Ezra Chapter 3

Ezra Chapter 3 - Lesson

1.  When did the sons of Israel from all the cities gather as "one" in Jerusalem? vs. 1 the seventh month 

2.  What did Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and their brothers the priests do first of all? vs. 2  builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings 

3.  What did the burnt offerings illustrate? That  the feared God and was  doing what  the law of moses  was  telling them.  Just  as  we need to follow  what  God  tell us today.

4.  Why did they set up the altar and offer burnt offerings both day and night to the Lord? vs. 3 for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries

5.  What festival were they celebrating at that time? vs. 4 feast of tabernacle

6.  How often were the burnt offerings given? vs. 4 the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.

7.  After the feast of 7 days ended, did the burnt offerings stop? vs. 5 offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated

8.  Although they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord from the first day of the seventh month, what had not been laid yet? vs. 6 the foundation of the temple of the LORD 

9.  Who did they give money to so that the foundation could be laid? vs. 7 the masons, and to the carpenters

10.  Who did they give food, drink, and oil to and for what reason? vs. 7  meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa

11.  Who had given the nations permission to import to the Jews for this? vs. 7 Cyrus king of Persia

12.  What year and month after coming from captivity did the priests and people begin the work on the house of the Lord? vs. 8 second year second month

13.  Who were the leaders of the work to be done? vs. 8  Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levite.

14.  The Levites were appointed to oversee the work of the house of the Lord.  What was their age requirement? vs. 8 rom twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD

15.  What three men along with their sons and brothers stood united to oversee the workmen in the temple of God? vs. 9 - 1) Jeshua with his son

2)Kadmiel and his sons

3)the sons of Judah

16.  When the builders had laid the foundation, what did the priests do? vs. 10 set the priests in their apparel with trumpets

17.  What did the Levites, the sons of Asaph do? vs. 10 the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD

18.  Where did they get their instructions on praise and singing? vs. 10 after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

19.  What words did they sing? vs. 11  in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endurethfor ever toward Israel

20.  What did all the people do in response and why? vs. 11  all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD,

21.  Although there was so much rejoicing and shouting going on as the foundation was rebuilt, what were many of the older men doing who had witnessed the first temple's glory built by Solomon? vs. 12 wept 

22.  People who heard the cries could not tell who was crying for joy and who was weeping with grief.  Who could hear the cries? vs. 13 afar off

 Application

23.  In the 7th month of their return to their homeland, the Jews gathered in Jerusalem as "one man".  Unity is so important among God's people.  What do the following verses teach us about it?

• Psalm 133:1 -The excellency of brotherly love. 
• 1Cor 10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
• John 17:11-26 -He does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, that they might raise estates and get preferments, but that they might be kept from sin, and furnished for their duty, and brought safely to heaven. Because he had work for them to do in the world; the world, though sick of them (Acts 22:22), and therefore not worthy of them (Heb. 11:38), yet could ill spare them. In pity therefore to this dark world, Christ would not have these lights removed out of it, but continued in it, especially for the sake of those in the world that were to believe in him through their word.
• Romans 15:5,6 -  The mercy he begs of God: Grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus.  . This is his plea with God in prayer, and is likewise an argument with them to seek it. We should have the glory of God in our eye in every prayer; therefore our first petition, as the foundation of all the rest, must be, Hallowed be thy name. Like-mindedness among Christians is in order to our glorifying God.   With one mind and one mouth. It is desirable that Christians should agree in every thing, that so they may agree in this, to praise God together. It tends very much to the glory of God, who is one, and his name one, when it is so. It will not suffice that there be one mo
• 1 Corinthians 1:10 - He extorts them to unity and brotherly love, and reproves them for their divisions. He had received an account from some that wished them well of some unhappy differences among them. It was neither ill-will to the church, nor to their ministers, that prompted them to give this account; but a kind and prudent concern to have these heats qualified by Paul’s interposition. He writes to them in a very engaging way:They interrupted him, by lifting up their voice, to put him into confusion, and that nobody might hear a word he said. Galled consciences kick at the least touch; and those who are resolved not to be rules by reason commonly resolve not to hear it if they can help it. And the spirit of enmity against the gospel of Christ commonly shows itself in silencing the ministers of Christ and his gospel, and stopping their mouths, as the Jews did Paul’s here. Their fathers had said to the best of seers, See not, Isa. 30:10. And so they to the best of speakers, Speak not. Forbear, wherefore shouldst thou be smitten? 2 Chr. 25:16.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 -
• Ephesians 4:1-6 - No matter what faith we are  if  we believe that Jesus died  for our sins and accempte dhim as our Savoir  then  we  are all God'schildren and all going  to  be  together in Heaven  with Him.
• Philippians 1:27 - We as God children  need to conducted ourselves  as  the way Jesus did.  If  you  would not take  Jesus  with you as  a frind to a place  you go then  you don't need to  be there because  you are taling him if you are a child of God.
• Philippians 2:2 -by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. We are of a like mind when we have the same love. Christians should be one in affection, whether they can be one in apprehension or no. This is always in their power, and always their duty, and is the likeliest way to bring them nearer in judgment. Having the same love. Observe, The same love that we are required to express to others, others are bound to express to us. Christian love ought to be mutual love. Love, and you shall be loved. Being of one accord, and of one mind; not crossing and thwarting, or driving on separat
• Colossians 3:14 -
• Acts 22:22-Their frantic conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime.  We never know  who  is  watching  us  at any given tme .  Just  think  if  just  because  we don't  have  the same  faith  as  onther chraistain  that we put  them down or  not help  them  and  when we get to Heaven a person said  your life  that I watched didn't show me  the way to chirst  why did you  not  showm me in live for  your christain friend.
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24.  The first thing the returning exiles built was an altar to establish worship to the Lord for fear of the enemies that surrounded them.  They were careful to offer sacrifices as they were instructed in the Word of God.  How are we instructed to seek the Lord above all else?  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Matthew 6:33 -
• Matthew 10:37 -
• Matthew 22:37,38 -
• 1 John 2:15 -

25.  What was the significance of offering the burnt offerings both morning and night?  It was a continual offering to the Lord.  What are we told about sacrificial offerings as a New Testament believer?

• Romans 12:1,2 -
• 2 Corinthians 2:14 -
• Ephesians 5:2 -
• Hebrews 13:15,16 -

26.  Though the altar for sacrifices had been erected, God's Temple remained in ruins. The people committed themselves to rebuilding the house of the Lord.  They were concerned about building their own homes when they returned to the ravished land as well.  The prophet Haggai was speaking to them at that time.  Comment on what he spoke to them by Word of the Lord at that time and see how we can relate to this.

• Haggai 1:1-5 -

27.  Though God's people were unified in their homeland, bringing sacrifices, and restoring the Temple, they were still "homesick" for the temple's glory they had experienced in the past.  Some of the elders who remembered the first Temple in all its glory were disappointed in the new Temple. Therefore, they wept. Though restored to their home, a longing remained for full and final redemption. Though secure in God, we long for our true home.  This is not our permanent dwelling.  We will one day have our adoption as sons complete and we will be home with the Father.  We must endure this life with a holy discontentment at times..... How do you handle the discontentment of this life? Do you allow the inner pain drive you to God?

• Habakkuk 3:16-18 -
• John 14:1-3 -
• Romans 8:19-25 -
• Philippians 4:11,12 -
• 1 Timothy 6:6-11 -
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 -
• Philippians 3:7,8 -

28.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like. We can praise God we every we are at. Some people think that you need to be in Church to worship or pray or praise God. This is not true we are shown this in Ezra chapter 3. They didn't even have the foundation done and they still worshipped God as was in the law of Moses.

We need to be thankfully for what we have. But most of all for God's mercy and grace.