Answer

Ezra & Nehemiah

Summarize who each leader was

Zerubbabel was a leader of the generation of Israelites born during the Babylonian captivity. On the other hand, Ezra was a Torah scholar amongst another group of exiled Israelites returning to Jerusalem. Nehemiah was an Israelite official in the Persian king’s court.

Which Persian king sanctioned their work?

King Cyrus was the Persian King who sanctioned Zerubbabel to start the work in rebuilding the temple. During Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s accounts, King Artaxerxes was the Persian king who ordered the Israelites’ return sixty years later and permitted Nehemiah’s return to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.

What type of opposition did each face?

Zerubbabel faced the challenge of receiving help from the grandchildren who stayed behind when Israelites were captured and taken to Babylon. In contrast, during Ezra’s return, there was conflict, as he and other elders considered Israelites from exile who intermarried with the non-exiled communities who lived around Jerusalem impure, enacting a divorce decree that saw marriages annulled, families separated, and non-exiles chased out of Jerusalem. On the other hand, Nehemiah faced opposition from people living around Jerusalem, whom he claimed had no part in Jerusalem, provoking their hostility.

What were their main objectives or accomplishments?

Zerubbabel managed to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem, while Ezra’s objective was to teach hope and social and spiritual renewal amongst the exiles returning to Jerusalem. As for Nehemiah, he accomplished to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

What was the anticlimax for each of them?

While Zerubbabel rebuilt God’s temple, he was faced with wallowing elders who had witnessed God’s presence descend on the temple’s tabernacle and dedication during Solomon’s time, which did not happen. On the other hand, Ezra’s divorce decree went against God’s wish for his people as a unified people, and the Torah that he taught had laws that detested divorce in the community. Lastly, Nehemiah’s idea of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall contradicted prophecies that stated that New Jerusalem would be a city without walls, with God covering it.

List those hopes the books of Ezra and Nehemiah clarify that these hopes were not accomplished during this Post Exile period.

            The return of the Israelites to Jerusalem marked a period of hope for them marked in the Bible. Firstly, attributing to Isaiah chapter 11 and Hosea chapter 3, there was hope for the Messianic king from the line of David marked with the Israelites’ return. Secondly, there was hope for rebuilding the temple of God where God’s presence would dwell amongst His people, as pointed out in Ezekiel chapter 40 to 48 and Zechariah chapter 2. Lastly, referring to Isaiah chapter 2 and Zechariah chapter 8, there was hope that God’s kingdom would come over all nations and bring His blessings to all people.

The book seems to end depressingly. According to the end of the video, what was the Israelites’ core problem, what needs to happen for the people to obey God in the future?

The Israelite’s hearts were not devoted towards God, but only freedom from Babylon’s. As soon as they settled back, they did not fulfill the covenant vows they made while returning from exile; the Israelites left the temple in ruin and neglected its maintenance. Also, the Israelites violated the Torah teachings impacted by Ezra by conducting business on the Sabbath that was considered holy and dedicated to God. Therefore, to reconcile their hearts back to God, Israelites, and Christians, in general, should have a holistic transformation of their hearts to obey and love God instead of looking at serving God as a duty.

According to Christians, how has this been accomplished?

Firstly, Christians should seek God’s discernment. God’s discernment helps Christians recognize between good and evil and help each Christian admit their sins; therefore, they will live a humble life praying for God’s guidance; hence obeying God’s word. Secondly, Christians should pray with a willing heart that is ready to serve and obey God by submitting to the guidance of God’s word. Ultimately, submitting through humility transforms Christian hearts into obeying and loving God. Lastly, Christians should pray for a loving heart. This way, Christians can put aside their desires and love others, which is a commandment from God; hence obeying and loving God in the process.