__The Book of Ezra recounts the return of the Judeans to Israel after the Babylonian exile, and the rebuilding of the Temple. The Book of Haggai speaks about the rebuilding, where work ceased because of external opposition and internal failure of nerve.__  
  
In this valuable study, Robert Fyall guides us through The Message of Ezra and Haggai, exploring how it is enhanced by reading these two books together rather than separately. With clear, compelling and accessible scholarship, he shows the continuing relevance of how Ezra and Haggai emphasise building for God, as well as the need for obedience to his Word and openness to his Spirt.  
  
Ezra is a vital and stimulating book in its revelation of God's purposes, and together with Haggai's brief prophecy offers encouragement to God's people in dispiriting times – encouragement that still speaks to the Christian life today.  
A revised volume in the trusted Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Ezra and Haggai offers a thoughtful exposition of these two books, unpacking their meaning for both the original audience and for Christians in the twenty-first century.  
  
Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture as it was first written as well how it can be applied to modern life.  
  
This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.  
  
The Message of Ezra and Haggai is perfect for anyone looking for commentaries on Ezra and Haggai that will help delve more deeply into the riches of these two books of the Old Testament.

Robert Fyall

GENERAL PREFACE

Author’s preface

Chief abbreviations

Select bibliography

Commentaries

Other works

Part 1 The message of Ezra

Introduction

1. When?

2. What kind of book?

3. Leading themes

4. Continuing relevance

Ezra 1:1–11

1. The ransomed of the Lord return

1. God takes the initiative (1:1–4)

2. The people respond (1:5–6)

3. The work begins (1:7–11)

4. Getting our bearings

Ezra 2:1–70

2. What’s in a name?

1. The list of those who returned (2:1–67)

2. Gifts and settlements (2:68–70)

3. Ready for action

Ezra 3:1–6

3. Getting priorities right

1. The vital time (3:1)

2. The vital task (3:2–3)

3. The vital obedience (3:4–6)

4. Worshipping the living God

Ezra 3:7–13

4. Starting to take shape

1. Echoes and memories (3:7)

2. Leading the process (3:8–9)

3. Praise and nostalgia (3:10–13)

4. Further observations on building the temple

5. Getting our bearings

Ezra 4:1–24

5. The vultures gather

1. The structure of chapter 4

2. The inevitability of opposition

3. The beginning of the opposition (4:1–5)

4. The nature of the opposition (4:6–23)

5. The results of the opposition (4:24)

6. General comments

Ezra 5:1–17

6. God’s work cannot be stopped

1. The living word (5:1–2)

2. The official response (5:3–6)

3. A significant letter (5:7–17)

4. The broader picture

Ezra 6:1–22

7. The king and the King

1. Decrees new and old (6:1–12)

2. Finishing the work (6:13–18)

3. Celebrating the Passover (6:19–22)

4. General comments on Ezra 1 – 6

Ezra 7:1–10

8. God’s man arrives

1. A distinguished pedigree (7:1–5)

2. A double gifting (7:6a)

3. A providential overruling (7:6b–7)

4. An auspicious arrival (7:8–9)

5. A good all-rounder (7:10)

Ezra 7:11–28

9. The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord

1. The heart of the king (7:11–26)

2. The hand of the Lord (7:27–28)

Ezra 8:1–36

10. Another exodus

1. More than a list of names (8:1–14)

2. Where are the Levites? (8:15–20)

3. Calling on God (8:21–23)

4. The journey and the arrival (8:24–30)

5. Coming home (8:31–36)

Ezra 9:1–15

11. Faithless people; faithful God

1. The faithlessness of the community (9:1–5)

2. The faithfulness of God (9:6–15)

Ezra 10:1–44

12. Not a happy ending

1. Hope because of the covenant (10:1–8)

2. Communal repentance (10:9–15)

3. Meticulous investigation (10:16–17)

4. Naming and shaming (10:18–44)

Part 2 The message of Haggai

1. Who was he?

2. What was his message?

3. Structure and style

Haggai 1:1–2

13. When are we to build?

1. When Haggai prophesied

2. What his calling was

3. What his message is

4. The Lord's house

Haggai 1:3–11

14. A wake-up call

1. Appeal to priorities (1:3–4)

The background to the books of Ezra and Haggai is the exile of Judah to Babylon in 587 BC and the return from exile following the edict of Cyrus in 538 BC. Ezra narrates the history of the period, while Haggai speaks into the situation where those who had begun to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1 - 3) had ceased to do so because of external opposition and internal failure of nerve (Ezra 4).  
In Robert Fyall's valuable exposition, the pairing of Ezra with Haggai (instead of the more usual Nehemiah) enhances our appreciation of both. Ezra is a vital and stimulating book in its revelation of God's purposes, and Haggai's brief prophecy deals with highly significant issues.  
The message of these books, with their emphasis on building for God and the need for obedience to his Word and openness to his Spirit, is one that needs to be heard clearly today. The theme of the providence of God is an encouragement to God's people in dispiriting times.

\["For Bible students and teachers.","Offers contemporary insight into Ezra and Haggai.","Deepens understanding of Scripture."\]

Dive deep into the rich messages of Ezra and Haggai with this accessible commentary, offering timeless wisdom for contemporary Christian living.

Message of Ezra & Haggai

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