Before I start this last blog for August, I want to thank the faithful few (my remnant) readers who still continue to check out my blog. Sometimes I sense my insecurities come out when I see so few readers compared to the beginning of the year. Then I need to remind myself how much I, too, have struggled to read each day or other blogs. But regardless of how many check out these blog entries, I realize how beneficial it has been for me to keep accountable to reading God's Word and studying it. I am thankful for this opportunity. Now, on to Ezra.
It is believed that the person who wrote the book of Ezra, also wrote Nehemiah and 1,2 Chronicles. Additionally, older manuscripts (pre-Christian translations) of the Old Testament clump together Ezra and Nehemiah into one book.
The theme of this book is to tell how God orchestrated, protected, and provided for all Israel, represented as 'the remnant' in order to repatriate them back to Jerusalem. The community of Israelites, again, entered the land of Promise that was first given long ago in a covenant between them and God.
As stated in www.biblestudytools.com: "The restored community was a chastened people, yet they were also in
need of frequent rebuke and reformation. Israel remained a wayward people."
What is the New Covenant? Israel still awaited the "new covenant" of which Jeremiah, Joel, and Ezekiel had spoken, as well as, the renewal to be effected by God's Spirit.
This feast is also known as the Feast of Shelters or Sukkoth. This year it will be the week of on October 8-15th, 2015.
Basically it's a camp out where Jews remember God's provision for them from when they were in the desert after they left Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land.
After the Alter and the Temple foundation were rebuilt, chapter 3:12,13 stated that the young ones rejoiced while the old ones wept. To understand it is probably speculative but most common ideas is summed up a few ways:
Matthew Henry thinks those who never knew the Temple since it had been about 50 yrs that Israel was in exile. The younger ones rejoiced at the new and first Temple they experienced . While the older ones remembered and lived through decades without a designated place of sacrifice for their sins. The grandeur of the first would likely never be repeated in the new rebuilt Temple, which possibly grieved them, too. Also they were keenly aware of the nation's sin that led to the loss of the Temple that was destroyed.
"Let not the remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present mercies."
In chapter 4, we see that the gentiles who lived in Jerusalem (they were Samaritans) attempted to stop the building of the Temple. They went so far as to write to the king and 'warn' him how he would be dishonored and get less money from these people should they complete their project. While the king stopped it for a time, God's plan was not in a rush. When the next king came along, the building project was completed.
I sense that this last entry for Daniel is rather abrupt so if you want more 'meat' read on. It's a great book!
Before I start this last blog for August, I want to thank the faithful few (my remnant) readers who still continue to check out my blog. Sometimes I sense my insecurities come out when I see so few readers compared to the beginning of the year. Then I need to remind myself how much I, too, have struggled to read each day or other blogs. But regardless of how many check out these blog entries, I realize how beneficial it has been for me to keep accountable to reading God's Word and studying it. I am thankful for this opportunity. Now, on to Ezra.
The theme of this book is to tell how God orchestrated, protected, and provided for all Israel, represented as 'the remnant' in order to repatriate them back to Jerusalem. The community of Israelites, again, entered the land of Promise that was first given long ago in a covenant between them and God. 
After the Alter and the Temple foundation were rebuilt, chapter 3:12,13 stated that the young ones rejoiced while the old ones wept. To understand it is probably speculative but most common ideas is summed up a few ways: 
"Let not the remembrance of former afflictions drown the sense of present mercies."
In chapter 4, we see that the gentiles who lived in Jerusalem (they were Samaritans) attempted to stop the building of the Temple. They went so far as to write to the king and 'warn' him how he would be dishonored and get less money from these people should they complete their project. While the king stopped it for a time, God's plan was not in a rush. When the next king came along, the building project was completed.
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