After godly king Josiah passed off the scene, the rest of the kings that Judah had were wicked. The tribes of Benjamin and Judah had been faithful to the Lord, but as time went on, they became more and more disobedient. Finally God allowed a terrible judgment to fall on His beloved people, just as had come on their brethren in the ten tribes of Israel.
The disobedient and willful people of Judah and Benjamin were carried away as captives into an enemy land (Babylon) and were no longer able to enjoy the good land that God had given them. They were warned by prophets that this captivity would last for seventy years. How serious for those who belong to the Lord Jesus to disobey Him!
After seventy years of captivity, God remembered His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He caused Cyrus, king of Persia, to proclaim liberty to the captive Jews. This first proclamation of liberty happened during the time of a captive named Ezra. Ezra was a faithful Jew who really loved Jehovah, the God of Israel. He was a scribe (one who recorded God’s Word in a book) and he led the people back to the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem the first time.
We will rest in our journey now while you find the following verses:
1. The Lord Jesus was crucified by ____________ hands. Acts 2:___
Him
2. Unsaved people who are going to fall under the righteous judgment of God for their sins are ____________ to their parents. Romans 1:___
Backbiters
3. God has said that there is none who is ____________. Romans 3:___
They
4. Christians have received very wonderful ____________ of blessing from God. 2 Peter 1:___
Whereby
5. If someone wants to serve the Lord, he must be ____________. 1 Corinthians 4:___
Moreover