Complete devastation and captivity in Babylon laid heavy on the lives of the people of Israel. Gone were the days when vigor and vitality defined their spiritual life. The continual disobedience of Israel led to their captivity within Babylon and the razing of Jerusalem. The psalmist of Psalm 137 is in the midst of great pressure and persecution by captors filled with spite and pride. “For there our captors demanded of us sons, and out tormentors mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the ons of Zion.’” Psalms 137:3 What is to be done in the face of such oppression? What hope is there when we find ourselves surrounded by pressure and persecution through our actions or the actions of another? Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Exile
In the midst of persecution and trouble God is enough: Psalm 137
Living in the midst of a lust driven world: Esther 1 and 2
It is a truly unique blessing to be reading through Esther. I have always held Esther one my favorite book in the Bible. This time through the book I am excited to read the text with more thought and reflection. Why do I like the book of Esther so much? Why do I find so much hope and encouragement in the book? The story of Esther has been given the Hollywood movie treatment with One Night With the King, a movie that I have become fond of. How will the glamorized movie presentation of Esther compare to the truth of Scripture?
In Esther 1 and 2 it was surprising how the nation of Persia behaved under the rule of king Ahasuerus. The picture portrayed in Esther 1 tells about how the people celebrated the greatness of their king for over half a year. This isn’t that a little too indulgent? Was this indulgence due to an unchecked pride? King Ahasuerus seems to be eager to present himself as a great and splendid king to everyone in his nation, so he all too willingly takes the advice of his wise men. What does such lust say about the motives and desires of the Persian nations? What are your motives and desires in life? Are your motives characterized by lust? When wrong is done in sinning will committing further sin make it amends? When lust is a motivating factor in a persons life it becomes a cascading life of sin as more sin is committed to fulfill lusts appetite. Continue Reading…
Out of brokenness rebuilding can begin: Nehemiah 1 and 2
What grieves your heart so much that you weep, fast and pray for God’s intercession? Zerubbabel and Ezra led the first two groups of exiles back to Jerusalem. Thirteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem, leading a remnant to offer sacrifices to God, Nehemiah, a cup bearer to king Artaxerxes of Persia, hears word from Jerusalem that grieves his heart. The news from Jerusalem that the walls and gates are in ruin after over ninety years of exiles having returned to Jerusalem breaks the heart of Nehemiah. Why is Nehemiah so concerned about the state of the walls of Jerusalem? He is living in comfort as the cupbearer of the king of Persia. Wouldn’t life be easier if he just pushed aside the feelings and remorse? Have you ever quenched the Holy Spirit’s prompting in your life because you were afraid to step out in faith? Continue Reading…
The covenant remains unbroken: Ezra Summary
Is God someone who we can depend upon and trust to fulfill His promises? How often do you keep your promises? Does trust come naturally to people or do naturally lack the faith in people? How is trust and faith developed? The people of Israel fell into depravity over the years as men followed their own hearts instead of setting it towards God to find courage to act as He would want. God stripped away everything that the people in Israel held dear. The people of Israel may have thought that the story ended there alone and helpless but God was true to his promise. Continue Reading…
Where will you set your heart in moments of uncertainty: Ezra 7 and 8
What plans does God have for your future? How should you go about life when you do not know what God would have you do? The temple in Jerusalem has been rebuilt and king Artaxerxes reigns Persia. Ezra a descendant of Aaron the high priest set his heart toward the Lord as he sought to study the law of the Lord, practice it and teach it to the people of Israel. Have you ever thought that you would start doing great things once you get to a certain age or geographic location? Ezra sought God wholeheartedly while he was still held in captivity in Persia. God’s hand was upon Ezra was evident in all he did because the requests made to the king were always granted. Did Ezra recognize God’s hand upon his life in these moments? As Ezra lived from day to day did he have moments where his faith wavered? Continue Reading…
Exile softens a hardened heart: 2 Chronicles 35 and 36
In 2 Chronicles 35 and 36 we reach the precipice leading to the fall and decline of Judah and its road to exile in Babylon. After the faithful stewardship and tenderhearted rule of Josiah over Judah the kings that rule Judah turn completely away from God. The wrath of God is falling on His chosen people as he promised to Josiah. How is the relationship between God and the sons of Israel to be viewed? How do we view our relationship with God today? God is a loving father that desires to see the best happen for His people through out all time.
God continually sought to bring the hearts of the people of Judah back to Him through His messengers and prophets. How does a persons heart become so hardened against God that they have no respect, thought, or desire for Him? “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He has compasstion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.” 2 Chronicles 36:15,16 Continue Reading…
Faith developed in communion: 2 Chronicles 11 and 12
It is exciting to read through 2 Chronicles after reading through 1 and 2 Kings because details are drawn out that I didn’t notice. There was preparations for a civil war among the kingdom of Judah and Israel after they split. It amazes me that they so easily lost their focus on God and sought to keep what they deemed their own after the death of Solomon. The idea of civil war in Israel is nothing new because you have the fighting that occurred between the descendants of Saul and David in 2 Samuel and you have the sons of Israel rising up against the tribe of Benjamin in Judges 19 and 20. Why does God prevent the battle among Judah and Israel from occurring? We know that both kingdoms of Judah and Israel are taken away in exile from their homes by reading 2 Kings 25. Are some lessons learned more readily why when we are taken away from everything we know? It will never cease to amaze me how God chooses to sometimes use war while other times he uses exile to remind people they need Him. Continue Reading…
After your death how will people remember you: 1 Chronicles 9 and 10
The detailed genealogies that are found in the first eight chapters of 1 Chronicles have come to completion and in 1 Chronicles 9 we are given a preview to the post exilic return of people of Israel from Babylon to Jerusalem. There are only scarce details given about the return from exile but the books of Ezra and Nehemiah will give greater details about the return to Jerusalem. Why are the names of the people who returned from exile given at this point in 1 Chronicles? Why are the names and lineage of the people returning from exile important?
In 1 Chronicles 10 the death of King Saul during the battle with the Philistines and the faithfulness of Jabesh-gilead is retold. What does it mean when the most noted detail of your life is your death and unfaithfulness to God? The reminder of Saul’s life and death makes me thankful for Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for me. Because of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross I will not die for my transgressions. We are so easily drawn away from God and it will only be by His grace alone that we can live and have hope.
Knowledge of who you are is found in your past: 1 Chronicles 1 and 2
Why are all of these names given in 1 Chronicles 1 and 2? What is the point? It seems redundant to repeat these names that are all given throughout the first twelve books of the Old testament. Does difficulty in understanding the importance of the genealogy come from your own perspective? Many of us live in urbanized cities where we go about our daily activities as anonymously as we can taking refuge in our secluded homes. We do not have the understanding of a culture where genealogy is critically valued.
You can make the argument that the genealogies are given to trace the lineage of Jesus Christ but what other reason would compel the Israelites to want such a detailed genealogy? Continue Reading…
Exile from everything held dear: 2 Kings 25
In 2 Kings 25 the exile for the sons of Israel has come to fulfillment. For generations the people drifted away from worshiping God and the kingdom of Babylon comes to carry off the people of Judah into exile just as Isaiah told Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:17,18. The city of Jerusalem was rased and all the wealth of the city was carried off into Babylon. Will good come from the Israelites being taken away into exile in Babylon? Can you imagine being taken away from the comfortable life you have known to be placed in a foreign land? How would you view life if everything you knew and held dear were stripped away from you? How does the adversity that we endure change out lives? Continue Reading…
