Study Notes and Personal Bible Study Activities for
the Book of Ezra
Ezra 1
Cyrus was the great founding king of the Persian Empire. In accordance with his policy elsewhere he authorized the rebuilding of the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. This return fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah (Is 44:28; 45:1) and Jeremiah (Je 25: 11-12; 29:10) and the expectant hope of Daniel (Da 9:1-2). Thus the book begins with an emphasis on the LORD’s fulfillment of his word. Why do you think this emphasis is important? Why is it important for us to remember the fulfillment of God’s Word? What are some examples of the fulfillment of God’s Word that are especially meaningful to you?
Ezra 2
Chapter 2 consists mostly of the list of returnees. We may find such lists about as interesting as reading the telephone book, but we should not rush through them too quickly. They remain as a testimony to the lives and offerings of the saints and of the grace of God that moved them.
Ezra 5 & 6
The account stresses the providence of God in this series of events. Chance events (a good official on duty, finding the old record in an alternate archive) and great kings (Darius the great preserver and organizer of the empire) all serve the will of the LORD.
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About 60 years elapse between the end of Ezra 6 and the beginning of Ezra 7. During this interval Israel was threatened with extinction by the plan of Haman to destroy all the Jews. If Haman had succeeded, there would have been no return by Ezra and Nehemiah, Jerusalem would not have been rebuilt, and Israel would not have been restored to await Christ’s coming.
But the delivery under Esther provided only an opportunity, not a solution to the plight of Jerusalem and Judah. To provide a solution the LORD sent Ezra.
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Ezra 7
Ezra responds with a prayer of thanks for God’s providence. For the third time it is stated that God’s hand was upon him. We are not aware of any direct revelations from God to Ezra. Ezra saw God’s hand in his quiet providence that worked behind the scenes. Take some time to think about and thank God for instances of His providence in your life.
Ezra 8
Chapter 8 begins with another brief list of returnees. The number who returned was quite modest, about 1500, but it included representatives of both the priestly and the royal families. The twelve groups of returnees may be intended to remind us of the twelve tribes.
Ezra 9
For us who live in a society and to some degree in a church that has lost its capacity to be shocked and appalled by sin, this part of the book of Ezra is a powerful testimony.
Ezra turns to the LORD with a corporate prayer of repentance. Though he had not personally committed the sins that were dragging the nation down, he confesses the truth that the sins of one member hurt the whole body. All the people had to present to God was their guilt. It was God’s grace alone that allowed Ezra to pray with confidence. And it is in God’s grace alone that we can pray with confidence for the brokenness in our world. Take some time to pray right now for your community, your city, our nation, and our world.
Ezra 10
God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16); why then, in this case, did God guide things as he did for his good purposes? (How was the situation possibly a threat to the promise of a Messiah?)
The book ends very abruptly, but the author is aware that the story is not over. The book of Nehemiah is another chapter in the same story.
Notes adapted from:
https://www.wls.wels.net/rmdevser_wls/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/MI_15.-Ez-Neh-Est-50-54.doc