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…
Out of brokenness rebuilding can begin: Nehemiah 1 and 2
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…
When sin abounds will the grace of God fall upon you: Ezra 9 and 10
“Oh my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.” Ezra 9:6,7 Have you felt as Ezra, where your have seen the deliverance of the Lord only to find yourself dwelling in sin shortly there after? God brought a remnant of Israel out of captivity back to Jerusalem and the temple was rebuilt. In the midst of God’s mighty deliverance the people intermarry with the people of the land without heeding God’s command not to dwell with them. 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…
When opposition looms find hope in God: Ezra 5 and 6
Where do you find strength and confidence? When was the last time that you stepped out to complete a task with people actively working to stop you? Did you have hope to complete the task? In Ezra 5 and 6 the people of Israel who have returned from exile are facing the same moment of crisis. Will they continue to follow God and rebuild the temple despite the enemies and rulers who had forbidden the work? Where did the Israelites find their hope and strength? What reassurance would you want before you would step out in faith to follow God? When we are surround by people of the world that are claiming that are work we intend is useless and fruitless, what will we do? Continue Reading…
What is in greater need of rebuilding: Ezra 3 and 4
In Ezra 3 and 4 the peoples who returned to Jerusalem from Persia are starting to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The first priority for the people was not to build up the physical building of the temple but they sought to rebuild their adherence to God’s commands. The rebuilt the altar of the Lord and started to sacrifice again to God. Why was it of greater importance for the people to seek out God than to build the Temple? The people knew that it was God alone who was working to bring them home and they needed to submit to Him to have any lasting success. The rebuilding of the temple was secondary to the rebuilding of the people dependance upon God. Continue Reading…
More than a homecoming to Jerusalem: Ezra 1 and 2
All you know is life in a foreign land and your homeland of Israel is only a memory. You were under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon and recently Persia gained control of you under King Cyrus. How would you view your future? Would you believe in hope? In the midst of these emotions God moved to prove His faithfulness in fulfillment of the words spoken by Jeremiah.
Can you imagine awaking to your daily routine to hear the king of Persia say, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:2-4 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.
