Skip to main content

The NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012–2013, ed.

July 14
Lesson 7

DEDICATING THE TEMPLE

DEVOTIONAL READING: Ezra 5:1–5
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Ezra 6


EZRA 6:13–22

KEY VERSE
Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.—Ezra 6:16

LESSON AIMS

After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:
1. Describe the sequence of events in the completion and dedication of the second temple.
2. Compare and contrast the importance of the temple with the importance of church buildings today.
3. Dedicate himself or herself, as the temple of the Holy Spirit, to honoring God as sincerely as did the former exiles in Ezra 6 in dedicating the physical temple.

LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction
      A.      The Importance of Places
      B.      Lesson Background
          I.      Decree Obeyed (EZRA 6:13–15)
      A.      Diligence of the Officials (v. 13)
      B.      Determination in Building (v. 14)
      C.      Date of Completion (v. 15)
          II.      Temple Dedicated (EZRA 6:16–18)
      A.      Occasion for Joy (v. 16)
      B.      Offering of Sacrifices (v. 17)
      Willing to Sacrifice
      C.      Offices of Priests and Levites (v. 18)
          III.      Passover Kept (EZRA 6:19–22)
      A.      Celebration (v. 19)
      B.      Purification (v. 20)
      C.      Participation (v. 21)
      Purity Priority?
      D.      Realization (v. 22)
Conclusion
      A.      Real Joy
      B.      Prayer
      C.      Thought to Remember

The NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012–2013, ed. Ronald L. Nickelson and Jonathan Underwood (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 2012). 393.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Furnishings of the Tabernacle

Furnishings of the Tabernacle . ‎The book of Exodus details the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. As Yahweh’s sanctuary, the tabernacle served as God’s dwelling place among the Israelites—the expression of the covenant between Yahweh and His people ( Exod 25:8–9 ).

A Threshing Floor

A Threshing Floor In the ancient world, farmers used threshing floors to separate grain from its inedible husk (chaff) by beating it with a flail or walking animals on it—sometimes while towing a threshing sledge. Sledges were fitted with flint teeth to dehusk the grain more quickly. Other workers would turn the grain over so that it would be evenly threshed by the sledge.

Modern Mount Calvary

Modern Mount Calvary ‎Great authorities are marshaled in favor of both claimants—the church within and the mound without the walls. For a long time, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was the only traditional spot pointed out as the place of burial. But with the growing influence of the Grotto of Jeremiah, the modern Mount Calvary, a picture of which we give, increased in favor. This whole discussion as to the place where Christ was crucified, and as to the tomb in which His body was placed, turns upon the direction which the walls about Jerusalem took at the time of the crucifixion. If the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was outside the wall at that time, as Dean Stanley thinks it might have been, the chances in favor of its being the place of crucifixion and burial are increased. If, however, the site of this church was inside the wall at that time it is sure that the place of burial and crucifixion was not there, for Christ was crucified outside of the walls of Jerusalem. And ...