Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“Reviving our Worship and Witness”

Introduction to Ezra, Haggai, Nehemiah, Malachi

God chose the people of Israel as a kingdom of priests and poured out His blessing upon them so that all the nations of the earth might be drawn to worship God. He chose the land of Canaan from which to spread His glory throughout the earth. Because of Israel’s failure to be a light for God among the nations, she was removed from the land as God had promised. However, when she turned back to God in the place of her exile, God once again acted according to His promise and brought back a remnant of the people to reestablish worship and witness for Himself in the Promised Land.

Setting

Assyrians – brutal to their opponents; imported new peoples

Babylonians – not as brutal, but deported brightest, most powerful

Persians – more prudent approach; 2 hot spots – Egypt and Greece

Kingdoms in conflict

I. EXILE. Why were they cast off the land?

Deuteronomy 28:64; 30:1-5

sin = removal; repentance = restored

1. Worship God alone – Dt. 5:7; 6:4; SABBATH

2. Sabbath rest for the land – Lev. 25:1-4, 11-14; 26:33-35

3. Dt. 7:3-4; Don’t intermingle; other nations invited to join Israel

Heart is made for worship; it will worship

Understanding the Exile

Idolatry

No Sabbath

Intermarriage

2 Chron. 34:14-19; 34:20-28; The Book of Law found and read. People had violated it. Wrath postponed because of Josiah’s repentance and reforms. Guilt remained.

Jeremiah’s prophecy – Jer. 25:8-11

Jer. 29:10-14 – promise to regather

2 Chron 36:11-21; sins like other nations; idolatry

As we begin Ezra, we find a city in ruins, a people in ruins. A tree cut down, humbled, but about to sprout new life.

Theme: The hand of God moves all people to accomplish His worship and His witness throughout all the world.

Pagan kings; governors; priests, levites, farmers; believers and non-believers

Cooperate; blessing

The good hand of our God; favor of God

How is He moving in His people?

II. Lessons from the RETURN

A. Worship first

Set apart:

Place – earth is the Lord’s but He sanctifies space

garden, altar (Bethel = house of God), table (home), tabernacle, temple, New Jerusalem

Doesn’t have to be extravagant; Israel, Jerusalem not beautiful

Our little corner can be enormously significant

People

Remnant; Small; minority; overwhelmed

Special – testimony to God’s faithfulness

Exodus 19:5-6 – nation of priests

1 Peter – chosen race, royal priesthood

Time – Sabbaths; festivals

Haggai – the time is Now; urgency; consistency

Time demands can crowd out worship; worship doesn’t feel urgent

B. Witness with courage

Broader objectives than a building or a wall in Israel

1. Their worship was their witness

2. Their work was their witness

3. Their way of life was their witness; purified marriages

Couldn’t separate themselves entirely from people of the land; under foreign rule

Conclusion

How do we remain zealous worshippers without becoming distracted by our culture?

How do we maintain a powerful witness without becoming diluted by our culture?