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Ezra
Aug 7, 2019 10:04:14 GMT -5
Post by Cindy on Aug 7, 2019 10:04:14 GMT -5
Ezra:
Ezra is most likely the author of both Ezra and Nehemiah, which might have originally been one book. Ezra is believed to possibly be the author of the books of the Chronicles. It would have been natural for the same author to continue the OT narrative by showing how God fulfilled His promise by returning His people to the land after seventy years of captivity. The MacArthur Bible handbook
Ezra wrote this book probably between 457 b.c. (the event of Ezra 7–10) and 444 b.c. (Nehemiah’s arrival in Jerusalem). During the period covered by the Book of Ezra, Gautama Buddha (c. 560–480 b.c.) is in India, Confucius (551–479 b.c.) is in China, and Socrates (470–399 b.c.) is in Greece. Talk thru the Bible
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441 
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Ezra
Aug 8, 2019 13:02:28 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 8, 2019 13:02:28 GMT -5
Ezra 1
CYRUS THE GREAT (550-530 B.C.)
He conquered the Babylonians and then allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild their temple ...
However, there is a much greater King....the ultimate King ( beyond time) who not only predicted this, but arranged for all of it to happen according to His Plan:
"the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled"
As a scribe Ezra was able to preserve, intact, the very words of God.
Interestingly, this happened in In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia.
God doesn't waste time!
One might wonder why did this pagan king even do this? it says it was because of God.
God also made for provision thru this king:
" And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
The people were stirred up so that everyone:
" whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem".
Still the amount of provision may have seemed inadequate not sufficient to go, or to build the house of the Lord but then we read:
"Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. "
I am guessing my thoughts may not be exactly right for this verse
but I was thinking,
how God cannot live with sin in Heaven and His believers are not really apart of this world tho we live in it for now.....
we will be called out of it
( I was thinking kind of like how the vessels of the house of the Lord did not stay with the house of idols forever either?)
We will be called out either by death or rapture.
Anyway, then is a listing of all the many vessels that had been actually preserved ( in a sense) to be taken back to Jerusalem.
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anna
Trials
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Ezra
Aug 10, 2019 0:59:37 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 10, 2019 0:59:37 GMT -5
Ezra
chapter 1
The word of the Lord spoken by the prophet Jeremiah to be fulfilled. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What they spoke about then applies today also. The prophets spoke for the people to return back to the Lord, to trust in the Lord again, to seek the Lords solutions.To establish the ways the Lord in their hearts. There is always a power struggle though from outside sources saying, trust me instead, let this be your goal in life instead... but the prophets were sent to say that the Lord is calling all of you back to him because people are going to die following any other way. It tells of the restoration of the community. The people are ready to put the law in it's proper place being the foundation of society.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 10, 2019 11:59:55 GMT -5
anna likes this
Post by fearnot on Aug 10, 2019 11:59:55 GMT -5
I really liked what you said Anna!
For me its the power struggle from the outside that is so hard for me. I am a major coward, and I do not like any kind of confrontation.
It 'seems' like there are folks how almost seem to thrive on a good debate, fight etc. Lawyers come to mind.....
me I would rather be reading a book off in a quite place or out in some beautiful nature etc.
But confrontations from the outside are just super stressful and upsetting to me....
and yet I need to have faith and trust in God...in fact, many of the 'battles' I 'fear' will be fought for me by the Lord.
Anyway, glad you are back :-) yeah!!!
Oh so Cindy wanted me to finish a couple of other threads where I did not reply to what she wrote or I did not finish etc.
So I am to wait until Monday before posting on this thread again.....just so you know where I am...
or
am not LOL
Anyway, I am reading Ezra today and tomorrow, so I will be ready to post when the week starts.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 11, 2019 10:06:12 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 11, 2019 10:06:12 GMT -5
I am continuing to reading Ezra but probably will post here Monday or Tue....maybe Tue , if I am really done with finishing up the other threads.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Ezra
Aug 12, 2019 12:14:14 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 12, 2019 12:14:14 GMT -5
Ezra 2
We get a list of the people returning and even the animals!
It starts with the leaders and the priests.
It reminds me that God is aware of everyone,
and he sometimes chooses to honor those who show courage and faith
( but tho He may not always do it in an earthly was, He also does it even more so in Heaven).
This list would also help the children know from whom they descended.
It is interesting that they each returned to their own town.
Even servants were listed, as it is an honor to serve God no matter what your status.
Also interesting was there were 200 singers! Well that would be a substantial chorus!!
And there was this:
" Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim."
so another reason it was important to be sure of your lineage .
And then a listing of the free will offerings.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 12, 2019 19:48:04 GMT -5
Ezra chapter 2
King Nebuchadnezzar previously had taken the people listed in chapter 2, in a state and period of being held, imprisoned, enslaved, or confined and that was how they had lived in that Babylonian captivity but now returned everyone to his city, to Jerusalem and Judah. Listed are their names and the number of people in the groups, even the number animals were counted .In the book of Nehemiah chapter 7 it also gives a list of those who returned. A broken spirit drieth the bones, to be in captivity wears down a person, but a merry heart does good like medicine, their hearts turned from sorrow to having joy, as chapter 3 tells of the joy they felt, that joy they felt strengthened them.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 13, 2019 13:10:31 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 13, 2019 13:10:31 GMT -5
Ezra 3
They are back in the land and it must have been in ruins, nevertheless, they start right.
It would take time to build a temple but they could build the altar.
It's noteworthy to me, that they were in fear of the opposition surrounding them ( because of the peoples of the lands)
and yet, tho in fear, they did not let their fear stop the rebuilding of the altar.
It reminds me of today, tho we are not yet being killed for our love of God, we are suffering more and more from the secular culture that despises Christianity ( they would tolerate almost anything BUT Christianity or Christians).
So this at least, is an example of how to not cave to fear.
And so they observed the feasts, and burnt offerings morning and evening.
Tho we are not to do burnt offerings, still the idea of worshiping the Lord, praying, and studying the Bible daily, is an example for us ( me).
Not only that but they gave whatever they could towards the building of the temple.
I think so often people sometimes have a small resentment of giving their hard earned money to the Lord.....which is the wrong attitude altogether.....we ought to be honored to do anything at all if God allows us.
Next came the laying of the foundation...which had the people expressing mixed feelings.
Some ( the younger generation I think) were greatly excited and shouted with great zeal...
but those who had seen the former temple ( and knew the sin that caused it ruin, and this lesser temple) wept.
I think those who were crying, might have cried, in part for a sort of good reason...
we may cry over our past sins and its consequences,
but we (I) must not live in the past, and therefore, insult the blessings God is giving us
( me) in the here and now.
I struggle, a lot ,with this disrespectful attitude so I understand it,
but I know it is a sin.
It may 'seem' like trying to be holy .....but Jesus died and PAID for my sins.....
yes they were very very bad,
but to continue to wallow in them, is like slapping my Lord in the face.
And so this is a good reminder to be grateful for what at first might 'seems' to be a lesser blessing.....but then, I actually don't deserve any blessing at all.....
and do I not know, the day is coming when Jesus will give me blessing in the future so wonderful my imagination cannot even conceive of them.
What parent is anxious to give an ungrateful child a bigger better gift, when the child spits at and cries over a lesser one ( that was meant to be a lead in to the greater one....but as a surprise)?
I think as a parent, I might tend to at the very least, delay the bigger gift, until the child got an attitude adjustment....so this is a message to me.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 13, 2019 23:39:02 GMT -5
3
Now in the 7th month the children of Israel were in the cities in unity as one. Jeshua from the family line of Solomon built an alter to offer burnt offering on to the God of Israel. This is celebration of the covenant, that God promises to make the Israelites his treasured possession among all people and "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation", if they follow God's commandments. They faithfully offered burnt offerings according to the custom, as the duty of every day required. In this 7th month the foundation had not yet been laid for the temple of the Lord. They paid money for masons, carpenters and for cedar trees to be brought to them. In the 2nd year the 2nd month the building of the temple began. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple priests played musical instruments, trumpets and cymbals, singing together to praise the Lord, some people wept and some shouted with joy, with the noise being heard afar off.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Ezra
Aug 14, 2019 9:58:05 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 14, 2019 9:58:05 GMT -5
Ezra 4
When God's people attempt something for the Lord, we can expect opposition from Satan's children.
In this case, the adversaries first offer an alliance/ partnership and to join and help in the building, saying that they worship the same God ( not). Instead it was kind of a mix, with some of the Jewish religion and various superstitions.
They may have really believed what they said, because to them Yahweh was one of many powerful god's. But saying they had been sacrificing right along meant they were doing so with out an altar, temple, or priests...which was against the commandments of God.
And additionally, these were the Samaritans, which were actually adversaries of God's people.
The Jews refuse their offer, rightly so, even tho it might have at first, almost seemed like a good idea/temptation to have more help, but it is never a good idea to hang with and partner with, the ungodly.
Something I too need to keep in mind to guard myself against.
so next they tried to discourage and even use fear tactics!
And finally they they wrote an accusation filled with half truths and outright lies, while playing up to the king as if they were truly concerned for his safety and well being.
This reminds us of how Satan accuses God's children.
And it worked....The King Orders the Work to Cease.
But this was a delay not a defeat.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 14, 2019 10:25:41 GMT -5
Ezra chapter 4
When the adversaries of Judah came to talk to the leaders and said to them that they also wanted to help build the temple, the adversaries were recognized for what they were and they told the adversaries that king Cyrus had commanded only them to build the temple. God was working in the heart of king Cyrus to accomplish his plan. These adversaries troubled the people that were workers doing the building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose. The adversary wrote accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, to the king of Persia, Artaxerxes. That gossip kept growing and spreading to other leaders to read, saying that they won't be paying revenue to the kings, saying it was a rebellious city. King Artaxerxes gave orders to stop the building of the city of Jerusalem, he made them cease building the house of God, by force and power and so it was until the second year of the reign of Darius of Persia. Forwardness was in the hearts of the adversary and devised mischief continually. In Proverbs 6: 12-19 is a warning against sowing discord.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 14, 2019 10:42:18 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 14, 2019 10:42:18 GMT -5
Anna: I really like your reminding us about the warning given in Proverbs about sowing discord!!
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 14, 2019 14:51:57 GMT -5
I read what you write and like what you write also. 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 15, 2019 11:32:20 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 15, 2019 11:32:20 GMT -5
Ezra 5: 1-17
Sixteen years has passed, and now the prophets encourage the people to continue building the temple.
Of course, it is once again tested, this time by Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates.
Then, we read a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent to Darius.
He seems to be pretty fair in explaining things from his perspective and asks that a search be made pf the records to determine if the rebuilding of temple and Jerusalem had been royally sanctioned and decreed.
It also seems because he mentioned the building having huge stones,
he was suspicious that perhaps, this was more a fortress than a temple
( tho it was a common constructional feature)
and
also, he may not have believed such records ever existed.
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anna
Trials
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Ezra
Aug 15, 2019 14:50:47 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 15, 2019 14:50:47 GMT -5
Ezra chapter 5
Then prophets of the Lord, Zerubbabel, Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews there and began to resume building the temple there in Jerusalem. Then the opposition came to them again to discourage them from building. Reminds me of the scripture John ch. 8 where Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples. He that is of God hears God's word, those men not of God can't hear Gods word. The men of God continued to do their work.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Ezra
Aug 16, 2019 11:05:33 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 16, 2019 11:05:33 GMT -5
Ezra 6: 1-22
The Decree of Darius
King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, and in Ecbatana,
the record of the decree King Cyrus made was found.
Interestingly, the huge stones which seemed suspicious had been expressly authorized!!
Also King Cyrus had commanded the funding of the work from the royal treasury.
had ordered that the spoils taken from the temple be returned to the Jerusalem temple.
Then comes the reply of Darius to Tattenai.
He tells them to not stop the building and gives severe consequences to any who might try. Also to help with all the cost.
What can be an uplifting take away, is to realize that tho the Jews met opposition, that very opposition, ended up by God's hand, being in the end, a great help to them.
So I need to learn not to be so hasty when things 'seem' to be going bad, because right around the corner may be God's blessings way more than I could imagine.
I think it was MacArthur who said: This is an illustration of the principle from Proverbs: The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1).
So that any king is really subject to THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I also think MacArthur pointed out that it was not so much that these kings believed solely in the one true God, but rather were appeasing to one of the ( in their minds) many powerful 'gods'.
And so the temple was completed.
the people celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy,
I especially was struck with this:
"........for the Lord had made them joyful....."
Sometimes I cannot 'make' myself joyful....
but here is an uplifting 'joyful' word......
God can.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 16, 2019 12:43:17 GMT -5
Ezra 6
King Darius made a decree to search for written records and found them at Achmetha. In the first year of king Cyrus he made a decree concerning that the house of God should be built...These men that built the house of God were children of the living God, born on earth with a purpose in their lives, just like all Christians now days are born on earth and have a purpose to fulfill in their lives. People have a religion, which is what they believe in. Christians do deeds of righteousness with love for one another, led by the holy spirit. The prophets were points of contact that touched humanity. The temple was built and dedicated.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 17, 2019 12:15:40 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 17, 2019 12:15:40 GMT -5
Ezra 7 :1-28
Ezra Sent to Teach the People
First we get Ezra's genealogy. Ezra was a descendant of Aaron, Zadok. Phinehas and many other priests and high priests.
He was also a very skilled scribe....
an expert in the Law of Moses....
highly trained in the word of God.
Scribes preserved God's Word, taught it, and helped in interpreting and applying it.
Ezra first learned it, before obeying and teaching it....a good example for me ( us)...we are studying it here and then we need to apply it to our lives and teach it if at all possible.
This is a for sure interesting verse:
".....the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him".
So it took Ezra about 4 months to get to Jerusalem and he credited God hand for it.
And this is surely a key verse for us all!!
Ezra 7:10
"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel".
We should not study (or set our hearts to study) just so we get whatever we want
( tho if God chooses we are grateful) but rather because we love the Lord.
However, it ought to be every Christian's goal to set our hearts on God's Word and let the word of Christ dwell in us (me) richly.
Plus we are to be not just hears of the Word but doers, like Ezra :-)
Next is the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest.
The king made great provisions.
Again this king was trying to placate either one of many 'gods'
( since these were pagan kings) or even God but the Kings motive was preserving himself, not necessarily out of love for God.
The king also gave Ezra power to enforce God's law, and appoint magistrates and judges.
Also, to teach those who do not know God's law.
Ezra gives thanks to God for all these blessings...for it is God who rules
for they came not really from an earthly king, but rather the true king of kings and Lord of Lords.
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anna
Trials
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Post by anna on Aug 17, 2019 21:59:10 GMT -5
Ezra 7
Ezra's genealogy is written and his career. Ezra came to Jerusalem, by the will of God. Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments and to set magistrates and judges to teach the the people that did not know to follow the laws. If the people did not comply with the law they were either put to death, banished, or imprisoned. Ezra gave thanks to the Lord for putting this law of the Lord in the kings heart to establish. Ezra said he was strengthened as the hand of the Lord was upon him.
In Zechariah 4:6 It says, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.
Psalms 68:35. The God of Israel gives strength and mighty power to his people.
God will give you strength for His service.
John 1:12 To as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, Yashua or Yeshua.
We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
The Lord made the heavens and the earth.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 18, 2019 11:37:52 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 18, 2019 11:37:52 GMT -5
Ezra 8: 1-36
It starts with a list of the people who came with Ezra to Jerusalem...
about 1,496 men in the group, and with woman and children around 6 or 7 thousand altogether.
Strangely enough there were no Levites ....
soooo Ezra chose the recruiters and instructed them as what to say when they made their appeal to Iddo. And indeed they gain some Levites and temple servants.
Once again we read: "And by the good hand of our God on us"
Ezra always seems to acknowledge God's hand in what happens.....an example for me.
Then they all meet at the river Ahava for prayer and fasting. Ezra had expressed to the king great confidence in the hand of God, and so to ask the king for protection on this journey would have denied that God could protect them, thus it was important to pray for protection.
And God listened to their entreaty!!
Ezra cared more about God's reputation and glory than his own safety ( by asking the king's protection)....may I be even a bit like Ezra and continue to grow more and more like that!
Then Ezra Ezra divided the valuables among the leaders of the priests, making each of them responsible for their portion. They were responsible then to watch and keep them until they arrived in Jerusalem
Again Ezra repeats: "The hand of our God was on us,
and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way"
They arrive in Jerusalem and there was careful accounting, as in stewardship for precious things, unto the Lord.
They gave burnt offering to the Lord, and delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps etc. ( and they aided the people and the house of God).
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anna
Trials
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Ezra
Aug 18, 2019 12:53:27 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 18, 2019 12:53:27 GMT -5
Ezra 8
More genealogy of the children of Israel that traveled with Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem. When they stopped to rest at a river where the water ran to Ahava, they stayed there three days and as Ezra was with the people he noticed there where none there from the son of Levi, so he sent for the Levites to be with him where he was, for they were men of understanding. Ministers were needed for the house of God. God blessed the children of Israel and the members of the Levites came to be with them. They all fasted and prayed there at the river of Ahava, seeking the Lord's will and blessing. There were enemies along the path of their journey, so they fasted for the Lord to keep them safe from those enemies. They knew that the Lord favored them and was against their enemy.
In Psalm 91:2 it says, " I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God: in him will I trust." Now days also, Psalm 34:19 " The good man does not escape all troubles-he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. For past and present Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you: he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed.
Ezra gave the priest and the Levites silver and gold which was given to him from the King, the king's counselors, and his lords and people living in Israel. Ezra told the priests and the Levites that they are holy unto the Lord and the vessels are holy also. Then they departed from the river Ahava to go to Jerusalem. Ezra said that the hand of our God is upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and such that lay in wait by the way. In Jerusalem, there they followed the instructions of the Lord, the will of the Lord.
Psalm 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
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Post by Cindy on Aug 19, 2019 10:36:34 GMT -5
I'm sorry I had to be absent for all this time, but I know the Lord was using it for your good, and you both have done so very well!
You've mentioned each time that the main thing said in each chapter was that God was watching over them and made sure things turned out the way He wanted them to. That's encouraging for us as well, because if you think about it, God was using the words and actions of unbelievers to make sure His believers had all the needed and that they weren't harmed. We often look at our own situations and think that everything is out of control and doesn't look good at all. We wonder where God is and what He's doing and why things aren't working the way we think they should. Generally, we keep wondering that until finally, often quite awhile later, we discover that although everything turned out differently then what we wanted, it was even better then what we had hoped for. Sadly, though, because we kept fighting against what was happening, the whole thing most likely took longer then it would have if we'd simply cooperated with the Lord and let Him do things His way instead of insisting on our own.
Keep up the fantastic work ladies!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
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Ezra
Aug 19, 2019 12:18:43 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 19, 2019 12:18:43 GMT -5
Ezra 9: 1-15
Ezra Prays About Intermarriage
The leaders reported to Ezra the sin of Israel.Some of the Israelites had not only failed to separate from the pagan peoples, they had married them.
This meant not only would their secular dealing be influenced by the pagans but more importantly their spiritual life would be compromised by the abominations of the pagans.
And the leaders were foremost in this sin.
Ezra was appalled and others were also horrified at the sin of their fellow Jews.
After Ezra fasted and tore his garments, he prayed.
There's a time to mourn and a time to pray.
God allows us a time to feel sorrow, but really we need to bring it to Him in prayer
( kind of like the song:
"What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!"
Ezra prays about "our guilt".....he had no part in this sin....and yet, like you have said to e previously, there is a way, when one believer sins, we do also take part, as we are bound together as one body.
He acknowledges how much grace and mercy God has shown to His people in the past ( in spite of their sins).
God protected and provided for them.
Also God had punished them less than their iniquities deserved....really that goes for me as well!!
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anna
Trials
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Ezra
Aug 19, 2019 14:58:07 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 19, 2019 14:58:07 GMT -5
Ezra chapter 9
From the time they came home under Zerubbabel until the coming of Ezra, they had degenerated contrary to the law of God, and married where it was not lawful. When Ezra heard about this he felt dazed and dismayed, wondering whether God would continue his benefits toward them, or else destroy what he had begun. Ezra prayed to God, we are drowned in sin, they so exceed that they can not grow greater. Now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, for Lord has not utterly cast us down and destroyed us for our sins. God is just in punishing his people, and yet merciful in preserving a residue in whom he shows favor.
Psalm 119:1-6 King James Version (KJV)
119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
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Ezra
Aug 20, 2019 9:11:38 GMT -5
anna likes this
Post by Cindy on Aug 20, 2019 9:11:38 GMT -5
Ezra 9: 1-15
Ezra Prays About Intermarriage
The leaders reported to Ezra the sin of Israel.Some of the Israelites had not only failed to separate from the pagan peoples, they had married them.
This meant not only would their secular dealing be influenced by the pagans but more importantly their spiritual life would be compromised by the abominations of the pagans.
And the leaders were foremost in this sin.
Ezra was appalled and others were also horrified at the sin of their fellow Jews.
After Ezra fasted and tore his garments, he prayed.
There's a time to mourn and a time to pray.
God allows us a time to feel sorrow, but really we need to bring it to Him in prayer
( kind of like the song:
"What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!"
Ezra prays about "our guilt".....he had no part in this sin....and yet, like you have said to e previously, there is a way, when one believer sins, we do also take part, as we are bound together as one body.
He acknowledges how much grace and mercy God has shown to His people in the past ( in spite of their sins).
God protected and provided for them.
Also God had punished them less than their iniquities deserved....really that goes for me as well!!
Very good! Yes, and if the marriages had continued, it would have frustrated God's plans to bring Jesus into the world through a pure and holy marriage. Yes, the sins of others affect us because we're all part of the body of Christ, but more then that, the sin(s) of a leader, such as a priest (or a king) in OT times, or a pastor in our times, very much affects every member of their congregation whether they're aware of it or not. Ezra chapter 9
From the time they came home under Zerubbabel until the coming of Ezra, they had degenerated contrary to the law of God, and married where it was not lawful. When Ezra heard about this he felt dazed and dismayed, wondering whether God would continue his benefits toward them, or else destroy what he had begun. Ezra prayed to God, we are drowned in sin, they so exceed that they can not grow greater. Now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, for Lord has not utterly cast us down and destroyed us for our sins. God is just in punishing his people, and yet merciful in preserving a residue in whom he shows favor.
Psalm 119:1-6 King James Version (KJV)
119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,441
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Ezra
Aug 20, 2019 13:05:59 GMT -5
Post by fearnot on Aug 20, 2019 13:05:59 GMT -5
Ezra 10: 1-44
The People Confess Their Sin
Ezra prayed and confessed publically , with such deep sorrow, ( as a spiritual leader) had great impact on the people.
I guess this is the other side of sin, the true repentance and sorrow for it...and confession has an even greater impact than sin, because it points to God's mercy.
The people were convicted of their sin and renounced it.
Shechaniah gives the only godly action to be done about this sin.....they had to put away these foreign wives.
There is a part of me that wonders why did so many Jewish men abandon what I assume would have been fine Jewish woman to marry and instead choose these pagan woman?
Perhaps the grass looks greener on the other side?
Well in any case, there were also children involved, so it may have seemed more cruel, but even to this very day, children do suffer from all manner of sins from their parents ( a drunk, or addict, gambler, etc etc.)
However, it is most likely the Jewish men made good provision for these woman and their children.
Ezra issues a proclamation ( and continued to fast), and then because there were sooo many it took 3 months to deal with all the people involved.
Perhaps some of the wives were honestly willing to convert and put away their idols forever?
and then is given a list of who was found guilty of this sin.
Which reminds me, that even if we can keep a sin from becoming public, it will come out one day, if not confessed and paid for by Jesus.
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Ezra
Aug 20, 2019 15:53:00 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 20, 2019 15:53:00 GMT -5
Ezra chapter 10
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had a confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. He confessed his sins, and the sins of the people. Shechaniah said to Ezra that they had trespassed against God, and had taken strange wives of the people of the land. They had hope in Israel concerning this thing, that God would receive them in mercy. So they said, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, persuade the people in this matter and to command them. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days, and all the people sat in the cold and rain in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter. And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives and have increased the trespasses of Israel. You have laid one sin on another. Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. A scripture from the book of Joshua 7: 19 says, Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Back to Ezra. And they agreed that they would put away their wives; and being guilty they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass, as token that they would keep their promise and do it. All these had taken strange wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children, who also were made illegitimate because the marriage was unlawful.
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,995
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Ezra
Aug 21, 2019 0:13:49 GMT -5
Post by anna on Aug 21, 2019 0:13:49 GMT -5
Cindy I would have never thought about how if the marriages to the foreign wives would have continued that it would have frustrated God's plan to bring Jesus into the world through a pure and holy marriage. In Luke chapter 3 is written the genealogy of Jesus.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus the Messiah is the promised king from David's line.
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Ezra
Aug 21, 2019 10:18:31 GMT -5
Post by Cindy on Aug 21, 2019 10:18:31 GMT -5
Ezra 10: 1-44
The People Confess Their Sin
Ezra prayed and confessed publically , with such deep sorrow, ( as a spiritual leader) had great impact on the people.
I guess this is the other side of sin, the true repentance and sorrow for it...and confession has an even greater impact than sin, because it points to God's mercy.
The people were convicted of their sin and renounced it.
Shechaniah gives the only godly action to be done about this sin.....they had to put away these foreign wives.
There is a part of me that wonders why did so many Jewish men abandon what I assume would have been fine Jewish woman to marry and instead choose these pagan woman?
Perhaps the grass looks greener on the other side?
Well in any case, there were also children involved, so it may have seemed more cruel, but even to this very day, children do suffer from all manner of sins from their parents ( a drunk, or addict, gambler, etc etc.)
However, it is most likely the Jewish men made good provision for these woman and their children.
Ezra issues a proclamation ( and continued to fast), and then because there were sooo many it took 3 months to deal with all the people involved.
Perhaps some of the wives were honestly willing to convert and put away their idols forever?
and then is given a list of who was found guilty of this sin.
Which reminds me, that even if we can keep a sin from becoming public, it will come out one day, if not confessed and paid for by Jesus.
Ezra chapter 10
Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had a confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. He confessed his sins, and the sins of the people. Shechaniah said to Ezra that they had trespassed against God, and had taken strange wives of the people of the land. They had hope in Israel concerning this thing, that God would receive them in mercy. So they said, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, persuade the people in this matter and to command them. Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days, and all the people sat in the cold and rain in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter. And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives and have increased the trespasses of Israel. You have laid one sin on another. Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. A scripture from the book of Joshua 7: 19 says, Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” Back to Ezra. And they agreed that they would put away their wives; and being guilty they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass, as token that they would keep their promise and do it. All these had taken strange wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children, who also were made illegitimate because the marriage was unlawful.
Cindy I would have never thought about how if the marriages to the foreign wives would have continued that it would have frustrated God's plan to bring Jesus into the world through a pure and holy marriage. In Luke chapter 3 is written the genealogy of Jesus.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus the Messiah is the promised king from David's line. |
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