Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20100919.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Ezra: Following God For Reconstruction After Group Defeat
Part V: Helping The Group By Heeding Scripture In An Unbiblical, Threatening World
(Ezra 3:1-6)
  1. Introduction
    1. As we Christians note the increasing apostasy in Christendom and the growing opposition to Biblical truth existing in a threatening world, it is tempting to feel pressured to fail to heed God's Word.
    2. Thus, we need encouragement to hold to God's directives, and Ezra 3:1-6 provides that example for us:
  2. Helping The Group By Heeding Scripture In An Unbiblical, Threatening World, Ezra 3:1-6.
    1. The seventh month in Israel's calendar when she was to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:1, 4), a movement occurred in the nation toward obeying the Lord:
      1. At this time, all the people of Israel who were now settled in their own cities "gathered as one man" to Jerusalem, Ezra 3:1 KJV, NIV, ESV. This expression means the entire nation was united in the project that was to be addressed in the context, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, p. 658.
      2. In addition, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the current religious leader and descendant of Aaron (Ibid.) with his relatives and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the current civil leader and descendant of king David (Ibid.) with his relatives took the initiative to rebuild the altar that had stood in the temple court, and to offer burnt offerings on it, morning and evening, Ezra 3:2a,b.
      3. All of this was done in obedience to the stipulations of the Mosaic Law in the Scriptures, Ezra 3:2c:
        1. God had said in Deuteronomy 12:5-6 that Israel must sacrifice unto Him at the place He chose.
        2. We know from 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 that before all Israel, God had miraculously signaled by fire from heaven the Solomonic temple altar as the place He wanted His sacrifices to be offered.
        3. Since God wanted morning and evening sacrifices from Israel on that altar throughout the year (Ex. 29:38-39), these leaders began with the twice-daily sacrifices at the rebuilt altar site, Ezra 3:2a,b,c.
    2. Considering the historical setting, this was a very bold, courageous action for all in Israel to take:
      1. First, it would have taken great courage for everyone to overcome the discouragement of past failure:
        1. The temple site, with all Jerusalem, had been reduced to rubble amid the destruction and fire caused by the fall of the city to the Babylonians back in 586 B. C., cf. 2 Kings 25:8-9.
        2. Thus, the repair of the altar amid this abundant, painful evidence of past spiritual failure would have taken courage to overcome such past disappointing failure!
      2. Second, Israel faced a real threat of reprisal by unsympathetic Gentiles around her:
        1. With the fall of the city had come the destruction of Jerusalem's protective wall, cf. 2 Kings 25:10.
        2. This destruction was so great that Nehemiah on horseback was later blocked from passing fully around the wall area due to the clutter of broken stones that lay in his way, Nehemiah 2:11-15.
        3. With the lack of a protective wall, the returning exiles also faced the threat of unsympathetic Gentile peoples: (1) Nehemiah 2:10 reports Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, an Ammonite, were very opposed to news Nehemiah had come to Jerusalem seeking its welfare. (2) Ryrie notes the Elephantine Papyri stated Sanballat was governor of Samaria, so he would have felt Nehemiah's arrival signaled a threat to Samaria's control of Judaea, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, ftn. to Neh. 2:10.
        4. Thus, to rebuild the altar and offer twice-daily sacrifices without an adequate military fortress to defend the effort from attack by unsympathetic Gentiles all around took great courage!
      3. Third, the people of Israel returning from captivity did not have a refined military force to defend themselves, but relied on a citizen army, Nehemiah 4:7-21. Nevertheless, they courageously rebuilt the temple altar and offered sacrifices, putting their trust ultimately in God for His protection!
    3. Beyond offering just the twice-daily sacrifices, Israel boldly kept all of the sacrifices of the Feast of Tabernacles (Ez. 3:4), and kept on offering all the prescribed offerings for the rest of the year, Ez. 3:5-6.
Lesson: Regardless of discouragement over past failure, fear of strong, evil foes, a lack of protective resources and an inability to guard herself fully, Israel boldly, courageously heeded Scripture.

Application: (1) May we boldly put heeding Scripture over our discouragements, fears and weaknesses. (2) May we each do our part in heeding Scripture, be we followers (Ezra 3:1) or leaders (Ezra 3:2-3)!