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Lessons from Ezra

by Ted Murray

£5.99 (UK); $9.99 (USA) - available from STP or online bookshops.

 

Short description

Perhaps the most important contemporary lesson is that the spiritual condition of the people deteriorates when there is compromise with the world around. Losing sight of their distinctiveness as a people for God led to massive problems for the Jewish nation, and it is easy to see the analogy with the Church in our own day.

Long description

What relevance can the book of Ezra, dating from the 5th century BC, have for Christians in the 21st century AD? It tells us that, whether they realize it or not, God's sovereign will is carried out by world rulers. It also shows that God faithfully supplies whatever His people need. This provokes a response in faith of practical obedience to God's Word. Further, the book of Ezra demonstrates the importance of putting what is due to God first in our lives. We are reminded that whenever God is at work there will always be opposition to be overcome, calling for courage, faith and energy. There are instructive examples too of sharing in the work of God. Perhaps the most important contemporary lesson is that the spiritual condition of the people deteriorates when there is compromise with the world around. Losing sight of their distinctiveness as a people for God led to massive problems for the Jewish nation, and it is easy to see the analogy with the Church in our own day.

Publisher's comments

First published as articles in the magazine Scripture Truth 2002-2004.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Ezra the Book

Chapter 1: The Circumstances

Chapter 2: The People

Chapter 3: The Place of Worship

Chapter 4: Difficult Days

Chapter 5: The Reawakening

Chapter 6: The Building Finished

Ezra the Man

Chapter 7: Ezra the Man

Chapter 8: Ezra's Companions

Chapter 9: Ezra's Resource

Chapter 10: Ezra - the Man of Action

Conclusion

Author biography

Ted Murray (1935-2010), born at Newcastle upon Tyne, was rescued from the rubble of his Granny's bomb-damaged house in 1941 and still remembers the text hanging on her wall: "Kept by the power of God". He experienced salvation by faith at the age of 14 years whilst living with relatives in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and found fellowship with a group of Brethren some three years later. Travelling abroad during his working life as an engineer gave Ted the opportunity to minister to God's people in various parts of the world. Located in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, with his wife Rosemary, he continued to preach the Gospel and minister the word of God in his local assembly and the surrounding area until his death in 2010. His four children all serve the Lord, and Ted and his wife took great delight in them and their many grandchildren. His written ministry began in 2002, after his retirement from full time employment.