NBC Sunday School Manual For March 13, 2022 : Topic – FREEDOM TO WORSHIP
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NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Sunday March 13, 2022
Topic: FREEDOM TO WORSHIP
Background Scripture:
Ezra 5; 6:1-12; 10:1-5
Lesson Scripture: Ezra 6:1-12
GOLDEN TEXT:
May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 6:12a
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
1. Review the role of King Darius in building the new temple in Jerusalem;
2. Discuss the excuses people usually give for failing to actin accordance with God’s will;
3. Confess where they have failed God, receive forgiveness, and get on with the task at hand, without any distraction.
INTRODUCTION
A church purchased a piece of land in the early 1950s, with all the relevant documents duly processed and kept but unfortunately, nothing was done on that piece of land. This, of course, gave room for encroachment from their greedy neighbours. Some years later, when a new pastor assumed the pastorate of the church, the building work commenced, not knowing that some politicians were already making plans and bargaining with some miscreants to purchase the land. Immediately, the pastor contacted one of the Convention officers who used his stewardship of influence to reach out to the then Governor of the State. The Governor intervened immediately and warned all government officials to stay away from the land. Finally, the land was secured for the church and the building work continued.
The rebuilding of the temple by the returnee Jews continued. However, there were oppositions. After the defeat of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians, the people from the other parts of the Assyrian Empire resettled in the land. These non-Jewish neighbours of the returning Jews stopped the Jews from rebuilding the temple by writing negative reports about them to the Persian kings. Only during the reign of King Dairus did work begin again on the temple and was completed in the sixth year of his reign (Ezra 6:15). The focus of today’s lesson is the discovery of Cyrus’ order to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and Darius’ command to continue with the building work.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. Cyrus’ Order Discovered Ezra 6:1-5
The Jews who returned from exile in Babylon were eager to rebuild the temple. Their desire was to restore true worship. To this effect, the people gave freewill offerings of gold, silver and other materials and the work commenced (Ezra 2). However, at the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they were faced with opposition from their enemies who lived in Judah and Jerusalem. They wrote charges against them and alleged that if the temple is rebuilt, the people will stop paying tax (Ezra 4:6-13). Interestingly, Prophets Haggai and Zechariah had prophesied in chapter 5 that the Jews should proceed with the building of the temple, despite opposition. Eventually, the Persian officials wrote a report to King Darius to conduct a search in the royal records in Babylon to confirm Cyrus’ order about the rebuilding of the temple. Ultimately, a scroll that contained Cyrus’ order to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, as a place of worship was found in the city of Ecbatana in the province of Media with the following guidelines:
. The temple should be 27 meters high and wide.
. The walls should be constructed with one layer of wood on top of every three layers of stone.
. The whole expenses should be paid from the royal treasury.
. The gold and silver utensils seized by Nebuchadnezzar should be returned to the temple.
The role of King Darius in getting the new temple built in Jerusalem cannot be over-emphasised. He listened to the request of the people to conduct a search. According to Ezra chapter 1 verse 1, while the Jews were still in exile, God stirred his heart to make a proclamation throughout his empire. He put it into writing that God has given him the responsibility to reconstruct the temple of the Lord, in Jerusalem. Because the decree was well – documented, it was later discovered. It served as a reference point upon which the Jews presented their case to King Darius, when they were faced with opposition. This further explains the importance of documentation. If the decree had not been written, definitely, there would have been nothing to refer to and perhaps the construction work would have been halted.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. King Darius listened to the request of the Jewish officials to conduct a search in order to confirm King Cyrus’ order. What lessons should leaders learn from this?
2. Why were the Jews committed to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem?
B. Darius’s Order to Continue with the Work Ezra 6:12
King Cyrus’ order to rebuild the temple was found in a scroll and with it, Darius was convinced of the command to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He, therefore, wrote and warned Tattenai, the governor of West Euphrates, Shethar-bozenai and their fellow officials not to interfere with the construction work. He said the governor of Judah and Jerusalem leaders should be left to rebuild the temple and commanded them to assist them. To avoid interruption, he ordered prompt payment of the expenditures from the taxes in West Euphrates. Furthermore, they were to supply whatever the priests asked for, like young bulls, sheep, or lambs as burnt offerings to God in the temple including wheat, salt, wine or olive oil (v.9). These were all foods used for the sacrifice of grain offerings and wine offering (Exodus 29:38-41). Apparently, two reasons are given for the order: so that they can offer acceptable sacrifices to God and ask for more of His blessings. The disobedient will be duly punished while his household will be made a rubbish heap. He said in verse 12, “May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.” The declaration implies that the decree must be fully obeyed by all.
It was God’s intention for His people to build the temple so that they will have freedom to worship thus He stirred the heart of a pagan king to accomplish the purpose. Even when there was an interruption and the construction work was stopped temporarily, God raised another king who enforced the commencement of the work with promised assistance having read the decree of King Cyrus. Ironically, these men were pagan kings, yet they were used of God to accomplish His purpose of rebuilding the temple for proper worship (v.10). The whole scenario points to the fact that it was actually God’s time to rebuild the temple, since its destruction during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. To what extent should Christians allow unbelievers to assist the church in completing projects?
2. Discuss the importance of documentation, based on the lesson.
Commitment:
Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment to worship God with all sincerity.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:
Organise a prayer section for God’s provision to complete every prolonged project in the church.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that God will stir your heart as well as that of other brethren to always give cheerfully to His course.
2. Pray for the grace to offer acceptable sacrifices to God in order to receive more of His blessings.
Take Home:
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson