When leading bible studies, it is easy to loose focus on the big picture and get a microscopic view on one individual specific item.  I want my class to step back and take a look at the big picture of scripture and of life. 

Today, we close our discussions about individual people from the pages of scripture.  Why would God give us these life stories?  What are we suppose to draw from these examples?  How can I expect the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago to make an impact in my life today? 

As a parent, these stories carry more and more weight as I watch my children go through similar patterns of independence, disobedience, failure and repentance.  I went through the same cycle.  After you repent, you get life back into balance.  You start to stand on your own two feet.  Then, you start to feel your independence again.  And then, you want to do what you want to do which leads you right back into disobedient. Life hits you in the face again and you turn back to God kicking and screaming.  You start this cycle all over again. 

I can reflect on those cycles of development in my own life both personally and spiritually.  I can see myself trying to slip back into those patterns of independence and disobedience.  I know now that I must choose obedience. I choose to submit my life to God through Jesus as my Christ and resist my individual independence.  Multiple charts and graphs could be used to try and explain the cycles of life people transition through as they deal with growing up and life, but as a Christian focus on the big picture; a man must be submitted to God.

That is the big picture for each individual and for each nation.  Do not loose focus on that simple fact as we consider various aspects of life in relation to people in scripture.  That was the situation with the people of Israel and Judah.  That is why God sent them prophet after prophet to warn His people that they must submit to Him or suffer the natural circumstances associated with disobedience.  That was the situation with the nation of Israel when Jesus walked this earth.  The Jewish people had a microscopic view of God and missed the big picture when He was doing miracles right in front of them showing His deity.  We looked at a situation described in scripture where the Jewish people heard a voice from heaven speak, but they refused to listen or give glory to God for Jesus. 

I love to use baseball as an illustration of life because it deals with balance.  Life is all about being balanced.  Hitting a baseball is all about shifting your weight to create torque while maintaining balance.  When life deals you crazy situations, you must shift things around in your daily life while maintaining your balance.  Just like a batter uses a bat to hit, you must use God's Word to deal with life situations. When a person does not submit to God and life deals him a tough situation, it is like trying to hit a baseball without a bat.  What is the point?  God gives you the answers of life so you can have focus about life and clarity when dealing with tough situations. 

Over the past month, we have been tracking the nation's history from David to Jesus. 
David lived around 1,000 b.c. 
We looked at Elijah and Elisha who lived around 850 b.c. 
We looked at Isaiah who lived around 700 b.c. 
A couple weeks ago we looked at Jeremiah who ministered between 627 b.c. - 586 b.c. 
Last week we looked at Daniel who wrote his book around 536 b.c. recording events from 605 b.c. which overlapped part of Jeremiah's ministry 
This week we will look at Ezra who records events from 538 b.c. - 458 b.c. 
Nehemiah follows Ezra and records events from 445 b.c. - 432 b.c. 
The last prophet before John the Baptist was Malachi around 430 b.c.  Then the voice of God goes silent four hundred years until John the Baptist announces the arrival of Jesus as the Messiah.

That four hundred year of silence from God was very rich in world events. 
This period had Socrates, Aristotle and Plato between 400 b.c. and 350 b.c. 
Alexander the Great defeats the Persian empire around 330 b.c. 
312 b.c. the Romans built their first paved road from Rome. 
In 255 b.c. a Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament was translated and called the Septugint. 
In 215 b.c. the great wall of China was built. 
100 b.c. Julius Caesar, first emperor of Rome, was born. 
55 b.c. Romans conquer England and it remained part of the empire till 442 a.d. 
51 b.c. Cleopatra becomes the last independent Egyptian ruler of the ancient world.  Cleopatra and her lover, Marc Antony, both die by suicide in 30 b.c.  Remember that Herod the Great built a building on the outside wall of the temple and dedicated it to Marc Antony.  This was the place Jesus was tried by Pontius Pilot.

Of all the historical events that have every taken place, what is the most important event?  It was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

At the end of 2 Chronicles, the southern kingdom of Judah went into captivity for seventy years.  Ezra, Nehemiah and Ester are the only historical accounts of life after the seventy years of captivity.  The Book of Ezra can be divided into two sections.  The first section (chapters 1-6) records the events when Zerubbabel led 50,000 Israelites back to Jerusalem.  Chapters 7-10 record Ezra leading 2,000 to Jerusalem.  We have the story of Ester which occurred around 470 b.c. during the second half of the book of Ezra.  Ezra wrote the book of Ezra and it is believed that he is the writer of 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles plus Psalms 119.  Ezra and Nehemiah go together like Elijah and Elisha go together.  These two books were considered one book in the old Hebrew Bible.  Nehemiah records the events after the book of Ezra although Ezra is found working in the book of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 8:5-12
5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 
6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God.  And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 
8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. 
9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 
10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.  Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 
11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 
12 All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them. 

Notice the posture of worship.  Verse 5 the people stand up when Ezra opens the book.  Verse 6 the people lift up their hands and then bow low in worship with their faces to the ground.  The Levites explained the law to the people.  This is basic bible study.  They were translating to give a solid understanding to what God was saying and the people started to cry.  This is like a funeral.  You will cry because you will miss your loved one, but if that person is a Christian it is a day a gladness.  You should eat, drink and be happy. 

Ezra was an Aaronic priest who served when the nation did not have a temple. An Aaronic priest was a direct descendent of Aaron and this family was the only priestly line who could go inside the Holy Place and serve God.  Because they did not have a temple, Ezra organized the synagogue and founded the order of the scribes.  Ezra helped organize the Psalms.  He also help establish the canon of old testament Scripture.   The book of Ezra is focused on rebuilding the temple.  The book of Nehemiah is focused on rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.  Ezra focuses on the religious aspects of the return while Nehemiah focuses on the political aspects of the return. 

Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. 

Ezra was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses.  Can people say that about you?  Are you skilled in the law of Moses?

Matthew 5:17-18
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Ezra 9:1-6
1 Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites. 
2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness." 
3 When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled. 
4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering. 
5 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; 
6 and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. 

Ezra did not arrive to Jerusalem until seventy-five years after the 50,000 people lead by Zerubbabel.  During that seventy-five years, the people had not walked with God.  They had worked on rebuilding the temple, but they had neglected God's Word in their lives.  Remember the cycles of independence, disobedience, failure and repentance we discussed earlier.  The 50,000 Israelites had found independence when they entered the land.  They found the people living in the land and became disobedient to God, again.  They intermarried with the people and accepted their religions.  Ezra now finds them in moral failure and he is calling for repentance.  Ezra gathers those who tremble at the Words of the God of Israel. 

Ezra 5:1-2
1 When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, 
2 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them. 

Notice that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah are mentioned in the book of Ezra.  I mentioned earlier that Ezra and Nehemiah were the last of the historical books of the old testament, but they are not the last book.  Malachi is the last book written, but it is considered to be more of a prophetic book than a historical account.  Haggai and Zechariah recorded their books of prophesy when the 50,000 were rebuilding the temple before Ezra came to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 1:1-6
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.  Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 
2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 
3 They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." 
4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 
5 I said, "I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 
6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned. 

At least five years after Ezra came to Jerusalem and it could have been fifteen years after Ezra, but the people are not walking with God.  Verse four reveals this man's heart.  Does this reflect your heart?  What about for your wife?  What about for your kids?  If not, it should. 

Nehemiah 6:1-4
1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, 
2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me. 
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.  Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" 
4 They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way.

When we discussed the life of David, the key element to David was his attitude.  Look at the attitude of Nehemiah in verse three.  I am doing a great work. Are you involved in a great work?  Yes, in your life.  Yes, in the life of your wife.  Yes, in the lives of your kids.  When life wants to pull you away from ministering to your family, respond that you are involved in a great work and that you can not be disturbed.

Esther 4:10-17
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai:
11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days." 
12 They related Esther's words to Mordecai. 
13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" 
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 
16 "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.  I and my maidens also will fast in the same way.  And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish." 
17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him. 

The book of Ester is a very unusual book.  It happened during the time when Ezra went to Jerusalem with the 2,000.  If you have studied Ester, you know that God's name is not mentioned and prayer is not mentioned.  You can not have prayer without God's name.  The theme of this book is that God is in control.  The Jewish people celebrate the 'Festival of Purim' from the rescue of God's people as recorded in Ester.

It is unusual based upon another interesting fact; Cyrus.  Cyrus was the king that gave the order for the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  Those events are recorded in Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah.  What about the large group of Jews that did not return?  That is record given to us in the book of Ester.

Isaiah was written between 700 b.c. and 681 b.c.  2 Chronicles was written around 430 b.c.  At least two hundred and fifty years in advance, God gave mankind the name of the king (Cyrus) who would give the order to rebuild the temple.   Jeremiah ministered between 627 b.c. - 586 b.c.  Ester was written around 470 b.c. recording events from 479 b.c.  Over a hundred years between Jeremiah and Ester.

Isaiah 44:24-28
24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone, 
25 Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness, 
26 Confirming the word of His servant And performing the purpose of His messengers.  It is I who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!'  And of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.'  And I will raise up her ruins again.
27 "It is I who says to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!'  And I will make your rivers dry.
28 "It is I who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd!  And he will perform all My desire.'  And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

Isaiah 45:1-5
1 Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 "I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
3 "I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
4 "For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.
5 "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.  I will gird you, though you have not known Me;
 

2 Chronicles 36:22-23
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia - in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah - the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 
23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!'" 
 

Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 "For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 
12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 
13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 
14 I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'