Autumn Theme

October 7th, 2008

This autumn we are looking at the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Haggai. We are looking at, and learning from, the experiences of the Jewish people as they return from years in captivity in Iraq, (Babylon),  to their own country, and to the capital, Jerusalem.  All Scripture is God breathed and useful for showing us truth, exposing our failings, correcting our mistakes and showing us how we are to live.  There are lessons here for us living in 2008, but remembering that the Old Testament needs to now be read and interpreted through the eyes and teaching of Jesus Christ.

The first task before them was to  rebuild the Temple, as recorded in Ezra 1 and 2.  The Temple was the central building, the House of God of worship and prayer. Everyone had a part to play.  Rich explained that this is a great picture for us of the importance of the centrality of corporate worship and prayer, of putting God first in all our decisions and actions.  There is a high calling upon us to build God’s Kingdom here in this east Arun area, but the first priority is worship and prayer.  There is more worship to spring up from this place.  How is this to happen?  Will you be part of it? 

In Ezra 3 the Temple foundations were re-laid and there was great celebration.  Opposition followed in Ezra 4, and the rebuilding stopped. How easy it is to stop in our Christian lives because of opposition and difficulty.  Jesus speaks about this in the Parable of the Sower.  Have you stopped?   Opposition comes in the form of infiltration, dilution, discouragement, fear and intimidation. 

It needed Haggai and Zechariah to come and prophesy and encourage God’s people to recommence the building.  They had neglected God’s work by concentrating on their own houses, feathering their own nests.  Will you lay down your own agenda and take up God’s?  Haggai’s message from the Lord was, ‘I am with you. I have chosen you.  The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house’.  I believe this is God’s message for us here today. 

Last week we had a morning of thanksgiving and offering, which mirrored the celebrations recorded in Ezra 5-6. Stew reminded us that the people worked very hard.  They kept going, and Stew compared this to running the Marathon.  But it is important to stop at times and reflect, and offer thanks for all the blessings we have. The phrase ‘with joy’ occurs several times in these chapters. 

Ezra arrives on the scene in Ezra 7, a man who had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law. What he had to say and the response he received is the subject of today’s study from Ezra 9-10.             David Thatcher
 

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