Part 9: Rebuilding as God’s People

Scripture Covering this Period:

• Ezra 7-10
• Nehemiah
• Esther
• Malachi

Dates:

• 516 - 400BC

Main Points:

1. Because of disappointments, returnees struggled to remain wholly faithful to God:

• No return of God’s presence to the Second Temple;
• Israel is now Judea, a province of Persia, ruled by a governor instead of a son of David.

2. Ezra and Nehemiah initiate reforms and work to rebuild the people.

Summary:

Though the returned exiles did not turn to idolatry (like their forefathers), their worship grew stale and lethargic. The prophets had promised a Messianic King, reunification between Israel and Judah, and the return of God’s presence among them. But their experience seemed nothing like the depictions of restoration they had heard about from the prophets. Through the reformations of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi, the people recommitted themselves to faithfulness to God. They renewed their focus on having faith in Him while they waited for Him to fulfill every promise.