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Home » Babylonian captivity

Study Tip: Ezra

By Paula

 

ribbon cuttingEzra continues the history of Israel, picking up after seventy years in Babylonian captivity. We see them take their first steps toward reclaiming their nation and their place as God's chosen people. As you can imagine, things are a little shaky. This generation doesn't know much more about living as God's people than that first generation of Israelites who left Egypt. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Just like in Exodus, we find:
 
  • The institution of God's law
  • The establishment of a worship center
  • Hostility from enemy nations

And like Exodus there are occasional lengthy passages of genealogies or other details. 

 
Some things to watch for as you read:

Watch how God sovereignly directs all the events. The phrase "the hand of the Lord" is used a few times. We'll see it again in Nehemiah.
 
Notice the problems caused by compromise.
 
List Ezra's character traits. These are summarized in 7:10.
 
 
How are the principles in Ezra relevant to us?

Filed Under: Book study, Study Tip Tuesday Tagged With: Babylonian captivity, Bible study, Exodus, Ezra, Israel, Nehemiah

Study Tip: 1 & 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles

By Paula

 

1 & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles detail the history of Israel from the end of David's reign until the Babylonian captivity. If history isn't your thing, these may be difficult books to study. The unfamiliar (but often similar) names and different spellings for those names add an extra challenge. But don't get discouraged. We are used to names changes- When I was a kid the capital of China was Peking. Now it's Beijing. The names in Kings reflect that same cultural shift in spelling between the generations of historians.
 
These books form the framework for the rest of the Old Testament since the prophetic writings fit in between the narratives in these books. For instance, Lamentations is Jeremiah's poem written after he witnessed the devastation of Jerusalem's fall. Knowing the history gives a better insight into the prophets.
 
Details aside, there are three great threads that run through these books-
 
God's promise to David. Notice how God reiterates His covenant and preserves David's line.
God keeps His word – including the promises of judgment. The messages delivered by appointed prophets underscores this.
Obedience matters. Each king's reign includes an assessment of where he stood before God. Notice how the people responded to the king's obedience (or disobedience) and the consequences.
 
 
If you want a quick survey hitting some of the highlights and notable people, check out the following chapters in Kings and their Chronicles cross references.
 
  • Solomon (1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5 -7)
  • Elijah (1 Kings 18)
  • Ahab (1 Kings 22)
  • Elisha (2 Kings 5
  • Hezekiah and Isaiah (2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32)
  • Manasseh (2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33)
  • Josiah (2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35)
  • Fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36)
 
 
Do you like reading the history books in the Bible?
 
Next week's study tip – Romans

Filed Under: Book study, Study Tip Tuesday Tagged With: 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings, Babylonian captivity, Bible study, Hezekiah, Josiah, Solomon

Study Tip: Daniel’s Example

By Paula

 

Worn BibleLast week, we looked at Ezra's example of progressing Bible study. Today, we'll see what Daniel can teach us.
 
He says in Daniel 9:2 "In the first year of [Darius'] reign I, Daniel, understood … the word of the Lord through Jeremiah." 
 
 
A super short reading, but there's a great model even in those few words. So what can we draw from this?
 
Never stop studying. There are always new insights to be gained. 
By this time, Daniel was around 85 years old, having lived in Babylon for the last 70 of those years. And finally, after years of reading, studying, fasting and praying, God made a specific portion of the word come into clear focus for him. 
 
Keep studying what you think you know.
No doubt, Daniel had read Jeremiah over and over and over in the course of his life. However, his diligence was rewarded.
 
God's word can help put your situation in perspective.
Jeremiah's writing helped Daniel see the Babylonian captivity as part of God's larger plan for dealing with the nation of Israel. He could see a purpose behind the difficult years in Babylon and a hope for the future.
 
Finally- did you see not only did Daniel keep notes about his study, but he shared what he learned? Just sayin' 🙂

 

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Filed Under: Study Tip Tuesday Tagged With: Babylonian captivity, Bible study, Daniel, Jeremiah

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