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The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the story of the Jewish people as they struggled to regain their spiritual, national, and personal identity as the people of God. After spending 70 years as slaves under the brutal Babylonian Empire, they returned home to find the place they once called their own inhabited by people who did not love and worship God.

Ezra 1-6
Ezra Chapter 1 begins one year after King Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon and thus inhabits all of the land and its people including the Jewish exiles. After proclaiming himself the liberator of the people, he issues a decree that gives the Jewish people the freedom to return to their homeland. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, 50,000 Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, the Jewish people are faced with the harsh reality that they are now strangers in their own land. The people who have inhabited Jerusalem during their captivity do not love or worship God. Despite the opposition, the people rebuild the altar and temple of God.

Ezra 7-10
Ezra Chapter 7 begins the second section of this great story. Nearly 80 years have gone by since Zerubbabel and the first group of Jewish people returned home. This time Ezra is leading the charge, and he has one thing on his mind — Revival. Although the altar and the temple have been rebuilt, the Jewish people are not living the lives God created them to live. Under God’s guidance Ezra seeks to bring about great revival.

Nehemiah
The final section of this great story picks up 13 years after Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem. Upon receiving news that the walls of Jerusalem still lie in ruins, Nehemiah the cupbearer to the Persian King, was heartbroken. After seeking the Lord’s favor and wisdom, Nehemiah asks permission to return home to rebuild the walls. God’s hand with with Nehemiah, and King Artaxerxes gives him permission to leave his duties at the palace and return to Jerusalem. Upon his arrival, Nehemiah surveys the damage, and then prepares an incredible plan that results in the completion of the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days. Now that the altar, the temple, and the walls have been completed, the stage is set for revival. In Nehemiah Chapter 8, the people gather to hear Ezra declare the Word of God and the people respond in repentance, joy, & worship.

Despite their challenges and insecurities, under the guidance of God and several great leaders, the Jewish people rebuild the temple, rebuild the walls, and ultimately rebuild their spiritual identity.

Join us on Sundays this spring as we look at the Revival that God brought about then & pray in anticipation that God might bring Revival about in our time as well.