The God who brings us back: Introduction to Ezra
- Thad DeBuhr
- Sep 8
- 9 min read
Meet the Book of Ezra
The Main Message: True restoration begins with God and requires a change of heart, not just a change of location. Ezra highlights the difference between a physical return to Jerusalem and a spiritual return to God. It shows that rebuilding the temple and the city was only part of the story; the real challenge was rebuilding the people's relationship with God.
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A Journey into Ezra: A Study Guide
Feeling like the world is a mess and everything is falling apart? You’re not alone. The book of Ezra is for people who know what that feels like. It's a story about a people who lost everything—their home, their temple, and their very identity. But it's also a story of a second chance, of God fulfilling his promises, and the complicated reality of trying to rebuild not just a city, but a spiritual life. As you read through this guide, you'll discover that Ezra's journey is a powerful roadmap for our own lives, reminding us that true restoration begins not with a building, but with the heart.
I read out of the New Living Translation during the Daily Bible Podcast. But I study in several different translations. My go-to versions are: NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, NKJV
What to Know Before You Begin
The Bible can feel a little intimidating at first, but don't worry! Here are a few simple things to keep in mind that will help you as you get started:
The Bible is a Library, Not Just One Book. The Bible is actually a collection of 66 different books, all written by different people over thousands of years! They all fit together to tell one big, amazing story.
Old Testament vs. New Testament. The Bible is divided into two main parts. The Old Testament (where Ezra is found) tells the story of God's relationship with the nation of Israel before Jesus came. The New Testament is all about Jesus and the early church.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions. It's totally normal for things to be confusing when you're first learning. It's okay to not understand everything right away! The goal is to start a journey, not to become an expert overnight.
Setting the Scene:
What Happened Before Ezra?
A Brief History Lesson
The book of Ezra makes a lot more sense if you understand the story leading up to it. Here’s a quick overview:
1. Life Before the Exile: The Fall of a Kingdom
For hundreds of years, the people of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) struggled with idolatry, which just means they were worshiping other gods and things instead of the one true God. In his mercy, God sent special messengers called prophets to warn them that their sin would lead to a great punishment: exile from their land. The people ignored these warnings. As a result, the Babylonians invaded, destroyed their capital city of Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, and forced the people to live in a foreign land.
2. Life in Exile: The 70-Year Wait
For 70 years, the Israelites lived as a displaced people. This was a difficult time, but for many, it was also a time of spiritual reflection. They finally started to realize what they had lost. Even though they were being punished, God had not forgotten them. He had promised through his prophets that after 70 years, a small group of people—a remnant—would return to their land. The book of Ezra is the beginning of that incredible promise being fulfilled.
3. The Key Players
Cyrus the Great: An unlikely hero! He was a pagan king who ruled the powerful Persian Empire. In a direct fulfillment of prophecy, he made a decree allowing the exiled people to return home.
Zerubbabel: The first main leader we meet. He was a political leader who was in charge of rebuilding the physical things, especially the Temple.
Ezra: A priest and a scribe who arrives later in the story. His job wasn’t about building; he was focused on rebuilding the people's hearts and their commitment to God's Law.
Nehemiah: (You’ll hear about him later!) He comes after Ezra to complete the last part of the restoration—rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
Glossary of Key Terms
As you read through the Bible, you’ll encounter some words that might be new or have a special meaning. Don't let that stop you! Think of this as your personal cheat sheet. We've included a few key terms here to help you understand the context of the book of Ezra and get more out of your study.
Key Terms that come up in ezra:
Idolatry: Worshiping anything other than the one true God. This could be anything from a statue to money, power, or even ourselves.
Prophet: A person chosen by God to speak on his behalf, often to deliver warnings, guidance, or messages of hope.
Exile: Being forced to leave your home or country.
Remnant: A small group of people who remained faithful to God and were chosen to return to the land.
Temple: The central place of worship for the Jewish people, where they believed God's presence was.
Understanding who's who:
Israel: This is the big picture—the name of the nation God chose. It's the original name for all of God's people. After the reign of King Solomon, the nation split into two separate kingdoms.
The Northern Kingdom (Israel): This kingdom kept the name "Israel." It consisted of ten of the twelve tribes and was ruled by a series of kings who were almost all unfaithful to God. Because of their continuous disobedience and idolatry, God allowed them to be conquered and exiled by the Assyrian Empire long before the Babylonians came for Judah.
Judah: This was the name of the southern kingdom, consisting mainly of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin). It included the capital city of Jerusalem and was home to the line of King David (from which Jesus would later descend). The terms "Jews" and "Judaism" come from this name.
Jerusalem: This is the most important city for the Jewish people. It was the capital of both the united kingdom of Israel and later the southern kingdom of Judah. It's where the Temple was built and is considered a holy city.
Jews: The people who are descendants of the ancient Israelites. The name is a shorter version of "Judeans," referring to those who lived in the kingdom of Judah. Today, the term is used to describe the ethnic and religious identity of God's chosen people.
Religious and Social Terms:
Scribe: More than just a copyist, a scribe was a scholar and teacher of the Law. Ezra himself was a highly respected scribe. They were experts in the Hebrew scriptures and played a crucial role in preserving and interpreting God's word.
Levites: A specific tribe of Israel set apart for religious duties. They assisted the priests in temple service, singing, and teaching the Law.
Priest: A descendant of Aaron who performed religious rituals and sacrifices in the temple. They acted as intermediaries between God and the people.
Sanctuary: Another term for the temple, or a sacred place where God's presence was.
Decree: A formal, official order or law issued by a king or ruler. The book of Ezra begins with a decree from King Cyrus allowing the exiles to return.
Tribute: Money or goods paid by one ruler or nation to another as a sign of submission or for protection. This shows the political hierarchy and control exerted by the Persian Empire over the returning Jewish people.
Historical and Geographic Terms:
Babylonian Exile: The period from 586 B.C. to 538 B.C. when the people of Judah were held captive in Babylon. The entire context of Ezra is a response to this exile.
Persian Empire: The empire that conquered Babylon and ruled over the Jewish people at the time of Ezra. King Cyrus and later King Artaxerxes were Persian kings.
Diaspora: A term for the scattering of the Jewish people outside of Israel. The Babylonian Exile was a major event in the history of the Diaspora.
Zion: A term used to refer to Jerusalem, and more broadly, to the land of Israel as the spiritual homeland of the Jewish people. The returning exiles were filled with the hope of restoring Zion.
BE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PODCAST THAT GOES DEEPER INTO THIS SECTION OF EZRA
See viewer comments and questions on screen at the end of the podcast.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss
The people of Judah ignored God's warnings until they lost everything. In your own life, have you ever felt like you're ignoring a "warning" or a prompting from God? What happened?
The leaders in Ezra's time focused on building the right things (the Temple and the city walls) but seemed to miss the deeper spiritual need for heart change. Where have you seen this happen in your own life, your community, or in the church?
The restoration had a "disappointing finish" because the people didn't truly fall in love with God's Law. What do you think the difference is between simply "doing the right things" and truly "loving God's instructions" for your life?
Applying it in Your Life Now
The story of Ezra offers us powerful lessons on what it means to serve God. It's not just about what we do, but why we do it.
Focus on the heart, not just the rules.
Real-life Example: You might regularly attend church, volunteer, and read your Bible (the right actions). But are you doing these things out of a genuine love for God and others, or because you feel it's what you "should" do? The lesson from Ezra is to check your motivation and ask for a heart that truly desires God's presence.
Don't mistake the right building for the right relationship.
Real-life Example: You may be heavily involved in a church building project, a ministry, or a program, which are all good things. However, if your personal relationship with God is shallow, you're falling into the same trap as the people in Ezra. Prioritize your personal time with God over your ministry activities.
Community is essential for true restoration.
Real-life Example: Just like the exiles returned as a community, you can't be a lone-wolf Christian. You need to be in a community of believers. Are you actively involved in a small group, a Bible study, or a group of friends who encourage you and hold you accountable? That's where true restoration and growth happens.
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
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We've journeyed through the Bible, verse by verse, for over 15 books now! We take each passage and break it down into easy-to-understand chunks of plain English. Along the way, we uncover fascinating historical details and explore the cultural context, truly bringing the scriptures to life in a way that resonates. Forget dusty footnotes and words that send you reaching for a thesaurus – we make God's Word approachable and meaningful for everyone. And because we know you're eager to dig even deeper, make sure to subscribe to the Daily Bible Podcast and catch the video podcast each day that complements these blogs!
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