Devotions

They Took Delight In Your Great Goodness

by  • 

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 times. They rebelled, fell into captivity, were delivered, and did it again. Now, they are back in the land God had given them but they are slaves, under a foreign king. The blessing God intended for them was going as tribute to another. They are still few in Jerusalem so move one in ten to the city and agree an oath for all, to follow the Law of the Lord. 

He Led Them Into The Promised Land

Nehemiah 9:22–28
God gave the children of Israel great grace as He led them into the promised land. So much so, that in Nehemiah 9:25 “They ate and became full, and they became fat and took delight in your great goodness”. And their response was in

Nehemiah 9:26 (LEB) “But they rebelled and were rebellious against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them to turn back to you, and they did great blasphemies.

This cycle of sin continued in Nehemiah 9:27-28 as “you gave them into the hand of their enemy” and “in the time of their trouble they cried out to you” and “you heard from the heavens … and you saved them”. Again, “they returned to doing evil”, they went into “the hand of their enemies”, “the returned and cried out”, “you heard and many times rescued”. 

You Dealt Faithfully

Nehemiah 9:29–37
God’s faithfulness is described in Nehemiah 9:29-33 “You warned”, “you were patient”, “you did not abandon them”, you keep “covenant and loyal love”, “you are righteous”, “you dealt faithfully”. And the children of Israel’s actions are described in Nehemiah 9:29 “they acted arrogantly and did not listen”, and in Nehemiah 9:33-35 “we have acted wickedly”, “did not keep your law”, “did not serve you and did not turn from evil deeds”.

Now, in Nehemiah 9:36-37 is the result of their actions, “we are slaves to this day, and the land that you have given … its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have given over us”. Though they have returned to their land, though they have restored the temple, though they have rebuilt the walls and the gates, they are still slaves under a foreign king. What God meant as a blessing for them, is going to another kingdom.

We Make A Binding Agreement

Nehemiah 9:38–10:27
In Nehemiah 9:38 the “commanders, our Levites, and our priests” set their seal to this covenant. Their names are listed in Nehemiah 1:1-27 beginning with “Nehemiah the governor”, “the priests”, “the Levites”, “the heads of the people”. The Persian government, who they were the slaves of, was represented by “Nehemiah, the Tirshatha—His name was placed first in the roll on account of his high official rank, as deputy of the Persian monarch. All classes were included in the subscription; but the people were represented by their elders (Ne 10:14)”.1

A Solemn Oath To Walk In The Law

Nehemiah 10:28–33
This oath, this covenant begins in Nehemiah 10 :28 and includes “all who know and understand”. It includes in

Nehemiah 10:30 (LEB) We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land nor take their daughters for our sons.

Nehemiah 10:31 (LEB) And the peoples of the land who bring merchandise and any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not accept it from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. We will forego the crops of the seventh year and cancel every debt.

Nehemiah 10:32 (LEB) “We put on ourselves the commandment upon us to yearly give a third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

The Oath Also Includes

Nehemiah 10:34–39
There were a number of things that were not specifically covered in the Law, but were necesary in fulfilling the Law so they devised a way, they agreed together, to accept these responsibilities:

  • “we have cast lots for the contributions of the wood offering of the priests”
  • “We also bring the first fruits of our soil and the first fruits of all the fruit trees, year by year”
  • “the firstborn of our sons and beasts—as it is written in the lawd—and the firstborn of our cattle and sheep, to bring to the house of our God and to the priests”
  • “And we bring the best of our dough, our offerings, the fruit of every tree, new wine, and olive oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring the tithe of our soil to the Levites”
  • “The Levites will bring up a tithe of the tithes for the house of our God to the chambers of the storehouse”.
  • “We will not neglect the house of our God”.

 

Bring One Out of Ten To Live In Jerusalem

Nehemiah 11:1–18
Nehemiah had commented in

Nehemiah 7:4 (LEB) The city was widespread and large, but the people in it were few and no houses were rebuilt.

So, in Nehemiah 11:1-2 “the remainder of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, the other nine’s place was in the other cities”. The rest of Nehemiah 11:3-18 lists the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their numbers.

A Command of the King

Nehemiah 11:19–24
Additional groups of people in Nehemiah 11:19-24 were serving the temple and fir “the singers over the house of God”, “that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day; he settled a daily salary for them, to be paid out of his treasury; having perhaps a peculiar respect for such sort of men, being a lover of music, by means of which they had a settled habitation in Jerusalem”.2

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Nehemiah 9:22-38
  • Nehemiah 10:1-39
  • Nehemiah 11:1–24

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 299). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Gill, John. Exposition of the Bible
Devotions

You Made Known Your Holy Sabbath

by  • 

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 is followed by Joel, Malachi and the four hundred silent years until the birth of Christ.

From the beginning of our reading of the book of Ezra, we have followed the order of the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. This has taken us through Haggai, Zechariah, and into Nehemiah. After Nehemiah 7, it includes several Psalms, 1, 107, 111, 112, 117, 119, 121, 122, 123, 128, 130, 134, 135, 136, 146, 147 said to have been written after the exile. But we have not read all of them. We have included Psalm 1 and 107 and today include Psalm 147 and are moving on to Nehemiah 8.

Psalm 147 ends with Gods statutes and ordinances, it is by them that we begin to understand His character and nature, righteousness and holiness. As Ezra takes his place in Jerusalem, he gathers the people to read the book of the law “for each man and woman to hear with understanding”. This wasn’t a little Sunday school class here and there, all of the Jewish people gathered to hear. And as they did, they discovered the festival of the seventh month. God had commanded them to live in booths made of sticks and leaves for one week every year. They had not been doing this and since it was the seventh month, immediately did. God was revealing to them his rest, His provision, His Sabbath, as He had done for their ancestors.

Yahweh is Building Jerusalem

Psalm 147:1–11
Psalm 147 describes the Lords work, “building Jerusalem; he gathers the scattered ones”. He “heals the brokenhearted”. He “helps the afflicted up; he brings down the wicked”. He “provides rain for the earth”. He “gives to the animal its food”. The way Jesus said this is

Matthew 5:44–48 (LEB) But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors also do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing that is remarkable? Do not the Gentiles also do the same? 48 Therefore you be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

And then He said,

Matthew 7:21–23 (LEB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23 And then ⌊I will say to them plainly⌋, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’

 

Know His Ordinances

Psalm 147:12–20
Psalm 147 12-19 says know his word, “his statutes and ordinances” and he strengthens, he blesses, he makes peace, he satisfies, he commands the earth. But the knowledge of Him is not exclusive to Israel, “On occasions God spoke to people outside the covenant community Da 2:27-28 See also Ge 41:25,28-32; Da 4:1-37; 5:17-28”.1

But it is His Old Testament covenant promise that is only to them. All may know Him and “Although the OT sometimes indicates that Yahweh has given revelation to the wider world (see 19:1), He has only given Israel His specific legal revelation and ongoing provision”.2 

They Read the Book From the Law of God

Nehemiah 7:73–8:12
They “were in their cities” in Nehemiah 7:73b. And now in Nehemiah 8:1-2 Ezra does what he was intended for, “All of the people gathered” and “Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly”. But this was not just Ezra reciting words, it was “for each man and woman to hear with understanding”. And in Nehemiah 8:3 they read “from dawn to noon”. Can you imagine getting everyone in a city to join you at dawn for anything? And they stayed together for six hours.

Look at the order in Nehemiah 8:4-8 When Ezra opened the book, everyone stood. When “Ezra blessed Yahweh the great God” everyone responded “Amen! Amen!”. With Ezra were thirteen other priests, fourteen of them before the people. They lifted their hands to God. They bowed themselves to the ground before God. They listened as the Levites taught them. This wasn’t just Ezra droning on all day, this was an event.

As the people understood the word of the Lord, conviction set in. In Nehemiah 8:10 “all the people wept when they heard the words of the law”. They wept because they learned how far they had been from God’s righteousness. But this was not what God wanted for them, what God wants is an understanding of His love and forgiveness.

Nehemiah 8:9b-10 “This day is holy to Yahweh your God. Do not mourn nor weep.” For all of the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat festive food and drink sweet drinks, and send a share to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our lord. Do not be grieved because the joy of Yahweh is your refuge.”

Then in Nehemiah 8:11-12 the Levites moved among the people to quiet them and encourage them “to have great joy”.

The Festival of the Seventh Month – Booths

Nehemiah 8:13–18
Now, in Nehemiah 8:13 “On the second day …” they gathered again. And they found in Nehemiah 8:14 “that the Israelites should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month”. This feast of booths had been mentioned before, but it seems that their tradition had changed the practice.

This is a caution for us all, and Jesus said it this way, in

Mark 7:6–9 (LEB) So he said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. 7 And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 Abandoning the commandment of God, you hold fast to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You splendidly ignore the commandment of God so that you can keep your tradition.

So apparently, the feast of booths was on the calendar and “The feast had two sides to it: it was a vintage festival, the ‘ingathering at the year’s end’ (Exod. 34:22), but also a memorial of the wilderness, when God had ‘made the people of Israel dwell in booths’ (Lev. 23:43). It seems to have been this aspect that had fallen into neglect”.3

Nehemiah 8:17 (LEB) And all of the assembly of those who returned from captivity made booths and lived in the booths because the ⌊Israelites⌋ had not done it from the days of Jeshua son of Nun until that day. And there was very great joy.

You Alone Are Yahweh

Nehemiah 9:1-6
So, in Nehemiah 9:1-2 after they had spent the week living in “booths”, they “gathered in fasting, in sackcloth, and with soil on them” and “confessed their sins”. And in Nehemiah 9:3-5 they “read from the book of the law” and “cried out with a loud voice to Yahweh their God” and blessed his name and together said:

Nehemiah 9:6 (LEB) “You alone are Yahweh. You alone have made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and all of their army, the earth and all that is in it, the waters and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the army of the heavens worship you. 

You Made Known Your Holy Sabbath

Nehemiah 9:7–15
God chose Abraham in Nehemiah 9:7. He “promised to give the land” in Nehemiah 9:8. He “saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt” in Nehemiah 9:9-11 and “gave signs and wonders against Pharoah” and “divided the sea before them”. The accounts go on describing God’s power working on their behalf as God brought them out of bondage and gave them a day of rest and “bread from heaven” and water “from a rock” in Nehemiah 9:14-15.

They Refused to Listen and Did Not Remember

Nehemiah 9:16–21
The people of God, the Jewish people, the sons of Israel, in Nehemiah 9:17-18 are described by their behavior. They were arrogant, stiff-necked, “refused to listen”, “were determined to return to their slavery”, and “committed great blasphemies. And God’s behavior toward them is described in Nehemiah 9:19-21 God “did not abandon them”, the cloud did not leave them, the “fire by night gave light to them”, “you gave your good Spirit to instruct”, “did not withhold manna”, “gave them water for their thirst”, “sustained them in the desert”, “clothing did not wear out”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Psalm 147:1-20
  • Nehemiah 8:1-18
  • Nehemiah 9:1–21

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 147:20). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 3. Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 118). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Devotions

With The Help of Our God

by  • 

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 now have natural protection in addition to God’s protection, Nehemiah commands them to set guards. And not just at the gates, also across from their homes. Now they need to reclaim their culture, their heritage, their nation. And as it says in Psalm 1 “delight in the law of the Lord. 

With The Help of Our God

Nehemiah 6:15–19
Reading through Nehemiah feels like a long time span but in Nehemiah 6:15 “the wall was finished … in fifty two days”. In fact, the work went so quickly that , in Nehemiah 6:16 “our enemies … were afraid and lost confidence … this work had been done with the help of our God”.

This however, did not stop the pressure from Tobiah, in Nehemiah 6:17-19. The root of this is uncertain, but “If this Tobiah is a descendant of the earlier Tobiah of Ezra 2:60 (see #2 above), the uncertain status of his ancestors could explain both his appointment over Ammon and the ensuing conflict with Nehemiah”.1

We do however, “know from 13:4 that Tobiah had family ties with the priestly or high-priestly house of Eliashib, probably by marriage. While such links and loyalties were embarrassing enough in themselves, we now learn how busily they were exploited by intrigues, persuasive talk, leaks of information and threatening letters. All this, in addition to the outside pressures already described, brought Nehemiah under attack from almost every quarter”.2 

Appoint Guards

Nehemiah 7:1–3
It is good for the wail to be in place, and the gates of the city now also in place, but they must be manned. In Nehemiah 7:1-3 they are commanded to keep the gate closed “until the sun is hot” making sure that the occupants of the city were awake and alert first. They were also commanded to appoint guards, “one at his post and another opposite his house”. Meaning they had guards at the gates, the places most likely an entry point for an attack, but also “The further precaution of enrolling civilian guards (which) was realistic in its posting of them to defend what mattered to them most”.3

The Exiles That Returned

Nehemiah 7:4–25
Aside from the short introduction about the city in Nehemiah 7:4, this is a repeat of the genealogies list in Ezra 1:5-2:20.

All the Assembly Together

Nehemiah 7:26–73
Nehemiah 7:26-44 lists the number of people and the towns they returned to. Then there are some that claimed priestly heritage but had no proof. Then their total numbers in Nehemiah 7:66 were 42,396, about 34 thousand in Jerusalem. This is also a repeat of the list in Ezra 2:21-70. 

The Law of Yahweh

Psalm 1:1–6
Psalm 1 begins, “Blessed is the man”, but not every man is blessed. There is a way to walk in blessing and that is when “the law of Yahweh is his delight and on his law he meditates day and night”. This doesn’t make it clear to us though.

What does it mean that the law is his delight? The definition of delight, here is “the good pleasure, will, purpose”4 So to delight in the law of the Lord is to take good pleasure in it, to seek the will and purpose of God’s law in your life.

What does it mean to meditate? Some would say it means to quiet your mind, to sit still, and chant or mutter softly. One definition says, “to think and so decide a course of action”.5

Meditating day and night means thinking about the actions you are taking, are they consistent with God’s way? Are the things you are planning to do in line with God’s plans and purposes? The way Jesus said this was,

John 8:26–29 (LEB) 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but the one who sent me is true, and the things which I heard from him, these things I say to the world.” 27 (They did not know that he was speaking to them about the Father.) 28 Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will recognize that I am he, and I do nothing from myself, but just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

But there are two ways of life described in Psalm 1. And the other in Psalm 1:4 “are like the chaff that the wind scatters”. These are mockers, sinners, wicked.

Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is Good

Psalm 107 1:43

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Nehemiah 6:15-19
  • Nehemiah 7:1-73
  • Psalm 1:1–6
  • Psalm 107:1–43

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Eskenazi, T. C. (1992). Tobiah (Person). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 6, p. 584). New York: Doubleday.
  • 2. Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 111). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 3. Kidner, D. (1979). Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 12, p. 112). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 4. Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • 5. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Devotions

God Strengthen My Hands

by  • 

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 (Samarians), the Ammonites, the Arabs, and another group joins in, the Ashdodites (Phillistines). They begin by mocking the Jews and then threaten to attack them as they work and threaten to attack them in their homes. God gives Nehemiah a strategy for their defense and they all get back to work on the wall. It isn’t easy for them to work and carry weapons, but they are making good progress. Their enemies then try to trap Nehemiah inviting him to meet sending an open letter with accusations about rebellion. Nehemiah knows who they are and refuses them. He prays that God will turn this back on them and will strengthen is hands for the work.

The Horse Gate, The East Gate, The Sheep Gate

Nehemiah 3:28–32
As the work on the wall continues in Nehemiah 3:28-32, the priests repaired, the son of the keeper of the gate repaired, one of the goldsmiths repaired, the merchants repaired, and others are named with them.

He Mocked the Jews

Nehemiah 4:1–6
We have already heard the names of the enemies of the Jews and in Nehemiah 4:1-3 Sanballat throws insults “What are the feeble Jews doing? Will they restore these things for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the piles of rubble—even those burned up?” and Tobiah also joins in. Then in Nehimiah 4:4-6 we hear the prayer of Nehemiah and the Jews “Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn on their head and give them over to plunder in the land of captivity”. But what was intended to discourage the workers only angered them and they worked all the harder so that in Nehemiah 4:6 “we rebuilt the wall, and all of the wall was joined up to half its height. For the people had a heart to do it”. 

Then Our Enemies Said

Nehemiah 4:7–14
In Nehemiah 4:7 we have a new addition to the list of enemies, the Ashdodites and “they were very angry” because “the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem were going forward”.

The people of Ashdod were initially Canaanites, then Philistines, “Jeremiah speaks of the barely rebuilt state of Ashdod as he lists the nations who would be compelled to drink the cup of God’s wrath and experience utter ruin. Among them are “all the kings of the land of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod” (Jer 25:20). The same four cities appear in Zephaniah’s condemnation of Philistines and other nations who had ravaged Judah. He declares that Ashdod would be emptied at noon (Zeph 2:4). In the postexilic period, Zechariah pronounced woe on Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod, which would be occupied by foreigners (Zech 9:5–6)”.1

These were not new enemies, and they came with threats to the work in

Nehemiah 4:11 (LEB) Then our enemies said, “They will not know nor see until we come upon them and will kill them and stop the work.”

And they came with threats to the people in their homes in

Nehemiah 4:12 (LEB) When the Jews who lived beside them came, they said to us ten times, “From all of the places where they live, they will come up against us.”

So in Nehemiah 4:13-14 Nehemiah prepares the people and encourages them as he “stationed people” and armed them with “swords, spears, and bows” and said to them, “Do not be afraid”, “remember the Lord”, “and fight”. 

We All Returned to the Wall

Nehemiah 4:15–23
It is interesting to see how Nehemiah deals with problems. Here, an enemy threatens to attack them, and God gives him a strategy for their defense. When the enemy hears they have taken action to protect themselves, they drop their plans. In Nehemiah 4:15 Nehemiah says, “God had frustrated it (their plan was known)”.

Then, in Nehemiah 4:16-23 it says “From that day forward” they implemented these defenses:

  • in vs. 16 “half … were working on craftsmanship, half were holding spears”
  • in vs. 17 “the materials were carrying in one hand … the other hand were grasping a weapon”
  • in vs 18 “the builders had his sword tied to his side … the trumpet was beside me”
  • in vs. 19-20 “the work is great and widespread … wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, come together”
  • in vs. 22 “spend the night inside Jerusalem … be a a guard for us in the night”
  • in vs. 23 they remained in their clothes, “each one kept his weapon even in the water”

They were not leaving any opening for a surprise attack. If an attack came, they were ready to fight, all of them together.

There Was a Great Cry of Distress

Nehemiah 5:1–8
Nehemiah was not surprised by the opposition from the outside, but he was surprised by this trouble between Jewish brothers. Everyone was working hard, day and night living where they could in Jerusalem. But they still needed to provide for their families and the pressure and fatigue was too much to handle. Nehemiah didn’t realize that some of the families had fallen on hard times, they had mortgaged their land to try to feed their families. In Nehemiah 5:2-5 they describe the famine, then the tax for the king, and the result, they and their children are slaves to their brothers.

Nehemiah is angry and immediately confronted those that were “taking interest from your own brother!”. Then he “called a great assembly against them”.

The Thing You Are Doing is Not Good

Nehemiah 5:9–13
Nehemiah makes the case against them in public in Nehemiah 5:9-11 he tells them to stop taking interest, and to “restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and the interest on the money, the grain, the grape juice, and the olive oil that you have been taking from them”. And they say they will. But Nehemiah doesn’t stop there, he “called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise”. And then goes one step more by shaking out his garment against them saying “This is how God will shake out everyone from his house who will not keep this promise. So this is how his possessions will be shaken out and emptied”. This united the people again.

The Former Governors Laid Burdens on the People

Nehemiah 5:14–19
In Nehemiah 5:14-19 Nehemiah gives an account of his service as “governor in the land of Judah”:

  • in vs. 14 He did not eat the food allowance of the governor.
  • in vs. 15 He did not lay burdens on the people and did not take food or money from them or exercise control over them.
  • in vs. 16 He devoted himself and all of his servants to the work and did not buy land for himself.
  • in vs. 17 He fed one hundred and fifty men, “at my table”

All of this was done from his personal finances “because the slavery was too heavy on this people”.

Come Let Us Meet Together

Nehemiah 6:1–7
The work on the wall was done, but in Nehemiah 6:1 “time I had not erected doors in the gates”. And his enemies sent an invitation in Nehemiah 6:2 “Come and let us meet together … but they planned to do evil to me”. Nehemiah was a wise man and recognized the trap. His enemies invited him again, and again, and in Nehemiah 6:5-7 “sent an open letter” that said “you and the Jews are considering rebellion” … now come and we will plan together”. This was a complete fabrication, and a trap. An open letter could, and would be read by many who would spread the contents so the king might hear it. And by declaring that the prophets have spoken of a king in Judah and inviting Nehemiah to come, they were inviting him as that new king. If he had gone, it would have been an acceptance of their lies, at least he would not be able to deny his part. 

God Strengthen My Hands

Nehemiah 6:8–14
Nehemiah sees through this plot to trap him and responds in Nehemiah 4:8-9 “None of these words you have spoken has happened. You are indeed saying things created in your own mind”. Nehemiah refuses to have any contact with them so they try another approach. In Nehemiah 6:10 A prophet says “Let us meet in the house of God … they are coming to kill you”. But Nehemiah sees through this as well, and refuses. Read how Nehemiah responds to this in Nehemiah 6:13 “he was hired: to frighten me so that I would act and sin, so that they would have a bad report so they could taunt me. This is a tactic of our enemies, make us afraid, get us to reach emotionally and sin, and then they can use your reaction to publicly shame you. Think, pray, respond with God’s strategy.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Nehemiah 3:28-32
  • Nehemiah 4:1-23
  • Nehemiah 5:1–19
  • Nehemiah 6:1–14

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Phillips, E. A. (2016). Ashdod. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Devotions

Come Build the Walls

by  • 

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 distraught at the reports. The city should be secure, it should be prospering but it still lies in rubble. After fasting and praying to ask God for favor with the king, Nehemiah makes his request and it is granted. The king gives him authority and provision and troops and horses for the journey. When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem he takes three days to survey the work and gathers the city leaders and workers. They all agree and get started, except three. They are the mockers that despise God’s plan and we have people like them today.

They Sat Down To Examine the Matter

Ezra 10:16–19
In Ezra 10:16-19 “The heads of the families … sat down to examine the matter” and it took them three months and “they finished investigating”. Those that had married foreign wives, in Ezra 10:19 “pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram”.

All of These Had Married Foreign Wives

Ezra 10:20–44
It is a long list in Ezra 10:20-43 and in Ezra 10:44 “all of these had married foreign wives, and some … bore children”. These women likely came from families that lived in the area so “The foreign wives likely returned to the homes of their fathers, where they would then either remarry or live as widows (compare Ruth 1:8–9)”.1 The families are now separated, but Ezra still has the task of reinstating God’s commandments as the ruling culture of the area. 

Great Trouble and Disgrace

Nehemiah 1:1–11
This is “the twentieth year” Nehemiah had been in “the citadel in Susa” at the opening of Nehemiah 1:1. And in Nehemiah 1:2-3 he hears “about Jerusalem” and the state of “the survivors”, the exiles that had previously returned to Jerusalem.

Immediately, Nehemiah begins to intercede in Nehemiah 1:4-10 and prays for his people, the city, and quotes God’s covenant promise

Nehemiah 1:8–9 (LEB) Please, remember the word that you have commanded to your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you act unfaithfully I will scatter you all among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, even though all of your outcasts are at the furthest parts of heaven, I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen to make my name dwell.’

Then in Nehemiah 1:11 he prays for personal favor as he goes to the king, saying “Please, let your servant be successful this day and give him compassion before this man”. 

This is Sadness of Heart

Nehemiah 2:1–10
Nehemiah 1:1 begins “the month of Kislev”, here in Nehemiah 2:1 it is “the month of Nisan March or April of 444 BC, four months after the events of chapter one. Nisan was the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar. Nehemiah may have waited four months to make his request of Artaxerxes because the king had been absent. This would also explain why the king had not noticed the change in Nehemiah’s countenance (compare Neh 2:2) prior to this time”.2

This is also “the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes” in Nehemiah 2:1. When, in Nehemiah 2:2-5, the king asks about Nehemiah’s sadness, he responds saying, “the city of my ancestors’ burial site is ruined and her gates are consumed by fire”. When the king asks his request, Nehemiah says, “send me to Judah … that I may rebuild it”.Then, in Nehemiah 1:6 “with the queen sitting beside him, the king said to me, ‘How long will your journey be and when will you return'”. This is the first mention of the queen, and “As the Persian monarchs did not admit their wives to be present at their state festivals, this must have been a private occasion. The queen referred to was probably Esther”.3 The king does agree, and provides, in Nehemiah 1:6-9, everything needed including authority, supplies (timbers),troops, and horses.

This is the third king to supply the exiles as they returned to build Jerusalem. Here though, it seems these references are all different translations all naming the same king. Here he is called Artaxerxes but he was previously known to us as Ahasuerus, who was Ether’s king. The confusion happens because “Ahasuerus is the Aramaic name for Khshayarsha, the king of Persia, whom the Greeks called Xerxes (b. 518 BC; r. 486–465 BC). Ahasuerus is the Achaemenid king in the Hebrew version of the Book of Esther; in the Greek (LXX) version, his name is Artaxerxes”.4 

Come, Build the Walls of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2:11–20
Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and “For three days” begins to privately survey the city in Nehemiah 1:11-16. No one knows his plan. Then in Nehemiah 1:17-18 he gathers the leaders of Jerusalem and tells them what he has come to do. As he tells them of the support from the king, “they said, Let us arise and build!”. Except for three men in Nehemiah 1:19 “Sanballat the Horonite … the Ammonite servant Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab … they mocked and despised us”. So, in Nehemiah 1:20 Nehemiah answers, “the God of the heavens himself will let us succeed … but for you there is no share, right, or memorial in Jerusalem”.

These same mockers are at work today, they despise the things of God and oppose the work of God’s people. But we also say, “The God of the heavens himself will let us succeed”. Or, as it says in

Revelation 12:10–11 (LEB) And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives until death.

Sheep Gate, Tower of the Hundred, Tower of Hananel, Fish Gate

Nehemiah 3:1–5
The high priest went to work in Nehemiah 3:1-5. Other heads of families went to work. Each on the wall and parts of the city where they lived. They laid beams, erected doors at the gates, added bolts and bars. All except the Tekoites, “their nobles did not put their neck to the work of their lord”.

This was not managed like any project we might run. We would find the brick layers for the wall and the carpenters for the gates, and the blacksmiths for the bolts and bars. And then we would clear the rubble and check the foundation and build the wall and then mount the gates and … we would be exposed to an enemy the whole time. Nehemiah put every man, every family to work where they lived.

Yashana Date, The Broad Wall, Tower of The Ovens, Valley Gate, Dung Gate

Nehemiah 3:6–14
Again in Nehemiah 3:6-14 we find the goldsmith, and the perfumers, and the commander of half the district, and his daughters doing the work. Whatever work was needed in their part of the wall. In vs. 13 it says “They rebuilt it and erected its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall”.

Fountain Gate, Water Gate …

Nehemiah 3:15–27
They continue in Nehemiah 3:15-27 commander, brother, priests, men of the vicinity, temple servants. Everyone at work.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ezra 10:16-44
  • Nehemiah 1:1-11
  • Nehemiah 2:1–20
  • Nehemiah 3:1–27

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 10:44). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ne 2:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 295). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 4. Silverman, J. M., & Balogh, A. L. (2016). Ahasuerus the King. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Devotions

The Hand of God Was On Us

by  • 

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 to tell the king they needed an army for protection so they fasted and prayed and God showed them what to do. They arrived safely and delivered the people and the gold and silver and vessels and the kings commands for the regional governors to help them. It seemed Ezra could relax, but the leaders in Jerusalem came to tell him that many had broken Gods law by intermarrying with the pagan peoples around them. Ezra is appalled. Then men come to him and offer a solution. They will separate themselves and commit themselves to God’s ways. 

We Humble Ourselves

Ezra 8:21–30
Ezra knew they were about to embark on a four month journey with gold and silver, women and children, personal belongings and provisions. He was concerned about their safety traveling along this trade route. He wanted, in Ezra 8:22 “to ask the king for troops and horses” but he had said to the king “the hand of our God is favorable to all who seek him, but his strength and anger are against all who forsake them” and had committed their lives into God’s hands. Ezra didn’t know how to proceed, and he says in Ezra 8:23 “so we fasted … and he responded”.

God gave them a strategy that they implemented in Ezra 8:24-30 they “set apart twelve … priests … and ten of their brothers … then I weighed out to them silver and gold and vessels”. This meant that each of these men, twenty two of them, had ten of the temple servants around them (form Ezra 8:20 “from the temple servants … two hundred and twenty in total”). So there was not one place were all of the treasure was found, only one twentieth at any point. And every point where there was treasure, there were ten strong men around it. 

The Hand of God Was On Us

Ezra 8:31–36
In Ezra 8:32 “we came to Jerusalem”. They arrived safely, Ezra 8:31 simply says, “The hand of our God was on us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushing on the way”. No one touched them along the way. All of them and all of their belongings, and all that was to be delivered to the house of God also arrived with them. Then in Ezra 8:33-34 it was all weighed and recorded at the house of God. They “offered burnt offerings” in Ezra 8:35 and finished their journey when they, in Ezra 8:36 “delivered the customs of the king to the kings satraps … “. To clarify, “the customs” here means that “Ezra presents his authorization to the local Persian officials (see 7:21–24). A satrap was typically a chief governor who ruled a satrapy that might be made up of smaller provinces and administrative districts, each overseen by a governor”.1

The Holy Seed Has Mixed Itself

Ezra 9:1–4
They have arrived, they completed their delivery. And in Ezra 9:1 “After finishing these things the officials approached me saying”. Ezra wasn’t expecting anyone much less all of the leaders, and here, “This Hebrew term can mean “official” or “prince.” They were probably the family leaders of the descendants of the Jewish remnant that originally returned under Sheshbazzar”.2

These princes, or officials, or family heads had joined together to bring a message to Ezra, still in vs. 1, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated from the people of the lands with their detestable things”. Ezra was shocked. These people that had returned from Babylon had been carried captive because their ancestors had not followed after God. Now, these returned exiles had forgotten God’s commands to them and had not just intermarried, but had taken on their pagan practices. In Ezra 9:3-4 he “sat appalled”. 

Our God Did Not Forsake Us

Ezra 9:5–15
Ezra kneeled in front of them all and reached his hands out to heaven in Ezra 9:5 and said in Ezra 9:6-9 recounts their unfaithfulness, they had been taken captive but God’s mercy “our God did not forsake us, and he has extended to us loyal love in the presence of the king of Persia … to set up the house of God”. Then Ezra brings the indictment against them,

Ezra 9:10–12 (LEB) 10 “And now our God what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by the hand of your servants the prophets saying, ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land of impurity with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their detestable things which they have filled from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek their peace and prosperity so that forever you may be strong and eat the good of the land and may give it as an inheritance to your sons.’

Then in Ezra 9:13-15 he says, “for our great guilt-you, our God have held back … God of Israel, you are righteous, … none can stand before you because of this”.

Let Us Make A Covenant

Ezra 10:1–5
In Ezra 10:1 “While Ezra was praying and confessing” men came to him confessing that they themselves “have broken faith with our God” in Ezra 10:2. And the say, in Ezra 10:3 “let us make a covenant with our God to send away all of these women and their offspring, according to the advice of my lord and those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law”.

Sometimes we see the prophet telling the people what to do. Here, we see Ezra, the teacher of the law, telling them what God has said. And the people recognize their error and suggest the solution, “”let us make a covenant with our God”.

Separate Yourselves From the Peoples of the Land

Ezra 10:6–15
Ezra rose and in Ezra 10:7 “They sent a proclamation … to all the returned exiles to assemble in Jerusalem”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ezra 8:21-36
  • Ezra 9:1-15
  • Ezra 10:1-15

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

Return to Israel – Ezra

We often read one book of the Bible at a time and that is easier for everyone to follow. The order of our readings, beginning with Ezra, are from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible because the return from Babylonian exile includes Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, a few Psalms, and other connections. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much better context and helps us understand the move of God as He is reestablishing His people. Review the whole series beginning with Go Up To Jerusalem.

References

  • 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 8:36). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ezr 9:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.