So let's get into the word. Ezra, we're going to do two chapters tonight. You know what that means?

We'll get out of here about midnight. No, actually you'll be maybe surprised at how quickly we actually get through.

Very interesting two chapters before us tonight. And so why don't we pray?

We'll ask God's blessing on our time together in his word if you would join with me and

then we'll get started. Father in heaven, thank you so much for your word and Lord thank you for these two

chapters that we have before us tonight and all that is in them. Lord we're looking

to you with great anticipation to speak into our lives in and through your word. Lord we're wanting to hear you speak very clearly.

We don't want any distractions, anything to creep in and take our attention away from you

and what you have for us. So Lord, would you just in the time that we have together

tonight just minister to us we pray in Jesus name. Amen. All right, let's jump in. Verse 1.

And when the seventh month had come and the children of Israel were in the cities,

the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.

I want to take just the first verse before we go any further because it has to do with this seventh month on the Jewish calendar where

we're told that the children of Israel gathered together in Jerusalem. Now keep in mind that

they have just returned to Jerusalem after this decree by Cyrus, King of Persia. And God moved on by way of a fulfillment

of prophecy in Isaiah concerning this man some 150 years before he was born. And so the prophecy was that he would in fact do this very thing

and allow the Jews to return and a remnant did, not all. Some stayed, but the ones who did,

took a great step of faith at great risk and even great peril made the trip

back to Jerusalem and upon their arrival it was a little bit overwhelming to see the state

of disrepair that the temple the house of the Lord was in having been destroyed and of course

leading to the first captivity. So now we're told that as they arrive there in Jerusalem,

they gather together in Jerusalem as one man. Very interesting. They are, I suppose you could say, of one mind

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