Bonnie Shane - November 30, 2020
Lesson 8 Ezra 8 Bonnie Shane
From Series: "Restoring the Broken: A Study of Ezra and Nehemiah"
God’s people provoked the Lord to anger. Refusing to listen to the prophets who had been sent to them again and again, they continued in their evil practices and worshipped false gods. As a result, the temple where God’s presence dwelt amongst his people was destroyed and the people themselves were carried off to exile in Babylon. The Promised Land that had flowed with milk and honey became, as Jeremiah the prophet said, a “desolate wasteland.” BUT ————- a word of such hope in the midst of brokenness and loss when 70 years were fulfilled, God’s people would return to the land and rebuild the temple. More than just enabling this return and rebuilding, God set about restoring and rebuilding his people. If you like a love story, intrigue, plot twists, unexpected allies and enemies, perseverance in the midst of opposition, Ezra and Nehemiah, have it all. If the losses, disappointments, and unrest of 2020 have left you feeling disoriented, discouraged, and broken, this study is for you. We will see the persevering, tenacious love of God for his people and his rule over all things. We will see that he is able to restore what is broken, a broken land, a broken place of worship, and broken people. It is a message of hope that we desperately need to hear in our day.
