The Power and Effectiveness of a Prepared Heart

Our text begins with the words, “now after these things.” With these words we have
jumped ahead 56 years from the end of chapter 6, and the completion of the temple in 516bc. Temple worship has now been going on for many years and Zerubbabel, Joshua,
Haggai and Zechariah are likely already dead. The results of the revival are being experienced. But things still need to be set in order, so God sends another of His
servants – Ezra - to revive His people to rebuild them by the Word of God. God is kind - keeps sending help to His people, but in the midst of this theme of rebuilding, the Lord reveals to us the secrets of rebuilders.