Ezra 3-4
One thing to keep in mind as we read Ezra is that Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther lived during the same time. In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah are one book. Because of the challenges of the Jews returning to Israel and reclaiming the land, much like what we see in Palestine today, there was conflict. The conflict spread over many years and over many Persian rulers. For reasons you can’t see now, the Jews had been an honored people in the Babylonian empire (and now in Persia), creating deep jealousy. Some of this new animosity was from the building of the temple and much of it was anger at the Jews who were trying to make Jerusalem safe to live in. Particularly today in chapter four, there will be an example of this anger shown by letters sent to Persia. When we get there, you'll see that it has a funny twist that has more to do with Nehemiah than with Ezra and the reestablishment of the worship of Israel.
Ezra 3
V. 1 This is probably the seventh month of the Jewish calendar and time for the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths. The temple was still a ruin, but they got the altar up and working.
V. 7 This was a lot of preparation. Apparently the very foundation stones of the temple, cut in the mountains by Solomon, had been removed and taken away and used by others. They did this back then because it was easier to take stones already cut, than cut new ones.
V. 8 So now, a little over a year and a half has gone by and they are ready to dedicate the foundation. This was about 536 BC. It would still be another 21 years before the temple was completed, in 515 BC.
Vs. 9-13 In organizing the celebration, look at the song they sang in verse 11.
V. 12 Although the Jews had progressively been in exile for 70 years, some of these people were removed from Jerusalem only 50 years earlier and remembered what the temple had looked like. So you had crying for joy for those who had never seen the temple and crying for sadness from those who had seen it.
Ezra 4
In this chapter Ezra is showing the intensity of the opposition to the Jews. Some of this opposition stopped the building of the temple; and the fiercest opposition stopped them from rebuilding the city walls and closing the gates, leaving the Jews defenseless in Jerusalem.
Vs. 1-5 Notice that this opposition is against the rebuilding of the temple. Notice, too, who the Persian kings are who are mentioned. This is what initially stopped the temple from being rebuilt. In Haggai and Zechariah we find out that once the Jews met this opposition, they gave up and focused on themselves.
Vs. 6-23 This is a parenthesis. Ezra is now including more of the opposition, the violent opposition to working on the city. The anti-Jewish sentiment in the Persian empire is visible to us in the Book of Esther. This is the information that gives us some understanding as to why Nehemiah's mission was so important and why it was a miracle that he was able to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
Follow this link and page down to page 654, the Chronology of the Postexilic Period, to understand when the kings who are mentioned here lived.
This is confusing for us, but for Ezra's readers they understood the timing in all of this because of the names of these kings. For those in the States, it would be the same as mentioning the names of the recent presidents. Reagan and Bush and Clinton not only signify different times, but also different events in world politics. And if you said, "Bush," you'd want to know if it was George Herbert Walker Bush, or "Dubbya" (W, from George W. Bush). So, have fun using the chart.
V. 6 Ahasuerus, is Xerxes, Esther's husband and the Persian king from 300, the movie. By the time this letter was sent, the temple was already finished.
V. 7 Artaxerxes was the guy who sent Ezra and who Nehemiah worked for. Art eventually sent Nehemiah, 70 years after the temple was finished.
V. 24 NOW, we are back to Ezra's narrative about the temple. Verses 6-23 were a full description of the conflict the Jews faced trying to rebuild Jerusalem over the next 80-90 years. Verse 24 follows verse 5 in the story about the temple. The foundation was laid in 536 and for the next 15 years nothing will be done until Haggai and Zechariah prophesy and Darius I orders the Jews to finish the temple.
How often have we seen this, that we think God just did one thing after another? There is a lot more "waiting on the Lord" in following God than we might have realized. This means that in following Christ in the harvest, growing in faith will mean waiting too. In Jesus' explanation of the seed sown on the fertile ground, He said those people bore fruit with patience.
1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4
Since the Corinthians apparently made an issue of "wisdom," Paul tells them of the wisdom we get from following the Spirit. The thing about the wisdom of the Spirit is that it isn't obvious wisdom.
1 Cor. 2:6-16
Vs. 6-8 I take these rulers to be spiritual rulers.
V. 7 Just as in Eph. 3, the spiritual powers are finally understanding God's plan of redemption which God kept secret and hidden.
The point here is that we can have this wisdom. Notice that it is not only from the Spirit, but that it has to do with God's plan. If you're not into God's plan, even as a believer, you won't be open to this wisdom. Why would you need it?
Vs. 9-13 This is a pretty big promise. I don't think we believers even scratch the surface of what is available to us.
Vs. 14-16 Now, the question is who the "unspiritual man" really is. The sad reality is given in chapter 3.
1 Cor. 3:1-4
Here is the deal, I think. The more we are involved with anything other than Jesus and the harvest, the less we see or understand the Spirit and spiritual wisdom. Jesus told all sorts of parables about seeking the kingdom, where our treasure should be and what happens if you mix the Word and cares, desires and riches. It is like living in the city and trying to see the stars. You see a few bright ones, but the light of the city blinds you to what is really up there. You need to get away from the city to see the stars. In the same way, the more we gather around us, that is important to us, the less we see spiritually.
Paul is just giving one illustration here of what was keeping the Corinthians infantile. The list of things that keep us immature is larger than the diversions the Corinthians were experiencing, and we've all got some of these things in our lives. What is interesting is that this is the church with all the manifestations of gifts, and it was one of the most sinful and childish churches. Knowing Christ isn't a guarantee of spiritual growth.
In a nutshell, what Paul is explaining here is why we are not all disciples or following Christ in the harvest.
Psalm 28
You can sense the ebb of David's thoughts. In so much of what we've read in the OT and in Acts, you can sense that this kind of prayer was the model for many many people. Here, David put it to music to teach Israel.
Vs. 1-2 He cries out.
Vs. 3-5 He prays for justice to those who disregard the Lord and live as if there is no judge.
Vs. 6-7 He remembers what the Lord has done for him.
Vs. 8-9 He blesses the Lord and asks for His continued help.
Now that we have the wisdom of the Spirit and know what's going on, not only should we be crying out quicker, we know who we need to cry out to. We need to cry out to Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeGNgBwPTMA
Proverbs 20:24-25
V. 2 I think Paul answered this for us.
V. 25 And that same spiritual wisdom makes us quick to hear and understand, and slow to speak.
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.
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