Lesson 4 Outline — Ezra 3–4 – Mark Jensen

1. Context and Key Passage
   1. Setting and scope
      1. Series focus: Second Exodus; this session covers Ezra 3–4.
      2. Key verse: Ezra 3:11. “For He is good; for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”
      3. Theme: God restores His people and they respond with worship amid opposition.
   2. Historical markers
      1. Altar rebuilt in 537 BC on Solomon’s altar site.
      2. Temple reconstruction begins in 536 BC.
      3. Work faces opposition and pauses; completion comes after 21 years in 515 BC.
2. Worship First, Work Second
   1. Principle established in Ezra 3
      1. The returned exiles build the altar before the temple to reestablish proper worship.
      2. They offer morning and evening burnt offerings and keep appointed feasts.
      3. They worship despite fear of surrounding peoples.
   2. Biblical precedents
      1. Abraham builds an altar upon entering the land (Genesis 12).
      2. Joshua builds an altar after the first exodus entry (Joshua 8).
   3. What worship is
      1. Spontaneous overflow of a grateful heart under divine favor.
         1. Illustrated by “my cup overflows” and a ready tongue to praise.
      2. Restful enjoyment of God’s acceptance.
         1. Picture of delight, shade, fruit, and banner of love.
      3. Distinct from prayer and praise.
         1. Not occupied with needs or gifts but with God Himself.
         2. David’s example in 2 Samuel 7:18–22 is adoration without requests.
      4. Spirit-enabled response.
         1. Only the regenerate can worship in spirit and truth.
   4. Result
      1. Foundation laid amid trumpets and cymbals, with the refrain of God’s covenant love (ḥesed).
      2. Mixed sounds of weeping and joy mark the moment.
3. The Unity of God’s People
   1. Unity in Ezra 3
      1. The people gather “as one man” in Jerusalem to obey God and build.
      2. Levitical oversight is appointed; roles align with Davidic directions.
   2. New Testament grounding for unity
      1. Jesus prays that believers “may all be one” to witness to the world’s belief.
      2. Exhortations to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
      3. Unity is spiritual and theological, not merely organizational.
   3. Implications
      1. Shared worship fuels shared work.
      2. Community unity strengthens resilience under pressure.
4. The Unity of God’s Enemies
   1. False partnership and faithful refusal
      1. Adversaries offer to help build while claiming to seek the same God.
      2. Leaders rightly refuse compromise and maintain covenant separation.
   2. Escalating opposition
      1. Discouragement and fear tactics.
      2. Frustration through hired counselors and political pressure.
      3. Letters to Persian kings that halt the work until Darius.
   3. Why the temple matters
      1. The temple is central to covenant life, feasts, and sacrificial worship.
      2. Completion enables the people to live in alignment with God’s law.
5. Reflection and Group Discussion
   1. Personal worship audit
      1. Is worship your first response in success, silence, suffering, and blessing
      2. Where do your time and resources reveal your true object of worth
   2. Guarding unity
      1. How shared worship fosters congregational unity.
      2. How lack of worship can contribute to disunity.
   3. Questions for the week
      1. What keeps you from worshiping God more often and more freely
      2. Why is it important to keep the unity of the faith
      3. What unifies us at Grace Church as a local body of Christ