70 likes | 245 Views
Continuing Catholic Education. 2011-2012 December 18 th 2011. Ezra - Overview. Background – Post Exile Timing – Events from BC 538 - 450 Context – Judha returns from Babylon Exile Main Themes Return from Exile Rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple Spiritual Temple Building by Ezra.
E N D
Continuing Catholic Education 2011-2012 December 18th 2011
Ezra - Overview • Background – Post Exile • Timing – Events from BC 538 - 450 • Context – Judha returns from Babylon Exile • Main Themes • Return from Exile • Rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple • Spiritual Temple Building by Ezra
Prophecies Fulfilled • Many Prophets during Exile • Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Malachi • Isaiah’s Prophecy about Cyrus freeing Israel • Jeremiah’s prophecy about punishment to Babylon • Jeremiah’s prophecy about 70 years of Exile • Daniel’s prophecy about defeat of Babylon
Ezra 1-6:22 • Persian King Cyrus allows Judah to return to Jerusalem • Zerubbabel leads the first group to Jerusalem • Builds the temple again • Reinstates annual festivals • New Spiritual Worship of God
Merciful God during Our Exile • Even Before King Cyrus was born, God chooses him a non-Jew for Jew’s freedom • No matter how difficult our ‘captivity’, we are never far from God’s love and mercy • We may face difficult situations, and feel outnumbered, overpowered or outclassed • God’s power is not limited to our resources. • God can use ‘Cyrus’ to carry out his plans
Ezra leads spiritual rebuilding • Ezra as a Scribe – Studied the Word of God • Ezra – Commitment to obey the commands he discovered in Word of God • Ezra as a Teacher- Taught others God’s word and its application to life. • Personal Achievement vs. Personal Commitment • Ezra addresses Judah on a cold and rainy day • Admonishes them about Intermarriage with pagans
Ezra and Me • What is our Temple? • Rebuilding of Temple after our exile • Guarding against oppositions while trying to build again • Rededication of our Temple on a daily basis • Like Ezra, seriously study and apply the Word of God. • Teach others what we learn from Word of God