Do you ever wonder if God is truly at work in your life, even when you can’t see it? Journey with us through The Second Exodus, a church-wide Bible study that highlights God’s unwavering faithfulness. Explore how He brought the Israelites home from 70 years of Babylonian exile, revealing His consistent hand at work through centuries of biblical history. This study will equip you to recognize the unseen hand of God in your life and remind you that God consistently guides, protects, and moves in the lives of His people.
THE SECOND EXODUS
A GRACE CHURCH STUDY
Copyright © 2025 Grace Church
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo- copying and recording, without the express permission of the authors.
Cover Design: Grace Church Study Design and Format: Thinkpen Design
The Second Exodus writers and collaborating editors: Tom Ibach, Jeanne Ibach, Jody Hanson, Cheri Dobbs, Jim Erickson, Mickie Toops
Printed by Grace Church Printed in the United States of America Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Taken from Ezra and Nehemiah: A 12-Week Study by Kathleen Nielson, Copyright © 2016. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Taken from Ruth and Esther: A 12-Week Study by Kathleen Nielson, Copyright © 2014. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.
THE SECOND EXODUS— RETURN TO THE PROMISED LAND When you found out that we would be studying Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, did you cry out . . . “WHY?” We get it! Maybe you wondered . . . • Why should I be reading books I cannot even pronounce? • Aren’t they out of date, unrelatable, and somewhat irrelevant? • How am I going to understand anything since there’s such a huge cultural gap? • Why do I need a history lesson? Again, we get it, and we realize the apprehension you may have. That’s why we want to begin this study with encouragement. We want you to remember that the Bible is not a bunch of independent verses or stories. No! The Bible is more like a library. Each book has a crucial part in God’s epic, unfolding story. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. This means that the Old Testament is inspired by God, just like the New Testament. All the books of the Bible work together to show how the one true God will bring redemption and order out of sin and chaos. Understanding the Bible’s entire storyline will help us more accurately know who God is and how He works. If we neglect reading the whole counsel of God’s Word, we risk misinterpreting verses and forming inaccurate thoughts or theological views about God, His purposes, and His people. Ultimately, these gaps in our understand- ing of Scripture and who God is will have significant ramifications in our daily walk with the Lord. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 points out that all the books of the Bible are beneficial for your growth as a Christian, no matter what season of life you are in and no matter what you are going through. Thus, Scripture will teach, reprove, correct, and train you in righteousness so you are prepared for all that God has for you in this life. Ultimately, every book of the Bible points to Jesus as the one promised to come to deal with man’s sin, helping man get back to God. That’s why you want to become familiar with the storyline of the Old Testament—you will begin to see the gospel theme in almost every chapter and understand God’s remarkable, redemptive story leading up to Jesus!
Having explored some of the reasons for this study, we have provided the follow- ing brief overview of what happened before the return of the Jewish people to
The Second Exodus—Return to the Promised Land | 3
the promised land from exile, which we are referring to as “the second exodus.” Additionally, the first two lessons are an overview of what led up to the second exodus.
SUMMARY OF THE SECOND EXODUS
The word exodus means departure. Don’t confuse the phrase second exodus with the great exodus in the book of Exodus where God used Moses to deliver Israel out of Egyptian captivity. In the great exodus, God empowered Moses through astonishing miracles in the land of Egypt: the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and relocating approxi- mately 2 million of his people. Unlike the great exodus, the second exodus was not accompanied by astounding miracles; nor was it a single mass migration of people. Rather, waves of Jewish returnees occurred over the course of about 100 years. Though not highlighted by displays of God’s mighty power in the same ways as under Moses’ leadership, the return of the exiles to the promised land showcased God’s steadfast love and providence for Israel as He faithfully kept the covenants He had made with their forefathers.
The second exodus is recounted primarily in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ezra waves one and two led by Zerubbabel and Ezra
Nehemiah wave three led by Nehemiah
When the exiles returned to Jerusalem, they discovered a city in ruins. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down by the Babylonians, and the most significant building in the city, the temple of God, was burned and leveled to the ground. The returning exiles were called by God to rebuild the temple and the city. However, soon after they started, they were met with opposition from the local non-Jewish inhabitants, so their building campaign stopped. God then sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah with words of rebuke and hope. They motivated the Israelites to rebuild the temple and to make God’s house a pri- ority. The prophets’ words are found in the short books bearing their names. Though the temple in Jerusalem was eventually rebuilt, most of the Jewish nation remained living on foreign soil. For example, the book of Esther narrates important events involving God’s people who were still living in exile at that time. When we study the book of Esther, we will get insight into what Jewish life was like under foreign rule. The final wave of exiles returning to Jerusalem came under the leadership of Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Though the newly built temple stood for about 70 years, the walls of Jerusalem remained in ruins. Hence, God called Nehemiah to rebuild the city walls.
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After the completion of the walls, spiritual revival occurred in Israel. But sadly, it was short-lived. When Nehemiah completed his governorship and left Jerusalem, spiritual corruption recurred. It was at this time that God raised up Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet, to prophesy against the wayward nation. The Second Exodus workbook is designed to be a tool for you to engage with God’s Word. We encourage you to use this study as the content for your daily devotions and time with the Lord.
Each lesson in the study is broken into five days. The general flow of each lesson is as follows:
PRAY: Start with prayer each day. Open your Bible, open this workbook, and pray for God to open the eyes of your heart.
DAY 1 READ THE WORD: Read the assigned passage before answering any questions. Perhaps Day 1 is most important because it provides you with an opportunity to read, digest, and begin to rightly understand the pas- sage before delving into other study resources or questions. This is done by design, with the goal of helping you to grow as a student of the Word who will rightly interpret the Bible.
Please don’t rush through or skip this step. Notice the questions that will prompt you to study and investigate the passage on your own.
DAYS 2–5 include roughly four to five questions to work through. Some ques- tions are easier to answer, while others require interpretation. You will have an opportunity to cross-reference passages, learn about historical customs from another era, and engage with other study tools to help you understand what the authors intended. Lastly, you will spend time reflecting on the personal implications of the teaching and how you will apply what you have learned. Let us all be doers of the Word and not hearers only. FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS: Throughout each lesson you will find gray boxes. These truths are provided to help you understand big ideas and doctrines that arise from the passages you are studying. We have designed them to be helpful commentary for your lessons. We are glad you are joining us on this quest to know God and His Word. You will never regret studying the Scriptures with others in your small group. As you begin this study, our hope is that you will grow in your relationship with God. We pray that you will be increasingly satisfied in Him. And lastly, we hope you will surrender your life daily to obey God, becoming more like Jesus.
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LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION PART 1 —GOD’S COVENANT PROMISES TO ISRAEL The second exodus of Israel is best understood when you understand Israel’s pre- ceding history. Before we look at Israel’s return to the promised land, let’s turn the pages of Scripture and trace Israel’s story from the beginning to learn how she ended up in captivity in the first place. In this introductory lesson, we will study God’s covenant promises, Israel’s record of failures, Israel’s kings, and God’s faith- fulness to His judgment and promises.
God Makes a Covenant with Abram
DAY 1
God reveals Himself in Scripture to be a covenant-keeping God, promising to do all that He vows. Covenants are promises that God gives to His people to reveal His character and unchanging love for them. Throughout history, God made a series of covenants like the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic; these were a pro- gression of promises about God’s faithfulness, redemption, and provision for His creation, culminating in the new covenant. Because of the death of Jesus, the new covenant offers a new heart and forgiveness for all who believe.
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT God made a very personal promise to Abraham that He would make him into a great nation, with specified land, innumerable descendants, and many spiritual blessings (Gen. 12:1–3 and 15:5). God would fulfill His promises and keep this everlasting covenant, no matter the choices of Abraham or his descendants. God’s covenant keeping is based on His own faithful charac- ter, not on man’s human actions. Though this covenant was a promise from God, man had to receive it through faith (Gen. 15:6), not by doing any works. The Abrahamic covenant and the new covenant (which Christ followers are under today) are one covenant of grace made to sinners who receive them through saving faith.
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LESSON 1 1. Read Genesis 12:1–4. God began the nation of Israel with a man named Abram, who was later renamed Abraham. What do you learn in this interaction be- tween God and Abram?
2. Read Genesis 15:1–6. Despite the promise of God, Abram and his wife Sarai remained childless. What words of assurance did God give Abram, and how did Abram respond?
3. Read Genesis 15:7–21. In this strange scene, the Lord continues to disclose his commitment to His covenant as He reveals Himself as a “smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” passing between the bloodied halves of three sac- rificial animals.
• What are the Lord’s instructions and Abram’s response (vv. 9–12)?
• What are the Lord’s terms and promises (vv. 13–21)?
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FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
RIGHTEOUSNESS God’s righteousness means that God always acts in accordance with what is right and that He Himself is the final standard of what is right. 1 For man to be right before God, his sins must be forgiven. When Abraham believed God, he had faith in God’s promises; thereby, God imputed righ- teousness to Abraham’s account. His sin was removed; and God granted him righteousness based on Jesus’ sacrificial death, which paid the debt man owed. Righteousness through faith precedes the Mosaic law, which under- scores salvation through faith alone, not by doing the law. Salvation is and has always been by faith alone. “Scripture is clear that because Adam’s sin has corrupted every man, ‘none is righteous, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10; cf. Ps. 14:1–3). But it is also clear that Jesus Christ lived a perfectly righteous life and died for our sins in order to free us from our punishment and credit us with His own righteousness—the righteousness of God (see 1 Cor. 1:30 and 2 Cor. 5:21). This is the gospel.” 2
4. According to the Bible, how are you able to live in a right relationship with God and others? What would you tell someone who thought they could be righteous by “doing righteous things”?
DAY 2
God Makes a Covenant with Israel
Fulfilling God’s prophecy, Abraham’s offspring became the nation of Israel and were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. During that time, God multiplied His descendants, heard their cries, and delivered them from bondage through Moses (Ex. 1–12). That deliverance from Egypt, through the Red Sea, is called the great exodus . God’s presence accompanied Israel on the way to the promised land as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21–22). And along the way, God gave Israel the law through Moses (Ex. 20–23), which is known as the Mosaic covenant.
1 Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 204. 2 https://www.challies.com/resources/the-essential-righteousness/
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LESSON 1
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
THE MOSAIC COVENANT When God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, He established Israel as a theocratic nation and made a temporary covenant with her called the Mosaic covenant. This covenant would not only teach God’s righteous stan- dards but amplify sin and drive man to his need for a savior. “The Mosaic covenant was an administration of detailed written laws given for a time to restrain the sins of the people and to be a custodian to point people to Christ. Paul says, ‘Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made’ (Gal. 3:19), and ‘The law was our guardian until Christ came’ (Gal. 3:24).” 3
1. How did Israel respond to the Mosaic covenant in Exodus 19:8, 24:3, and 7–8?
2. Moses went up on the mountain to receive the law from God, where he re- mained for 40 days and nights (Ex. 24:12, 18). Compare Exodus 20:2–4 with 32:1–14. How did the Israelites violate God’s law while Moses was on the mountain?
3 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 521.
Introduction Part 1—God’s Covenant Promises to Israel | 9
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
IDOLATRY Idolatry is the worship or allegiance to anything other than God alone. If something holds a controlling force or position in your life, it is an idol. Idols can be materialism, pride, self-fulfillment, and power. We can even worship “our religion” instead of God. In the Old Testament, idol worship meant wor- shiping objects or images that represented various pagan deities. In the time between Joshua’s death and the Babylonian exile, Israel repeatedly fell into worship of the pagan gods of the peoples around them, especially Baal and Asherah. The first and second commandments instruct God’s people to wor- ship only God and not make or serve any idol (Ex. 20:3–5). Israel’s idolatry led to their judgment, captivity, and exile at the hands of the Babylonians. 4
3. Why is idolatry such an offense to God? In what way are you giving your time, money, allegiance, or effort to an idol that is holding you captive?
4. Exodus 34:5–7 reveals God’s covenantal commitment to Israel. “This ancient confession of faith is the basis for both the mercy and the justice of God.” 5 Read this passage. What is the key to God’s mercy?
4 “What is the definition of idolatry?” and “Why was the worship of Baal and Asherah a constant struggle for the Israelites?” Got Questions: Your Questions, Biblical Answers. March 2025. https://www.gotquestions.org/idola- try-definition.html and https://www.gotquestions.org/Baal-and-Asherah.html 5 What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About . Jason DeRouchie, pg. 306.
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LESSON 1
DAY 3
Israel’s Past Disobedience and God’s Promise of Present Blessings
In God’s covenant with Abraham, God promised that the land of the Canaanites would belong to Abraham and to his descendants. Several centuries later, when it was time to take possession of the promised land, the Israelites refused because they feared the people of the land more than they trusted God.
1. Read Numbers 14:26–34. What were the consequences that Israel suffered because of their disobedience and unbelief?
2. About 40 years later, Moses prepared the next generation of Israelites to go up and take the land. Read Deuteronomy 28:1–2 and 13–14. What did God promise to His people if they faithfully obeyed Him and did not turn aside to go after and serve other gods?
3. Despite Israel’s past disobedience, write down some of the specific blessings God promised to His people in Deuteronomy 28:3–12.
4. Recognizing that these blessings were particular to the nation of Israel, in what specific way have you experienced God’s undeserved blessing because of your obedience?
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DAY 4
God’s Promise of Curses for Israel’s Disobedience
1. God warned Israel of the curses that would come upon them for disobedi- ence. Read Deuteronomy 28:15–19 and notice how these curses are exactly opposite of God’s promised blessings in Deuteronomy 28:3–12.
Summarize more curses listed in Deuteronomy 28:20–35.
• Verses 20–24
• Verses 25–26
• Verses 27–28
• Verses 29–35
2. What repeated phrase do you see in all the curses brought on Israel? (See Deut. 28:20, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, and 35.) What do you learn about the Lord?
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LESSON 1 3. What would be the ultimate curse brought on Israel if they didn’t obey the Lord and keep His commandments? (See Deut. 28:49–52 and 64–65.)
4. God expects repentant hearts from His people. When people persistently refuse to repent of their sin against God, what does that reveal? When you persistently sin against God’s commands, what does that reveal?
DAY 5
God Renews the Covenant with His People
1. As Israel prepared to enter the promised land, only two who left Egypt and agreed to the covenant at Mount Sinai would enter in, Caleb and Joshua. God would renew His covenant with the new generation of Israelites. Read Deuteronomy 29:10–15. What do you observe about the covenant?
2. Read Deuteronomy 29:22–28. How does Moses answer this question: “Why has the L ord done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?”
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3. Read Deuteronomy 30:1–10. What important truths do you learn about the “ L ord your God”? What important truths do you learn about man?
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
COVENANT At its most basic level, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship between two or more parties. Thus, human covenants (for example, marriage) fall under this general definition. In divine covenants, God sovereignly establishes the relationship with His creatures. There are other nuances, but a divine cov- enant given after the fall is, fundamentally, one in which God binds Himself by His own oath to keep His promises. Still, there are conditions attached to that oath on the human side. If the human party involved in a covenant with God does not keep the covenant’s conditions, there will be consequences. 6
4. How does understanding the concept of covenant change your understand- ing of being a Christian? Write a prayer that expresses your dependence upon or belief in God’s promises.
6 W hat is a Covenant? Mark Jones. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/what-covenant
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LESSON 1
NOTES
Introduction Part 1—God’s Covenant Promises to Israel | 15
LESSON 2 INTRODUCTION PART 2 — ISRAEL’S FAILURE TO KEEP THE COVENANT In the first lesson, we quickly covered approximately 430 years from Abraham to Joshua! Joshua was appointed to lead Israel into the promised land and empowered as Moses’ successor. After winning many battles against the Canaanites, the Israelites became established in the land. However, they failed to drive out all the pagan peo- ples of the land, as God had commanded them in Judges 1. After the death of Joshua, a series of judges governed Israel. This period of Israel’s history was marred by a repeating cycle of unfaithfulness and idolatry, followed by God’s divine punishment and Israel’s eventual repentance and restoration. Sadly, with each successive cycle, Israel’s corruption and depravity grew worse. The book of Judges ends with these words: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25). Amid spiritual decay in Israel, God mercifully raised up a righteous and faithful prophet named Samuel to lead and judge the nation. When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to take over as judges. Unfortunately, his sons were found to be corrupt, and the elders of the nation came to Samuel saying, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Sam. 8:5). This is where we will pick up Israel’s story.
DAY 1
God Gives Israel a King
1. Read 1 Samuel 8:1–9. What do you notice about the Lord’s response to Samuel in verses 7–9?
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LESSON 2 2. Israel demanded a king, and God gave them a man named Saul. At first, Saul demonstrated humility and strength by defeating the Ammonites with “the Spirit of God on him” (1 Sam. 11:6). However, over time he became arrogant. During a battle with the Philistines, Saul found himself in a precarious posi- tion while anxiously awaiting help from Samuel. When Samuel didn’t arrive as expected, Saul made a foolish decision.
Read 1 Samuel 13:8–14. What was wrong with Saul’s actions, and what con- sequences would he suffer as a result?
3. As King Saul grew increasingly corrupt, the Lord said to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” (1 Sam. 15:11). God turned from Saul to establish the next king of Israel, David.
Read 1 Samuel 16:1 and 6–13 and list what you learn about David and his family.
4. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the L ord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the L ord looks on the heart.”
What do you learn about God’s character? How have you misjudged some- one based on their appearance, and what lesson did you learn?
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DAY 2
GOD MAKES A COVENANT WITH DAVID
In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites battled the Philistines and David killed their giant, Goliath. After this, David’s popularity and stature in Israel surged. With his rising profile, Saul grew increasingly jealous and eventually sought to kill him, forcing David on the run. Though David had several opportunities to kill Saul, he refused saying, “I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the L ord ’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:10). Between David’s anointing and his ascension to the throne, 15 years passed; and with the death of Saul, David assumed the throne. As king, David expressed a desire to build a house for the Lord (2 Sam. 7:2). In His response to David, God gave him important promises in what is known as the Davidic covenant.
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
THE DAVIDIC COVENANT The unconditional covenant where God promised King David that he would have a descendent who would rule on his throne forever (2 Sam. 7 and 2 Sam. 23:5). God promised David that Israel would be a great nation, and David would possess an eternal kingdom. This covenant is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David, who is seated on the throne of God’s kingdom and will rule for all eternity (Ps. 110). 7
1. Read 2 Samuel 7:1–17. Notice the heart of the Davidic covenant in verses 12–16. What promises did God make to David?
2. Read 1 Kings 2:12 and Matthew 21:9–11. Who are the offspring of David re- ferred to in the covenant?
7 “What is a covenant?” and “What are the covenants in the Bible?” Got Questions: Your Questions, Biblical Answers. March 2025. https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-covenant.html and https://www.gotquestions.org /Bible-covenants.html and https://www.gotquestions.org/new-covenant.html
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LESSON 2 3. Though David was Israel’s greatest king and God considered him “a man after his own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14), he sinned greatly against the Lord by committing adultery with Bathsheba and then by having her husband killed (2 Sam. 11:1–21). When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David repented, but his sin still had serious personal, family, and national consequences.
What were these consequences? Fill in the remaining blanks.
Scripture
Consequences
2 Samuel 12:10–12
The sword wouldn’t depart from David’s house; the Lord would raise up evil against David from his own house, take his wives, and give them to his neighbor.
2 Samuel 12:15 and 18
The Lord would afflict the child; he would grow sick and die.
2 Samuel 13:1 and 11–14
Amnon, David’s son, violated his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 15:6, 12–14
Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel from King David. Absalom worked with Ahithophel (David’s counselor), who conspired with him against David. David fled to Jerusalem to escape Absalom.
2 Samuel 16:20–22
2 Samuel 18:14–15
2 Samuel 20:1–2
4. Read Psalm 51, David’s prayer of repentance. What do you learn from David? Take a moment and use this prayer as a model for your own prayer time.
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1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Have mercy on me
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Fix me
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O L ord , open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
YOU get the glory
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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LESSON 2
DAY 3
King Solomon’s Reign and the Divided Kingdom
1. David’s son, Solomon, became the third king of Israel, and God blessed Solomon with great wealth and wisdom (1 Kings 4:20–34).
Read 1 Kings 6:1 and 37–38. What did Solomon build, and how long did it take?
2. Early in his reign, Solomon loved the Lord (1 Kings 3:3) and said, “O L ord , God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him” (1 Kings 8:23–24). However, Solomon even- tually drifted away from the Lord.
Read 1 Kings 11:1–8. What things stand out to you regarding how Solomon was lured away from the Lord?
3. Read Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2–3. What was the particular abomination of the worship of Molech?
4. Read 1 Kings 11:29–32. How did God judge Solomon for introducing idolatry at a national level?
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5. Idolatry is never without severe consequences. Take inventory to see if you have placed any possessions, relationships, or desires before the Lord. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, pas- sion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5). How will you get aggressive with these sins and put them to death?
DAY 4
God Sends His Prophets to Rebuke Bad Kings
While the southern kingdom of Judah was made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and ruled by Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was made up of the other ten tribes and ruled by Solomon’s servant Jeroboam. Unfortunately, most of the twenty kings who ruled over the Northern Kingdom of Israel were bad. While most of Judah’s kings were also bad, there were a few whom God considered good.
1. Read 1 Kings 12:26–33. What was Jeroboam’s concern about the temple’s location in Jerusalem, and what did he do about it?
2. What echo from Israel’s history do you hear in the words of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12:28? (See also Ex. 32:4.)
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LESSON 2
3. Review the actions of the kings in the following chart.
Israel’s King Reference
Actions
Nadab
1 Kings 15:25–26 Did evil; walked in the way of his father (Jeroboam) and in his sin; Made Israel to sin
Baasha
1 Kings 15:33–34 Did evil; walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin
Omri
1 Kings 16:25–26 Did more evil; walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sins
Ahab
1 Kings 16:30–31
Did evil more than all before him; walked in Jeroboam’s sin; served and worshiped Baal
Ahaziah
1 Kings 22:51–53
Did evil; walked in the way of his father and mother and in the way of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin; served Baal; worshiped him and provoked the Lord to anger Did evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his mother and father; put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. Clung to the sin of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin Didn’t turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam, that is, the golden calves in Bethel and Dan, with which he made Israel to sin; wasn’t careful to walk in the law of the Lord; didn’t turn from sins of Jeroboam Did evil in the sight of the Lord; followed the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin Did evil in the sight of the Lord; did not depart from all the sin of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in those sins
Jehoram 2 Kings 3:1–3
Jehu
2 Kings 10:29 and 31
Jehoahaz
2 Kings 13:2
Jehoash (Joash)
2 Kings 13:10–11
Jeroboam II
2 Kings 14:24
Did evil; didn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins
Zechariah
2 Kings 15:8–9
Did evil; didn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins
Menahem 2 Kings 15:17–18
Did evil; didn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins
Pekahiah
2 Kings 15:23–24
Did evil; didn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins
Pekah
2 Kings 15:27–28 Did evil; didn’t depart from Jeroboam’s sins
Hoshea
2 Kings 17:1–2
Did evil; but not as the kings before him
Introduction Part 2—Israel’s Failure to Keep the Covenant | 23
Write down four observations regarding the sin of Jeroboam and its effect on the subsequent kings of Israel.
4. Sinning against God is serious. We learn from the biblical account that de- parting from God’s Word can lead to heinous evil, ungodliness, wretched leadership, and extreme disobedience. Even if your sinning is not like these kings’, is there anything you need to confess and change immediately?
DAY 5
Israel and Judah Go into Captivity
1. In 722 BC, as foretold by the prophets Hosea and Micah, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity (2 Kings 17:6–8). God allowed the Assyrian empire to invade Israel and take His people into exile because “the L ord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight” (2 Kings 17:18). Starting in 605 BC, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians in three separate stages. Familiarize yourself with the three waves of exiles found in 2 Chronicles 36:5–14.
Last kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
Babylonian in- vasion: three devastating de- portations under Nebuchadnezzar
Who was taken to Babylon?
What was taken to Babylon?
1st Wave 605 BC
Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:1–7 and Dan. 1:1–6) Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6–17)
The king; some of the people of the royal family and nobility (including Daniel and friends)
Some vessels from the temple
2nd Wave 597 BC
The king; many officials and people except the poorest
Treasures of the house of the Lord and king’s house; precious vessels from the house of the Lord;
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LESSON 2
Last kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
Babylonian in- vasion: three devastating de- portations under Nebuchadnezzar
Who was taken to Babylon?
What was taken to Babylon?
3rd Wave 586 BC
Zedekiah (2 Kings
The king; taken into exile all those who survived the sword; left the poorer people
25:1–7 and 12; and Jer. 52:1– 11 and 16)
Vessels and treasures of the house of the Lord; the treasures of the King and his princes;
2. Read 2 Chronicles 36:15–16. What do you see about the heart of God toward Judah and the heart of the people toward God?
3. In 2 Chronicles 36:19, what happened to the city of Jerusalem in Babylon’s third and final invasion?
4. Read 2 Chronicles 36:20–21. What details do you learn about the exile?
5. What do you observe as you compare 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 with Ezra 1:1–3?
Introduction Part 2—Israel’s Failure to Keep the Covenant | 25
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS
SIN AND JUDGMENT Sin means to miss the mark; it’s to fall short of God’s holy and perfect moral standard. Judgment is God’s administration of justice and righteousness by punishing sin. Some consequences are logical outworkings from the sin itself, but God may also send judgment because of sin. Ultimately, the penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and God delivers judgment as He sees fit. Before captivity, Israel sinned corporately, engaging in idol worship, committing sexual perver- sions, and offering children as sacrifices. God could not allow His set-apart people to continue living rebelliously. After abundant warnings and pleas to repent, He used the Babylonians and Assyrians to bring judgment on His people, who were taken captive and carried off into exile from their promised land. 8 REDEMPTION The Bible is the story of God’s redemption of His people from the captivity of sin. Because of the fall of man (Adam and Eve), every person is corrupt- ed by sin and separated from holy God. However, in God’s love and mercy He made a way for man to be restored in fellowship with Him. Even as God pronounced judgment on Adam and Eve for their sin, He offered the hope of the gospel in the promise of an offspring who would crush Satan and save man from sin and death. Throughout the Bible, redemption is a theme that we’ll study repeatedly. When Israel was exiled as judgment for their sin, God redeemed His people for Himself, restoring their land, bringing them back to Himself, and restoring the blessings He intended for them. We too expe- rience redemption through faith in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sin and gives us eternal life in His presence. 6. The destruction of Jerusalem proved God’s faithfulness to the covenant curse for disobedience. As a just God, He is true to His promise to judge. God’s people did not obey His covenantal stipulations that set them apart as His people. Instead, they followed the evil intentions of their hearts and lusted after the idols of the pagan nations.
Considering this two-part Old Testament recap, what have you learned about the human heart, man’s need for redemption, and God’s promises?
8 “What was the Babylonian captivity/exile?” Got Questions: Your Questions, Biblical Answers. March 2025. https://www.gotquestions.org/Babylonian-captivity-exile.html
26 | Lesson 2
LESSON 2
NOTES
Introduction Part 2—Israel’s Failure to Keep the Covenant | 27
LESSON 3 EZRA 1 : 1 – 2 : 70
The L ord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclama- tion throughout all his kingdom. —Ezra 1:1
In 538 BC, after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, the first wave of exiles began their return to the promised land. In an amazing display of God’s providence, God stirred the heart of the Persian king, Cyrus, to make a decree that allowed Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple. During their time in captivity, the Babylonian Empire had been conquered by the Medes and Persians. Thus, the Jews who had been taken from their land by a Babylonian king would now return by decree of a Persian king.
READ THE WORD Pray. Take a moment to pray, asking the Lord to prepare your heart and teach you.
Ezra 1:1—2:70 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the L ord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the L ord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The L ord , the God of heaven, has given me all the king- doms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the L ord , the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” 5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the L ord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the L ord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.
28 | Lesson 3
LESSON 3 2 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.
36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.
40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. 41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. 42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139. 43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, 45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, 46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, 47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, 48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, 49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, 50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, 51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha. 55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, 56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was
Ezra 1:1–2:70 | 29
called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the ge- nealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. 64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720. 68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the L ord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
DAY 1
Review the passage above, and answer the following:
• What words, phrases, or actions did I see repeated?
• What did I learn about God?
• What passages point to gospel truths?
• What did I learn about mankind, good or bad?
30 | Lesson 3
LESSON 3
• What verse or teaching stood out to me?
• What questions do I have?
DAY 2
1. Share a time in your faith journey when your heart was stirred by a new en- deavor, challenge, or event.
Cyrus Makes a Proclamation (Ezra 1:1)
2. Cyrus is referred to by name in the prophecy of Isaiah recorded about 150 years before the reign of Cyrus. What did God say about Cyrus in the fol- lowing prophetic verses?
• Isaiah 44:28
• Isaiah 45:1–5 and 13
Ezra 1:1–2:70 | 31
3. By comparison, what did God say about the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in the prophetic words of Jeremiah 25:8–9?
4. How did God use Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar for His purposes?
5. Read Isaiah 45:5–13 and Jeremiah 25:11–14. What truths about God have you learned today? End today’s lesson with adoration for God’s character and purposes.
DAY 3
Cyrus Decrees the Jews May Return to Rebuild (Ezra 1:1–4)
1. Read Jeremiah 29:10. What prophecy of Jeremiah would Cyrus bring to pass?
2. From Ezra 1:1–4, answer the following about Cyrus’ written proclamation:
• What does he say about God?
32 | Lesson 3
LESSON 3
• What are the instructions he gives?
• To whom are the instructions given?
3. Cyrus’s proclamation was an official Persian document. Why was it import- ant that this decree was put in writing?
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
PROVIDENCE OF GOD Divine providence is God’s wise and loving direction of all things to accom- plish His will. He is in complete control of the universe and all of history.
Wayne Grudem, in Systematic Theology, helps us understand the following:
• Preservation: God keeps all created things exiting and maintain- ing the properties with which he created them. • Concurrence: God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do. This includes creation, animals, seemingly “random” or “chance” events, the affairs of Nations, all aspects of our lives, and evil. 9 God can override human sin to bring about His purpose and to influence people to participate in His good plans. For example, God used King Nebuchadnezzar to judge and discipline His people (Jer. 25:1–12 and 29:10–11). Additionally, in Ezra 1:1, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to allow the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. He inspired this king’s decision for the good
9 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994) 316–322.
Ezra 1:1–2:70 | 33
of His chosen people and for His own glory. In this study, The Second Exodus , you will continually see God working everything out in conformity with the purpose of His will (Eph. 1:5). 10
4. How does the providence of God and the fact that there are no coincidenc- es or chance events with God encourage you?
God Stirs the Hearts of the Exiles (Ezra 1:5–11)
DAY 4
1. How did the exiles respond to the decree of Cyrus (vv. 5–6)?
2. God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus (v. 1) and then the spirits of the priests, the Levites, and the people (v. 5). Why was it necessary to “awaken” His people to return to Jerusalem?
3. Presently, how is God’s Spirit stirring you to accomplish His plans?
10 “What is divine providence?” Got Questions: Your Questions, Biblical Answers. March 2025. https://www.gotques- tions.org/divine-providence.html
34 | Lesson 3
LESSON 3 4. In Ezra 1:7–11, the Jewish temple vessels that the Babylonians took under Nebuchadnezzar were to be returned to Jerusalem. Worship was to be re- stored at the temple, and these sacred vessels were an important part of the continuity between the past and the present. What material contribution did Cyrus make to the restoration of the temple?
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
HOUSE OF THE LORD In his proclamation, King Cyrus said that God has charged him with building Him a house, and he directed God’s people to return to Jerusalem to “re- build the house of the L ord ” (Ezra 1:3). This “house” is the temple, originally built by David’s son and successor, Solomon (2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Kings 6), and destroyed by the Babylonians at the start of Israel’s captivity (2 Kings 25:9). The temple had its roots in the tabernacle (Ex. 26). The tabernacle and then the temple were to be the place where God would dwell with His people, and where the Israelites were to worship and offer sacrifices according to the Mosaic law. God’s house was central to Israelite life: their existence as a nation was dependent on God’s glory and His presence with them. God has always determined His dwelling place and carried out His will. Ultimately, Jesus, or the Word, became flesh and dwelt among God’s people, revealing Himself as the “true temple” of God (John 1:14 and 2:18–21).
5. The temple represented everything for God’s people. And yet God’s eter- nal purpose was to dwell with His people. How does John 1:14 encourage you? “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Ezra 1:1–2:70 | 35
DAY 5
The Exiles Return (Ezra 2:1–70)
1. What stands out to you about the list of returnees?
2. Why do you think this list may have been important for later generations to read? Why might your church keep a list of names of its members?
3. The first two names in the list are Zerubbabel and Jeshua (also Joshua). What do you learn about Zerubbabel and Joshua from Haggai 1:1, 2:2, and Matthew 1:1 and 12–13?
4. A full 42,360 of the exiles and 7,337 servants returned to Jerusalem and Judah. Though we don’t know the exact number of exiles in Babylon at the time, we can assume many decided not to return. According to Jeremiah 29:1–7, why did some stay behind?
5. How has God’s call to do His work required you to set aside what is com- fortable and familiar? Be specific.
36 | Lesson 3
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