Devotions

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The people had been scattered, the land at rest for seventy years. Now, God says, “I have returned” and as they were blown away by the wind, they will return. This happened in Zechariah’s day and this is also a ...

Zechariah sees into heaven and is at the throne of God. Joshua is dressed in filthy rags and Satan stands as his accuser, the angels are at work though, and dress him and prepare him to stand in his position ...

The work on the temple had stopped. The people were going about their lives. The opposition was still there. Then the word of the Lord comes to stir them to work. God confirms that he is with them. He explains ...

The exiles that had returned were faced with local officials that were in control of the region, they were all still under Persian rule. These, the enemies of the exiles were contending for power over this “Province beyond the river” ...