Week »/ December 17 FOLLOWING GoDLy SPIRITUAL LEADERS Background Passage: Ezra 7:1-10:44 Lesson Passages: Ezra 7:8-10; 9:1-2,4; 10:1-5 BIBLICAL TRUTH God will bless people who respond positively when godly spiritual leaders call them to confess and repent of their sins. KEY BIBLE VERSES Ezra 10:11-12 PRONUNCIATION AID Elamite [EE luhm ight] Jehiel [jih HIGH el] Shecaniah [SHEk uh NIGH uh] g g i i Ly = é Do you know someone who is a godly spiritual leader? A retired Bible professor from the college where I teach demonstrated many of the charac- teristics of a godly spiritual leader we will see manifest in Ezra, the man who led the Jews, in this week’s lesson. Some people have trouble discerning between true and false spiritual lead- ers. With multiple religious, political, business, sports, and entertainment fig- ures prominent in our society, how can we know who is truly a spiritual leader? Some people realize who the true leaders are, but they refuse to follow them. God expects all His people to follow the leaders He provides for us. BACKGROUND PASSAGE OVERVIEW Ezra, a priest and scribe, came from Babylon to Jerusalem. He knew God’s law well, and King Artaxerxes wrote a letter authorizing him to lead the Jews. Ezra was to evaluate the Jewish people in light of God’s law, and he would use many valuable articles and money to help the Jews. Ezra knew that God was 2H Following Godly Spiritual Leaders1. What were Ezra’s primary characteristics as a godly leader? (7:10) 2. How had some Jews compromised their holiness? (9:2) 3. What did Shecaniah propose to Ezra that the Jews should do about their marriages to foreigners? (10:3) with him as he led a group of Jews back to Jerusalem. They prayed and fasted before they began their long, dangerous journey to Jerusalem. When Ezra and the group arrived in Jerusalem, they offered sacrifices to God and delivered the king’s edicts to the political leaders in the area. Jewish leaders informed Ezra that some Jews had been un- faithful to God by marrying non-Jews. Ezra was devastated by this news, and he prayed to God, confessing the people’s sins. He knew that God had punished His people in the past for their sins, but he asked God to be gracious to them now. The people responded to Ezra’s prayer of confession by gathering around him. Shecaniah told Ezra that the people should make a covenant to send the foreign wives away. Ezra and the Jews took an oath to stop marrying foreigners. Ezra confronted the guilty people and sent away the wives and children from these marriages. f Wuat Is A GODLY LEADER? (EZRA 7:8-10) a0 8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the seventh year of the king. 9 He 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. | began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first | month and arrived in Jerusalem | on the first day of the fifth month. The gracious hand of | his God was on him, 10 because Ezra had determined in his heart | to study the law of the Lorp, obey Lit), and teach lits| statutes | and ordinances in Israel. 9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lorp, and to do if, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. ‘Week of December 17Verse 8. The Book of Ezra is named after Ezra, but he has not been a major character until chapter 7. The events in this passage took place almost 60 years after the temple in Jeru- salem was completed in 516 B.C. Many scholars date Ezra’s return around 458 B.C., the seventh year of the king (Arta- xerxes I). Ezra gathered many religious leaders to go with him, and he also had valuable goods and money to take. Verse 9. The group probably traveled by way of Carchem- ish to Jerusalem, making the journey about 800 to 900 miles long. The trip took around three and one-half months. The group realized that God was protecting them on their journey. Ezra did not want to ask the king for a military es- cort; he trusted God to protect them (8:21-22). Several times in chapters 7-8 the inspired writer noted God’s providential concern for His people (7:6,9,28; 8:18,22,31). Although Ezra was a bold and courageous leader, he knew that God ulti- mately was the leader of this group of returnees. Along with God’s assistance, Ezra had the benefit of the blessing of the Persian king, Artaxerxes. The king helped Ezra because God was in control (7:6). The king issued a decree with detailed instructions about what supplies should be given to Ezra for his journey (7:12-26). Verse 10. Ezra is described as a descendant of Aaron, Moses’ brother and the first Hebrew high priest (7:5). He was both a priest and scribe (7:11). Scribe refers to someone who copied materials or took dictation from a leader. Political (7 do you leaders in the ancient world had secretaries who recorded know wellas a __ their instructions. A scribe might also copy the books of the godly leader? —_ Bible or might study them and interpret them to others. Would you be The description of Ezra highlights three characteristics of One ede any godly spiritual leader. First, Ezra studied the law of the resin Lorp. As a scribe, Ezra was very knowledgeable about God’s know you law (7:6). Godly leaders today also study the Bible systemati- well? (7:10) cally, understanding the need for biblical literacy, a knowl- edge of the basic stories, personalities, themes, and events in the Bible. Knowing these facts is not enough, however, since Christians also need a deep appreciation of how God guides the course of history, revealing Himself to His people. Second, Ezra was determined to obey the law. Knowing what to do and doing it are sometimes two different things. One biblical description of a hypocrite is someone who does LW Following Godly Spiritual Leaders