Ezra 3-6

 Homiletics                                                       Study:        Exile & Return                               

Lesson    10                                                     Passage:    Ezra 3-6

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Altar Built; Praise Rings Out (Ezra 3) 1. Seventh month Joshua and Zerubbabel with associates begin building altar to God (1-2) 2. Altar built despite fear of peoples around them; sacrificing to Lord burnt offerings (3-6) 3. Second month/Second year House of God rebuilding began by paying Tyre and Sidon for cedar logs (7) 4. Zerubbabel and Joshua with priests and Levites and family joined in supervising work on house of God (8-9) 5. Praise rang out with trumpets and cymbals as the foundations were laid, singing “He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever” (10-13)

Opposition Experienced; Support Edict Provided (Ezra 4:1-6:12a) 1. Enemies come asking to help build temple and are rejected (4:1-3) 2. The rejected set out to discourage, bribing officials to discourage (4:4-5) 3. Accusations lodged against Judah and Jerusalem in letter to Artaxerxes (4:6-16) 4. King sends reply indicating history of revolt and rebellion and compelled by force to stop (4:17-24) 5. Prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to build house of God (5:1-2) 6. Governor challenged authorization to rebuild temple asking for names with letter to king (5:3-10) 7. King responds with letter citing Cyrus’ decree to rebuild God’s house (5:11-16) 8. A search of the royal archives retrieved a copy of decree and contents (5:17-6:5) 9. Governor instructed to stay away from there and don’t interfere. (6:6-7) 10. Governor instructed to enable paying expenses and supplying sacrifices (6:8-10) 11. Anyone who defies edict or acts to destroy temple will be killed and their house destroyed. (6:11-12)

Temple Rebuild Completed; Joyous Worship Results (Ezra 6:12b-22) 1. Darius decree carried out with diligence (6:12b-13) 2. Elders of Jews built and prospered under teach of prophets Haggai and Zechariah completing the rebuilding of temple (6:14-15) 3. People celebrated the dedication of the Temple with joy with offerings, and installing priests in service of God (6:16-18) 4. Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread celebration in joy. (6:19-22)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Altar Built; Praise Rings Out	Ezra 3
Opposition Experienced; Support Edict Provided	Ezra 4-6:12a
Temple Rebuild Completed; Joyous Worship Results	Ezra 6:12b-22

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

Ezra describes Altar and Temple rebuilt, opposition, substantiation and celebration.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that God works in the tasks He places before us. Joy comes through our faithful service to Him.

Application Questions

Where do you get sidetracked; what changes need to happen?

How have challenges impacted your kingdom service?

How does your worship bring God glory?

Principles to Remember           

Praise recognizes God’s work

Challenges are present

God’s handiwork brings joy.

Characteristic of God

Our Joy

Theme

Priests and Levites rebuild the altar and the temple; opposition hinders, while the king's edict brings completion and joy.