Before we move on to the New Testament in our study of the gospel storyline through the Bible, we will make two more stops. The first of these will center around the book of Ezra. We will examine it’s place in God’s plan historically and spiritually. We know that God kept His promise of judgment on Israel because of their disobedience and rejection of a relationship with Him. This judgement came over several years and took shape in the form of removal and exile of the Israelites. Jeremiah prophesied that Israel would face seventy years of exile because they refused to observe the commanded “Sabbath Years” seventy times. Ezra’s ministry takes place through the end of those seventy years. Through Ezra and a remnant of God’s people, God began working to return and restore His people. Most importantly, God set the scene for the coming of the promised Messiah.

Scripture References: Ezra 10:1-44, Ezra 3:1-13, Ezra 9:1-15, Ezra 2:1-70, Ezra 8:1-36, Ezra 1:1-11, Ezra 7:1-28, Ezra 6:1-22, Ezra 5:1-17, Ezra 4:1-24

More Messages from James Sumpter | Download Audio

From Series: "Author and End: The Gospel Throughout the Bible"

"Author & End" will follow the Gospel throughout the entire Bible, and we will discover that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. In lesson 1 of our series, we see that the "ends of the Gospel" have been the purpose of God from the very beginning.