Come Follow Me 30: Ezra 1, 3-7; Nehemiah 2, 4-6, 8

Come Follow Me Lesson 30: Ezra 1, 3-7; Nehemiah 2, 4-6, 8

Introduction

President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “The word of God … has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 118).

The Jewish people were captive for about 70 years in Babylon. Even though they had forgotten about God and lost so much, He did not forget about them. Read Jeremiah 29:10.

He raised servants to help gather them and to rebuild. Read Nehemiah 6:3

These servants included a governor named Zerubbabel, who oversaw the rebuilding of the house of the Lord; Ezra, a priest and scribe who turned the hearts of the people back to the Lord’s law; and Nehemiah, a later governor of Judah who led the work of rebuilding the protective walls around Jerusalem.

Their experiences can inform and inspire ours, because we too are doing a great work. And like theirs, our work has much to do with the house of the Lord, the law of the Lord, and the spiritual protection we find in Him.

Personal Study: Ezra 1: The Lord inspires people to bring about His purposes.

Cyrus was inspired to allow the Jews to rebuild their temple. How have you seen political leaders doing inspired things that bless believers? Can the Lord work through you?

Read Isaiah 44:24–28, especially 28.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/1?lang=eng

King Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple—Cyrus returns the vessels of the house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar.

Vs 1-3 Cyrus was wrought upon by the Spirit of the Lord and determined to build the Lord's house again in Jerusalem, and asked for the Jews to rise up to do so.

Personal Study: Ezra 3: Temples can bring me joy.

How do you think the Jews felt when their temple was plundered, destroyed, and burnt to the ground? Psalm 137 How do you think the early Saints felt, leaving behind their temples?

Think about the joy they must have felt returning to Jerusalem to build their temple. How did you feel when the Nauvoo temple was rebuilt?

How do you feel about the temple? How do you feel about having a temple so close to us? How can we show gratitude to the Lord for our temples?

Watch all the videos of gratitude for the temple.

Family:

How did the Jews show their joy for the temple as it was being rebuilt and then as it was dedicated? How did our family show joy when the Redlands Temple was being built?

How did the Jews express their joy in rebuilding the temple and in its dedication? (see Ezra 3,6)
What can you do to express more joy in the building and dedication of temples?

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/3?lang=eng

The altar is rebuilt—Regular sacrifices are reinstituted—The foundations of the temple are laid amid great rejoicing.

Look for the joy!

Vs 6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.

Vs 10-11 They sang praises, had celebrations, shouted for joy and gave thanks when the foundation was laid. Today, we have big cultural celebrations.

Vs 12-13 There were also ancient men who had seen the first temple built. They wept, and shouted, and cried for joy. The deep feelings of gratitude in witnessing the temple being reared again must have been to exceed all.

Personal Study: Ezra 4-6; Nehemiah 2, 4, 6: I can help the work of God advance despite opposition.

Why do you think that the Samaritans opposed Zarubbael’s and Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the temple?

How do you, can you, and should you react to those who oppose the Lord’s work today?

How can Nehemiah’s work in repairing Jerusalem’s walls inspire you to build bridges, repair relationships, and further the work of the gathering? What can you do currently?

We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down

Family:

What do we learn from Nehemiah about facing opposition? What great work does the Lord want us to do? How has the Lord strengthened us to overcome opposition to this work? (Nehemiah 6:3, Nehemiah 2:17–20; 4:13–18; 6:1–3)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/4?lang=eng

The Samaritans offer help, then hinder the work—The building of the temple and of the walls of Jerusalem ceases.

It seems to me that the Samaritans tried to hurt the Jews because their offer to help build the temple was met with scorn and dismissal. They were not accepted as brothers and brethren. How many apostates seek to damage the church because they have experience very real prejudice and harmful offense?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/5?lang=eng

Haggai and Zechariah prophesy—Zerubbabel renews the building of the temple—The Samaritans challenge the Jews’ right to continue their building work.

Vs 11-17 A recounting was made of the building, destruction, and rebuilding of the temple. Temple are built for the glory of God, and God inspired Cyrus in allowing the Jews to rebuild their temple.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/6?lang=eng

Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to build the temple—It is finished and dedicated, and sacrifices and feasts commence again.

This entire chapter is amazing. Search was made. The Israelites spoke the truth. Cyrus commanded the building of the temple, the return of the goods, and covering the cost of the temple. He certainly respected freedom of religion, and he recognized Israel's God.

 

Darius also, having read Cyrus's commission upheld it fully, and backed it; and the work of the House of the Lord recommenced and was completed according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

The sacrifices were made, the law kepts, and the children of Israel were sanctified before the Lord. This is a beautiful chapter.

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/neh/2?lang=eng

This is a beautiful chapter about friends, love and devotion. The king recognizes Nehemiah's sorry and seeks to know the reason. Not only that, he gives him leave to go to his land a repair the walls and rebuild the temple. Whole chapter so good.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/neh/4?lang=eng

The Jews’ enemies seek to prevent them from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem—Nehemiah arms the laborers and keeps the work progressing.

Vs 14 and the whole chatper: The temple was so important to this people that they continued to build despire opposition; working with one hand and a sword in the other (or near them). They had those who were laboring on the temple and those who were ready for battle. They kept dressed and ready for the work and for battle if necessary, keeping dressed, except for when the clothes needed washing.

They had faith that the Lord would fight their battles and preserve them and allow them to regain their temple.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/neh/5?lang=eng

Many Jews are in bondage to their fellow Jews—At Nehemiah’s direction they are freed, their lands are restored, and the taking of usury is discontinued.

Nehemiah was a good man and stopped the practice of usury and enslaving each other financially.

Vs 19 Nehemiah asked the Lord to recompense him for his goodness and to remember him.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/neh/6?lang=eng

Sanballat engages in intrigue against Nehemiah and the building of the wall—The Jews finish the construction of the wall.

Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem wanted to stop the work. They wanted to cause Nehemiah to fear. They sought to thwart the work, but Nehemiah persisted in doing what was right.

They sought to trick him. They sought to trap him. He was steadfast in continuing the work.

 

 

Personal Study: Ezra 7; Nehemiah 8: I am blessed when I study the scriptures.

Ezra the scribe received permission from the king of Persia to go to Jerusalem, where he “brought the law before the congregation” (Nehemiah 8:2).

How can you prepare your heart to seek the law of the Lord and do it? How can you teach the statutes and judgments of the Lord. Read Ezra 7:10

Does the word of the Lord bring power into your life?

Read Later: Teachings: Ezra Taft Benson, 115–24.

 

Family:

Ezra read the law of Moses to the people. Nehemiah 8 How is teaching the gospel more beneficial and rewarding when the people are eager to hear and learn? How do you feel about the commandments and the direction that the Lord has provided for you?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ezra/7?lang=eng

Ezra goes up to Jerusalem—Artaxerxes provides for beautifying the temple and sustains the Jews in their worship.

Vs 27-28

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/neh/8?lang=eng

Ezra reads and interprets the law of Moses to the people—They keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Lovely chapter. Ezra read the law to the people. Everyone was attentive and eager to learn and prayed humble. The priest expounded and taught the law. This was a holy day. They were to rejoice and be glad and to eat and to celebrate.