We have now read 21 books of the Bible. For most people, that is a couple more than last year. What I'm really hoping is that after reading about so many people, you are beginning to see the stream of life we are a part of in following the Lord on this planet. But in Christ, our lives fit into the redemptive purpose of God, not just into the mass of humanity that has lived and died. I had a professor at DTS who told students who were really bummed out to begin reading the Bible in Genesis and keep reading until everything made sense again. The reality is that our lives fit, but only fit and make sense when we are close to the Lord and somehow involved in what He is involved in: Redeeming lost people and making disciples who make disciples until this harvest is over and He returns. Then we'll all celebrate, and real life begins. Does that make sense?
Ezra 1-2
I'm including a link below to a chart in the Bible Knowledge Commentary OT to see where Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther fit in. Actually, with this link and a little know how, like paging down, you can find everything in the BKC OT.
http://books.google.com/books?id=tSJWE-sR5HkC&pg=PA652&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
I’m going to be restating the historical connections between people and events several times. For many of you, myself included, you have never fully understood how all of this fits together. Briefly: When Babylon falls Cyrus becomes the king in Persia and Darius the Mede becomes a co-ruler with him in the palace in Babylon where Daniel is. All of Daniel is key to understanding what events led up to Cyrus allowing the Jews to return, but you’ll have to wait until Daniel to put it all together, especially Dan. 6.
Cyrus sent about 50,000 people back to rebuild the temple in 538 BC. Zerrubabel, in the line of David, was the governor. It took them about 23 years to build the temple amid a lot of protest and opposition. In 520 BC Darius I, the king of Persia, commanded the completion; but they couldn’t touch the city to rebuild it. Anti-Jewish sentiment was strong. In the next final years of king Xerxes (Ahasuerus) he installs his son, Artaxerxes as co-regent to take care of local business while he tries to lift the sinking empire by starting a war. He holds a huge party bringing in all of the clans and wines and dines them for 180 days, getting them to sign on the line to fight against Greece. During this time he tries to bring in his wife to dance for the leaders but she refuses. They remove her as queen. While Xerxes is having this party, thinking the Greeks are just sitting around eating gyros (pronounced Gi-Row), the Greeks are all organizing, especially a guy named Lionidas (Gerald Butler) who, with his 300 (digitally-enhanced) muscled friends, are doing one-arm pushups just for fun and preparing for glory.
In the meantime, Artaxerxes gets a letter on his desk regarding these pesty Jews in Jerusalem trying to rebuild the city and he tells them to stop the Jews from restoring the city, with force if necessary.
The Persians show up in Greece with 2 million men and the guys in skirts (the Greeks) send them home with 5000 and Xerxes doesn’t feel like having a party. In fact, now that he doesn’t have a main queen, he’s feeling kind of lonely. So his leaders decide to hold a contest called “Persia’s got Babes” to find a wife for the king, and cheer him up. Esther is the winner and marries Xerxes. During this time the anti-Jewish sentiment builds to an explosion and God saves the day. Esther’s uncle Mordecai becomes Xerxes’ right hand man and now all is well.
Artaxerxes becomes King. It is now 57 years since the temple has been finished in Jerusalem, and now the Jews are once again a favored people in the Persian empire. Art sends Ezra back to Israel to show how much he likes the Jews and to garner the favor of God. Ezra goes back and finds a mess and works hard for the next 14 years to get the people to read their Bibles everyday and to have quiet times (and other stuff). Finally Artaxerxes notices one day, 14 years after sending Ezra away, that the chief of his butlers, the master of his palace and house security, is crying. Art loves and trusts Nehemiah so much that he sends him back to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah gets there and finds the worship in order, but the city and politics are a mess. Together with Ezra, he gets the worship in order and Nehemiah deals with the corruption of the leaders.
Got that? Good!
Ezra 1
V.1 This verse isn't as "mystical" as it seems, but it is totally miraculous. If you really want to know what happened that stirred Cyrus, you have to read Daniel 1-6. When we get there, this connection will be made very clear. The immediate event was Daniel, chapter 6.
Vs. 2-4 This is a continuation of what we just read at the end of 2 Chr. 36. Ezra is going back and telling us what happened about 70 years earlier. Notice what the focus of Cyrus' command was.
V. 5 The focus of the prophesy, the focus of the command of Cyrus, and the focus of the first people who returned was to rebuild the temple.
V. 8 There is some thought that this Sheshbazzar is the Babylonian name of Zerubbabel of 2:2.
Ezra 2
V. 2 We know by now that some names were popular. This Nehemiah is not our Nehemiah. If you look at the chart on that link above, you'll see that "our" Nehemiah and the same is true of Mordecai. This Mordecai is not Esther's uncle in the book of Esther. Also, Jeshua is actually a different spelling for Joshua the priest who is being accused by Satan in the book of Zechariah.
Vs. 36-58 Because the temple and the worship are the focus of Ezra, he is taking particular care regarding the genealogies of these people.
Vs. 59-63 You see how important the register was. This is why the first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles were nothing but family registers. It was important that the priests and Levites could prove their origins.
V. 63 It is interesting that the governor, Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, became involved in the building of the temple, the establishment of the worship and the enforcing of this register. After the building of the temple and the mention of Zerubbabel in Zechariah, we won't hear much of him anymore. FYI, Zerubbabel is the son of Jehoiachin, the king that was taken into captivity after obeying God to surrender Jerusalem. "Z" is also in the genealogy of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke. We don't read much about him, but when you read what God says to him in Zechariah, it will be slightly mind blowing.
V. 70 Until Nehemiah gets there, Jerusalem is really still a wrecked city. Most people went back to their family lands from before the exile. It would take the leaders from Zerubbabel, to Ezra, to Nehemiah to convince the people to come to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and then the city.
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Well, this is just great stuff. If this doesn't get your gooses bumping, then your wood's wet or your goose is dead or something. Just take note of everything that stands out to you.
1 Cor. 1:18-31
Notice how integrated the gospel and the harvest is in all of Paul's thinking. There is no difference in Paul's mind between doctrine, theology, the harvest or the commission for Christ. It is all one thing.
V. 21 Jesus said something like this after His discourse on John the Baptist, "I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and Earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes (little children, not good-looking females). For such was your perfect will."
V. 27 Is this why I am the way I am??? If so, I'm cool with it.
V. 30 Great verse. You might want to find another version that reads smoother, like the RSV.
1 Cor. 2:1-5
Vs. 1-2 Apparently Paul didn't do any market research, demographics or studies before he showed up. That is sort of "opposite" of today's church planting methods. Oh well, it must have been God.
Vs. 3-5 In 2 Corinthians we'll hear that Paul's opponents criticize him for his "weak" presence. God humbled Paul. The message and the Spirit were all he needed.
This is a good place to hear this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8O9oMLJtJE
Psalm 27:7-14
It is interesting in memorizing this psalm how the thought of one verse flows into the next, just like when you are pouring out your heart to the Lord.
Vs. 13-14 The ESV has a lot of things going for it, but the heart of the KJV wins here.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eioDr_mDYE0
Proverbs 20:22-23
V. 22 is so much like a couple of verses out of Romans 12. Paul not only says not to repay evil for evil, but when it comes to "waiting" he raises the bar, Romans 12:19-21, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
V. 23 Injustice and being cheated are some reasons to feel like you don't want to wait and don't want to rely on the Lord. You want to sue and avenge yourself. Again, Jesus raised the bar on that one too.
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.
Personally, I think this is only possible if you are a disciple, living only to follow Jesus in the harvest, making disciples who make disciples. Every other "version" of Christianity lacks this power and perspective.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
No comments:
Post a Comment