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All Lessons were outlined by Bro. Danny Taylor or former Pastor Fred Bryant from Grace Baptist Church in Wichita Falls Texas, except where otherwise noted in lessons.
 Ezra Chapter 4 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-Email: [email protected] Introduction: Ezra Chapter 4 covers the opposition the Jews faced as they rebuilt the temple. I. The Adversaries Oppose the Rebuilding of Temple Ezr 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Ezr 4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. Ezr 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. As the reconstruction of the Temple became evident to the neighboring peoples (Samaritans and neighboring gentiles), they came Zerubbabel and the chief fathers offering to join together in a cooperative effort and help. We have here a clear and developing example of biblical ecclesiastical separation. These were the Samaritans who were not scriptural in their worship of God. These people were involved in idolatry along with a professed worship of Jehovah. They were spiritual compromisers through and through. They were the half Jew, half gentile stock which had been settled in the northern kingdom after the Assyrian deportation in about 722 B.C. (See II Kings 17:24). 2Ki 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. The response of Zerubbabel and Joshua was essentially, no thanks. “But we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.” Zerubbabel demonstrated a clear example of biblical separation from apostasy. He would not cooperate with those walking outside of the instructions of the scriptures. Ezr 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, Ezr 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Spurned (not on personal grounds, but by scriptural principle), “the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building.” Though not specifically recorded, they evidently threatened the workmen, sought to interfere with the delivery of material from Lebanon, and generally opposed the project. The opposition “hired counselors against them.” (The thought is how they apparently retained attorneys to file petitions and injunctions against the project. In short, they went to court to try and stop the work. This went on throughout the remainder of the reign of Cyrus who evidently ignored them. It continued with his successor however, who unfortunately was negatively influenced against the Jewish remnant. The greater picture is so typical of Satan and how he works. He will find any method to undercut and oppose God’s work. These people had a vision to do God’s work. Successful people always have determination about them. Warren Buffett once said “The difference in successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say NO to most everything. While he was speaking of world success in investing, it is true in our service to God. These Jews could have used the other help and made their job easier, but they said “No”. We will build the temple God’s way. We need to lead disciplined lives. Living a disciplined life is the strongest form of Self-Love. Continue Reading in PDF: 
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 Ezra Lesson 03 Ezra Chapter 3 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-Email: [email protected] Introduction: The third chapter of Ezra records how the returning Jews immediately restored the prescribed Levitical offerings and observances. Plans were set in place for materials to be delivered and shortly thereafter, work began on rebuilding the Temple. I. The Altar Is Rebuilt (Ezr 3:1) And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. The seventh month referred to likely is according to the Jewish calendar which would make it about October. The Jews evidently had departed from Babylon in the spring of that year and arrived back in the vicinity of Jerusalem during the summer. They no doubt had need to secure housing and get settled. The next major holy day on the Levitical calendar was the feast of Tabernacles which was around the first of October. They there “gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.” The congregation was in one place and in one accord Acts 2:1). (Ezr 3:2) Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. (Ezr 3:3) And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. The Alter of God was constructed first. Jeshua (also known as Joshua) was a priest and evidently the ranking (high) priest, “stood up” along with the other priests. Zerubbabel (the ranking descendant of the royal linage) stood along with his brethren. These men “builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.” Ezra records how they “set the altar upon his bases.” What is implied is that they placed the new altar in the exact place where the former altar had been established by Solomon. It may even have been the actual base or pedestal of the former altar and they built the new altar thereupon. Though trouble is not noted until chapter 4, the Jewish leadership already sensed opposition and apparently wanted to get the altar established before trouble arose. The “countries” noted likely is reference to the Samaritans as well as neighboring gentile lands, the historic enemies of Israel. They therefore began offering the regular Levitical offerings, including the morning and evening sacrifices. Continue Reading in PDF:
 Ezra Lesson 02 Ezra Chapter 2 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-Email: [email protected] Introduction: Ezra Chapter 2 details specifically those who returned in the initial remnant. I. The Exiles Return to Jerusalem Ezr 2:1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; Ezr 2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: The reference to the province may be a generic reference to the greater body of those who went. It is derived from a word having the sense of a jurisdiction. It appears however, that those who returned eventually settled geographically where they and or their forefathers once dwelled. Mention is made of a Nehemiah and Mordecai along with others. Some have speculated if these were the notable Nehemiah who later rebuilt the wall or the Mordecai, uncle of Esther. Chronologically, it would have been possible for the Mordecai mentioned to be the same one in Esther, though he would had to have returned. However, it was at least ninety years later that Nehemiah began his mission. That makes it highly unlikely they are one and the same man. It is moreover likely the Mordecai mentioned is not the same as the uncle of Esther either. Continue Reading in PDF:
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