Introduction to the Book of Ezra

Ezra was a direct descendant of Aaron. He was not only a priest but also a scribe who was skilled in the commandments of the LORD and His statutes for Israel (Ezra 7:1-5). Jewish tradition had credited him as the author of the Book.

The thrust of the book of Ezra is about two groups of Jews that returned from Babylonian exile. The first group under Zerubbabel returned and started the rebuilding of the temple but was halted midway. Some Samaritans were purported to have complained to the king of Persia, forcing them to stop work. However, after some good years, goaded by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah the re-building of the temple resumed. It was eventually completed and dedicated to the LORD.

The second group of 2,000 led by Ezra returned to Jerusalem and sparked a spiritual revival. Many Jews, including leaders, were found guilty of intermarrying idolatrous non-Jews. Ezra carried out a reform and those found guilty of the sin then confessed their sin and put away their foreign wives. His work resulted in a people renewing their covenant with God and committing to live a life of obedience to God.

In this book, we get the picture that the faithful God kept His word and brought them back from exile. The people that God used to initiate the return included unlikely kings. This underscores for us the sovereignty of God and being the Sovereign God, nobody and nothing is outside of His control. We cannot go away from the book without realizing two key lessons. The rebuilding of the temple shows us the importance of restoring true worship. The ordering of their lives right shows us the importance of being God’s obedient people. Let's dive into the book and discover how we can live a life that is congruent with the purpose of God.