and said  that  the wanted  to worship  God also.

3.  How did Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders answer the enemies? vs. 3  They  said  that  they  had no part in rebuilding The temple  that  they  alone  would build it.

4.  What did the people of the land do to try to hinder the rebuilding of Judah's temple? vs.4,5 - List 4 things - 1)  discourage the people 

2)afraid to go on building

3)bribed officials to work against them 

4)frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

5.  How long did these attacks last? vs. 5  the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6.  What did the people of the land do during the reign of Ahasuerus? vs. 6 They  lodged  complaints  against  them ti him.

7.  What was done in the days of Artaxerxes? vs. 7 Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote letters to Artaxerxes

8.  What language was used in the text and translation of the letter? vs. 7 Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language

9.  What were the names of the men who wrote the letter against Jerusalem that was presented to King Artaxerxes? vs. 8 Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary

10.  What others stood with them? vs. 9,10 - Name 8 - 1)judges

 2)officials

3)administrators

4)Uruk 

5)Babylon

6)the Elamites of Susa,

7)Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria 

8)

11.  What did the letter accuse the Jews of rebuilding? restoring the walls and repairing the foundations   What did they call the city of Jerusalem? vs. 12 wicked city

12.  What did the letter say would happen to the revenue of the kings if the city of Jerusaelem was rebuilt and the walls of the city were finished? vs. 13 no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer

13.  They requested a search be made in the record books of their fathers to learn the history of the city of Jerusalem and what kind of damage had been done in the past. (vs.14,15) .... Why did they say the city was laid waste? vs. 15 rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition

14.  What did they say to the king would happen to him personally if the city and walls were rebuilt? vs. 16 be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

15. The king returned an answer to the letter. (vs.16) ... The document had been translated and read to him and he ordered a search to be made. (vs.17,18) ... What did he find to be true about Jerusalem's past? vs.19,20 - it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.

16.  What decree did King Artaxerxes issue and why? vs.21,22 To stop the building  of  the city auntil he  the king said other wise

17.  What did Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues do "as soon as" the copy of the decree from the king was read? vs. 23  the  forced them  to stop building,

18.  As a result, the work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased.  When would it begin again? vs. 24 the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Application:

1. The 'enemies' of Judah tried to convince them to let them 'build with them' because they served God as well.  How does our enemy (the devil) try to reason with us that he knows God and can speak for him?  Remember how he used the Word in the Wilderness with Jesus when tempting Him for 40 days and nights?  How does his followerers appear as sheep when they are really wolves out to destroy your faith?  Comment on the following verses and note how we must be very wise to the enemy's tactics in dealing with us as believers.

• Genesis 3:4,5 -The game therefore which Satan had to play was to draw our first parents to sin, and so to separate between them and their God. Thus the devil was, from the beginning, a murderer, and the great mischief-maker. The whole race of mankind had here, as it were, but one neck, and at that Satan struck. The adversary and enemy is that wicked one.
• Matthew 4:1-11 - Great privileges, and special tokens of divine favour, will not secure us from being tempted. Nay, 2. After great honours put upon us, we must expect something that is humbling; as Paul has a messenger of Satan sent to buffer him, after he had been in the third heavens. 3. God usually prepares his people for temptation before he calls them to it; he gives strength according to the day, and, before a sharp trial, gives more than ordinary comfort. The assurance of our sonship is the best preparative for temptation. If the good Spirit witness to our adoption, that will furnish us with an answer to all the suggestions of the evil spirit, designed either to debauch or disquiet us.
• Matthew 13:25-39 -
• 2 Corinthians 2:11 -
• 2 Corinthians 11:14 -
• 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 -
• Galatians 2:4 -
• Ephesians 6:11,12 -
• 1 John 4:1 -

2. Zerubbabel and the other leaders knew not to allow the enemies of the land to try and build with them.  After that the people of the land made them discouraged and fearful, even frustrating the counsel they received to get the work of the Lord to stop.  What examples do we have in our Bible to help us know we will face the same kind of threats and situations when we are working for the Lord?  Comment on the following Scriptures.

• Nehemiah 6:13 -
• 1 Thessalonians 2:18 -
• 2 Cornithians 10:3-5 -
• Ephesians 6:10-18 -
• 1 John 4:1 -
• 1 Peter 5:8 -

3.  They Jews were accused of being evil and rebellious actions from their past historical records.  The king actually stopped the work because of searching their past records.  Whether they had been that way or perceived that way, they were being falsely accused or blamed for others who went before them.  Sometimes we are falsely accused in this world or our past is brought up to us and we are kept from pursuing something really dear to our hearts.  Jesus was hated by the world and He warned His disciples the world would hate them and persecute them as well.  The apostle Paul dealt with being accused and maligned as well.  We are to expect it in our war with the flesh and the devil.  How should we react in such circumstances?  Comment on the Scriptures below:

• Matthew 5:11 -
• Matthew 12:24 -
• Matthew 26:59-61 -
• Mark 3:22-26 -
• Mark 14:55-58 -
• Luke 23:2 -
• John 3:13 -
• John 15:18,19 -
• John 17:14 -
• Acts 6:13,14 -
• Romans 12:19 -
• 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 -
• 2 Corinthians 11:13 -
• 1 Peter 2:20-23 -
• 1 Peter 3:14-17 -
• Revelation 2:9 -
• Revelation 12:10 -

4.  The work of God was hindered, but it would begin again under the reign of King Darius.  Many times there is a death to a vision, but also a resurrection to the work.  What must we do in the waiting period?  Keep praising, thanking, and doing all we can to serve Him.  Believe that the work will resume again.

• Proverbs 3:5-7 -
• Proverbs 14:12 -
• John 12:24 -
• Ephesians 2:10 -
• Philippians 1:6 -
• Philippians 2:13 -
• Hebrews 10:35-39 -

5.  Summarize the lesson and post a prayer if you would like

In doing good there is need of the wisdom of the serpent, as well as the innocency of the dove, and we have need, as it follows there, to beware of men, Mt. 10:16, 17. We should carefully consider with whom we are associated and on whose hand we lean. While we trust God with a pious confidence we must trust men with a prudent jealousy and caution.

The adversaries of the temple. (1-5) The building of the temple is hindered. (6-24)1-5 Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. The adversaries were the Samaritans, who had been planted in the land of Israel, #2Ki 17|. It was plain that they did not mean to unite in the worship of the Lord, according to his word. Let those who discourage a good work, and weaken them that are employed in it, see whose pattern they follow.

6-24 It is an old slander, that the prosperity of the church would be hurtful to kings and princes. Nothing can be more false, for true godliness teaches us to honour and obey our sovereign. But where the command of God requires one thing and the law of the land another, we must obey God rather than man, and patiently submit to the consequences. All who love the gospel should avoid all appearance of evil, lest they should encourage the adversaries of the church. The world is ever ready to believe any accusation against the people of God, and refuses to listen to them. The king suffered himself to be imposed upon by these frauds and falsehoods. Princes see and hear with other men's eyes and ears, and judge things as represented to them, which are often done falsely. But God's judgment is just; he sees things as they are.