Ezra, New Beginnings

Ezra 3.1-13

The Bible begins with a beginning of time and ends with a beginning of eternity.

There are new beginings throughout the Word Of God. Ezra is one fo them.

The emphasis in Ezra and Nehemiah is on trusting God for a new beginning and doing His work- no matter what obstacles and opposition are encountered. Although the days may be dark, God is here to guide us, protect us and help us.

Ezra shows us the extent which God will go through to help us. It is not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit.

The first verses of Ezra are the last verses of II Chronicles. God used Cyrus and his decree as He said He would. We cannot read Ezra without being struck with the wonderful way God overrules during times of trouble and crisis. Human freedom does not rule out Divine Control.

Though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the Ruler yet.

We have every reason for radical optimism. Just think about Who we are serving!

Think about the Feeding of the Five Thousand for instance. Things can look hopeless and then the LORD steps in. In fact in this He  was testing them because already knew what He was He was going to do.

Take the death and the raising Lazarus from the dead. 

Martha and Mary: LORD, if You had been here our brother would not have died.

Jesus: Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God. 

New beginnings are of God. It is His work and in His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

We may be thinking that its all over. What am I going to do?... and then God steps in with some thing we never envisioned or ever thought of. Like the two one the Road to Emmaus... we had hoped...

The exile was long. They were far away from the Promised Land. In a moment as the decree of Cyrus was read the people of God were on their way back to their homeland.

Here are some lessons from Ezra as we come to retake the land which the enemy has no right to!

1. Celebrate Gods Goodness- v.11a

Feast of Tabernacles Succoth - just ended last Sunday evening after a week long celebration. It commemorates each year the wandering of the children of Israel from Egypt to The Promised Land. It causes the to remember. They celebrated.

The exile was over. It was a time of celebration.

It is always a right time to give thanks and praise the LORD.

Paul and Silas.

Times of great blessing as well as times of great difficulty and all the times in between.

There are times when the Providence of God seems to be running slow.

He is faithful to all His Promises.

He will do what he said.

He keeps His Word.

We can celebrate what He is doing right now!

2. Establish the Foundations -v.10-11

Spiritually

Three Holy Days in this 7th month.. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth). They had the altar repaired so these days could be observed. There were also the daily morning and evening sacrifices offered, emphasizing a daily walk with the LORD.

Restore your first love.

Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2.5

The Feast of Tabernacles brought then back to their beginnings as a nation.

This also was the first High Priest after the exile and return.

Under the New Covenant we are to Build upon the Rock, the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ

I Peter 2.1-7

Physically

The rebuilt the altar so worship could begin again.

 The worship itself is felt to be more important than the house in which it is to be celebrated." (Adeney)

 "There cannot be a temple without an altar, but there may be an altar without a temple. God meets men at the place of sacrifice, even though there be no house for His name." (Maclaren)

During their stay in Babylon thye were not able to offer any sacrifices. That had to be done in the temple. 

The LORD made restoration possible. He had not forgotten to be kind to His people.

Psalm 126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 

3. Look To the Future -v.12

There was a mixture of emotions.

There were two distinct groups.

New things were coming.

There are people all over our area who are in desparate need of a new beginning, of becoming a new creation in Christ. We all can be inviters. 

Come and See

John 1.35-39

Johnn 1. 43-46

Mark  1.16-20; 2.13-14

Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.

As we move into through this fall may this be a time of new beginnings in our fellowship, a time of harvest, a time of blessings be outpoured.