Bible Study Week 5
Part 6
The Return to Jerusalem
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The first expedition to return to Jerusalem took place after the prophetic time period of seventy years of captivity had expired. This expedition took place about 536 BC and was led by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-3). He was accompanied by approximately fifty thousand Jews. In the second year after their return, they began to rebuild the Temple. This temple was the second Jewish temple and is known as Zerubbabel's Temple. A third temple known as Herod's Temple was in existence during the time of Jesus. This was a magnificent and large addition to the restored Temple.
Other expeditions took place in about 457 BC with Ezra and in about 444 BC with Nehemiah.
Opposition
The Jews met with much opposition from their enemies when trying to rebuild the Temple. This led to discouragement and subsequently to a slow finish to the Temple.
Ezra, a priest, had an understanding of the Word of God and taught the people. Nehemiah was the Persian king's cupbearer.
He went to Jerusalem and led the people in the rebuilding of the walls of the city. Nehemiah also aided Ezra in teaching the people the way of the Lord. The Temple and the walls were completed through the prayerfulness, watchfulness, and perseverance of the leaders and people (Nehemiah 4).
The Prophets and the Message of Restoration
The restoration period was not without its prophets. God sent such men as Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi to encourage and to chasten the Jews verbally. Haggai made the long journey back to Jerusalem and challenged the people to rise up and build the Temple of God (Haggai 1). He told them that God would make the glory of this house great. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the high priest, as well as the people. They all began to work.
The Old Testament ends
The Old Testament life of the Israelites seems to be one of continual backsliding, and such was the case in the restoration period as well. Again the people forgot God and His Word. Although they no longer practiced idolatry, most of them forgot the manifestation of His great power and again fell into apostasy. The Old Testament ends with God's chosen people living outside of His wonderful love. They again became a people who had to live under the authority of nations more wicked and more powerful than they. They did not hear a prophetic message from God for about four hundred years.
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. The Northern and Southern Kingdoms bounced back and forth between living in a covenant relationship with God versus doing whatever was right in their own eyes. How am I doing in consistently following God?
2. God's people grappled with the consequences of trying to do things on their own. Am I facing any consequences that are a result of trying to do things my own way?
3. How can I prioritize following God and His Word above anything else?
4. What are some testimonies of God's deliverance that I have personally experienced or have heard from others?
5. What step can I take this week to draw closer to God?