Why was Ezra included in the canon? As a Christian, I know we shouldn't have a "canon within the canon", but I'll admit, I just can't get worked up over Ezra.  I love Malachi. I could for a long time on 2 Peter.  I can even find stuff in Leviticus worth reading, but try as might, I just don't see anything interesting in Ezra. Understanding that I really do see theology in really obscure places, can someone help me see what is theological about this book?
You, my friend, have a hard heart if you can't find anything interesting in Ezra.  ;-)


  And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD,

  “For he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

  
  And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.&mdash;Ezra 3:10-13 (ESV)


To me, this is a picture of the joy we will have in the Lord when He brings this age to a close and we enter the age that will last forever.

The entire book tells the story of God's influence in world history even in the operation of a worldly empire.  Since the Second Temple was rebuilt, Jesus was able to enter it and, ultimately, bring the Mosiac Covenant to a close.