Looking Back and Moving Forward

 Homiletics                                                Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    29                                            Title :          Looking Back and Moving Forward

Content (List of Topics or Events)                      Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Exile & God’s Sovereignty in Judgment (Ezekiel, Daniel) Ezekiel 1.God’s glory departs the temple → judgment is real and deserved. 2.Individual responsibility before God (Ezekiel 18). 3.Promise of new heart and spirit (36:26). 4. Vision of restored temple and renewed presence → God is not finished. Daniel 1.God rules over all kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome). 2.Faithfulness in a hostile culture (Daniel in lions’ den, fiery furnace). 3.Prophetic timeline: “Son of Man” and coming eternal kingdom (Daniel 7). 4.God’s plan unfolds across history—not just Israel.

Return & Rebuilding (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) Ezra 1.Return from exile under Persian decree. 2.Rebuilding the temple. 3.Centrality of God’s Word and covenant obedience. 4.Spiritual reform is just as important as physical rebuilding. Nehemiah 1.Rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls amid opposition. 2.Leadership marked by prayer, planning, and perseverance. 3.National repentance and covenant renewal (Nehemiah 9–10). 4.Ongoing struggle with sin—even after success. Esther 1.God’s name is not mentioned—but His hand is everywhere. 2.Preservation of the Jewish people through providence. 3.Courage and calling: “for such a time as this.” 4.God works even when He seems hidden.

Restoration, Awakening & Future Hope (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) Haggai 1.“Consider your ways”—people prioritized themselves over God. 2.Rebuilding the temple is a spiritual priority. 3.God promises future glory greater than the former. Zechariah 1.Rich visions of restoration and Messiah. The coming King: humble yet victorious (Zech 9:9). 2.Future cleansing, shepherd imagery, and ultimate victory of God. 3.Strong messianic and apocalyptic themes. Malachi 1.Spiritual apathy and empty religion. 2.Corrupt priests, broken covenant faithfulness. 3.Promise of a coming messenger (John the Baptist) and the “Day of the Lord.” 4.Ends with anticipation of future intervention.

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Exile & God’s Sovereignty in Judgment	Ezekiel, Daniel
Return & Rebuilding	Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Restoration, Awakening & Future Hope	Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

God’s Word reveals His enduring faithfulness and calls us to faith-filled action.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that God’s Word reveals His enduring faithfulness and calls us to faith-filled action.

Application Questions

Where do you turn when things go wrong?

What challenges do you have where dependence on God is fully required?

What relationships need to be addressed to bring restoration and hope?

Principles to Remember

Even when God’s people lose everything, God has not lost control.

God restores His people, but external rebuilding must be matched by internal renewal.

Restoration has begun—but true transformation and fulfillment are still ahead.

Characteristic of God

At Work to Transform Us

Theme

God is at work with His people, reclaiming, restoring and rebuilding a covenant relationship with them.

 

 

Malachi 1-4

 Homiletics                                                         Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    28                                                     Passage:    Malachi 1-4

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Today: Love Defiled – Priest Profane and Judah Unfaithful (Malachi 1-2) 1. Lord’s love declared (1:1-2) 2. Lord’s love for Jacob described (1:3-5) 3. Lord questions people’s honor and respect (1:6) 4. Priest’s unacceptable offerings; contemptible sacrifices brought to Lord’s table (1:7-14a) a. Bringing imperfect offerings; would Lord be pleased and accept you? b. Plead for grace for unacceptable offerings? c. Pure offerings required; Lord’s name great among nations d. Lord’s table defiled, contemptible; cheating with blemished offerings e.Lord is a great king to be feared 5. Warning to Priests of rebuke so covenant will continue with true instruction; nothing false (2:1-6) 6. Priests ought to preserve knowledge of law as messenger; teaching caused stumbling. Profaning covenant by being unfaithful (2:7-10) 7. Judah has been unfaithful by marrying women who worship foreign gods and unfaithfulness to wife (2:11-16) 8.Weary God by doing evil in God’s eyes (2:17)

A Day is Coming; Call to Listen and Return (Malachi 3:1-16) 1. Messenger of covenant will prepare the way before the Lord you are seeking (3:1) 2.  A refiner’s fire and purifier being acceptable offering before the Lord (3:2-4) 3. On trial testifying against sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, those that defraud, oppress widows and orphans, deprive foreigners of justice but do not fear the Lord (3:5) 4. Consistent to descendants of Jacob requesting “return to me and I’ll return to you” (3:6-7) 5. Return by not robbing God; bring whole tithe and floodgates will be open and blessed (3:8-12) 6. Arrogant talk against Lord and ask about what you gain by carrying out the Lord’s requirements (3:13-15) 7. Those who fear the Lord, shared and Lord listened and heard and names entered on scroll of remembrance (3:16)

On That Day: Healing or Judgment (Malachi 3:17-4:6)  1. On that day those who fear Lord will be a treasured possession and, with compassion spare them (3:17-18) 2. The day coming will burn like furnace; set arrogant and evil on fire destroying them (4:1) 3. Those who revere Lord’s name the sun will rise heal and be glad (4:2) 4. You’ll trample on the wicked when the Lord acts (4:3) 5. Remember the Law given through Moses, the decrees and laws given (4:4) 6. Prophet Elijah will be sent before that great and dreadful day (4:5) 7. Hearts will be turned parents to children and children to parents or Lord comes to strike land with total destruction (4:6)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Today: Love Defiled – Priest Profane and Judah Unfaithful	Malachi 1-2
A Day is Coming; Call to Listen and Return	Malachi 3:1-16
On That Day: Healing or Judgment	Malachi 3:17-4:6

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Malachi questions challenging unfaithful telling of Defining and Refining Day

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that God loves His people and requires our best; the Lord is coming unfaithful will be judged and righteous will rise

Application Questions

How are you giving your best and honoring God with your finest?

Where are you faithfully speaking out for the Lord?  If not, why not?

In what ways do you see yourself as God’s treasured possession?

Principles to Remember

God is deserving of honor and praise

If we return to Him; He will return to us.

The Day of the Lord is Coming

Characteristic of God

Faithful to His Covenant

Theme

God’s call to faithfulness to Him and His kingdom, and covenant commitments to our wife. A day is coming

 

Nehemiah 11-13

 Homiletics                                                         Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    27                                                     Passage:    Nehemiah 11-13

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Jerusalem and Surrounding Settlements Settled (Nehemiah 11-12:26) 1. Leaders and others lots cast lots to occupy Jerusalem (11:1-2) 2. Provincial leaders and descendants of Solomon’s servant settle (11:3) 3. Listed descendants described   a. Judah (11:4-6) b. Benjamin (11:7-9) c. Priests (11:10-14) d. Levites (11:15-18) e. Gatekeepers (11:19) 4. Living locations identified (11:20-36) 5. Returnee groups Priest and Levites listed (12:1-26) a. Returned with Zerubbabel (1-7a) b. Leaders of priests in days of Joshua (7b-21) c. Family heads in day of Eliashib (22-26

Celebration at Jerusalem’s Wall Dedication (Nehemiah 12:27-43) 1. Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem – priests purified themselves, people, gates and wall (12:27-30) 2.  Two large choir assembled to give thanks (12:31-43) a. First choir to top of wall toward Dung Gate with teacher of Law leading procession passing David’s palace (12:31-37) b. Second choir in opposite direction stopping at Gate of the Guard (12:38-39 c. Two choirs gave thanks then took places in house of God (12:40-42) 3. God had given great joy bringing great sacrifices and great joy in Jerusalem (12:43)

Warnings of Foreign engagements, Honoring Sabbath and Foreign Family Entanglements (Nehemiah 12:44-13:31)  1. Men appointed in charge of contribution (12:44-47) 2. On that day while reading the Law they heard that Ammonite and Moabite were never to be admitted to assembly of God and they excluded foreigners (13:1-3) 3. Prior Eliashib allowed Tobiah use of storerooms (13:4-5) 4. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem learns of Tobiah’s storeroom use; they’re cleared, purified, back to use for house of God (13:6-9) 5. Portions weren’t given to Levites and house of God neglected brings rebuke and trustworthy assignments (13:10-14) 6. Sabbath desecrated at winepresses and selling goods is chastised (13:15-18) 7. Nehemiah has gates closed leaving merchants outside the gates asking God to remember (13:19-22) 8. Men of Judah married foreign women, children spoke foreign language angering Nehemiah’s strong rebuke to not allow children to marry foreigners (13:22-27) 9. Priestly office defiled is driven away; priests purified Nehemiah asking for God’s favor (13:28-31)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Jerusalem and Surrounding Settlements Settled	Nehemiah 11-12:26
Celebration at Jerusalem’s Wall Dedication	Nehemiah 12:27-43
Warnings of Foreign engagements, Honoring Sabbath and Foreign Family Entanglements	Nehemiah 12:44-13:31

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Jerusalem settled, wall dedication celebration with Nehemiah’s God Honoring corrections

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that settling with God is cause for celebration, purity alignment with His best for us. God is faithful

Application Questions

How are you living as God desires? How have you asked?

In what ways are you celebrating God’s goodness to you?

Where are you stretching the boundaries and how can you reign them in for God’s best for you?

Principles to Remember

God has a place for us

God is worthy of praise

Living pure lives is God’s best for us

Characteristic of God

Our Blessing

Theme

Nehemiah describes settling in God’s place, celebration God’s goodness and living holy lives according to God’s plan

Nehemiah 9-10

Homiletics                                                         Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    26                                                     Passage:    Nehemiah 9-10

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Authentic Worship (Nehemiah 9:1-37) 1. Israelites gathered for fasting, wearing sackcloth and putting dust on heads separating from foreigners confessing sins (9:1-2) 2. They read from Law, confessing and worshiping God with Levites calling “stand up and praise God who is eternal, bless His name; He is Lord and gives life (9:3-6) 3. Lord chose Abram; righteous God (9:7-8) 4. Lord saw suffering in Egypt bringing them Red Sea; God who leads and saves (9:9-12) 5. Lord gave laws and regulations on Mt Sinai and feed us (9:13-15) 6. Lord is compassionate sustaining in wildness (9:16-21) 7. Lord you gave us our land full of wealth and goodness (9:21-25) 8. Lord you discipline the disobedient and hear our prayers (9:26-28) 9.Lord you keep your covenant of love remaining righteous (29-37)

Authentic Commitment to God (Nehemiah 9:38-10:29) 1. A binding agreement, in writing from leaders, Levites and priests and sealed (9:38) 2. List of persons who sealed it (10:1-28 a. Governor (10:1) b. Priests (10:2-8) c. Levites (10:9-13) d. Leaders (10:14-27) e. Rest of People- priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and people (wives, sons, daughters, all who understood) (10:28) 3. Binding with curse and oath to follow the Law of God and obey carefully commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord (10:29)

Authentic Promise to holiness and support of house of God (Nehemiah 10:30-39)  1. Not to give daughters in marriage or take their daughter for our sons (10:30) 2. Will not buy merchandise or grain on Sabbath; honor the sabbath year (10:31) 3. Will be responsible for prescribed offerings on Sabbaths, holy days and sin offerings (10:32-33) 4. Priests, Levites and people have cast lots to set times to bring wood to house of Lord for altar (10:34) 5. Will bring “first fruits” of crops and fruit and, as written our firstborn sons, cattle herds, flocks to house of God to priest ministering there (10:36) 6. Will bring firsts of ground meal, grain offerings, fruit, new wine, olive oil and a tithe of crops to Levites and support the priests (10:37-39a) 7. We will not neglect the house of God (10:39b)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Authentic Worship	Nehemiah 9:1-37
Authentic Commitment to God	Nehemiah 9:38-10:29
Authentic Promise to holiness and support of house of God	Nehemiah 10:30-39

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Description of humble recognition God’s hand with sealed godly commitment

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that worship recognizes God’s holiness, His work in our lives and our righteous authentic commitment to Him

Application Questions

How are you authentically coming before the Lord? How do you recognize His work for you?

Are your commitments to the Lord authentic and real?  How’s your follow-through?

We have call to faithfulness; In what ways are you giving your best to the Lord?

Principles to Remember

God is our blessing – Worship Him

God calls us to Him – In Adoration

God desire our holy commitment – Our Faithfulness

Characteristic of God

Deserving of honor and praise

Theme

Nehemiah describes the people’s authentic worship, commitment to righteousness and holy support

 

Nehemiah 6:15-8:18

 Homiletics                                                         Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    25                                                     Passage:    Nehemiah 6:15-8:18

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Walls and Doors to Jerusalem in Place (Nehemiah 6:15-7:4) 1. Walls completed in 52 days, done with help of God (6:15-16) 2. Letters to and from Tobiah to nobles of Judah telling of Nehemiah’s words with Tobiah trying to intimidate (6:17-19) 3. Doors of Jerusalem set in place with gatekeepers, musicians and Levites appointed (7:1) 4. Nehemiah put his brother in charge of Jerusalem along with Hananiah as commander of citadel; they were men of integrity and feared God (7:2) 5. Nehemiah instructed when gates to be opened with gatekeepers on guard; appointing residents as guards (7:3) 6. Jerusalem summarized as large and spacious with few residents (7:4)

Registration of Returnees to Jerusalem and Judah (Nehemiah 7:5-7:73a) 1. Nehemiah assembled nobles, officials and common people calling for a census matching to genealogical records of first returnees (7:5) 2. People coming from captivity to Jerusalem and own towns in company of Zerubbabel: a. List of men of Israel (7:7-38) b. Priests (7:39-42) c. Levites (7:43) d. Musicians (7:44) e. Gatekeepers (7:45) f. Temple Servants (7:46-56) g. Descends of Solomon’s servants (7:57-60) h. Those could not show descended from Israel (7:61-62) i. Among priests and excluded from priest as unclean (7:63-65) j. Totals include slaves, singer, and animals (7:66-69) 3. Funds added to treasury 7:70-72) 4. Priest, Levites, gatekeepers, temple servants and rest of Israelites settled in their towns (7:73)

Teaching the Law and Celebration the Festival of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18)  1. People come together at Water Gate telling Ezra to bring out Book of the Law (7:73b-8:1) 2. Ezra reads aloud the Book of the Law to people assembled (8:2-5a) 3. As Ezra read the people stood up, they praise the Lord “Amen” (8:5b-6) 4. Levities read the book giving meaning (8:7-8) 5. Nehemiah declares “Holy day”, no more weeping (8:9) 6. Nehemiah tells to have choice food and sweet drinks “Lord is your Strength”; a holy day (8:10-12) 7. Heads of families, priests and Levites gather giving attention to the Law; learning of temporary shelters of branches and doing it (8:13-16) 8. Returnees from exile built temporary shelter and celebrated with joy (8:17) 9. Seven days Ezra read the Book of the Law (8:18)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Walls and Doors to Jerusalem in Place	Nehemiah 6:15-7:4
Registration of Returnees to Jerusalem and Judah	Nehemiah 7:5-7:73a
Teaching the Law and Celebration the Festival of Tabernacles	Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Wall protection, census, law reading brings celebration of tabernacle feast

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that doing what God has for us requires focus, removing distractions, pure motives and prayer.

Application Questions

How are you guarding those sacred things in your life?

In what ways are you taking inventory of the blessings given to you? (Count them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.)

How are you being doers of the word and not hearers only?

Principles to Remember

Those of Good Report are Blessed

Faithful Families Count

Experiencing God is cause for celebration

Characteristic of God

Carries us through

Theme

Nehemiah shares the completion of the wall, vigilance in watching and celebration of God’s truth.