The people are settling in to the whole region of Judah. This had once been theirs, and it is again but now under the rule of the Persian Governor. At least he is one of their own, Nehemiah. They still…
Author: Eric Ross
They Took Delight In Your Great Goodness
As the children of Israel stand together before Ezra and learn the Law of the Lord, they recognize their cycle of rebellion and God’s great faithfulness to them. God has warned them, been patient with them, and saved them many…
You Made Known Your Holy Sabbath
The time-line of the return of the exiles begins in Ezra 1:1 with the decree of Cyrus, 538 BC and covers more than a hundred years through 432 BC when Nehemiah returns to enforce the Law in Nehemiah 13. This…
With The Help of Our God
The walls and gates of Jerusalem are completed in just fifty-two days. Enemies of the Jews, the enemies of the returned exiles, now called the survivors, their enemies are amazed and recognize the hand of God at work. Though they…
God Strengthen My Hands
There are always a few people that may not agree with you or may not like what you are doing, but Nehemiah is facing people that want to stop his work altogether. We already know who they are, the Horonites…
Come Build the Walls
Nehemiah has been the cup bearer for king Artaxerxes for twenty years in “the citadel of Susa”. He has heard reports before, and might have seen others, like Ezra, as they made requests before the king. Now though, he is…
The Hand of God Was On Us
Ezra had a commission from the king and all the people had gathered ready to begin the journey a thousand miles to Jerusalem. This was a trade route but Ezra was nervous about ambush along the way. He didn’t want…
Any Who Are Willing
Psalm 106 reflects on the mistakes of Gods chosen people who God had asked to “observe justice” and do “righteousness at all times”. The Psalm turns to a plea in vs. 5 “that I may see the good done”, but…
What Is Your Petition
A decree has gone out from the king to all of the Persian empire, in Esther 3:13 “to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, on one day, the thirteenth day…
Go To The King
Mordecai and Esther are not in the kings inner circle. Haman has the ear of the king and convinces the king that these Jews “do not observe the laws of the king” and a decree is issued to “to destroy,…
At the Gate of the King
As we move forward past the time of the exile and after the rebuilding and dedication of the temple, we find those that stayed behind in Babylon, now the Persian empire. Cyrus had offered for all to return in Ezra…
I Will Bring Them Back
These last prophecies from Zechariah describe the end times. It is a hard message to read, but how much harder for sin to continue unchecked. The Lord will bring his people back (Zechariah 10:6-12) but it is in preparation for…
Your King Comes
Praise rings out at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. There is joy in the people as they experience the fulfillment of God’s promise to them. They observed the Passover and celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven…
Build This House of God
The opposition of the returning exiles has challenged them and they provide a short history and progress update to the present King Darius. Darius investigates and finds the decree from Cyrus. Darius understands what is happening and confirms the decree…