Listen to our bonus season

the study of EZRA

OLD TESTAMENT

IN THIS EPISODE

• Ezra 5:1-5 (Haggai 1:13-15 / Zechariah 1:16-17) | God inspires leaders to action | 1:40
• Ezra 5:6-17 | Who is right? A letter to investigate the truth | 14:10
• Ezra 6:1-12 | Darius’s reply. God funds the Temple construction. | 26:55
• Ezra 6:13-18 | Temple completion. Ezekiel prophecy and Jesus in John 7. | 36:20
• Ezra 6:19-22 | Passover meal and festival of unleavened bread. Temple celebration. Takeaways. | 43:48

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | God providentially aligns our passions with his purpose in order to fulfill his promise

The world is constantly telling us what we should care about, what we should pursue, and how we should live. But God has something better in store for us. He is inviting you to participate with him in his plan to redeem the world and accomplish his glory. He is calling us to a greater purpose.

2 | Bible Reading tip

When an author references another book or prophecy…go read that prophecy! Keep an eye on the margins of your bible. They will often tell you where a prophecy is. Go read it! It will help you connect the dots from different parts of the Bible so you get a better understanding of the whole and a better understanding of the particular situation you are reading about.

3 | Identifying the problem is the first step to a solution

The Israelites confess their sin. They admit the fact that it was their own sin that caused the nation’s downfall and exile in the past. Accurately identifying the problem is key to moving forward. They could have tried to give their armies better training, but that that would have been solving the wrong problem. Admitting and owning their sin was essential to moving forward. The same is true in our lives. Is there sin in your life that is keeping your from living on mission with Jesus?

4 | Temple complete!…and also…not

Ezekiel prophesied about the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezekiel 40-48). The temple is now complete, so the prophecy is fulfilled, right? Yes and no. The temple is rebuilt, but it does not compare to the one prophesied by Ezekiel. But Jesus picks up on that imagery in John 7:37-39 and tells us that he is actually the fulfillment of the Ezekiel prophecy. Jesus is the true temple. The temple is the presence of God and we have that through the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are now the Temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. What should that change about the way you live?

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Matt and Neil discuss Ezra chapters 5 and 6. God uses people to move his plans forward. He turns around the plans of his enemies and uses them to fund Temple construction. The second Temple is rebuilt and begins a new period of Jewish history called Second Temple Judaism. The rebuilding of the temple foreshadows the greater temple that was still coming: Jesus. Now we are the Temple of God.

FYI, at 48:40 we reference the “I said yes” text number “888111”, but that is changing at the end of this month to “80875”.