E Z R A , N E H E M I A H A N D

E S T H E R

A Devotional Look at Israel's Captivity and

Resettlement in Her Homeland

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written

permission of the author.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright

1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All

rights reserved

Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible

Special thanks to the proof readers and reviewers without whom this book would be much harder to

read.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
Introduction to Ezra
- The Proclamation of Cyrus
- The People Who Returned
- Construction Begins
- A Letter to King Artaxerxes
- Haggai's Challenge
- The Temple is Completed
- Ezra Comes to Jerusalem
- The Return of the Exiles with Ezra
- The Sins of the People
- Restoration
Introduction to Nehemiah
- Nehemiah's Prayer
- Nehemiah's Request
- The Repairs Begin
- Working and Watching
- Internal Problems
- Personal Attacks

- Settled in Jerusalem
- A Gathering in the Square
- A Forgotten Feast
- Rebellious People, Faithful God
- A Binding Agreement
- The People Settle in the Land
- A Ceremony at the Wall
- Housecleaning
Introduction to Esther
- The Disobedience of Queen Vashti
- In Search of a Queen
- Haman and Mordecai
- If I Perish, I Perish
- A Banquet and a Gallows
- A Reward in Its Proper Time
- A Reversal of Haman's Plot
- Purim: A Celebration of Victory
About The Author

PREFACE

zra is the story of a priest whose God-given vision was to see the

temple of God and its worship restored in the nation of Israel. The

prophecy of Ezra was written at a time when Israel was returning

from exile. It shows us how a sovereign God can move in the heart of pagan

kings and use them as instruments to restore His people to their homeland.

This prophecy reveals the challenges God’s people had to face to restore

worship in their land. Ezra had to overcome false expectations,

discouragement and deteriorating relationships in his efforts to see God’s

people restored to their former glory. While this seemed like an impossible

task, God used His servant Ezra to move His people from discouragement

to tremendous revival.

Nehemiah, like Ezra, returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. He

organised God’s people to rebuild the city wall around Jerusalem. He too

faced both opposition from the enemy and clashes among the people of

God. Personally attacked and criticised, Nehemiah relied on the Lord God.

In His strength and wisdom, Nehemiah led God’s people to victory and the

completion of the wall. His heart, like that of Ezra, was to see a people

living in harmony with the plan and purpose of the Lord God in the land He

had given them. Nehemiah reminds us that with trust and confident

obedience there is nothing God calls us to do that is impossible.

The book of Esther shows us how a sovereign God can take simple people

and use them to accomplish His purpose in a nation. Esther was a relatively

unknown individual who was empowered and blessed by God to be an

instrument of His salvation for an entire country. The book also shows us

how God can take the efforts of the enemy and use them to accomplish His

glory in our lives. In the book of Esther, we see that there is purpose and

meaning in all that happens. You will be comforted and encouraged as you

see God working on behalf of His people.

These books speak of victory through perseverance and obedience. They

show us what God who can do though all who will persevere in obedient

faith. The individuals we meet here in these books are an inspiration to

anyone who wants to live a life of victory. They give us the courage to keep

going. I trust that you will be blessed as much as I have been in preparing

this manuscript.

Take the time to work slowly through these books. Be sure to read the Bible

passage noted at the beginning of each chapter. On completion of the

section, take a moment to answer the questions for consideration. End your

time with a prayer asking God to apply the truth of these passages to your

life.

My prayer is that in some way this devotional commentary will have an

impact on your spiritual walk. I have often felt unworthy of this task but

take courage in what I have discovered in these books. God can overcome

even the most significant obstacle through ordinary human beings who step

out in faith and obedience. I trust that God will bless you through this

simple effort and use it to strengthen you in your walk with him.

F. Wayne Mac Leod

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA

Author:

he book of Ezra does not give the name of its author. The focus of

the book is the work of a priest by the name of Ezra who was a

descendant of Aaron (see Ezra 7:1-5). Probably the best hint to the

authorship of the book comes in Ezra 7. After describing the contents of a

letter given to him by King Artaxerxes, Ezra responds in verses 27-28 by

saying:

Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into

the king's heart to bring honour to the house of the LORD in

Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favour to me

before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful

officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I

took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with

me.

Notice the use of the words “me” and “I” in these verses. This may indicate

that Ezra was involved in the authorship of this book.

Generally, in the book, however, Ezra is spoken about in the third person,

that is to say, many of the details of his gifts and ministry seem to be written

by someone else. This may indicate that there was another author besides

Ezra. The Jews saw the book of Ezra and Nehemiah to be the same book,

and the same authors may have written both.

Background:

The people of God were, at the time of the writing of this book, returning to

Israel from their Babylonian captivity. King Cyrus of Persia declared

freedom for the Jewish people to return to Israel. Different groups of Jews

returned at this time. A first group returned under Nehemiah and worked on

rebuilding the walls and buildings that had been destroyed by the Assyrians

and Babylonians. This was a difficult and sometimes discouraging task.

When the work of rebuilding the temple was complete, Ezra, the priest, was

commissioned by King Cyrus to return to Jerusalem to restore the Jewish

worship system and teaching the people the laws of God (see Ezra 7:21-26).

Under Ezra’s ministry, the Lord would call His people back to himself and

the worship of His name. The days of Ezra would be days of restructuring

and repentance for Israel.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

There are valuable lessons to learn from this book. Notice how the Lord

restores those He had disciplined. We see the grace of God in returning His

people to their land. We catch a glimpse of His great desire to bless and

draw close to them. God’s incredible sovereignty is also powerfully evident

as He moves pagan kings to give favour to His people and the work of His

kingdom. This gives us hope that He can do the same in our day.

God worked in the lives of His people, enabling them to overcome the

obstacles and discouragement they faced as they sought to rebuild the

temple and restore its worship. He gave them all they needed to accomplish

the task He had called them to do. We see how the ministry of preaching

and teaching the Word of God under Ezra was the foundation on which this

new work of God was built. By obedience to that Word, God’s people were

strengthened and drawn closer.

The book of Ezra reminds us that while there may be difficulties ahead and

need for repentance in our spiritual walk, the Lord will give us all we need

to overcome. The book is a powerful reminder of the importance of the

Word of God in renewal. It gives us hope for our lives and society to see

how the Lord God is willing to move to bring about an atmosphere where

revival was possible.

1 - THE PROCLAMATION

OF CYRUS

Read Ezra 1:1-11

s we begin a brief study of the book of Ezra, we need to take a

moment to consider its historical context. God's people were in

exile in Babylon because of their sin. For many years, they were

dominated by Assyria, Babylon and now Persia. Politically, the dominant

power of this time is Persia, under the leadership of King Cyrus.

The book begins in the first year of Cyrus when he made and astounding

proclamation. He announced that the God of heaven had commissioned him

to build a temple in Jerusalem (verse 2). Why would the God of Israel speak

to a pagan king and ordain him to this task? Why would a pagan king be

interested in building a temple in Jerusalem to the God of Israel? As

unbelievable as this sounds, Ezra reminded his people that Jeremiah the

prophet had spoken of a time of exile from the land of Israel and that after

seventy years, God's people would return from that captivity and rebuild

their temple and the city of Jerusalem.

This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are

completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my

gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know

the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

(Jeremiah 29:10-11)

I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will

rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all

the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all

their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me

renown, joy, praise and honour before all nations on earth that

hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe

and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide

for it.' (Jeremiah 33:7-9)

God's ways are not the same as ours. God moved the heart of Cyrus to open

the door for His people to return to their land. Cyrus was very likely the last

person in the world God's people would have expected to facilitate the

fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecy. In our time of need, He brings help from

strange and unexpected sources.

Notice also that God is not bound to use His people only. He can even use

the unbeliever or anything He desires to accomplish His purposes. In the

days of the prophet Jonah, God used a pagan ship captain to rebuke the

prophet for his refusal to pray (Jonah 1:6). In Numbers 22:26-28 God used

Balaam’s donkey to show him the error of his ways. Cyrus had a deep sense

of the call of God on his life for this specific task. We need to examine

several points about the proclamation that Cyrus made concerning Israel.

Notice first that Cyrus was aware that the God of heaven had given him all

the kingdoms of the earth. Cyrus was a powerful king, but he did not take

credit for his accomplishments. Though his armies conquered many nations,

Cyrus understood that without the Lord’s help he would never have been

successful.

Our God gives this world to whomever He sees fit. He is King of all kings.

God does not bless the believer only. His hand also reaches out to the

unbeliever. Unlike King Cyrus, however, many people do not give glory

and recognition to God as the source of all they have.

The God who gave these nations to Cyrus then called him to release the

Jews from his bondage. God gives, but He also takes away. As a sovereign

God, He has the right to do with His creation as He pleases. Notice that not

only does God compel Cyrus to release His people but He also required that

he enable them financially.

It is important for us to see in verse 2 that God led Cyrus to put all things

down in writing. While this may not appear to be of significance at this

point in the story, it proved to be very important later. Because of this

written proclamation of Cyrus, orders were issued to the enemies of God’s

people commanding them to stop opposing the construction of the city and

temple (Ezra 5-6). Even in the matter of writing down the proclamation,

God had a purpose and plan.

In verse 3, Cyrus issued a command for the Jews to return to their homeland

to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple of God in Jerusalem. We

understand from Haggai 1:3-4 that the people who returned from exile also

built their own houses at this time. Cyrus blessed them in their return and

commissioned them to rebuild the temple. King Cyrus also commanded the

citizens of his dominion to open their hearts and provide the silver, gold and

goods necessary to accomplish this task.

God moved the heart of King Cyrus. Next, God touched the hearts of His

people. Jews from various tribes felt the call of God to return to Jerusalem

to take up the king’s challenge. When God has work to do, He moves in the

hearts of His people to do that work. He also opens doors so that His people

will lack nothing to do what He has called them to do. We can trust Him to

provide all that is necessary to complete that task. This is part of His call.

He will provide the resources to do what He has called us to do. We can

step out in confidence.

From across the Persian Empire, resources began to pour in for the work of

the temple in Jerusalem. People, whose hearts were moved donated articles

of silver and gold. The neighbours of the Jews gave them goods and

livestock. Cyrus returned to the Jews the items taken from the temple in

Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar seventy years before. These articles had been

in the pagan temple of the god of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.

God is in the business of restoring those things the enemy has taken from

us. Christians all over this world are battling the enemy. While the Lord has

already conquered Satan on the cross, each of us has experienced lost

battles. Maybe as you look at your own Christian life, you are aware of how

much the enemy has taken from you. Perhaps you have suffered a broken

relationship. Possibly your walk with God is not where it should be. The

church is filled with wounded soldiers. Like the Jews of Ezra's day, we have

not always lived in obedience and now suffer the consequences of our

actions. Here we meet a God who restores the treasures God’s people have

lost to the enemy. What an encouragement this ought to be to us today.

Under the direction of Mithredath, the Persian treasurer, an inventory was

taken of restored articles. In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver

returned to Israel.

It was as if these articles had been kept for the people of God waiting for

the appropriate time to be released back to them. When the time was right,

God restored these blessings. What does God have in store for us? What

blessings await us as we step out in obedience to that call of God on our

hearts to rebuild His temple in this world?

What we need to see here is that the God who calls will also equip us to do

the work He has called us to do. The God who called His people to rebuild

the ruined temple opened hearts and prepared the way for this to take place.

He went before His people. God's people could step out in confidence. We

too can have that same confidence.

For Consideration:

What kind of people does God use in this chapter?

What does God do for those who step out in obedience to His

call in this chapter?

What has the Lord God put on your heart to do? What

encouragement and challenge do you receive from this

chapter?

What keeps you from stepping out in obedience to the Lord

today?

What has the enemy taken from you over the past few years?

What encouragement do you receive from the fact that God is

a God who delights in restoring what the enemy has taken

from us?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that when He calls, He also provides all that

is necessary to fulfil that calling.

Ask the Lord to restore what the enemy has taken from you.

Ask the Lord to give you boldness to step out in belief and

confidence in him.

2 - THE PEOPLE WHO

RETURNED

Read Ezra 2:1-70

e often wonder why the Lord saw fit to include long lists of

names and numbers in Scripture. Ezra 2 is one of those lists.

There are, however, some vital devotional insights we need to

see in this list.

The names on this list are the names of Israelites who first returned to

Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. Many on this list had only heard

about Jerusalem. They were not old enough to remember the temple and the

once-glorious city. While many had never seen the temple in Jerusalem, the

Lord had put a burden on their hearts to see it rebuilt (Ezra 1:5).

These listed individuals travelled from the Persian Empire to Jerusalem

with Zerubbabel (their leader), Jeshua (the high priest), Nehemiah, Seraiah

and other prominent leaders of that day. For the complete list, see verse 2.

While the name of Ezra is not on this list, we know that the Lord would call

him later to be a leader among these people. We have already seen that God

provided the resources necessary for the completion of the task in

Jerusalem. Here He also provided His willing servants with a team of solid

leaders to protect them.

We can only imagine the excitement that was in the air as they prepared to

leave the land of their captivity. This was the start of something new. God

was calling out a team of people to restore Jerusalem and to spread the light

of truth to the world. What an honour it was to be part of that team.

Notice in verse 2 that the list is composed of men only. We can assume,

however, that there were also women and children who returned. It is

typical for the Jews of this time to record the names of men only as the

heads of their families. The list of men is divided into descendants. Family

lines were significant to the Jews. We will not spend the time to repeat the

names listed in this section.

Note in this list the reference to the various offices these returning exiles

held. Among those present in this list are priests (verse 36), Levites (verse

40), singers (verse 41), gatekeepers (verse 42) and temple servants (verse

43). We cannot help but notice how the hand of God is putting this team

together. These individuals had different functions in the rebuilding of the

temple. They have different gifts and callings. God made no mistake when

He put this team together. He had a specific task for each person in the

work of rebuilding. The same is true for us today. We all have a role to play

and gifts to use. God does not call each of us to the same task. He does not

give us all the same gifts or offices. We are dependent on each other. Only

as these gifts and callings flow together can the work be accomplished.

There are two other things we need to note in this list. First, verse 59 tells

about individuals from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon

and Immer. These individuals came with the people of God, but it could not

be prooved from the records that they truly were Israelites. These facts were

noted on the list. It is hard to say why these individuals came with the group

that returned from exile. Maybe they had their motives. Perhaps they had

been touched by the witness of the Jews in exile. We just do not know. The

reality of the matter is that in any given church or ministry there is always

the possibility of finding those who are not children of God. People are

involved in ministry for various reasons. Not all who minister are called of

God. I am not saying here that the individuals recorded in this passage were

not called of God. There was, however, some question regarding whether

they were children of God. We need to take this as a warning. The enemy

has always sent his servants among God’s people to hinder the work God

wants to do.

The second point we need to see here is in verse 61 and 62. Also on the list

are those who claimed to be priests but whose line could not be established.

Their call to the priesthood was uncertain. These individuals were excluded

from the work of the priesthood. They were not to eat the sacred food or

minister until their calling was sure. This would be determined through a

priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim

We read in Exodus 28:30 that the priest was to carry the Urim and

Thummim in his breast piece when he went into the presence of the Lord.

These articles were very likely special stones used to determine the will of

God. It is unclear how these stones would indicate the will of God or

exactly how they were used. Through these stones, however, the Lord

would communicate His purpose to His priests.

Again, the warning is that that there are those who come to minister to us

who are not truly called. It is entirely possible for us to minister in areas

where we are not called to minister. How easy it is to look at someone else's

ministry and so admire them that we want to be just like them though we do

not have their calling. Those whom God had established as leaders among

the returning exiles wanted to be sure of the call of those who ministered

among them. The concern of these leaders was to see that the work of God

was done by those He had called. Those who could not confirm the call of

God were asked to refrain.

What a challenge this is for us as church leaders as well. Are those teaching

Sunday school in your church called of God to do so? Are the elders,

deacons or committee members of your church called to that ministry? We

can only truly advance the kingdom if those who are ministering are in the

purpose of God.

As this great team arrived at Jerusalem, they numbered 42,360 plus servants

as well as many cattle (verses 64-67). The Lord put it on the hearts of some

of these families to give a freewill offering for the rebuilding of the temple

of God. These individuals gave as the Lord enabled so that the work could

be accomplished. Verse 69 tells us that they gave 61,000 drachmas of gold.

This would be approximately 500 kilograms or 1,100 pounds or 500

kilograms. The people also gave 5,000 minas of silver (about 3 tons) and

100 priestly garments. These were substantial gifts. God was moving in the

hearts of His people. He had great plans for the city of Jerusalem.

God’s hand was on the returning exiles. He provided the resources

necessary to accomplish the task. The Lord also gave them a team of solid

leaders so that the work would move ahead smoothly. Those who led God’s

people were specifically called and equipped for the task. God moved in the

hearts of His people to give them a spirit of generosity. God’s people could

expect great things from their Lord.

For Consideration:

What does this passage teach us about how God puts together

people of different gifts and talents for the work of extending

the kingdom?

How important is it that we know the call of God on our

lives?

Is everyone who seeks to minister called to that ministry?

What does this passage teach us?

What do we learn in this passage about the importance of

leadership in the work of the kingdom?

What is the call of God on your life?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to know His call on your life.

Thank the Lord that He has given to the church, individuals

with various gifts and callings to complement each other in

the work of ministry.

Ask the Lord to help you to be content with His call on your

life. Ask Him to enable you to complement your brothers and

sisters in the ministry of the expansion of His kingdom.

3 - CONSTRUCTION

BEGINS

Read Ezra 3:1-13

n the last chapter, we examined the list of people who returned from

exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This team arrived in Israel

and settled in various towns. In the seventh month, they assembled in

the city of Jerusalem very likely for the Feast of Tabernacles as described in

Leviticus 23:39-43.

Notice that verse 1 tells us that they assembled "as one man." This is an

indication of the unity of the team that God had called to rebuild the temple.

There was joy and excitement in the air. The people had a clear vision and

unified under that vision. They wanted to see the temple rebuilt and the city

of Jerusalem restored to its former glory.

The first item on the agenda was the construction of an altar for the

sacrifice of burnt offerings. It was Jeshua the high priest and his fellow

priests who undertook the responsibility to build this altar (verse 2). They

built it according to the specifications God had given to Moses in the Law.

It is of significance that the altar is the first item on the agenda. It was there

that the people made offerings for sin. Those who were involved in

rebuilding the temple needed to be forgiven and a pure people. Before

moving ahead with the construction of the temple, they needed to get right

with God.

Building the altar was not without its difficulties. Verse 3 tells us that they

were afraid of the people around them. Even at this early stage, there was

evidence of opposition to the rebuilding work God wanted to do in Israel.

We can be sure that when the Lord wants to move ahead, the enemy will

never be far behind, seeking to discourage those who take on the challenge.

Though they were fearful of what their enemies might do, the priests placed

their confidence in God and forged ahead. The result was that the altar was

completed and sacrifices were offered to the Lord both day and night.

Also, in accordance with the Law of Moses in Leviticus 23:42-43, the

returned exiles celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (verse 4). During this

celebration, the Israelites would leave their homes and live in small booths

made from branches. The Israelites placed these booths in their courtyards,

on the roofs of their homes, or anywhere they could find a place to set them

up. They did this to remember the time when their ancestors lived in similar

booths when wandering through the wilderness. During this celebration,

sacrifices were made each day. The Israelites recognized the goodness of

the Lord to them not only in rescuing them from the land of Egypt but now

also from the land of their exile in Babylon.

Verse 7 tells us that during this time, money was given to the masons and

carpenters to begin the work of rebuilding the temple. Notice that food,

drink and oil were sent to the people of Sidon and Tyre so that they would

bring logs by sea from Lebanon and Joppa. These were exciting times for

the people of God. Sacrifices were again being offered, and the work of

rebuilding the temple was under way. It was in the second month of the

second year that Zerubbabel, the priest, commissioned Levites twenty years

of age and older to supervise the building of the temple of the Lord (verse

8).

Over time, the builders laid the foundation of the temple. When the

foundation was completed, the people gathered for a celebration. Verse 10

tells us that the priests dressed in their priestly garments with trumpets in

hand. The Levites were present with cymbals. Together they took their

places and began to sing praises to the Lord according to the instruction of

King David. They glorified the Lord for the work that had been

accomplished. They sang of the goodness and love of the God of Israel. The

people joined the Levites and priests in celebration and thanksgiving.

We should remember that when the altar was built in verse 3, it was

constructed despite the fear of their enemies. The thanksgiving offered here

is to a God who enabled them to build the foundation despite the opposition

of the enemy around them. It must have been exciting to see how the Lord

God was with them in those days. Not only was He providing the money

necessary for the construction but He was also holding back their enemies.

Those present that day realized that none of this would have been possible

were it not for the Lord God. There is an important reminder here. Where

would we be today, were it not for the Lord? As we look at our

achievements and accomplishments in this world, do we realize, like those

gathered around the foundation, that we owe everything to the Lord God?

Do our hearts leap for joy and thanksgiving to the God who made all our

achievements possible?

We need to understand that when the Lord is active, the enemy is never

very far behind. Sometimes the enemy comes in unexpected ways. As this

worship and thanksgiving were offered to the Lord God, the older people

who had seen the former temple were very displeased. They wept aloud

while the younger people rejoiced and praised the Lord with thanksgiving.

We need to take a moment to consider what is happening here. Those who

had been in Israel some seventy years before this event had seen the glory

of the former temple. As they looked at this temple foundation, they

realized that it was not going to be as big and as glorious as the old temple.

The prophet Haggai describes the thoughts of the older generation of that

day:

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the

LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Speak to

Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son

of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people.

Ask them, 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former

glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you

like nothing? (Haggai 2:1-3)

On that day, there was a mixture of emotion. The older generation could not

see how this temple could ever be as glorious as the former temple. The

younger generation, who had never seen the old temple, was excited to see

what God was doing. The sounds of praise and the sounds of weeping rose

together to God and were heard far away.

We can only wonder what that sound was like in the ears of God. Praise and

grumbling do not seem to mix, yet this is what rose before God that day.

The people of God had been successful in thwarting the plans and efforts of

their unbelieving enemies around them. This attack was more subtle. This

time the enemy attacks from within. The discontent of the older generation

could very quickly be a discouragement to the younger generation.

When the enemy cannot defeat us using unbelievers, he will not hesitate to

attack us from within. How often has the work of God been hindered by

attacks from within? This is the first signs in this book of trouble in the

body. The unity of the team that God had brought from exile is being

threatened.

This passage challenges us to examine our own lives. God's ways are not

like our ways. The challenge for us here is to let God do things in His way.

The foundation was not what the older generation wanted, but it was what

God wanted. We need to get our own ideas out of the way and surrender to

what God wants to do. We must be careful lest our own opinions and plans

destroy the unity of the team that God has been forming. The enemy had

been trying to bring division to the team that God was forming. If he had

succeeded in doing so, he would have been successful in hindering the work

being done.

For Consideration:

Have you been opposed in your ministry? What

encouragement do you receive from this passage in seeing

how the work of God progresses despite opposition?

Take a moment to examine the things God has enabled you to

accomplish in your life and ministry. Where would you be

without God?

What does this passage tell us about how Satan attacks the

work of God?

Are there things that God is blessing around you that you

have problems accepting? What are they? What does this

passage teach us about dealing with these things?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the way He blesses and keeps us despite

the many attacks of the enemy to keep us frustrated.

Take a moment to examine what you have accomplished in

ministry to this point. Thank the Lord that He has given you

all these blessings. Confess to the Lord that without Him

none of this would be possible.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you have failed to

bless what He has blessed. Ask Him to give you a greater

appreciation of the many ways in which He works.

4 - A LETTER TO KING

ARTAXERXES

Read Ezra 4:1-24

ne of the things we know about our enemy Satan is that he does

not give up in his attempts to discourage believers in the work

that God has called them to do. In the last chapter, he attacked by

causing discontent in the hearts of the older Israelites, who were not pleased

with the size of the foundation of the new temple. We see here in this

chapter that he uses another means to attack God’s people. This could have

been a source of discouragement and disharmony for the rebuilding team.

We see in this chapter that Satan also uses another means to attack God’s

people.

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard of the rebuilding the

temple, they approached them with what appeared to be a friendly gesture

—they offered to help. The enemy can be very subtle in his attacks. He

often comes as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His attacks are sometimes

disguised in acts of kindness and friendship.

In Acts 5 a man by the name of Ananias and his wife Sapphira come to the

apostles with a gift from the sale of a piece of property. What was unseen to

the human eye was the fact that this couple had secretly plotted to deceive

the church by pretending that this gift was the entire sale price of the

property. In reality, however, they had kept a portion for themselves. They

were introducing deceit into the church. God struck them dead for their

dishonesty. What looked to be so innocent on the outside was the effort of

the enemy to infiltrate the church with treachery. We see a similar thing

happening here in the request of the enemies to help God’s people with the

temple.

Notice in verse 2 that the enemies told Zerubbabel that they too sought the

Lord God. They told him that they had been sacrificing to Him for many

years. To understand what they are saying we need to look to 2 Kings

17:24-29. In these verses when the Assyrians conquered Israel many years

before, they removed all the skilled labourers from the land and took them

to Assyria. Only the poor and unskilled remained in Israel. In 2 Kings 17:24

we see that the Assyrian king sent people from a variety of other conquered

lands to live in Israel in the absence of the defeated Israelites. These

foreigners did not understand the ways of the Lord and did not serve Him.

The Lord was angry with them and sent lions to devour them. When this

news returned to the king of Assyria, he sent an Israelite priest back to

Israel to teach the foreigners there the ways of the Lord of Israel. While

these settlers did learn to sacrifice to the Lord God of Israel, they never quit

worshipping their familiar idols. In 2 Kings 17:29 we learn that these

foreigners sacrificed to the Lord God but also to their own gods. Eventually,

these foreign settlers intermarried with some of the local Israelites forming

the Samaritan race. An intense bitterness grew between the Samaritans and

the true Israelites who considered the Samaritans as unclean because they

were of mixed blood and mixed beliefs (see John 4). Here in this passage, it

was the Samaritans who were asking to help the returned exiles in the

reconstruction of the temple.

Zerubbabel listened to the Samaritan’s request but refused to let them help.

It is hard to know the intentions of these enemies, but we can understand

from their response to this refusal that they would only have hindered the

work. Already there were those who were discouraging their brothers and

sisters in the temple project (see chapter 3). Adding these Samaritans to the

team would only have brought more trouble and division. In this offer to

help, we can see the attempt of Satan to add more strife among the team

members.

We need the discernment of the Lord in the work of building the kingdom.

Not everyone who comes to us offering assistance is genuinely called of

God. The enemy is quite capable of inspiring his servants to work with us in

hopes that he will create division in the body. Maybe even now in your

church, you see evidence of this infiltration of the enemy.

Having been refused positions on the rebuilding team, Israel’s adversaries

then set out to discourage the people of God. Verse 4 tells us that they

decided to sow seeds of fear among those rebuilding the temple. In verse 5

we find that these enemies hired counsellors to work against the rebuilding

project. These counsellors would continue their attempts to frustrate to

Jewish effort from the reign of King Cyrus to the reign of King Darius.

Cyrus began his reign in 559 BC. Darius would begin his reign around 529

BC. This meant that for approximately thirty years these counsellors would

seek to discourage and oppress the Lord’s people. Satan does not easily give

up.

During the reign of Xerxes (the Persian name for Ahasuerus, 485-465 BC)

these counsellors sent a complaint to the king about the people of Judah and

Jerusalem (verse 6). Sometime later, another letter was written to king

Artaxerxes of Persia to get him to stop the work of rebuilding the temple.

The message is recorded for us in verses 9 to 16. Notice in verse 10 how

those who write the letter appeal to their Babylonian heritage. They remind

king Artaxerxes that they had been deported and settled in the region of

Samaria by Ashurbanipal, the son of Esharhaddon, the king of Assyria

mentioned in verse 2. In citing this fact, these Samaritans seem to be

reminding the king that they had been sent to Samaria by official decree of

the king. This may be an attempt to gain favour and give credibility to their

request.

In their letter, the Samaritans informed the king that Jews had returned to

Jerusalem to rebuild the city that had historically been evil and rebellious.

The Samaritans claimed that if Jerusalem was restored, its inhabitants

would no longer pay taxes to the king (verse 13). They told Artaxerxes that

they sent him this information because of their allegiance to him (verse 14).

They asked that a search the archives be made to confirm their accusations

against Jerusalem.

These enemies knew that if the king searched, he would find elements of

truth in their claim. Babylon and Assyria had been the enemies of Israel.

Israel’s kings had rebelled against Babylon. We have the record of King

Jehoiakim’s rebellion against Babylon in 2 Kings 24:1. King Zedekiah also

rebelled against Babylon (2 Kings 24:29). God's people did not always

accept His will for their lives. Israel had rebelled against God and His

discipline in their lives. Satan knows our failures. He will not hesitate to dig

them up and use them to his advantage.

On receipt of the letter, a search was done in the archives to determine

whether Israel did pose a threat to the king of Persia. This resulted in a

response from the king in the form of a letter to the enemies of Israel. This

letter informed them that the search had been done, and it was discovered

that the people of Israel had revolted in the past. It was also found that

Jerusalem had powerful kings in the past. As a result, King Artaxerxes

commanded that the work on the temple and the rebuilding of the city be

stopped until further orders (verse 21). Israel’s enemies were commissioned

by the king to be sure that the "rebellious city" was not rebuilt so that the

Jews would pose no threat to the king of Persia.

As soon as the Samaritan leaders read the letter, they sent word of the king’s

orders to the Jews. Notice in verse 23 that the enemies used force to bring

the Lord’s work to a halt. Israel’s enemies now had legal rights to stop the

rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. Throughout the reign of

Artaxerxes, the work ceased. It would not be until after his death that

another attempt would be made to complete the work.

What we need to see here is how Satan sought to hinder the work of God. It

should not surprise us that he is doing the same thing today. He will stop

and nothing to impede the work of God. We have seen how he divided the

generations in the last chapter. Then he riled Israel’s neighbours against

them. He was successful in using the king of Persia, and for a time, the

work on the temple did stop. It seemed that the enemy had defeated the

purpose of God. God’s people were divided and discouraged. The enemy

was oppressing them. God was not finished with His people, however. He

would not give victory to the enemy. Though hindered for a time, God’s

people would yet see victory.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about how the enemy seeks to attack

and defeat the purposes of God? Is there evidence of his

presence in the work of your church?

How can the enemy use our past failures in his attempt to

defeat us?

What does this passage teach us about the need for

discernment in the work of the Kingdom of God?

What do we learn about the power of the enemy to bring the

work of God to a temporary halt?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you greater discernment in the work He

has called you to do.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes and the eyes of the leaders of

your church to the ways the enemy is trying to discourage the

work of God.

Thank the Lord that while the enemy may succeed in halting

or hindering the work of God for a time, he cannot have

ultimate victory. Thank the Lord that He has already defeated

Satan and that our victory is assured.

5 - HAGGAI'S

CHALLENGE

Read Ezra 5:1-17

he work on the temple had ceased. The enemies of God’s people

had written a letter to the king of Persia who responded by

stopping all construction. If the enemies had their way, the temple

in Jerusalem would never be rebuilt. This order of the king was a setback

for the people of God, but they would get back on their feet again.

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were ministering in the region at this

time. They approached the people of God and challenged them to return to

the work of rebuilding the temple, despite the order of the king of Persia.

Scripture does call us to be obedient to the governmental authorities over

us. There are times, however, when earthly powers command us to do

something contrary to the will and purpose of God. In this situation, we

must learn to obey God and accept the consequences of our actions. (This

was the experience of the apostles in Acts 4:19.) In verse 1, the prophets

reminded the nation that the Lord God was over them. It was to the Lord

that they were to be obedient. It was apparent that the Lord had spoken to

King Cyrus of Persia and commanded him to send the Israelites back to

their land to rebuild the temple. Haggai and Zechariah challenged the

people to obedience. The people needed this challenge at this time in their

lives.

The result of this challenge was that Zerubbabel and Jeshua set to work on

the house of the Lord. The prophets of God joined them. In making this

decision, the leaders were risking their lives. In Ezra 4:23 the work had

ceased when their enemies exercised force to stop them, acting under the

King Artaxerxes’s order. Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the prophets were willing

to take the risk and moved forward, trusting their Lord.

It was not long before Tattenai the Persian governor of the region heard

about the work. He approached the Israelites about this, asking them by

whose authority they were moving ahead with construction. Tattenai

demanded to know the names of those who dared to defy the king’s order.

This was an awkward moment for the people of God. They did not know

what the response of their enemies would be. Notice, however, in verse 5

that “the eye of their God was watching over the elders and they were not

stopped.” A report of their activities, however, was sent to Darius, the new

king of Persia. The encouragement for us is that when we step out in

obedience to the Lord, He watches over us. There will be significant risks to

take in advancing of the Lord’s kingdom, but the eye of the Lord is on us,

and we can rely entirely on Him. We do not need to be afraid.

The letter sent by Governor Tattenai to King Darius explained what the

Jews were doing. In the letter, he told how the work of rebuilding the

temple was moving ahead. When the Jews were questioned about this work,

they informed him that they were following the orders of King Cyrus who

had sent them to Israel for this very purpose. Tattenai requested the

direction of the new king concerning the situation.

There are several valuable lessons in this passage. First, we need to see how

easy it is for us to be discouraged by the enemy. The work of God stopped

because the enemy succeeded in arousing fear in God's people. This fear

kept God's people from obeying the Lord.

Second, notice that there are times when the people of God need to be

challenged to return to the Lord and His purposes. Haggai and Zechariah

were instruments in the hands of God to bring God's people back to the

right path. Maybe there are individuals you need to speak to today who

have not been obedient to the Lord because of their fear of the enemy or of

what might happen if they continued in obedience. Maybe you can be like

Haggai or Zechariah to someone today.

Third, obedience to the Lord will not always be easy. The leaders who

returned to the construction site were taking a step of faith. They did not

know what the response of the enemy would be, but they were willing to

take a risk. We cannot accomplished much without risk in the Christian life.

Any soldier knows that when he steps on the battlefield, he is taking a risk.

Each step we take to conquer enemy territory is a step of faith. We must be

ready to face those risks with faith in God.

Finally, notice that the eyes of the Lord were on those who were willing to

take the risk and walk in faith. God saw how the enemy was trying to

discourage His people. As the story of what took place that day unfolds, we

will see that God would equip His people to do what He had called them to

do. He will do the same for all who will take that step of obedience.

For Consideration:

Has the enemy ever discouraged you in the Lord’s work to

the point where you could no longer continue? What is the

challenge of this passage for you?

Are there individuals around you who have been discouraged

in their ministry? What would God have you to do or say to

them to encourage them to live in obedience?

How has the enemy been seeking to discourage you in your

ministry? What comfort do you find in this passage?

Is there something that God has called you to do in which

you are hesitating? What keeps you from taking the risk and

moving forward in faith?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that His eyes are on us to protect and keep us

in our service for Him.

Ask the Lord to give you greater faith to take the risks

necessary in the ministry to which He has called you.

Thank the Lord that He is bigger than any enemy that can

come against you today.

6 - THE TEMPLE IS

COMPLETED

Read Ezra 6:1-22

aggai and Zechariah challenged the people of God to complete

the construction of the temple. They did this, despite the efforts

of the enemy to hinder them. The priests and Levites heard the

challenge of these two prophets and took the task to heart. This resulted in

the Samaritans writing a letter to the king of Persia seeking his advice. The

hope was that the king would give the authority to stop the work.

On receipt of the letter, King Darius issued an order that the archives be

searched to see if there ever was a decree permitting the Israelites to rebuild

the temple. A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of

Media. In that scroll was the proclamation of King Cyrus commanding the

Jews to rebuild the temple. In that decree, Cyrus had given the dimensions

of the temple and a general plan the Jews were to follow in its construction.

Clearly stated in this decree was that the costs for this construction were to

be paid by the royal treasury (see verse 4). The gold and silver articles taken

by Nebuchadnezzar from the old temple were also to be returned to

Jerusalem.

When King Darius saw the decree, he commanded Tattenai, the governor of

the region of the Trans-Euphrates, to refrain from hindering the work on the

temple. Darius told the governor not to interfere with the Jews and their

work. Darius confirmed the decree of Cyrus and issued an order for the

work of the temple reconstruction to be completed.

King Darius also ordered that the leaders of the enemies of Israel help the

Jews in this construction. He further ordered that the costs for rebuilding the

temple be paid out of the royal treasury as Cyrus had previously decreed.

Young bulls, rams and male lambs were to be given to the Jews for burnt

offerings to the God of Israel. The enemies of Israel were also to provide

the Jewish priests with daily provisions of wheat, wine and oil. They were

not to fail in this matter so that the Jews, in turn, would pray to their God

for a blessing upon the king and his sons (see verse 10).

Darius felt so strongly about this decree that he commanded that anyone

who failed to obey him in this matter should be impaled on a beam pulled

up from his or her own house, and the house pulled down and destroyed.

Darius cursed anyone who would lift their hand to change anything in his

decree or hinder in any way the work on the temple in Jerusalem. God had

indeed granted His people favour with King Darius as He had with King

Cyrus.

News of this decree encouraged the Jews, and they resumed the work on the

temple of God. Verse 14 tells us that Haggai and Zechariah preached to the

people of Israel during that time. The people received the Word of God

warmly and obeyed what they heard. There was renewed enthusiasm and

zeal for the work of the temple. God moved in their midst, and they saw the

victory of the Lord.

It is important that we note here that for quite some time, the people of God

were paralyzed by fear in the work. The foundation had been laid, but the

temple remained unfinished. Fear of their enemies had brought a halt to the

work. Haggai and Zechariah were used by God to challenge His people to

take a risk and move forward in faith and obedience.

The priests and Levites took up that challenge and risked their lives. God

blessed that step of faith in a way His people could never have imagined.

Not only did He shield His people from their enemies but He also made the

enemies pay for the completion of the work. It all began when the priests

took the risk and faithfully obeyed the Lord. With that one step of faith, the

blessing of God was released on His people.

How often have we found ourselves paralyzed with fear, as were the people

of Israel? The work of the kingdom suffers when we are not ready to risk

everything to be obedient. Through Haggai and Zechariah, God calls us

today. He challenges us to take the risk of obedience, regardless of

circumstance. The Lord shows us in this chapter that we have no cause for

fear. Our God can do far more then we could ever ask or think. His

kingdom expands when we willingly take the risk and step out in faith and

obedience.

God moved through the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah who were

preaching in those days. When the temple was completed, God’s people

held a service of dedication in Jerusalem (verse 16). On that day, one

hundred bulls, two thousand rams and four hundred male lambs were

sacrificed. They also sacrificed twelve male goats as a sin offering for the

twelve tribes of Israel. The priests and Levites were also installed in

Jerusalem, according to their family divisions and responsibilities.

On the fourteenth day of the first month, the Passover was celebrated. The

priests and Levites purified themselves and slaughtered the Passover lamb.

The Israelites separated themselves from their unclean practices and sought

the Lord. For seven days after the Passover, they celebrated the Feast of

Unleavened Bread by separating themselves from anything with leaven.

Leaven or yeast in the Scripture is a symbol of sin. By observing this feast,

the people of God symbolized their desire to separate themselves from sin

in all its forms to serve the Lord recognizing Him as the one who brought

them from slavery in Egypt to give them a land of their own. Their hearts

were filled with joy because God had caused the Persian king to favour

them.

A responsibility falls upon all whom God has blessed. The feast that the

Israelites celebrated that day was a reminder that they were a people blessed

by God. As they walked in obedience to Him and stepped out in faith, God

did marvellous things. He opened doors they never thought possible. May

we too have the courage to step out in obedient faith. All, who willingly

take the risk, will be surprised at what God will do.

For Consideration

What do we learn here about the importance of obeying the

Lord in all circumstances?

What is the promise in this passage for those who willingly

step out in faith?

What is the responsibility of those who have been blessed by

God as Israel was in those days?

Is there anything that God has called you to do that causes

you fear? Does this fear keep you from walking in

obedience?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to see His purpose for your life.

Ask Him to give you the courage to step out in obedience.

Thank the Lord for the way He cares for us as we move

forward in faith.

Thank the Lord for the blessings He has given you this day.

Ask Him to help you to live in grateful obedience and

thanksgiving.

7 - EZRA COMES TO

JERUSALEM

Read Ezra 7:1-28

ne of the most confusing things about the study of the kings of

Persia is the fact that there are many kings by the same name.

Xerxes, Artaxerxes and Darius were common names among the

kings of Persia. Also, sometimes the names of the kings were recorded in

the Persian language and sometimes in the Greek language. It is vital that

we understand this if we are to make sense of what is happening in the book

of Ezra.

Verse 1 tells us that it was during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia

that Ezra left Babylon to go to Jerusalem. This Artaxerxes is not the same

Artaxerxes mentioned in chapter 4. The Artaxerxes mentioned here reigned

from BC 465-424.

Verses 1-5 give us the detail of Ezra’s family line. The genealogy shows

that he was part of a priestly line. He was a man of reputation from a well-

respected family in Israel. We should remember that when the people

returned to Israel from exile, the priests had to prove their priesthood by

showing their family line. There is no exception for Ezra. His line was

confirmed, and he was qualified to act in the capacity of priest for God's

people in Israel.

Not only does Ezra come from a line of priests but verse 6 shows us as well

that he was a teacher, well versed in the Law of Moses. He was qualified by

means of his line, but he was also qualified because he knew the Word of

God.

There is another important detail we need to see in verse 6 concerning Ezra.

The king had given him everything he had asked for because the hand of

the Lord was on him. God's anointing was on Ezra to accomplish the work

He had called him to do. God equips those He calls.

In the Old Testament period, only certain individuals could become priests.

In those days, the call of God was on families and family lines. It was for

this reason that the family line needed to be established for the priests who

returned to Israel. A priest needed to be called of God to exercise his

function. Under the New Testament God calls people to ministry without

regard for family lines. However, the call to ministry is still essential. While

we are all called to be servants of God, He has called some to minister in a

full-time capacity or office in the church and others to work in a business or

as skilled labourers. It is crucial for us to know what God has called and

gifted us to do so we can walk in obedience to that call.

A calling is not in itself enough. Notice that Ezra was well versed in the

Law of Moses. For this to take place, he had to study the Law and

understand its application. Ezra was trained in the truth of the Word of God.

You may be called to be a pastor but not ready to exercise that calling

because you do not have a good grasp of the truth of the Word of God.

While our calling is essential, we also need to be trained in the Word so that

we can exercise that calling effectively. How can we lead men and women

into the truth of God if we are unfamiliar with that truth ourselves? Ezra

was called of God and knew that calling, but he also was trained in the truth

of the Word of God.

There is another aspect that we cannot miss. Calling and training are

essential, but there is something else we need if we are going to have an

effective ministry. The hand of the Lord was on Ezra, blessing what he was

doing. It is entirely possible for us to be called and trained and still not

experience the anointing of the Lord on our ministries.

It is all too easy for us to believe that our calling and training are enough.

Many times, we think that because we have the training, we can change the

world. The reality of the matter is that unless God touches what we do, all

our training is in vain. Maybe you have seen God use a simple man or

woman who had no training at all. Perhaps you have been frustrated

because, with all your training, you do not seem to have the impact you

would like. Unless the Lord's hand is on our ministries, nothing of any real

significance will ever be accomplished. Ezra is called and trained, but more

than all this, the hand of the Lord was on him blessing the ministry to which

he had been called.

When Ezra left for Jerusalem, he was accompanied by a team of Israelites.

Among them were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple

servants. The journey took four months, and the hand of the Lord blessed

them as they travelled (verse 9). Verse 10 leads us to believe that there was

a very special reason why the hand of the Lord was on Ezra. God's hand

was on him because he devoted himself to study, observe and teach the laws

of God to Israel. We need to look at this verse in greater detail.

Ezra devoted himself to the study of the Word. To devote oneself to

something requires discipline and sacrifice. Ezra was willing to sacrifice

other interests for the sake of knowing the Word of God. Many things draw

our attention away from the Scriptures. Other activities and interests seem

to crowd out our time with God. Ezra committed himself to the study of the

Word. He took the time and made the necessary sacrifices.

Not only did Ezra devote himself to the study of the Word but he also

devoted himself to the observation of that Word. There is a difference

between studying the Word and obeying it. Many study the Word of God

but do not apply its principles to their lives. Ezra took the Word seriously.

When he discovered a truth, he put it into practice. He let the Law of God

challenge his ways. He not only knew the truth but also lived it.

Ezra also taught the Law of God in Israel. What he learned and practiced he

passed on to others so that they too would know and live in obedience. It is

important to note that he first studied and obeyed the Word before teaching

others. How can we teach others to live what we do not live?

It was because of these qualities that the hand of the Lord was on Ezra.

Disobedience will keep us from God. Ignorance of His Word will prevent

us from understanding His purposes. God is searching for people who will

take Him seriously. He delights in revealing Himself to those who love Him

and live by His truth.

When Ezra returned to Jerusalem from exile, he returned with a letter from

King Artaxerxes. In this letter, the king decreed that any Israelite in his

kingdom, who so desired, could return to Jerusalem with Ezra. This was the

second group that returned to Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes commissioned

Ezra to return to Israel to see that its inhabitants were living in accordance

with the Law of God (verse 14). Ezra was even to take an offering of gold

and silver that the king and his advisors had donated freely for the work of

God in Jerusalem. It may be that the motive of the king here was to see the

people of Israel pray to the God of Israel for him so that his reign would be

prosperous (see Ezra 6:3-10).

Included in this offering were freewill offerings from different individuals

living in Babylon. The king told Ezra to be sure that he purchased bulls,

rams, male lambs as well as grain and drink offerings with the donated

money (verse 17). Ezra was then to sacrifice these animals as an offering to

the God of Israel on behalf of the king and his advisors. The money that

remained was to be used at the discretion of the Jewish leaders in

accordance with the will of the Lord. If there was further need, Ezra was

permitted to draw from the king’s treasury whatever was necessary. Beyond

this, King Artaxerxes ordered the treasurers in the region of the Trans-

Euphrates to provide any financial support Ezra needed for the work of God

up to 3.5 tons of silver, 600 bushels of wheat (22 kilolitres), 600 gallons of

olive oil (2.2 kilolitres) and an unlimited quantity of salt.

King Artaxerxes commanded that everything be done so that the temple

could be completed and God’s worship established in Jerusalem. Artaxerxes

did not want the wrath of the God of Israel to be against him and his

kingdom. God had put fear in the heart of Artaxerxes so that he respected

the Lord God of Israel. In verse 24, we see that the king of Persia even

decreed that temple and temple servants be exempt from paying any taxes

to the empire.

Ezra was also to appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice in the

land of Israel. He was to select those who knew the Law of God and His

requirements. Ezra was also commissioned to teach anyone who did not

know the Law of God. Whoever did not obey the laws of the God of Israel,

according to Artaxerxes was to be punished by death, banishment,

confiscation of property, imprisonment or death.

It is quite amazing to see how God moved in the heart of this pagan Persian

king. Ezra praised the Lord as he considered what God was doing that day.

God had given Ezra favour in the eyes of the King.

Seeing how God had given him such favour, Ezra took courage and set out

to accomplish the purpose of God in Jerusalem. God blessed His people as

they built the temple. When the temple was completed, He sent Ezra to

teach the people His ways. It was the purpose of God to establish His

people, guide them into true worship and bless them in His ways.

For Consideration:

What do we learn in this passage about the importance of

calling, training and anointing?

How important is if for us as leaders to know the calling,

training and anointing of God on our lives and ministries?

Why was the hand of God's favour upon Ezra?

How important was the favour of God for Ezra? Where

would he have been without the blessing of God on his life

and ministry?

What do we learn about the type of person God uses?

Compare Ezra and Artaxerxes. How does God use each of

these men?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be sure of His calling on your

life.

Ask the Lord to give you a deeper burden for His Word.

Thank the Lord for the way His hand has been on you.

Ask God to show you anything that keeps you from

experiencing His favour on your life and ministry.

8 - THE RETURN OF THE

EXILES WITH EZRA

Read Ezra 8:1-36

e have seen how King Artaxerxes commissioned Ezra to

return to the city of Jerusalem to train the people in the Law of

God. At that time the king decreed that any Israelite who

wanted to return to Jerusalem could do so, and a number of Israelites

decided to return to their homeland with Ezra.

The first part of chapter 8 gives us the names of those who went with Ezra

to Jerusalem during the reign of King Artaxerxes. Note that each of these

individuals is listed according to family. It was important that each person

prove status as Israelites. The task of building the kingdom of God

belonged to His people. Those who returned needed to show that they were

the covenant people of God. They were able to demonstrate this by tracing

their family lines.

Those who were returning to Jerusalem assembled at a canal the flowed

toward the Ahava River. They camped there for three days while Ezra

checked to see who was among them. Ezra discovered that there were no

Levites in the group. The Levites had the responsibility of ministering in the

temple. Ezra did not want to return without these temple workers.

The king commissioned Ezra to instruct God's people in His law. To do this,

Ezra needed the help of the Levites. It is uncertain why there were no

Levites among those returning that day, but Ezra had enough discernment to

recognize this as a problem. He called some of the key leaders together and

sent them to a man by the name of Iddo who oversaw a group of temple

servants in the region of Casiphia (verse 17). Iddo was able to persuade

some Levites to return with Ezra to Jerusalem.

It is important to note here that while Iddo was influential in these Levites

joining Ezra's group, Ezra gives credit to the Lord God. In verse 18, he

clearly states that it was because of the gracious hand of the Lord God on

them that these Levites joined the group returning to Jerusalem. We make

an effort but none of our efforts will succeed without the hand of the Lord

God moving on our behalf. In total 38 Levites agreed to return to Jerusalem.

Another 220 temple servants, commissioned to help the Levites, also

decided to join the returning exiles. All these individuals were registered by

name and joined the group camped by the Ahava Canal.

How easy it would have been to overlook the absence of Levites and temple

servants in that group of returning exiles. Ezra's was returning to guide

God’s servants in obedience to the Law, and he could not have done this by

himself. These Levites and temple helpers were essential in the fulfilment

of his task. We need each other if the work of God is going to advance. Ezra

makes it a priority to see that the team was complete before going on his

mission.

Now that Ezra was assured he had the people necessary for the task, he

gathered them together and proclaimed a fast to humble themselves before

God and ask for a safe journey. This fast reminded the people of God that

the success or failure of their trip did not depend on themselves but God. It

would have been easy for the Israelites to attempt this journey in their own

wisdom and skill. By proclaiming this fast, Ezra is reminding them of the

source of their strength and wisdom. He set their mind on the Lord God as

the protector and source of strength for the journey. It would do us all well

to take the time before each or our endeavours to remind ourselves that it is

only in the power of the Lord that we can do anything of lasting value.

Ezra did now want to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect

them on the way to Jerusalem. He told the king that the hand of the Lord

God was on those who looked to him and Ezra wanted to demonstrate this

to the king by trusting the Lord God alone for protection during the journey.

Also, Ezra wanted the people of God to experience the reality of God's care

and provision as they journeyed. It would have been easy to lean upon the

good favour of the king for security, but Ezra chose to rely on God alone.

We need to understand here that while Ezra would not have sinned by

asking the king for soldiers and horsemen to join him on his trip, he had a

leading from the Lord to refuse this offer (verse 23). God wanted to teach

His people an important lesson of trust, and this was the means of teaching

that lesson.

God must be our trust. It is true that the Lord will use others to accomplish

His purposes in our lives but our dependence must remain on God alone.

Ezra had this kind of confidence in God. That day the gathered Jews fasted

and prayed to the Lord, and He heard their prayer and blessed their journey.

In verse 24 notice how Ezra dealt with the money that was given to him for

the temple in Jerusalem. He set apart twelve of the leading priests and ten

others. He weighed out the offerings of silver and gold and the other

articles. This group of people together weighed out 650 talents of silver

(over 25 tons), 100 talents of silver articles (approximately 4 tons), 100

talents of gold, 20 bowls with a value of 1,000 darics (about 20 pounds or

10 kilograms) and fine articles of polished bronze. All these articles were

weighed in the presence of witnesses. Ezra reminded these individuals that

they and these articles had been consecrated to God. In reminding them of

this consecration, Ezra was calling them to integrity. He warned them that

God would hold them accountable for these articles. Ezra challenged them

to guard the items carefully until they were weighed in the house of the

Lord (verse 29).

Ezra expects absolute honesty from these men, but he also does all he could

to hold them accountable. He weighed everything and recorded its weight.

These priests were expected to hand over to the temple that same amount at

the end of the journey in the presence of the priests and Levites in

Jerusalem. Ezra trusts these priests, but he did not put a stumbling block

before them. We can all be tempted to sin. It is for this reason that we do

our best to keep from going places where we know we will be tempted. For

the good of the body of Christ, we may need to put similar safeguards in

place to avoid any confusion or opportunity for the enemy to cause

suspicion. When these leaders arrived and presented the exact amount of

gold and silver to the priests in the temple, no one could even wonder if

they had kept any for themselves.

Now that everything was in place, Ezra and those who went with him left

for Jerusalem. They left on the twelfth day of the first month. God protected

them from enemies and bandits on the way. Remember they were carrying a

fortune in gold, silver and bronze. Upon arrival, they took three days to rest.

On the fourth day, they went to the temple and weighed out the silver and

gold that had been given to them. All these articles were handed over to the

priest and Levites in the temple as a gift from the king of Persia and the

Israelites still living in the region of Babylon. After verifying that nothing

was missing, the weight was again recorded.

When these treasures were handed over, the exiles who had returned from

captivity with Ezra brought burnt offerings to the Lord God. They sacrificed

twelve bulls, one for each tribe. Also sacrificed that day were ninety-six

rams, seventy-seven male lambs and twelve male goats as a sin offering.

This was in accordance with the command of King Artaxerxes. The king’s

orders were given to the governor, commanding him to offer from the

treasury all that was necessary for the work of the Lord.

As we look at Ezra's journey, several things stand out. Ezra was a man of

tremendous discernment. He carefully considered the will and purpose of

God in what he did. This led him to recognize that there were no Levites in

the group that had gathered to return. He also acknowledged his need of

God for a safe journey. He did not trust in his own strength and wisdom;

instead, he relied wholly on God. Ezra demanded absolute honesty and

integrity from those who served with him and sought ways to hold them

accountable before God and each other. He provided no opening for the

enemy to enter. These are valuable lessons we can learn from his example.

For Consideration:

Why was it important that Ezra have Levites on his journey

to Jerusalem? What things might we overlook in the work of

the church in our day?

How did Ezra find a balance between relying on God and

enlisting the services of men and women of faith in order to

find the Levites?

Can we trust people and still demand that they give an

account of what they are doing? Does the fact that Ezra

requires a weighing of the gold and silver mean that he did

not trust his men? How important is accountability especially

in financial matters?

What evidence is there that the confidence of Ezra is in the

Lord God? Have you ever found yourself relying on someone

or something else? Explain.

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be entirely honest and

accountable to others.

Thank the Lord that He promises to be with you and to guide

you in all things. Ask Him to forgive you for the times you

have not always trusted Him.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see how His hand has been

on you. Take a moment to praise Him for His blessings.

9 - THE SINS OF THE

PEOPLE

Read Ezra 9:1-15

zra and the group that had come with him from exile had arrived in

the city Jerusalem. It was not long before Ezra discovered that

there were real problems in Israel. Already the people of God had

fallen into sin.

From verse 1, we discover that the people had not kept themselves separate

from the neighbouring people. In other words, Israelites had intermarried

with unbelievers. Verse 2 makes it very clear that they had "mingled the

holy race with the peoples around them." The leaders were leading the way

in this practice. Also, the returning Jews had begun to take on the ungodly

practices of the unbelievers. God's people were not remaining faithful to the

Lord God and His Word. Even the priests were guilty in this regard.

God desired that His people be pure before Him. In Deuteronomy 7:1-4, the

Lord told His people that He did not want them to give their sons and

daughters to the foreigners around them. These foreigners did not follow

the Lord. Their practices were often contrary to the purposes of God and

would lead His people away from Him. It was for this reason that the Lord

commanded His people to marry only among themselves. God's people,

guided by their spiritual and political leaders, had chosen to disobey this

clear command of God. They took foreign husbands and wives. These

unbelieving spouses led the returning exiles to wander from the principles

of God's Word. The Israelites even began to adopt foreign, evil practices.

It is the desire of God that we give ourselves entirely to Him. He wants us

for Himself. Nothing must stand between the Lord and us. We must

jealously guard our relationship with Him. We must live and be people of

God. All practices that do not agree with the clear teaching of Scripture

must be abandoned.

On hearing about these intermarriages, Ezra tore his tunic and cloak. In his

grief, he tore hair from his head and beard. He sat appalled at such evil in

the land. We can only admire a man like this. Ezra took the Word of God

seriously. He was grieved when the Lord’s commands were disregarded.

His heart broke because his people had turned their back on God. Israel did

not have this burden for the Word of God. They had become lax in their

faith.

We need to see more people like Ezra. Do we grieve when we see the

people of God falling into sin and abandoning the truth of the Word of God?

Ezra was a man whose heart was in tune with the heart of God.

Ezra was not alone that day. There were others in the land that joined him in

his grief until the evening sacrifice (verse 4). What could they say? What

were they to do about this situation? They waited on the Lord for guidance

and direction. When the time for the evening sacrifice had come, Ezra fell

to his knees with torn clothes. He spread his hands out to the Lord God in

prayer and confession. His prayer reflects something of his heart.

Ezra cried out to God telling Him that he was too ashamed and disgraced to

lift his face to Him because of the sins of his people. God burdened his

heart with the weight of sin around him. God was using Ezra to intercede

for His people. Those called to intercede often experience a deep burden in

prayer. True intercession is often difficult. To enable His intercessors to

pray more effectively, God may place a heavy weight on their hearts. This

seems to be what is happening to Ezra. He feels the grief of God over sin in

the land. Ezra cried out from a heart that is deeply moved.

Ezra recognized that the guilt of God's people went back in time. From the

days of their ancestors until that day, God's people strayed from the truth of

His Word. God had often judged Israel for her sins. The Lord had sent

enemies to punish His guilty people with the sword. The Lord had given

Israel’s land to her enemies and carried her into captivity. Israel’s enemies

pillaged and humiliated her. Despite all this, they still wandered from Him.

Their heart remained wicked and unchanged.

In verse 8, Ezra recognized that it was only by God's grace that his people

had returned to the land of Israel. It was because of the gracious hand of

God that they had completed the temple and had been released from their

bondage in Babylon. Notice, however, in verse 8, that it was “for a brief

moment” that God had been gracious. In saying this, Ezra recognized that

just as God had stripped His blessings from their ancestors because of sin,

so He could do the same to them. Ezra did not take the graciousness of God

for granted.

How important it is for us to understand this in our day as well. We can

begin to feel secure in the blessings of God. Sometimes we even start to feel

that God owes us these blessings. What we need to understand is that God

could strip these form us in an instant.

At this moment Israel was experiencing the wonderful hand of a gracious

God. He had rescued His people from the captivity of the kings of Persia

(verse 9). The Lord had remembered His people in their captivity and set

them free for a purpose. He desired that His people honour Him. He wanted

to restore them to their former glory and through them spread the light of

His truth. He was enabling them to repair what their sin had destroyed. He

had surrounded them with His protection and kept their enemies from

harming them. The Israelites were a people of purpose. They had been

called of God to be His instruments in the world. What a privilege was

theirs as His chosen children.

God's people, however, had failed Him again. Despite His wonderful

purpose, they had turned their backs on Him. They chose to disregard His

commands and wandered into error. We see in this chapter that God's

people had ignored His command not to marry foreign unbelievers in the

neighbouring lands. These disobedient Jews had corrupted their testimony

and covered their light. God had commanded them not to marry foreign,

ungodly spouses. Not only had they done so, but they also adopted pagan

practices. They were behaving the same as their evil neighbours. The glory

of God was no longer in their midst.

In the past, the Israelites had brought the wrath of God on themselves by

their rebellious hearts. Ezra reminded his people in verse 13 that while God

had punished them for their evil, their punishment had been less than their

sin deserved. God had been gracious to His rebellious people and had not

destroyed them.

Ezra understood that God was under no obligation to spare His people. God

had often tried to reach His people through the prophets and priests of his

day, but the Israelites continually refused to listen. God had the right to

condemn His sinful people for all eternity because of His holiness. His

people had never fully appreciated His deep and intense hatred for sin. They

had failed to understand just how serious a situation they were in.

The sin of God’s people had sent them into exile in the first place. When, by

God’s grace, His people had been able to return to Jerusalem, it was not

long before they were again blinded to the reality of sin and its effect on

their life as a nation. May God open our eyes to the reality of sin and its

horrible nature.

For Consideration:

God's people had become blind to their own spiritual

condition. To what extent have we become blind in our day to

the seriousness of sin in our midst?

Through Ezra, we are reminded that God was seeking a holy

race to be a light in this world. Have you been faithful? Do

people see righteousness in your life?

What do we learn here about the gift of intercession? Have

you ever felt an intense burden to pray for something or

someone?

How seriously do we take sin in our day?

Has the church of our day been guilty of compromising the

faith? What worldly influences do we see in the church

today?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the seriousness of sin.

Ask the Lord to open your heart to the truth of His Word. Ask

Him to enable you to apply that truth in your daily life.

Ask God to search your heart and reveal to you any sin or

area of rebellion. Confess this sin and make things right with

God.

Ask the Lord to move in your life, in the life of your church

and the in life of your nation to bring conviction of sin.

10 - RESTORATION

Read Ezra 10:1-44

zra confessed the sins of his people. His heart was broken by the

fact that these Israelites, who had returned from exile, had so

quickly turned from the Lord their God. They had married foreign

spouses and adapted their evil practices. Before God and the congregation

of Israel, Ezra confessed the sins of his people and sought the will of God in

how to make things right.

Notice in verse 1 the extent of Ezra’s grief. He wept and threw himself

down to the ground before the house of the Lord. He did this in the

presence of Israel. His actions drew men and women of like mind until a

large had crowd gathered with him. Together they wept and grieved over

their sins as God stirred the hearts of His people. This humility was

necessary if God’s people were to be restored. We need to understand the

seriousness of our sin before we can see our need for a cure. Before moving

in power to restore and renew His people, God will often begin by bringing

a deep awareness and conviction of sin.

It is one thing to grieve over sin. It is another to do something about that

sin. It was a man by the name of Shecaniah who shifted the focus from grief

and mourning to making things right. It is as though Ezra had been so

caught up in the pain of the moment that he was unable to move beyond

that grief to doing something about the evil in the land. God used Shecaniah

to move to the next stage.

Shecaniah agreed that Israel had been unfaithful in marrying foreign

women. He reminded them, however, that this was not the end of the nation.

There was still hope. Shecaniah recognized that God is a gracious God and

full of compassion. Though the people’s sin was great, God had not

forsaken them.

We need to find a balance between grieving over our sin and recognizing

the grace of our Lord to forgive. It is all too easy in our preaching to

emphasize human sinfulness and neglect the grace and compassion of

Christ. On the other hand, it is also easy to emphasize the forgiveness and

compassion of Christ and fail to realize how serious our sin is. It is vital for

us to maintain a healthy balance between the awfulness of sin and the grace

and forgiveness of God. At this time, Ezra and the nation had not moved

beyond the stage of grieving.

Shecaniah proposed a solution. He suggested that Israel make a covenant

before the Lord to send away all foreign women and children, according to

the Law of the Lord. He challenged Ezra and the people to take courage, to

rise, and make things right. This was precisely what God's people needed.

They were grieving over their sin, but no one was thinking about making

things right with God. The enemy does not fear confession so much as he

fears those who rise to make things right.

There have been many times in my life when I was not able to move past

the confession of my sin. I confessed my sins before God but failed to

accept His grace and forgiveness. Satan loves to see Christian remain in a

sense of defeat. He takes great delight in reminding us of how sinful we are.

He wants us to stay in that sense of sinfulness and failure. As long as we

live as though we are defeated, we are no threat to Satan. He fears those,

however, who, realize their sin and rise up to do something about it. This is

the challenge of Shecaniah.

No matter what your sin has been, there is still hope. Don't let Satan tell you

that you are forever defeated. Don't let him keep you down. Confess your

sin. Take courage and do something about it. Make things right between

you and God.

Ezra heard the challenge of Shecaniah and listened to his counsel. The time

of confession was over. The time had come to do something about the

problem. Ezra put the priests, Levites and all of Israel under oath to do what

Shecaniah had suggested. That day they took an oath to do whatever was

necessary to correct the situation and be restored to a right relationship with

God.

Having taken this step, Ezra then withdrew from the house of the Lord. He

found a room where he could have some privacy and continued to mourn

and grieve before God. During that time, he fasted and sought the Lord.

While Ezra understood the grace and compassion of God, he had been

called to pray. His burden for the people of Israel would not be taken from

him until they were in a right relationship with God. The Lord’s call on him

for that moment was to pray. God had called others to act, but Ezra was to

continue seeking the face of God. No doubt, during that time Ezra prayed

that God would move in the hearts of his people and guide the priests and

Levites. This was Ezra’s role.

As Ezra prayed, a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem

for all the exiles to gather in Jerusalem. Any man who failed to appear

within three days would lose his property and be banished from the land. It

should be remembered that Ezra had the authority of the king to punish

anyone who did not follow the Law of the Lord (Ezra 7:25-26).

Within three days, all of Israel came to Jerusalem. As they gathered in the

square before the temple of the Lord, the rain fell. They were

uncomfortable, cold and wet as they waited to hear what Ezra had to tell

them (verse 9). Ezra stood up that day and told the men that they had been

unfaithful in marrying foreign women. He called each of them to separate

from their foreign wives and be restored to God. The Lord moved in power

that day, and the assembly was convicted of their sin. With one voice they

agreed to Ezra's proposal. Ezra saw the answer to his prayers.

It was decided that this matter could not be dealt with in one day. The

assembled people agreed that each man who had married a foreign woman

would come at a set time before the elders and judges of the land and deal

with the matter before them. Only a few men opposed the idea.

Ezra selected family heads from each division of Israel to meet with him.

Together they sat down to investigate each case. At the end of three months,

the leaders of Israel had dealt with all the men who had married foreign

women. In verses 18-43 we have a list of men who had married foreign

women. The priests decided each case and appropriate sacrifices were made

for their sin.

Not only were the foreign women to be sent away but so were the children

who had been born through these women (verse 44). This would not be

easy for these families. Being restored to a right relationship with God

meant sacrifice for these individuals and their families. There are times

when God will call us to sacrifice our loved ones for His cause. Jesus makes

it quite clear in the Gospel of Matthew that He must take priority even over

our families:

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not

worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than

me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)

The call to seek God with all our heart goes out today as well as it did in the

days of Ezra. Ezra challenges his people to make things right with God no

matter the cost. This will not always be easy, but it will always bring

blessing.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the balance between confession

and making things right?

What role did prayer and intercession play in this restoration

of God's people?

Ezra and Shecaniah both seem to have different roles. How

important is it for us to understand our function in the body

of Christ?

What do we learn here about the cost of restoration? How

much would you be willing to give up to be restored to a right

relationship with God?

What stands between you and God today?

For Prayer:

Ask God to search your heart and reveal to you any sin that

keeps you from a deeper relationship with Him.

Ask the Lord to give you the willingness to sacrifice

whatever it takes to be restored to Him.

Ask the Lord to help you to understand your role in enabling

God's people to be restored to Him.

INTRODUCTION TO

NEHEMIAH

Author:

he author of this book is a man by the name of Nehemiah. This is

evident in how the book is written. Nehemiah writes about himself

often using the words, “I” and “my” (see Nehemiah 1:1-2; 2:1-5).

There are sections of the book, however, that are written as if someone else

were telling the story about Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 8:9). This has led

many to believe that while Nehemiah was the primary author, there was

also another author. There is no indication in the book as to the identity of

this second author. Some suppose him to be Ezra.

Background:

Nehemiah was a Jew who had been taken captive and given an important

role as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia during the time of the

Jewish captivity. While he was serving the king in Susa, Nehemiah heard

about the condition of the land of Israel. His heart was burdened for the

state of the nation and so he fasted and prayed that God would restore it to

its former glory.

King Artaxerxes permitted Nehemiah to return to this homeland to rebuild.

Nehemiah was appointed as governor of the land of Israel and, in that

capacity, would oversee the reconstruction of the city and its restoration to

the worship of the God of his fathers.

Throughout his time of service as governor, Nehemiah would be opposed

by Israel’s enemies, discouraged by Israel’s wandering, and frustrated by

those in leadership over him. By God’s grace and strength, however, he

would persevere and see the restoration of the city of Jerusalem and the

worship of the God of Israel.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

The ministry of Nehemiah began as a prayer to God for the restoration of

the land of Israel. God answered that prayer by sending Nehemiah. The

whole book is an answer to the prayer of Nehemiah and shows us what God

can do when we pray.

Nehemiah had to face considerable opposition in what God had called him

to do. Motivating his people, facing the slander of the enemies, and dealing

with the rulings of those over him were all issues Nehemiah had to deal

with in his role as governor. We need to see from this that not all answers to

prayers come easily. There will be opposition to what God wants to do

through us. Victory comes through hard work and perseverance. In an age

when we want things to be easy and fast, we need to learn the lesson of

patience and endurance that Nehemiah had to learn in this book.

Nehemiah could not do the work alone. He needed the support of many

people to accomplish his task. As a gifted leader, Nehemiah motivated his

people and dealt with the issues that kept them from working as a team

under the blessing of God. A study of Nehemiah’s leadership skills is

helpful for all who are involved in leadership. His leadership principles can

easily be applied today.

One of the most significant principles of Nehemiah’s leadership was that as

a great leader, Nehemiah never forgot the source of his calling, strength,

and wisdom. He was a man of prayer and obedience to God. His ministry

began in prayer and was supported by prayer and obedience to God’s will.

He stepped out in faith, trusting God to do what seemed impossible for a

simple cupbearer. Prayer, perseverance and obedience, however, would

bring him the victory. The story of Nehemiah is the story of how God took

a simple cupbearer, burdened his heart for the need of his homeland, and

used him to restore an entire nation. It is an inspiring story about what God

can do in our lives today if we seek him.

11 - NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER

Read Nehemiah 1:1-11

ehemiah lived in the days of Ezra when the people of God were

returning from exile in Babylon to rebuild the land of Jerusalem.

When this book begins, Nehemiah is in the citadel of Susa, the

winter residence of the Persian kings. Nehemiah was an important servant

of the reigning king of Persia. God had sovereignly placed Nehemiah in this

position for a very special purpose.

As Nehemiah was in Susa, one of his Jewish brothers came to see him. This

brother, by the name of Hanani, had just returned from Judah. Nehemiah

questioned him about the Jews who had survived the exile. Hanani told

Nehemiah that these individuals were in great trouble and disgrace.

Jerusalem's wall and burned gates still lay in ruin. The exiles were living in

poor conditions. God's people had at one time enjoyed the wonderful

blessing on their land. They were admired and respected by all the nations

of the earth. But things had changed—Jerusalem was in ruins. As Nehemiah

reflected on this, his heart was broken. The picture of God’s people in

disgrace and poverty was more than he could bear. That day God placed a

heavy burden on his heart.

Verse 4 tells us that for days Nehemiah could not get the picture of

Jerusalem out of his mind. He wept, mourned and fasted during this time.

He “prayed before the God of heaven,” the God of Jerusalem. It was the

Lord Himself who had put this burden on Nehemiah’s heart because He

wanted to use him to accomplish a great purpose for His kingdom. Where

there is no burden on the heart of the servant of God, the ministry to which

he or she is called will suffer. God was preparing Nehemiah by placing that

burden on his heart.

Verses 5-11 record Nehemiah’s prayer for his people. This prayer can be

divided into three parts. We will examine each part separately.

Praise (Verse 5)

Nehemiah's prayer begins with praise to God. It is vital for us to remember

that the reason Nehemiah’s heart had been burdened was because of the

conditions under which his people were living in Jerusalem. God had

punished Israel for rebellion. He had allowed the enemy to invade their land

and take the Israelites into captivity. He had allowed the enemy to destroy

the temple, break down the wall of Jerusalem and burn to the ground all the

significant buildings.

Although it is not always easy to praise the Lord in trials and difficulties,

Nehemiah praised the Lord as the great and awesome God of heaven.

Surely, Nehemiah did not always understand how God worked. It would not

have been easy for Nehemiah to recognize that God is a great and awesome

God when everything Nehemiah had cherished had been stripped away and

lay in a burning pile of rubble. Nehemiah accepted by faith what he knew to

be true but cannot presently see. He recognized the Lord as an awesome

God whose ways are beyond understanding.

Notice also, in verse 5 that Nehemiah praised a God “who keeps his

covenant of love.” Remember the context of this prayer. To the human eye,

man had broken that covenant and God had turned His back His people.

Despite what Nehemiah saw around him, he still believed that God would

keep His part of the covenant with His people. Nehemiah believed the

promises of God.

Nehemiah was not discouraged by what he saw around him. He trusted God

for the impossible. In a time when his human vision was clouded,

Nehemiah clung to the promises and truth of the Word of God. He had

reason to praise the Lord. Though he could not see victory, Nehemiah

praised God for it by faith, because he trusted in God’s character.

Confession (Verses 6-7)

Having taken the time to praise the Lord, Nehemiah next turns his attention

to confessing the sins of his people. He realized that the sins of Israel and

Judah had brought these trials on his people. Nehemiah pleaded with God to

listen to his prayer for his people, even though they were guilty. In saying

this, Nehemiah recognized that God has tremendous compassion,

forgiveness and mercy. Though the sins of his people were terrible,

Nehemiah believed that the kindness and grace of his God were even

greater. Notice in verse 6 how he includes himself as one of those who had

rebelled against the Lord God.

In verse 7, he spells out the sins of his people. They had acted in a wicked

way toward God. They had not obeyed His commands and laws. They had

turned their hearts away from God and broken their covenant with Him.

Nehemiah accepted the punishment God had placed on His people.

Nehemiah recognized that what they had received from the hand of God

had been deserved. God was not unjust. If anything, God had shown great

compassion by not wholly destroying them as a people. Nehemiah

confessed his guilt and the guilt of all Israel and accepted the Lord’s

punishment as right and just.

Petition (Verses 8-11)

Some believers never seem to move beyond their guilt. They seem to live

their lives believing that their destiny is to live their lives outside the

blessings of God because they are unworthy of anything else. While

Nehemiah realized that he and his people deserved the wrath and

punishment of God, he does not stop there.

In verses 8 and 9 Nehemiah reminds God of the words He spoke to Moses.

God had told Moses that if His people were unfaithful, then He would

scatter them among the nations (see Leviticus 26:13-33). God had also

promised, however, that if His people obeyed His commands then even if

they were exiled to the farthest corner of the earth, He would gather them

together and bring them back to the land He had chosen for them. We can

see this promise of God to Moses in Deuteronomy 30:2-5.

Nehemiah did not remain in a posture of defeat but claimed the promise of

God to restore the Israelites if they would return to their God. Nehemiah

reminded God that they were His chosen people. He pleaded with God to

hear his prayer for his people. Nehemiah believed it was now time for God

to move again among His people and restore them to Himself.

Verse 11 shows us something else about Nehemiah. Not only had God

stirred up his heart, but He also moved him to be willing to do something

about the situation in Jerusalem. In verse 11, Nehemiah prayed that God

would give him favour in the eyes of the king. As the cupbearer of the king,

Nehemiah had frequent access to the king’s presence. We are not told what

Nehemiah thought he needed to do, but we can be sure that God had been

challenging his heart to be available as the answer to his prayer.

What we need to see is that when God places a burden on our hearts to pray,

He may also call us to do something about that burden. It is relatively easy

to pray, but it takes a greater sacrifice to be willing to step out and do

something. Nehemiah was willing to do whatever God called him to do. He

committed this to the Lord and waited on His direction.

For Consideration:

What trials are you facing today? Can you praise the Lord in

those trials?

Can there ever be a real victory if we do not accept what God

has brought our way with praise and thanksgiving? How will

bitterness and anger toward God hinder us in our spiritual

walk?

What do we learn here about the compassion and grace of

God?

Is it the will of God that we live in defeat and a constant

sense of guilt? What does Nehemiah have to teach about this?

What is the connection between the burden to pray and the

willingness to step out?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to recognize that God is sovereign over the

trials you are facing right now. Thank Him that He will use

these trials to accomplish His purpose in your life.

Thank the Lord that despite our sin and rebellion there is still

victory in Him.

Ask the Lord to make you willing to be available to do

whatever He would lead you to do for the sake of the burdens

He has placed on your heart.

12 - NEHEMIAH'S

REQUEST

Read Nehemiah 2:1-20

ehemiah's heart was burdened with the need of his people in the

land of Israel. In the last chapter, he cried out to God to do

something about that need. He made himself available to the

Lord and asked that God would open the heart of the king to grant favour to

his people.

We read in Nehemiah 1:1 that it was in the month of Kislev in the twentieth

year of Artaxerxes that Nehemiah heard the news of Israel’s disgrace. The

month of Kislev was the ninth month of the Jewish year. According to

Nehemiah 2:1, it was not until the month of Nisan that Nehemiah appeared

before the king. Nisan was the first year of the Jewish calendar. This meant

that Nehemiah waited about four months before he saw the answer to his

prayer.

Though it had been several months since Nehemiah had heard news from

Israel, the burden continued to weigh heavily on his heart. When he

appeared before the king, he was feeling depressed. The king took note of

his mood and asked him why he was so sad when he was apparently not ill.

This question filled Nehemiah with fear. He does not tell us why he was

afraid. We are left to guess. Deep down, Nehemiah knew that something

needed to be done for his people. Who was he to approach the great king of

Persia, one of the most powerful men on the earth, to ask him to do

something for the Jews? Though Nehemiah was very much afraid, he told

the king that he grieved because of the city of his ancestors lay in ruins with

the gates destroyed by fire.

Nehemiah had spoken his heart. The king then asked, "What is it you

want?" (verse 4). Nehemiah immediately prayed to the Lord (verse 4). The

prayer could not have lasted very long because the king awaited his

response. Nehemiah needed wisdom and boldness in his request. More than

anything else, however, he needed the Lord to soften the heart of the king

so that he would be responsive to the request.

Having committed this matter to the Lord, Nehemiah asked that the king

grant him leave from his responsibilities to return to Judah to rebuild the

city of Jerusalem. This was a bold request for a cupbearer to make. In verse

6, the king asked Nehemiah how long it would take him to accomplish this

goal and when he would be back to his responsibilities. Nehemiah set a

time, and it pleased the king to send him.

We can only imagine what Nehemiah felt that day as he watched the Lord

God answer his prayers. The spiritual battle had been won during the four

months of prayer. Nehemiah was harvesting the fruit of that prayer.

Encouraged by the response of the king, Nehemiah asked even more from

King Artaxerxes. In verse 7, he asked him for letters of safe conduct. He

also asked for a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, to obtain

lumber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, the city

wall, and his own residence. The king again granted his request.

Nehemiah understood that the hand of the Lord was on him for this ministry

and that was the reason Artaxerxes was responding so favourably (verse 8).

God was opening doors for the restoration of the city of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah does not take the credit himself; he gave all the glory to God.

How easy it is for us to fall into the trap of believing that somehow because

we have had success where others have failed, then we must have unique

skills and abilities. Nehemiah credits God for giving him victory. This is a

lesson we all need to learn.

When Nehemiah was ready to return to Jerusalem, the king sent him with

letters to the governors through whose territory he would have to pass so

that they would give them safe passage. Also accompanying Nehemiah was

a small band of soldiers and cavalry to protect him on the way.

When Ezra returned to Jerusalem, he chose not to use the king's army so

that the king would see that God was able to protect His people (Ezra 8:22).

Nehemiah, however, accepted the king's escort. Both men did what they

thought was right. Nehemiah did not sin by taking the king’s escort. What

we need to understand here is that God works with each of us differently.

His purpose for one is not that same as His purpose for another. We need to

be careful not to judge each other. Instead, we need to accept how God

works differently in each person.

When Nehemiah arrived in the region of Judah, two men in particular

(Sanballat and Tobiah) were quite disturbed that he had returned to rebuild

Jerusalem. These men would prove to be fierce enemies of the work of God

as Nehemiah sought to restore the city.

After three days in the city of Jerusalem, Nehemiah set out during the night

with a few men. This small group silently went through the city examining

the walls. They told no one of their plans. Even the officials who were

governing the land did not know what Nehemiah was doing. Had they

known they would have very likely caused trouble and tried to hinder him

in his progress.

The day came, however, when it was time to share his burden. In verse 17,

Nehemiah addressed the people. He pointed out how the once glorious city

now lay in ruins. He reminded them that they, who were once a noble

people, were living in disgrace. He challenged them to stand up with him

and set to work to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He also told them of how

the hand of the Lord had been on him granting him favour in the eyes of

King Artaxerxes. Encouraged by this news, the people responded positively

saying: “’Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work” (verse 18).

There is something quite sad in these verses that needs to be noted. At that

time in the city of Jerusalem, the people of God are living in ruins. They

had become content to live in this situation. The wall was broken down.

Piles of rubble that once belonged to glorious structures littered the streets,

but God's people did nothing. Only when Nehemiah came did they take

courage and begin the process of rebuilding. What is sad about this picture

is that, for the most part, the people of Israel had begun to accept this as

normal. They felt helpless and overwhelmed as many of us in our day. The

questions we need to ask ourselves are these: How far from reality is this

picture today? Have we, as the people of God become complacent? Have

we allowed the enemy to destroy what God has given us? Christian

marriages and families sometimes lie in ruins. The wall of truth is being

eroded as God's people allow more and more of the world to influence

them. Pillars of morality begin to lean and topple over as one Christian

leader after another falls into sin.

Nehemiah challenged his people to take a stand. He showed them that

things did not have to be this way. Things could be different. They could

rebuild the walls. The pillars could be put in place again. One stone at a

time and the work would be done.

The news of the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem did not please Judah’s

neighbours. They did not want to see Israel return to her former glory. As

long as God's people lived with a sense of defeat, they were no threat. But

when they began to realize that victory could be theirs, the enemy began to

fear. Satan delights to have us live in defeat and discouragement. If we are

down, we pose no threat to him. The reality of the matter, however, is that,

in the Lord Jesus, we can conquer any enemy that comes our way. We do

not have to live in defeat.

When the enemies of Israel saw that the work of rebuilding the wall had

begun, they tried to discourage the workers by mocking and ridiculing

them. These enemies even charged the Jews with rebelling against the king.

Nehemiah was not deterred by the words of his enemies. He reminded them

that in the strength of the Lord, God’s people would have victory and that

the wall would be built. The enemies of God's people would have no part in

Jerusalem. They would be driven out, and this land would be claimed again

for the Lord.

What territory has the enemy taken from you today? Maybe there are

individuals who read this commentary who have experienced broken

relationships with their brother or sister in Christ. Perhaps you have failed

as a husband or wife. Maybe you have fallen into sin and damaged your

testimony for the Lord. Nehemiah's challenge to us today is to rise up and

rebuild the walls. He challenges us to straighten out those toppling pillars.

He challenges us to reclaim the territory the enemy has taken from us. May

God stir up our hearts as He did the hearts of Israel that day to rise up and

claim the land we have lost to the enemy. In Christ, we can be victorious.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the importance of prayer?

How important was prayer in the life of Nehemiah?

What do we learn here about the difference between Ezra

and Nehemiah? What does this teach us about dealing

with differences between believers?

God's people were living in a sense of defeat. Have you

ever found yourself in this situation? What do we learn

here about God's purpose for victory?

What walls have been broken down in your life today?

What would God have you do about those walls?

For Prayer:

Prayer gave Nehemiah the victory. Ask God to help you

to understand the importance of prayer in your ministry

and walk with God.

What has the enemy taken from you today? Take a

moment to seek the Lord about this. Ask Him to restore

to you what the enemy has stolen.

Ask God to rebuild His church today to make it

everything He intended it to be.

Ask God to give you the heart to live in victory. Thank

Him that this victory is ours in Him.

13 - THE REPAIRS BEGIN

Read Nehemiah 3:1-32

ehemiah had encouraged the people of God living in Jerusalem to

press on and repair the broken wall of the city. This effort

required teamwork. In chapter 3 we see the work was divided by

family. Nehemiah records in this chapter the names of those who worked on

the various sections of the wall.

Elishib, the high priest, took the responsibility of rebuilding the Sheep Gate

(verse 1). These priests did not think this work was beneath them. They

joyfully took on the task, setting an example for others to follow. The sheep

gate was the gate through which the sacrifices were brought into the city. It

is significant that the priests repaired this gate. Upon completing this task,

the priests dedicated this gate, and its doors were set in place.

The work of rebuilding the walls was not without its difficulties. In verse 5

we read about the section of the wall repaired by the men of Tekoa. There

were nobles among the men of Tekoa who refused to “put their shoulders to

work under their supervisors.” We get the impression that they believed that

they should have been in charge. They thought that they were above this

kind of work.

There have been times in my ministry when God has asked me to do things

I did not want to do. There are times when God will use these tasks to teach

us lessons or to humble us and prepare us for further service. The pride of

these nobles only hindered the work of rebuilding the wall. In the work of

the kingdom of God, we ought never to be afraid of getting dirty or putting

our shoulders to the task. God is looking for people who will do whatever

He calls them to do. He is looking for people who will do whatever He calls

them to do. He is looking for people who will put aside what they think of

themselves and set their heart to whatever He asks them to do. There is no

rank in the family of God—we are all kings and priests.

In the work of the kingdom of God, there will always be struggle and

difficulty. Notice here, however, that the work did not stop because of these

arrogant nobles. God used others to accomplish what these men refused to

do. Other men were more than willing to lend a hand. In verse 8, we meet a

goldsmith and a perfume-maker who offered their services. Realize that as

goldsmiths and perfume-makers they were not necessarily skilled in the

hard and heavy work that was required for building the wall. They did not

let this to stop them, however. Although this was not the area of their

greatest gifting, it was a work that needed to be done. God will sometimes

stretch us in our ministry. He will sometimes ask us to step out into

unknown territory. These men were willing to be stretched. We need more

people like them today.

Some women also got involved in the construction. In verse 12, we meet a

man by the name of Shallum who repaired a section of the wall with the

help of his daughters. While the nobles of Tekoa stood on the side-lines

arrogantly refusing to help, the daughters of Shallum got on with the task at

hand. The spiritual reward of these women would be far greater than that of

the nobles of Tekoa. In God’s eyes, status and rank in society mean nothing.

We are all equal before Him.

It is interesting to note in verse 27 that the fact that the nobles refused to

work did not discourage the men of Tekoa who repaired this second section

of the wall. While they had reason to be discouraged, God gave them grace

not only to do their part but even more. Maybe you are in a similar

situation. There are those around you who refuse to do their part. Don't let

this hinder you in doing what God is calling you to do. Let the Lord God

strengthen you and move forward in obedience like the men of Tekoa.

As the people set their hearts to do the work, the wall was repaired. This

was not the role of one person alone. The rebuilding of the wall required the

effort of many. It meant that those who were involved had to be willing to

put their ideas aside. They needed to be humble and learn to work with

others. They needed to be ready to get dirty.

God is looking for willing people today to expand His kingdom. Are you

ready to humble yourself and do whatever it takes? Are you willing to let

the Lord use you in areas you have never been used before? Are you willing

to put aside your pride to work with others? Will you be more concerned

about the expansion of the kingdom and obedience to the Lord than your

ideas and desires? If so, God has a role for you. He is looking for men and

women who will set everything aside to be obedient. He delights in using

this type of person.

For Consideration:

What encouragement and lessons do you find in the example

of the priests who put aside their regular duties to rebuild the

wall?

Have you ever refused to step out in obedience because you

felt that what God was calling you to do was beneath you?

What do we learn here from the nobles of Tekoa?

How important is it that we learn to function as a team in the

work of the kingdom?

Have you ever felt the Lord calling you to step out in an area

where you were not comfortable? What did God teach you

through this?

For Prayer:

Commit yourself to do whatever the Lord would call you to

do. Ask the Lord for strength to be obedient.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you put your

interests and desires before His call in your life.

Thank the Lord that he wants to use you and stretch you in

ministry.

Ask the Lord to help you to work with those He has put

beside you in the ministry. Ask Him to forgive you for the

times you have been a discouragement to others around you.

14 - WORKING AND

WATCHING

Read Nehemiah 4:1-23

e saw in the last meditation how God moved His people to

rebuild the city wall. This work was not without its

difficulties. In chapter 3 we saw how the nobles of Tekoa

refused to put their shoulders to the task. The strongest opposition to the

rebuilding of the wall, however, came from the enemies of Israel.

Sanballat was an official in the region. In Nehemiah 2:10 we read that he

was very much opposed to the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

Sanballat became angry when he saw the progress being made. He

determined in his heart that he would do something to keep this wall from

being completed. He began by ridiculing the Jews to discourage them.

In the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, Sanballat asks:

"What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their

wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can

they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—

burned as they are?" (Nehemiah 4:2)

Sanballat questions the ability of the Jews to rebuild the wall. What we

need to understand here is that the Jews who had been spared from the exile

had been living in this rubble for a long time. For many years this wall lay

in ruins, and no one took the initiative to do anything about it. The local

Jews had come to accept that this was their lot in life. It was only when

Nehemiah had challenged them that they began to believe that this wall

could go up again.

Sanballat tried to get the Jews to doubt their abilities. For such a long time

they had lived in defeat. It would not take much for them to fall back into

this sense of powerlessness. There are many believers like this in our day.

They have come to accept defeat in certain areas of their life. They cannot

imagine that their broken marriage could be rebuilt on a proper foundation.

They cannot believe that they could ever have victory over sinful habits. As

the Lord encourages us to move on and live in victory, the enemy will do all

he can to doubt that triumph can be ours. We have all felt the enemy’s

mocking.

Sanballat asked: “Can they bring stones back to life?” What Sanballat did

not realize was that these simple Jews had the Lord God on their side. The

Jews could not bring stones back to life in their own strength, but their God

could. The God of Israel is the God of the impossible. In Him, there is

always hope and victory.

Tobiah the Ammonite was another enemy opposed to the rebuilding of the

wall of Jerusalem. He joined Sanballat in mocking the Jews.

"What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he

would break down their wall of stones!" (4:3)

Tobiah did not expect much from the Jews either. He was saying that even

if they did build a wall, that wall would not be stable and would quickly

fall.

The fact of the matter was that this was the impression that the Jews had

given their enemies. They had been living in defeat. For seventy years most

of them had been living in captivity in Babylon. Those who remained in

Jerusalem had done nothing about the ruins. What was the enemy to think

when for seventy years all they saw was God's people living in rubble and

captivity?

What kind of testimony does the church of our day have in the world? What

kind of testimony do you have personally? Do people expect great things

from you because of your God? Does the enemy fear when he sees a

believer because of the power that is at your disposal as a child of God? Do

we understand the power that God offers us for victory in this life?

Faced with the words of the enemy, Nehemiah turns to God and prays:

"Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults

back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land

of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins

from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the

builders. (4:4-5)

Nehemiah did not seek to defend himself. He did not fight the enemy in his

own strength. Instead, he asked God to turn back these insults and deliver

the enemy over to captivity. He pleaded with God for justice. Nehemiah

desired that the enemy see the reality of the power of God and would have

to take back all words spoken against the Almighty.

Instead of losing time trying to defend his people, Nehemiah pressed on

with the work. Satan would have loved to see Nehemiah enter a discussion

with the enemy. Nehemiah chose not to do so. He committed this problem

to the Lord and continued with the work of the Lord.

These tactics of the enemy to discourage the people did not work. The wall

continued to go up. Verse 6 tells us that the “people worked with all their

heart” so that the wall reached half its height. Seeing that their efforts did

not hinder the rebuilding of the wall, Sanballat and Tobiah became angrier.

They determined to strengthen their efforts to obstruct the work. In verse 8,

they plotted together to find a way of fighting against Jerusalem and stirring

up trouble.

It is unclear how word of this came to Nehemiah. In verse 9, however, we

learn that Nehemiah decided to post a guard day and night to meet this

threat. As they worked, they also watched for the enemy.

There is a lesson for us in this passage. Our enemy Satan has not relented in

his efforts against the church. He continually seeks to destroy and

discourage the people of God in their labours to build His kingdom. The

apostle Peter tells us:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1

Peter 5:8)

We must continue to advance the cause of the Lord in our day. At the same

time, we must always be watchful. To put down our guard is to invite the

enemy to attack.

The physical labour of rebuilding the temple and the stress of the ever-

present enemy was difficult on the Jews. They approached Nehemiah to

inform him that the strength of the labourers was giving out, and there was

so much rubble that it was becoming impossible to rebuild the wall (4:10).

We should remember that for the wall to go up, a lot of rubble needed to be

cleared. Just clearing out the old debris was an overwhelming task.

This is often how it is in our Christian lives. We cannot grow in the

Christian life until we deal with the old rubble of sinful thoughts, attitudes

and habits. We must learn to die to the flesh if we are going to live the new

life of the Spirit. Old sins need to be confessed and cleared away so that the

new life of Christ can grow. There have been times in my life when I have

wondered if this was even possible. It seemed like God was showing me

one sin after another that needed to be confessed.

The immensity of the task of reconstructing the wall around Jerusalem

combined with the daily threat of the enemy seemed to be more than they

could handle. Success seemed so far removed from these builders. They felt

the strain of their efforts. In response to this, Nehemiah stationed more

people at the vulnerable sections of the wall. All the exposed places were

covered bearing swords, spears and bows. In placing these individuals at

these weak points of the wall, Nehemiah accomplished two things. First, he

reduced the workload of the builders. They could now focus on

construction without also having to watch their backs. Second, he reduced

the fear of the builders, enabling them to feel more secure. They could work

more efficiently and peacefully.

These weary labourers needed support and Nehemiah sent them the help

they needed. How many weary pastors and Christian workers are there

today who feel that same need? I have been in Christian work long enough

to realize that there are many exhausted labourers in the harvest field

needing support and encouragement. I have often been among them myself.

Maybe you are the answer to the overwhelming need of these lonely

workers. Perhaps you can be a guard who watches and prays for those

vulnerable areas in your pastor’s life. Maybe you can encourage a weary

labourer.

After sending guards to the weak areas of the wall, Nehemiah stood up and

addressed the people. He understood the discouragement they were feeling.

He knew the fear that was in their hearts as the enemy threatened them.

Addressing those needs, Nehemiah challenged his people to remember the

faithfulness of God. He reminded them that they had no reason to be afraid.

Their God was a great and awesome God. He would fight for them.

Again, the enemy was not pleased that their plot to attack the people had

been frustrated. God's people were always on guard while the work on the

wall continued. Verse 16 tells us that half of the Jews worked while the

other half kept watch with sword, spear, bow and armour. They were ready

to fight and to work. Those who carried building material did their work

with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Each builder wore a sword at

his side. There was also a man stationed with Nehemiah ready to sound a

trumpet in the event of an enemy attack. It was agreed that when the

trumpet sounded, the nobles, officials and the rest of the people would

gather at the place where it sounded, and together they would fight and trust

God for victory.

The work continued each day from the first light of morning until the stars

came out at night (verse 21). During this time the Jews slept inside the city.

They did not leave the city of Jerusalem for a moment. In this way, the city

and the wall were protected continuously. God's people refused to let down

their guard. When they went for water, they would take their sword. During

that time, they did not even take off their clothes.

How easy it would have been to be discouraged and to let down their

defence. The enemy’s threat was real, and the reconstruction work was

overwhelming. The Jews, however, gave the enemy no opportunity to

attack. Every weak point was fortified with armed guards.

We dare not miss the lesson here. We too need to have such vigilance. We

must remain alert because our enemy does not sleep. He is searching for

any opportunity to shoot his arrow. God's kingdom must expand, but we

must also be very watchful. The people of Nehemiah's day were successful

because not only did they work diligently but they also set up a guard to

protect the work God was strengthening them to do.

For Consideration:

Have you ever felt discouraged in the work God has called

you to do? What encouragement do you receive from

Nehemiah?

Has your testimony been such that those around you expect

great things of you because they know that God is with you?

What weak points need to be strengthened in your life?

How aware are we as a church of the spiritual battle that

wages around us?

Have you become content with something far less than what

God has for you? Explain.

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that we can have confidence in Him in our

times of trouble.

Do you know Christian workers who have grown weary or

overwhelmed by the tasks before them? Ask God to

strengthen them and send someone to ease their burden.

Ask God to open your eyes to the reality of the spiritual battle

that rages around you.

Commit your weak points to the Lord. Ask God to build you

up in those areas.

15 - INTERNAL

PROBLEMS

Read Nehemiah 5:1-19

n the last chapter, we saw how the people of God were trouble by their

enemies as they rebuilt the wall. They posted guards around the wall

to keep watch against an enemy attack. In chapter 5, however,

problems arose inside the city as well.

In those days, things were not easy for the people of God in the city of

Jerusalem. We understand from verse 3 that there was a famine in the land.

Certain Jews came to Nehemiah and explained that they were having a hard

time feeding their families. They needed grain to stay alive. Others had to

mortgage their fields, vineyards and homes to get the grain necessary to

feed their families.

This lack of food was not the only problem in the land. Some Jews had

borrowed money from their brothers and sisters to pay the king's taxes on

their fields and vineyards. To pay back what they had acquired from their

brothers and sisters, the poorer Jews had to subject their sons and daughters

to slavery (verse 5). Some even sold their fields and vineyards to pay their

debts. They were experiencing severe economic hardship.

When Nehemiah heard these things, he became outraged. He called a

meeting of the Jews and spoke to them about this issue. What disturbed him

most was how the wealthy Jews were profiting from the hardship of their

poorer brothers and sisters. The wealthy were demanding interest on the

loans they had given the poor. Nehemiah reminded the wealthy Jews of how

they had been set free from slavery in Babylon (verse 8), and now they

were enslaving their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. These wealth Jews

were no better than those who had taken them into captivity many years

ago. There was an unusual quiet as Nehemiah spoke that day. Those who

were guilty knew that what Nehemiah spoke the truth.

Nehemiah also reminded the Jews of their responsibility before God to do

what was right and to be a witness to the character of God in their actions

before unbelievers. Nehemiah made it clear to his fellow Jews that what

they were doing did not honour God and did not represent the Lord

correctly before the watching world.

Unbelievers are watching us today. The Jews of Nehemiah's day had failed

to be the witnesses they should have been because they were mistreating

their brothers and sisters. The unbelievers were seeing this and forming a

false opinion about the God they served.

Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of John the world will know we belong to

Him by the way we love each other in the church.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love

one another" (John 13:35)

This is a challenge for us in our day. The world will form an opinion about

the Lord Jesus based on our relationship with each other.

Nehemiah did not condemn the lending of grain. What he did condemn,

however, was the outrageous interest. This interest was a heavy burden on

the poorer brothers and sisters. Because of this burden, families were losing

everything they had.

Nehemiah proposed that all fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses be

given back to their original owners. He also commanded the nobles and

rulers to give back the interest they had overcharged their brothers and

sisters. Nehemiah understood that it was not enough for the people of God

to recognize and stop their sin. Something needed to be done to restore

what they had taken from the poorer Israelites.

In the Gospel of Luke when Zacchaeus was confronted with his sin of

taking more taxes then was necessary, he told Jesus that if he had cheated

anyone, he would pay back four times that amount (Luke19:8). The Law of

Moses stated that those who stole were to restore what they had taken plus

one-fifth its value.

"Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another

in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is

guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must

make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it

all to the person he has wronged. (Numbers 5:6-7)

It is not enough to confess that we have done wrong. As far as possible, we

also need to restore what we have taken from those we have offended.

This is what Nehemiah is proposing to his people. That day the Spirit of

God moved in the hearts of His people. They agreed to restore what they

had taken and no longer demand interest. To seal this promise, they took an

oath before the priests and before God that they would honour their brothers

and sisters from that point forward.

To symbolize this agreement, Nehemiah shook out the folds of his robe

saying:

"In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions

every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man

be shaken out and emptied!" (Nehemiah 5:13)

The shaking out of the folds of the one's garment was a graphic symbol.

When the folds of the garments were shaken out, anything in those folds

was scattered. Nehemiah told them that if they were unfaithful to the oath

they had taken, God would shake out the folds of His garment and His

people and all they had would be scattered to the wind.

Nehemiah did not see himself exempt from this oath. As governor in the

land of Judah, he refused to eat the food that was customarily allotted to the

governor. Unlike other governors, he made the burden easy for the people

of Judah. Nehemiah devoted himself to working on the wall. He did not

demand land for himself. Each day he fed one hundred and fifty Jews.

Officials ate at his table as well as many foreigners. Every day an ox, six

sheep and poultry were prepared for him and his servants to eat. Nehemiah

is very open and accountable to God and Judah for how he used his

resources. Nehemiah dedicated himself to being hospitable and gracious in

his dealings with the people of Judah.

The concern of Nehemiah is how he could use his position to minister and

bless the people of God. He willingly sacrificed his rights as governor so

that others could have more resources. This sacrificial attitude was a crucial

component in the success of his ministry. May God give us more leaders

like Nehemiah, willing to sacrifice their rights and comforts for the sake of

the Lord’s work.

Satan attempted to divide brothers and sisters in the city of Jerusalem. He

knew that if he could break their spirit and cause them to become bitter and

angry at each other, then the work of the kingdom would suffer. He uses

this same technique today. Nehemiah understood the seriousness of this

problem and did what was necessary to restore relationships. In this way,

the Lord’s work could advance.

For Consideration:

Take a moment to consider the relationships you have in the

body of Christ today. Are there any broken relationships you

need to mend?

What is the connection between our relationships with

brothers and sisters in Christ and our witness in the world?

What do we learn here about the importance of not only

confessing our sin but also making things right?

What do we learn from the example of Nehemiah's leadership

in this chapter?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to show you if there is a brother or sister you

have offended. Ask Him to give you strength and wisdom to

make things right with this person.

Ask the Lord to help you to be willing to sacrifice your rights

for the sake of the body of Christ, as did Nehemiah.

Thank the Lord for the way He can use us to overcome the

attacks of the enemy against the church?

Take a moment to ask the Lord to protect relationships in

your church. Ask Him to teach you to love and bless those He

puts on your path.

16 - PERSONAL ATTACKS

Read Nehemiah 6:1-19

he work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem had not without its

difficulties. Each day the Samaritan leaders threatened the people

of God with ridicule and threats of physical violence. The Jews

responded by continuing to rebuild the wall and by working with swords

hung at their sides in preparation for an enemy attack. The enemies of

God’s people had done their best to discourage them in their efforts to

complete the Lord’s work, but the Jews continued to move forward. Seeing

that their efforts were to no avail, the enemy changed tactics. In this

chapter, the enemy decided to attack Nehemiah personally.

We need to realize that leaders will often be subject to the attack of the

enemy. Satan knows that when the leader falls, the people will not be far

behind. The personal attacks on Nehemiah began when Sanballat, Tobiah

and Geshem heard that the wall had been completed except for the doors in

the gates. Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to Nehemiah asking him to

meet with them in one of the villages on the Plain of Ono in the territory of

Benjamin. This meant that Nehemiah would have had to leave the city of

Jerusalem and the work of reconstruction there. Verse 2 tells us that hidden

behind this invitation was a scheme to harm Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was suspicious of the invitation. More than that, however, he

knew that in his absence the work would stop. God had called him to

complete this work, and he refused to leave it until the job was finished.

The enemies sent an invitation four times to Nehemiah, but each time he

refused. Satan knows that while we may resist his temptations once, the

more he keeps tempting, the more likely we are to give in finally. He

perseveres in his attacks. Nehemiah, however, resisted their persistent

temptation and each time returned the same answer.

The fifth time the messenger came, he handed Nehemiah an unsealed letter.

The fact that this letter was unsealed was significant. When a letter was

sealed, the contents were hidden from anyone but the writer and the reader.

This unsealed letter, however, was like a postcard we might send in the

mail. The contents were for anyone to read. Sanballat was warning

Nehemiah that the contents of this letter had been made public.

In the unsealed letter, Sanballat told Nehemiah that he had heard that the

Jews, under his leadership, were plotting a revolt. This was unfounded.

Sanballat also accused Nehemiah of wanting to become the king of the

Jews and of already appointing prophets to proclaim him king in Judah.

Sanballat reminded Nehemiah that this report would very quickly get back

to the king of Persian who would waste no time in sending his army to

destroy the Jews. Having said this, Sanballat once again invited Nehemiah

to meet with him. The intention of Sanballat here was to scare Nehemiah

into coming to see him so that they could do him serious harm.

This letter, however, did not threaten Nehemiah. He told Sanballat that all

these accusations were only the imaginations of his mind. Nehemiah

understood that the only reason for this letter was to cause the Jews to fear

and stop the work (verse 9).

Though Sanballat’s letter had not intimidated Nehemiah, he took it very

seriously. In verse 9, he went to God to ask Him for strength to continue the

work. As a human being, Nehemiah felt these threats intensely; but as a

servant of God, he was not going to give in to the enemy’s attacks. He cried

out to God for the strength necessary to complete the task and resist the

enemy.

What is worth noting is that Nehemiah came to God for that strength. The

apostle James tells us in James 4:2 that we do not have because we do not

ask. God's strength was available to Nehemiah, but he needed to ask Him

for it. How many times have we failed to receive from God because we did

not ask? What do you need to accomplish the task that God wants you to

achieve? God is willing to give you all you need if you will come to Him

and ask. To do so requires humbling ourselves to recognize that we do not

have the strength we need.

One day Nehemiah went to the house of a prophet by the name of

Shemaiah. Shemaiah had shut himself up in his home. It is unclear as to the

purpose of this isolation. It is possible that he had done so with the intention

of meeting with God. Shemaiah told Nehemiah that men were seeking to

kill him. This word was apparently correct. Shemaiah then told Nehemiah

to hide in the temple for protection.

Nehemiah refused to listen to the counsel of Shemaiah. There are several

possible reasons for this. First, if Nehemiah locked himself in the temple, he

would be admitting that his God was able to protect him. This would have

sent a message of fear and defeat to the people under him. Second, if

Nehemiah hid in the temple, he would have to withdraw from the work God

had called him to do. The people would be left without a leader. Nehemiah

did not feel that it would be proper to run away from the task to which God

had called him. He needed to set an example for his people, and he was

willing to die to do that. He feared God more than then he feared to lose his

life.

Notice how the enemy puts a religious twist on this temptation by using a

prophet. Satan will not hesitate to hide behind religious language. We need

to realize that he will use any method he can to accomplish his purposes. In

Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira come to the temple with a gift. To all outward

appearances, this was a wonderful thing. What was unseen to the human

eye, however, was that Satan had put it on their heart to lie to the Holy

Spirit and the church. We need to be careful not to be deceived by those

who use religious language to accomplish the enemy’s purposes. It was not

long before Nehemiah realized that the enemy had hired Shemaiah to

mislead and discredit him before the people (verses 12-13).

These examples were only a few examples of the personal attacks on

Nehemiah in those days. In verse 14, Nehemiah mentioned other prophets

who tried to intimidate him. Mention is made of Noadiah in particular. The

enemy was using the religious people of the day for evil purposes.

Nehemiah not only had to be aware of attacks from external enemies but

also from internal enemies as well. Maybe you have experienced attacks

from inside your church. Any pastor knows the struggle of maintaining

unity and harmony in the body of Christ. Satan does his best to attack from

every angle.

Despite all the efforts of the enemy, God’s people completed the wall in

fifty-two days. When their enemies saw that the wall was finished, they

became afraid and lost confidence. Despite tremendous obstacles, God's

people had persevered and accomplished the impossible. The enemy

understood that this work was completed with the help of the Lord God.

The completion of this wall was a clear sign to the enemy that the Lord God

was with His people. God gave them all they needed to finish the work he

had called them to do.

The tasks to which God has called us will require much effort and struggle

at times. We may have to face our share of difficulties and pain. God does

not promise that we will never have struggles, but He does promise to get

us through each of those struggles if we persevere and continue in

obedience. Isaiah 43:2 is a clear example of this:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and

when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the

flames will not set you ablaze.

Notice in verses 17 to 19 how Tobiah tried to undermine Nehemiah’s

authority by continually sending letters to the Jewish nobles to develop

good relationships with them. The nobles fell into this trap and listened to

what Tobiah was saying. Many of these leaders come to Nehemiah

reporting to him all the good deeds of Tobiah. Tobiah was gaining the

favour of the nobles and at the same time trying to destroy Nehemiah's

reputation and leadership. Tobiah was an instrument in the hand of Satan to

undermine the work of God's chosen servant. One day Tobiah would have

to answer to God for this. The nobles did not understand what was

happening. Although Tobiah did many great things and gained the respect

of the nobles in the land, in reality, he was a tool of Satan. How easy it is

for us to be deceived. We need the discernment of God if we are to see His

kingdom expand. Nehemiah had that discernment and did not fail in the

ministry to which God had called him.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the tactics of the enemy to

destroy the work of God?

How does the enemy seek to distract you from your calling?

What do we learn about the reality of difficulties and trials in

the work of God?

Have you ever seen evidence of Satan using people in the

church to hinder the work of God? Explain.

What do we learn in this chapter about the need for

discernment and strength from the Lord?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you greater discernment to recognize

the presence of the enemy and his attacks.

Ask God to bring a greater sense of unity and harmony to the

body of Christ.

Ask God for perseverance and strength to face the difficulties

before you right now.

Take a moment to pray for your spiritual leaders. Ask God to

protect and keep them. Ask Him to give them strength and

discernment to face the opposition of the enemy.

17 - SETTLED IN

JERUSALEM

Read Nehemiah 7:1-73

he city wall of the city of Jerusalem was now complete. Nehemiah

had completed the task the Lord his God had given him to do. The

road to the completion of this wall had been a long one. It began

with a burden on his heart while he was still in exile. God had wonderfully

opened the door for him to return to Jerusalem. With the blessing of the

king of Persia, Nehemiah returned to his homeland with a number of

Israelites. He persevered through many difficulties and personal attacks to

complete the rebuilding in less than two months. This had not been the

effort of Nehemiah alone. God’s people had submitted to Nehemiah’s

leadership and persevered in this massive undertaking. God blessed their

efforts, and the work was completed.

Now that the work on the wall was completed, Nehemiah set his heart to

create some order in the city. His first task was to appoint leadership. He

appointed gatekeepers, singers and Levites to minister and protect the city.

Nehemiah also appointed his brother Hanani to oversee the city of

Jerusalem. He named Hananiah as commander of the citadel. Verse 2 makes

it very clear that the reason he appointed these men was because they were

men of integrity who feared God more than most men did. Nehemiah knew

that he could trust them to deal honestly with the people and lead them in

the ways of the Lord God.

Nehemiah's priorities were right. His concern was that the people of Israel

live in obedience to the Lord God in the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah knew

that this would be the secret to their success as a people. God would honour

those who honoured him and lived in obedience to his commands

(Deuteronomy 4:40; 28:1-2).

In verse 3, Nehemiah commanded that the gates of the city be closed at

night and remain closed until the sun was hot. We need to remember that

Israel’s enemies were not content to see the Israelites return to their

homeland. These enemies would take any opportunity to attack the city. The

gates were closed each night to protect the people inside the wall. Those

gates would remain closed until the sun had come up and everyone was out

of bed and alert. That way should the enemy attack, God’s people would be

ready.

Not only were the gates to be closed and protected but Nehemiah

commanded that residents of Jerusalem be appointed to guard a section of

wall near their own homes. In this way, the city would always be on guard

and ready to face the enemy. Jerusalem was to be in a constant state of alert.

We need to understand that this same principle applies to our walk with the

Lord. While those who have accepted the Lord Jesus are surrounded by the

wall of salvation, this does not mean that we can let down our guard. Our

enemy, Satan is always seeking an opportunity to trap us. The apostle Peter

warns Christians in 1 Peter 5:8:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

For this reason, we need to be always on guard. Satan will do anything he

can to cause us to wander off the path of righteousness. We must never let

down our guard.

At this time, though the wall of the city had been built, many homes were

still in disrepair. The city was large, but only a few people were living in it.

There was much work to be done. In some ways, this is not unlike our walk

with God. Salvation is only the beginning for us. I am discovering that

though my salvation is sure, I still have much work to do in my life. There

are areas of my life that need to be repaired and healed. To grow in my

faith, I need to place my confidence and trust in the Lord. Faith will

increase as I learn to be more obedient. The wall of salvation has been

completed, and I am now surrounded by God’s forgiveness and grace. But I

have to work inside this wall, repairing and restoring what has been broken

down by the enemy. This is a lifelong process.

The Lord put it on the heart of Nehemiah to register all those who returned

from exile. It is important that we notice here that Nehemiah is taking his

direction from the Lord God. He has enough of a relationship with him that

God could lead him in specific ways. I would love to be at a place in my

walk with the Lord that I could more clearly know the Lord's leading and

direction in specific matters. I suppose that all of us struggle to understand

the will of God at any given moment. Nehemiah heard the Lord God and

responded in obedience.

The names of those who had returned from captivity were recorded. The

nobles and the people gathered in the city of Jerusalem for this registration.

It is interesting to compare this with what John wrote in the book of

Revelation. In Revelation 20:12-15 John speaks about a Book of Life where

the names of those who belong to the New Jerusalem are written. All those

whose names were written in that Book of Life are given access to the

heavenly Jerusalem. While this passage does not speak of the New

Jerusalem, the comparison is still very real.

The incredible truth for us today is that if we have come to the Lord Jesus

for forgiveness and experienced His salvation, our names are registered in

that Book of Life. Like the people in Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah,

we have been freed from the land of bondage, and our names are written in

the registry of those who belong to the city. Nothing can take that

citizenship from us.

Notice in verse 61 that certain individuals could not show that their families

were descendants of Israel. In verse 64 some priests could not prove their

priesthood by family records. These priests were forbidden to eat the sacred

food or to minister until it could be established by Urim and Thummim that

they were true priests of God. The Urim and Thummim were small objects

carried by a priest to determine the will of the Lord in specific situations. It

is possible that they were stones through which God would communicate

His will and purpose. We see reference to these articles in Exodus 28:30,

Leviticus 8:8 and Numbers 27:21. It is uncertain how they were used.

The number of people who were registered at that time was 42,360. Beyond

this number were 7,337 servants and 245 singers. These individuals had 736

horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6720 donkeys. A record was also made

of the contributions of the governor and the heads of various families in

verses 70 to 72. After this registration, the people returned to their different

towns and settled down.

Nehemiah's concern was to provide Israel with a godly and mature

leadership. He chose men whom he could trust to lead his people into that

path of righteousness. He realized that completing the wall was not enough.

If Jerusalem was to become the city it had once been, there was much work

to do on the city itself. Through registering the people, it was discovered

that there were individuals who could not prove their right to be priests.

These individuals were removed from their position. Nehemiah’s concern

was for the glory of God, and he did everything in his power to facilitate

obedience to the Word of the Lord and remove all that would hinder that

obedience.

For Consideration:

What do we learn about Nehemiah's concern for

righteousness and integrity in the land?

What is the connection between obedience to God and

blessing in the land?

What do we learn here about the importance of being always

on guard in our walk with God?

Why was it important that those who could not prove their

priesthood be removed from their position? How important is

a call of God for Christian leaders today?

What does this chapter teach us about the work that needs to

be done in our lives after we come to know the Lord? How

can we compare the city of Jerusalem to our own spiritual

lives?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to restore honesty and godliness in your land.

Ask Him to give you spiritual and civil leaders who are

honest and live righteous lives.

Ask God to help you to be on guard in your walk with Him.

Ask the Lord to show you anything in your life that needs to

be repaired or restored to Him. Ask Him for strength to do

whatever is necessary to have victory in that area of your life.

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He has surrounded you

by the wall of salvation. Thank Him that you can have

complete assurance of His salvation in your life.

18 - A GATHERING IN THE

SQUARE

Read Nehemiah 8:1-12

n the last chapter, Nehemiah chose leaders to minister to the people in

Jerusalem. He had a deep concern, as a servant of God, to see his

people walk in the ways of the Lord.

In the first part of chapter 8, the people assemble in the square before the

Water Gate. From verse 2, we understand that this day was the first day of

the seventh month. We discover in Leviticus 23:24 that this was a special

Jewish celebration.

On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of

rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.

(Leviticus 23:24)

This day was known as the Feasts of Trumpets. It is believed to be a

celebration of the civil new year.

As the people stood in the square, Ezra the priest and scribe brought out the

Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra stood on a high wooden platform with a

number of religious leaders beside him. As he opened the Book of the Law,

the people rose to their feet in respect. Ezra read from the Book of the Law

from daybreak until noon. The people listened attentively.

God moved in power among His people. Ezra led them in praise. The

people responded by raising their hands and crying "Amen! Amen!" Then

they bowed down with their faces to the ground and worshipped. The Lord

was obviously touching His people as they listened to His Word that day.

As the Word was read, the Levites circulated among the people, explaining

the meaning of the Word so that it could be applied. The people were so

touched by what they had heard that many of them broke down and wept

before the Lord. Nehemiah challenged them to cease their grieving and

have something to eat and drink. He reminded them that the joy of the Lord

was their strength (verse 10).

In response, the Levites moved among the people who were grieving and

helped them to calm down. The people then listened to Nehemiah and Ezra

and then sat down to eat and drink. Together they celebrated with great joy

because the Lord had made His Word clear to them.

There are a couple of things we need to notice. First, we need to see the

exhortation of Nehemiah to those who were grieving to cease from their

grief and rejoice in the Lord. Nehemiah told them that their strength was in

the joy of the Lord. We need to examine this for a moment.

Those present that day were touched and very likely convicted by the words

they heard from the Book of the Law. God was revealing to them that they

had fallen short of His standard. As they listened to the requirements of

God, the Spirit of God convicted them. They grieved to realize that they had

fallen short of God’s standard. It is important that we all come to this point

in our lives.

Nehemiah advised his people, however, that they move from grief to joy.

Nehemiah understood that as long as God's people remained in this state of

despair and brokenness, they would never advance in their walk with God.

Satan knows that if he can keep believers focused only on their sin, they

will never have the courage to stand up and advance the kingdom. I have

met believers (and for many years I was one of them) who have not

understood the nature of forgiveness. They live for years with guilt when

God has covered their sin and cast if far from them.

Satan wants us to be defeated by our sin. He wants us to believe that God

could never accept us or use us. Many believers are deceived by Satan’s lies

and do not move forward in forgiveness and renewal to accomplish great

things for the kingdom.

Nehemiah reminded his people that there was victory over sin and that the

joy of the Lord was their strength. This joy is our strength too. This joy

comes from the knowledge of forgiveness and acceptance in the eyes of

God. There is no need for us to be discouraged because God offers us

victory. As unworthy as we are, we have been chosen by God. He delights

in equipping and enabling us. In Him we can conquer every temptation the

enemy throws at us. Satan fears believers who understand their position in

Christ. He fears those who joyfully understand that they are children of a

gracious and forgiving God.

While the path of joy crosses the valley of grief, it rises beyond that valley

to the mountains of acceptance, forgiveness and enabling. Beyond the cross

is the resurrection. Beyond the wilderness is the Promised Land. While we

must all come to an awareness of our sin, God does not want us to remain in

the valley of defeat. He calls us on to the joyful experience of victory and

grace.

There is one more point that we should mention in this passage. Notice that

the reason for joy in the hearts of God's people is because they had come to

an understanding of the truth of the Word of God. Here were people who

for many years had never grasped the truth of the Word of God. That day,

however, the Lord made His Word clear to them. They left that sacred

assembly with a new appreciation for the wonderful privilege of having the

holy Scriptures. God’s Word had broken them but had also given them clear

direction and guidance. The Law revealed to them the meaning of life and

the purpose of God for them. Before this, God’s Word meant very little to

them. In some cases, it had no doubt proved a bother to them, especially

when it revealed their sin. On that day, however, they rediscovered the

awesomeness of the Living Word of God.

Have we understood the treasure we have to have in the Word of God?

Maybe we need to rediscover the joy of this Word, as the people of

Nehemiah's day.

For Consideration:

What evidence is there here of the presence of the Spirit of

God in the gathering of the people in the square by the Water

Gate?

What was the result of the reading of the Book of the Law?

What difference does the joy of the Lord make in our life?

What reason do we have to be joyful as believers today?

What does this passage tell us about the power of the Word of

God?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He left us with His Word in written form.

Ask the Lord to give you a deeper appreciation for His Word.

Thank the Lord that we have forgiveness and victory in Him.

Ask the Lord to fill you with joy and that this joy would be a

great strength to you.

19 - A FORGOTTEN FEAST

Read Nehemiah 8:13-18

od had been doing a beautiful work in the lives of His people.

Many had been broken by the public reading of the Word of God.

There was great rejoicing in that day. The Word of God had come

alive to them.

The next day the people gathered again to hear the words of the Law of

God. On that occasion, they found written in the Law that the Israelites

were to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. It appears from

this that the practice of living in booths had been forgotten. We read about

the command of the Lord for the Israelites to live in booths in the book of

Leviticus:

Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to

live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the

Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am

the LORD your God.'" (Leviticus 23:42-43)

This command of the Lord to live in booths was given through Moses.

Israel was to practice the celebration yearly as a remembrance of how their

ancestors lived when they passed through the wilderness on their way to the

Promised Land. We need to see how patient God had been with His people

during the many years they had not obeyed this commandment. How

thankful we ought to be to God who patiently bears with us in our

disobedience and failures.

God’s people were living in disobedience to His Word. They had lost the

practice of celebrating the Feast of Booths. They had not been taught the

truth of His Word and were living in ignorance of its principles.

When the people heard the Law of God from Ezra that day, they determined

that they would obey the command of God. They went out and brought

back branches to build the booths. They placed the booths anywhere they

could find a place. Some set up their booths on the flat roofs of their houses.

Others set them up in their courtyards. Those who did not have a place to

setup their booths did so in the temple courtyard or the squares by the Water

Gate and the Gate of Ephraim.

Notice in verse 17 that there was great joy among the people of God that

day. There was joy in obedience to the Word of the Lord. Admittedly, there

was a sacrifice to be made in leaving the comfort of their beds to live in a

booth on the roof of their houses and in other places. However, the Lord’s

people made that sacrifice with joy in their hearts. The privilege of

obedience far outweighed the sacrifice of comfort. Willing sacrifice will

always bring joy to our hearts. For the seventy years of exile, God's people

had been missing the privilege of celebrating this Feast of Booths. When it

was rediscovered, it brought great joy and satisfaction to their hearts. For

seven days the children of Israel lived in these booths and heard Ezra read

from the Book of the Law of God. On the eighth day, they gathered for a

great assembly.

Nehemiah reminded the people in verse 10 that the joy of the Lord was

their strength. God's intention has always been that His people experience

this joy in celebration and praise of Him. This is what the people of

Nehemiah's day were experiencing. May God grant that we would

rediscover the joy of celebrating His goodness?

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the patience of God?

How important is it that we remember the things God has

done for us in the past? How does this help us to live in the

present?

What does this passage teach us about the joy of sacrifice?

What do we learn about the intention of God that we live in

joyful obedience?

What is the connection between obedience and joy?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for His patience with you.

Ask the Lord to help you rediscover joy in your walk and

service for Him.

Take a moment to remember the good things the Lord has

done for you. Thank Him for these things.

20 - REBELLIOUS PEOPLE,

FAITHFUL GOD

Read Nehemiah 9:1-38

he children of Israel had rediscovered the Feast of Booths (or the

Feast of Tabernacles). Beginning on the fifteenth day of the

seventh month and lasting for seven days, the Israelites lived in

booths made from gathered branches. They were to do this in memory of

how their ancestors had lived as they wandered through the desert. On the

twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people concluded the Feast of

Booths by holding a sacred assembly with prayers, a reading of the Law,

and a confession of sin (see Leviticus 23:34-36).

It was on the day of this concluding sacred assembly that the Israelites

gathered (verse 1). They mourned over their sins by fasting, wearing

sackcloth and throwing dust on their heads. In preparation for this day, the

Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners. Those who had married

foreign wives separated from those wives according to the command of

God. This was an assembly for the people of God. No unbeliever was to

attend. Israelites that had married foreign wives or had made an alliance

with foreigners stood up and confessed their disobedience.

As the people stood before the Lord that day, the Book of the Law was read.

For a quarter of the day, they listened to the reading of the Law of God.

They spent another quarter of the day confessing their sins and praising

God. What a beautiful day this was.

The Levites stood on the stairs and called out with loud voices to the Lord

God, so all could hear. They praised God for being an everlasting having no

beginning or end. They recognized that the name of the Lord their God was

exalted above all blessing and praise. The Levites worshipped the Lord

because He was the creator of the heavens with all their stars and the earth

with all that is on it. They blessed Him as the Creator of the seas and

everything in them. They confessed Him to be the creator of all the angels

of heaven who praise His name.

Having recognized Him as the Creator of all things, the Levites worshiped

God for His gracious role in the lives of His people. The Levites recounted

a brief history of Israel for the gathered people (verses 7-31). The Levites

recalled that God had chosen Abram to be His instrument. God brought him

out of Ur and gave him the name of Abraham meaning "father of a

multitude." God made a covenant with Abraham promising to make from

him a great nation. God promised to give Abraham’s descendants the land

of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites.

God kept that promise and Abraham, and his descendants settled in the

region of Canaan.

When God's people were in Egypt under the cruel domination of Pharaoh,

God heard their cry and set them free. He opened a door through the Red

Sea and, through many signs and wonders, defeated Egypt and made a

glorious name for Himself. The Lord sent His people through the divided

sea on dry land, delivering them from Egypt. The Egyptians tried to follow

Israel but were drowned as the waters of the sea collapsed on them.

God led His people through the desert using a pillar of cloud by day and a

pillar of fire by night. At Mount Sinai, he gave them His laws and

regulations. By following these laws, God's people would honour their God

and be a light to the nations around them.

Not only did God guide His people through the wilderness, but He also

provided for their basic needs of food and water. He gave them manna from

heaven and water from a rock. God led His people through the wilderness

to the land he had promised to Abraham. The Lord was faithful to all His

promises. He cared for His people and delivered them from all their

enemies.

Despite these wonderful blessings, God’s people became proud and did not

listen to God or obey His commands. The Israelites quickly forgot the

beautiful miracles God had performed on their behalf. They were not

content with what God had given them and appointed a leader to take them

back to the land of slavery.

Though insulted, God was very gracious to them. Because of His love for

His people, He did not desert them in their rebellion. In the desert, they

made a golden calf and claimed that this idol was the god who brought

them out of Egypt. Again, despite their blasphemy, God showed great

patience with them and did not destroy them.

As the Levites continued to pray aloud that day, they praised the Lord for

His incredible compassion and love for His people. The Levites recalled

that God’s grace and mercy extended over a period of forty years when the

Israelites did not lack anything. Their clothes did not wear out, and their

feet become swollen.

Despite their rebellion against Him, God gave His people whole kingdoms

and nations. The Israelites became a fruitful people and were blessed with

many children. Their descendants became as numerous as the stars of the

sky. Their children entered the land that God had promised to His people.

God gave them victory over all their enemies. They took possession of

homes, filled with many wonderful things. Their wells were already dug for

them. In the Promised Land, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees were in

abundance. The Israelites had all they needed to eat. They were well

nourished and enjoyed the goodness of God in the land He had promised

them.

Once again, however, they were disobedient to His Law. God sent His

prophets to warn them, but they killed these prophets. In His anger, God

turned them over to their enemies who oppressed them. In their oppression,

they cried out to God, and He heard their request. He sent deliverers to set

them free.

As soon as they had rest from their enemies, however, God's returned to

their evil ways. God’s blessing would again be removed from them. They

again cried out to God, and He heard their request and delivered them. This

cycle continued for many years.

God told them that they would be blessed only by obedience to His Word,

but they chose to turn their backs on Him and His ways. They refused to

listen to Him, even if it meant they would perish in their sin. Though God

could have put an end to the nation, He chose to be merciful and preserve a

remnant through whom He would continue to work.

As the Levites stood before the people that day and prayed, there was an

awareness that they had been granted the favour of God to return to their

land only because of His grace and mercy. As a people, they had rebelled

repeatedly against the Lord God. They did not deserve the favour of the

Lord. The Israelites who returned from exile were no better than their

ancestors who had turned their backs on God and His ways. The Levites

confessed that day that God was entirely just and righteous in punishing

them.

Though God had granted His people the privilege of returning to their land,

they were still subjects of the king of Persia. The Israelites realized that

while this land should have been completely theirs, its harvests were still

going to the king of Persia in tribute and taxes. The Israelites were still not

where they wanted to be, as the people of God. A foreign king ruled over

them and their cattle. The Jews were not content merely to return to the

land. They believed that God still had more for them than what they were

presently experiencing. They wanted to see an even greater work of God.

They wanted complete victory and freedom from the power of the enemy in

their land.

There is a powerful lesson here for us. All too many of us have been

content with a Christianity that is like the city of Jerusalem on that day. The

city was still in ruins. Its inhabitants were still under the domination of a

foreign king. Many Christians live like this today. They have become

content to live in a sense of defeat. Their walk with God is not what it

should be. They enemy still has strongholds in their lives, but they have

determined that this is normal.

The Jews of Nehemiah’s day determined that they would not sit idly by and

live in defeat. They decided that day to do something about their situation

(verse 38). Together they made a binding agreement before God to live in

obedience to His Word so that once again they could know the fullness of

His victory in their lives. They understood that the source of this victory

was found in obedience. May God give us Christians like this today.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the compassion and grace of

God?

What was the result of disobedience to the Lord in the lives

of His people? What is the result in our lives today?

Was God just in punishing His people for sin? Explain.

What challenges did the Levites bring to the people of that

day? Were God’s people content to live in defeat?

Have you been living in defeat as a believer today? Is there

victory in your life?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for His great faithfulness even when we have

rebelled against Him.

Take a moment to confess your sin before the Lord and

accept His forgiveness.

Ask the Lord to reveal any area of spiritual defeat in your

life. Ask Him for victory.

Ask God to keep you from being content to live in defeat.

Ask Him to help you to live in constant victory over the

enemy and His attacks.

21 - A BINDING

AGREEMENT

Read Nehemiah 10:1-39

n chapter 9, the people of God celebrated the final day of the Feast of

Booths. On that day, they read from the Book of the Law, praised the

Lord and confessed their sin. The Levites called the people's attention

to the fact that their ancestors had turned their back on God and His

purposes, and they reminded the Israelites present that day that their own

response had not been any better. This acknowledgment moved the people

to action. Together they agreed to honour and serve the Lord faithfully. In

chapter 10, we see the nature of this agreement.

Verses 1 to 29 give us a list of the people who bound themselves to this pact

before God. On the top of the list are Nehemiah, and the priests (verses 1-

8). This is followed by the names of the Levites and their associates (verses

9-13). Following the Levites is a list of leaders (verses 14-27) and finally, in

verse 28, is a listing of the rest of the people. It was important that those

who bound themselves to this agreement separated themselves from their

foreign neighbours. Those who had married foreign wives or had other

unhealthy associations with the unbelievers needed to break those ties

before they could enter this covenant before God. Among those who had

broken this command of God were priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers,

temple servants as well as ordinary people. Some spiritual leaders were not

living in harmony with the Law of the Lord but still serving in the temple.

This displeased the Lord.

These men with their wives and children stood before the Lord and joined

their brothers and sisters to bind themselves to a covenant before God.

Notice in verse 29 that they bound themselves with a curse and an oath.

They made their promise to God, realizing that if they turned from that

promise, the curse of God would fall on them. They pledged their lives to

this promise.

That day these individuals committed themselves to follow the Law of God

as given through Moses. They promised to obey all the laws of God and

follow every command, regulation and decree. God moved the hearts of His

people to live in absolute obedience. They understood how rebellious their

fathers had been. They saw clearly from the reading of the Book of the Law

how the disobedience of their fathers had brought the wrath of God on their

nation. That day God’s people chose to do things differently.

Of note is the reference to several past failures. In verse 30, reference is

made to the practice of marrying foreign wives. In those days, many men

had to separate from their foreign wives. They realized that they were not

living in obedience to the Lord in this matter. They confessed their sin and

made a solemn vow never to marry their daughters or sons to the foreigners

around them. God desired to see a people who were pure and free from the

pagan practices these foreign spouses would bring to their families.

Verse 31 refers to the practice of the Sabbath. Those present with Nehemiah

that day promised before God that when their neighbours brought

merchandise or grain to sell in the city on the Sabbath, they would not buy

it. Instead, they would honour the Sabbath and keep it as a day for worship

and rest.

Also, part of the Sabbath law was the practice of allowing the land to rest

every seventh year (Exodus 23:10-11). In that year, the Israelites were

required to cancel all debts (Deuteronomy 15:1-2). These people committed

themselves to serve the Lord no matter the cost.

Those who bound themselves to this agreement consented to give money to

the work of the temple of God. They promised to bring a third of a shekel

each year for the service of the house of God. It is interesting to note that

God commanded His people in Exodus 30:11-16 to bring one-half a shekel

for the service of the temple. The people of Nehemiah’s day only

committed themselves to give one-third. This means that they were not

giving what Moses recommended. It is quite likely that this was due to the

poverty of the time and their living conditions.

Notice in verse 33 that this money would go to the purchase of bread to be

set out on the table, the various animal sacrifices that took place during the

year, and the numerous other expenses of the house of the Lord. The priests

cast lots to determine when each family was to bring a contribution of wood

to burn on the altar for the sacrifices. This responsibility was shared among

the people.

In verse 35, the people committed themselves to bring the first fruits of

their crops and fruit trees as an offering to the Lord God in recognition of

His provision. They also agreed to bring the firstborn of their sons and their

cattle to the house of the Lord. This practice was established when the

Israelites left Egypt. On that day, the Lord killed the firstborn of every

family that did not have the blood of a lamb sprinkled on the doorpost

(Exodus 11:1-8). From that day forward, as a commemoration of the

Passover, God required His people to give Him the firstborn from the

womb. Firstborn children were to be redeemed at a cost (Exodus 13:13-15).

In verse 37 the people bound themselves to bring the first of their meal,

grain, fruit trees, wine and oil to the temple as an offering to the Lord. What

is crucial for us to note here is that the Lord requires the first portion. Very

often, we give him what is left over. Before we use anything for ourselves,

God wants us to set His portion aside. He desires to have the priority in the

use of our money and resources.

The people of Nehemiah's day bound themselves to give one-third of a

shekel per year for the work of the temple. They also dedicated the first

fruits and first born of their crops, animals and children to the Lord. They

renewed their commitment to give a tithe of their crops to the work of the

Lord. The Levites would gather tithes at the allotted time and placed them

in the storerooms of the temple.

Other contributions were made during the year. God's people commit

themselves also to bring grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms of the

temple as the Lord led them. These contributions were above the other

commitments they made to the Lord that day. They promise that they would

not neglect God’s house.

We can see that the Spirit of God was moving among His people that day.

Men and women were touched by God. The result of this move of God's

Spirit was that His people offered themselves afresh to Him. They commit

themselves to obey God’s law and willingly gave back to the Lord all He

had given to them. May God give us this same heart today.

For Consideration:

What do we learn in this chapter about the desire of the Lord

God that we offer our possessions and ourselves to Him?

Consider the sacrifices the people of Nehemiah's day were

willing to make. What sacrifice are you ready to make today

for the sake of the kingdom of God?

Is there any way in which you have fallen from your first

commitment to the Lord God? Do you need to renew your

commitment to the Lord as did the people in Nehemiah's

day?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to open your heart to see any area where

you have fallen short in your commitment to Him.

Thank the Lord for the blessings He has given you.

Ask the Lord to help you to be more willing to sacrifice

what He has given you for the sake of His kingdom.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the areas of your life

where you have not been as faithful to Him as you should

have been.

Ask God to show you His will for the use of the

resources He has given you today.

22 - THE PEOPLE SETTLE

IN THE LAND

Read Nehemiah 11:1-36

f the city of Jerusalem was to become the great city it had once been,

it was important that the population of the city increase. There was

much work to be done to repair the city. This required people with

various skills and trades. The question of who was to settle in Jerusalem

now had to be examined.

While it was an honour to live in the city of Jerusalem, we need to

remember that land and property would be limited in the confines of the

city. We also need to remember that the city of Jerusalem had been the

focus of the enemy’s attacks. Those living in the city would have to commit

themselves to defend it. During the construction of the wall, builders had to

work with swords at their sides. Those who lived in the city needed to be

courageous, and work hard to rebuild the city. Not everyone would have

been willing to do this. Many, no doubt, would have preferred to live in a

peaceful and relatively secure towns outside of the city.

Jerusalem would be the centre of government. This meant that the leaders

were to settle in the city. Because the temple was in the city, the priests and

religious leaders also would also need to live in the city.

The people who willingly agreed to remain in the city of Jerusalem were

commended as honourable Israelites. This was a high honour. It was

bestowed on them because they were willing to put aside their own interests

for the benefit of the nation. The rest of the people cast lots to determine

who else would remain in the city to defend and build it up. One-tenth of

the population was chosen to live in Jerusalem. The rest settled in the

outlying towns and villages.

Verse 3 tells us that some of the priests, Levites and temple servants lived in

the towns of Judah. Likely this was so that these towns could have religious

leaders available to minister to the people there.

Verses 4-6 give us the list of individuals from Judah chosen to live in

Jerusalem. In verses 7-9 is the list of descendants from Benjamin selected

by lot to live in Jerusalem.

Some priests chose to live in the city as well. The names of these priests are

found in verses 10 and 11. These priests had associates who helped them in

their work. The names of these associates are in verses 12-14. In total 1,192

male servants helped te priests in their duties. The other Israelites, priests

and Levites lived in the various towns of Judah on their ancestral properties.

Temple servants living in the hill country of Ophel, Ziha and Gishpa were

given charge over those living in these various towns and villages.

Uzzi, a descendant of Asaph, was the chief officer of the Levites in

Jerusalem. Asaph’s descendants oversaw the singers in the house of the

Lord. Asaph wrote a number of Psalms (see Psalm 50 and 73-83). The

temple singers were directly responsible to the king who regulated their

daily activities (verse 23).

In verse 24, we read that Pethahiah was the king's agent in charge of affairs

related to the people. A list of villages where the people of Judah lived is

found in verse 25-30. Seventeen cities or towns are mentioned here in these

verses. Fifteen towns are listed in verses 31-36 where the descendants of

Benjamin lived. Some Levites from Judah also lived with the tribe of

Benjamin in their cities and villages.

We have here a clear record of how the people who returned from exile

settled in the land. There was a definite order in this matter. Of primary

importance for the people was that the city of Jerusalem became a visible

witness to the glory of God. Everyone was given access to a priest who

could lead them in the worship of the Lord God. As these people of God

settled in the land, they realized that the work of rebuilding had only begun.

There was much work ahead of them if they were to restore the nation of

Israel to its former glory.

For Consideration:

What sacrifices were made by those who lived in Jerusalem?

What were their responsibilities in the city?

What is the response of the people to those who volunteered

to live in the city? What is our responsibility toward those

who commit themselves to minister on our behalf?

Notice that that priests and Levites settled in the various

towns and villages. What does this tell us about the

importance of communities having a servant of God in their

midst? Why was this important?

Are their towns and villages in your region that do not have a

minister of the gospel? What is the challenge of this passage

in this regard?

For Prayer:

The people of Israel commended those who were willing to

live in the city of Jerusalem as their servants to protect the

city and build it up. Who are your servants today? Take a

moment to lift them to the Lord.

Are their towns and villages in your area that do not have a

servant of the Lord to minister to them? Ask God to send a

faithful servant to share the message of the Gospel with them

and to build them up in the faith.

Ask the Lord to help you to be willing to make the necessary

sacrifices for His kingdom. Thank the Lord for your spiritual

leaders who have sacrificed much for the sake of the Lord.

23 - A CEREMONY AT THE

WALL

Read Nehemiah 12:1-47

hapter 12 begins with a list of priests and Levites who returned

from exile. It should be noted here that there appears to have been

different waves of returning exiles to the land of Jerusalem. In

chapter 7 we have a list of the first group that returned under Zerubbabel.

The record in chapter 12 appears to be selective and doesn’t include the

names of every person who returned at that time. Notice that Ezra in

mentioned in verse 1. Verses 1-7 give us a list of the principle priests of that

day.

Verses 8-11 list the names of the principle Levites. The Levites were

assistants to the priests in the ministry of the temple. The Levites and their

assistants mentioned in verse 8 oversaw singing songs of thanksgiving to

the Lord.

Verses 12-22 give us the names of the heads of the priestly families. Verses

22-23 tell us the location and time in which the leaders of the Levite

families were recorded. The Levites mentioned in these verses had the

responsibility of singing in the service of worship. We see from verse 24

that they sang opposite each other. One section of musicians responded to

the other in song as David had prescribed.

The final list in this chapter is that of principle gatekeepers who were

responsible for guarding the storerooms at the gates of the temple. Even

gatekeepers were important in the work of the temple. No one was

insignificant in this work. Each person had a specific role to fill in the

temple, and every task was essential and necessary.

In verse 27, we read about the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. On the

day of the dedication, the Levites came to Jerusalem. Obviously, they came

to help the people worship the Lord who had given them victory over their

enemies. These Levites led the people in songs and played the cymbals,

harps and lyres. Singers were also brought from the surrounding areas for

this special occasion. These singers had built villages for themselves around

the city of Jerusalem (verse 29).

The priests and Levites purified themselves according to the Law of Moses.

Then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall to commit them to the

Lord and His service. Nehemiah had the leaders of Judah go on top of the

wall with two large choirs. Each choir was to walk on the top of the wall in

opposite directions. Ezra led one of the groups (verse 36). Nehemiah

followed the second group in the opposite direction. As the choirs walked

on the wall around the city, they sang praises to God and played their

musical instruments to His honour. The city was surrounded by praise. As

they walked on top of the wall, they declared publicly that the Lord God

had given them victory. They declared Him to be Lord in the city of

Jerusalem.

The choirs then met in the temple and continued to sing and play their

instruments in praise of the Lord God. Verse 43 tells us that they also

offered sacrifices to the Lord that day with great joy. So great was the sound

of rejoicing that the praise could be heard far away. This was a day for

praising the Lord. Against all the odds, they had achieved what their

enemies said they could not achieve. They had persevered and overcome

the enemy’s obstacles.

Certain men were given charge of the storerooms where the contributions,

first fruits, and tithes of God's people would be kept until they were

required for the service of the temple. God's people were to bring in their

offerings to these storerooms as the Law required.

From verse 45 we see that the singers and the gatekeepers were to be

purified or set apart for the ministry to which the Lord had called them.

They were to keep themselves pure in the work of the Lord. The offerings

of God's people would be used to provide for these individuals in their

service for the Lord.

As we examine this chapter, we see the order that existed in the work of the

Lord. Each person had a responsibility from the Lord. God's people were to

be sure to provide for their temple workers so that the work of the temple

would not suffer. The temple workers were to be pure and holy as they

served the Lord their God. In all this, the Lord was to be glorified. The

temple was a place of music, worship and celebration. Instruments and

singers faithfully led in the worship of the Lord and the dedication of the

wall. There was great joy and celebration that day. We too have much

reason to celebrate the Lord. Our worship of Him ought to be a celebration

of victory. It ought to be a joyous experience. He is Lord and He has

conquered all opposition. We share in that victory. This is a reason for great

rejoicing.

For Consideration:

What role does music play in the Old Testament worship?

How important is music in the worship of our God today?

Notice how God wanted ample provisions for the work of the

temple. Does the work of God suffer in our day for lack of

finances? What can you do to ease this?

What significance was there in walking around the wall,

praising the Lord with music? Is it important that the

unbeliever recognize us as a people of praise? Explain.

God's people had much to thank Him for on the day they

dedicated the walls of Jerusalem. What do you have to be

thankful for today?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to guide and provide for the leaders of your

church. Ask Him to show you how He would have you use

your finances.

The temple servants needed to be purified as they began their

task. Ask God to keep you pure and holy as His servant.

What victories has the Lord God given you? Take a moment

to praise and thank the Lord for those victories.

Ask the Lord to help you never to be ashamed of praising

Him and declaring His glory and goodness to all those around

you.

24 - HOUSECLEANING

Read Nehemiah 13:1-31

t is quite likely that the events recorded in this final chapter of

Nehemiah occurred sometime after the renewal that took place in the

land during his first visit. Nehemiah returned to his responsibilities in

Persia under the king and after some time, came back to visit Jerusalem to

see how things were going (see verses 6-7). During the time of his absence,

the people of Jerusalem had allowed their situation to deteriorate. They had

not persevered in their walk with God and in obedience to the binding

agreement they had made with Him. Nehemiah was very disappointed with

what he saw on his return to Jerusalem. He took it on himself to do some

spiritual house cleaning.

There are five situations mentioned here in this chapter that give us an idea

of what had happened over the course of time in the land of Israel. We will

briefly examine each of these situations.

Removal Of The Ammonites And Moabites From

The Assembly (Verses 1-3)

On one occasion as the Book of Moses was being read aloud, it was

discovered that no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to be allowed into the

assembly of God. The reason for this can be found in Numbers 22. There

we read that when the children of Israel had camped on the Plains of Moab

(after they had travelled for forty years through the wilderness and just

before entering the Promised Land), the Moabites hired Balaam, to curse

Israel. God took this matter very seriously and judged Moab by forbidding

them to enter His presence. The Lord refused to accept their worship.

Ammon, Moab’s neighbour, was also included in this command of God.

Deuteronomy 23:3-4 tells us that both the Moabites and the Ammonites

were forbidden access to the congregation of Israel because they refused to

meet Israel with bread and water on their way out of Egypt and because

they hired Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22).

Notice in verse 2 that God refused to allow Balaam to curse Israel. The

Lord even turned the intended curse into a blessing. The people of Moab,

however, were still accountable to God for their evil intentions.

When the people of Israel heard how God had forbidden any Moabite or

Ammonite to be in the assembly of His people, they removed the

Ammonites and Moabites from their midst. They also withdrew from every

person of foreign descent. No foreigner was permitted to enter the place of

worship.

God desires absolute purity in service and worship. This is not to say that

the doors of our church should be shut to unbelievers. What we do need to

understand here is that in the ministry of the kingdom, God wants those

who know and love Him to serve. There are church leaders all over the

world who do not even know the Lord. There are Sunday school teachers

who are not living in a relationship with God but still teaching children.

God desires that His children advance His kingdom. This is not the

responsibility of the unbeliever. Israel had compromised in this area.

Nehemiah had to deal with this matter upon his return to Jerusalem.

Removal Of Tobiah (Verses 4-9)

The second matter Nehemiah had to correct related to the use of the

storerooms in the temple. A priest by the name of Eliashib had been given

charge of these storerooms. The storerooms were designed to hold the

tithes, offerings and first fruits offered by the people for the service of the

Lord.

It seems that Eliashib was closely associated with Tobiah, an Ammonite and

very bitter enemy of Nehemiah (2:10). Tobiah did much to hinder the work

on the wall surrounding the city (4:7-8), and he had also gained the favour

of the Jewish nobles (6:17). Tobiah had also befriended Eliashib, the priest

who provided Tobiah with a large storeroom in the temple of God. Tobiah

moved into this room and was living there when Nehemiah returned from

Persia. When Nehemiah discovered what Eliashib the priest had done, he

was much displeased. Nehemiah would have been angry for several

reasons. First, Tobiah was an Ammonite and should not have been allowed

in the temple. Second, Tobiah had been one of the greatest enemies to the

building of the wall of Jerusalem. Third, the storerooms were intended for

the storage of tithes, offerings and first fruits. This room should have been

filled with the gifts of God's people so that the work of the temple would

not be hindered.

Nehemiah did not waste time here. He went into the storeroom and threw

out Tobiah's household goods. He then ordered that the rooms be purified.

Nehemiah had the temple equipment put back along with the grain offerings

and incense. He restored this room to its original purpose.

Restoring Of Portions Assigned To The Levites

(Verse 10-14)

Nehemiah learned that the portions allocated to the temple workers had not

been given to them. God's people were not bringing their offerings to the

temple. This meant that temple workers had to work the land to have

enough to live. The ministry of the temple suffered as a result.

Nehemiah rebuked the officials of the land because of this neglect. They

were convicted of their sin and brought their tithes, grain, new wine and oil

offerings to the storerooms. Nehemiah then put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok

the scribe and Pedaiah the Levite in charge of the storerooms. He also made

Hanan an assistant. He did this because he knew them to be trustworthy.

These men were responsible for distributing supplies to their brothers in the

service of the temple.

Restoring Of The Sabbath (Verse 15-22)

Nehemiah noticed that there were men in Judah who were treading the

winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in grain and loading

donkeys with grapes, figs and other loads. The Sabbath was a commanded

day of rest for Israel. The Book of Moses forbade anyone from doing work

on that day. These individuals were ignoring the commandment of God.

Nehemiah also noticed that the merchants of Tyre who lived in Jerusalem

were bringing in fish and other merchandise into the city and selling it on

the Sabbath to the people of Israel. Seeing this, Nehemiah rebuked the

nobles and reminded them of how their ancestors brought on themselves the

wrath of God for doing the same thing. By ignoring the law of God, they

were stirring up God’s righteous anger.

When the next Sabbath evening came, Nehemiah ordered the city doors to

be closed and not opened until the Sabbath was over. He stationed men at

the gates so that nothing could be brought into the city on that day. Once or

twice, merchants came to sell their goods but were forced to spend the night

outside the city. Nehemiah warned these merchants that if they came again

on the Sabbath, he would personally lay hands on them. The merchants

decided to no longer came on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath Law was to give God's people time to focus their attention on

Him. God’s people were to learn to trust Him more. On this one day out of

seven, they were to refrain from work. One year out of seven, they were not

to plant their fields. God promised to take care of them in these times. By

observing His commandments, God's people would know His blessing on

their lives and recognize Him as their provider.

Renouncing Foreign Marriages (Verses 23-29)

Finally, Nehemiah noticed that there were men in Judah who had married

foreign wives. He also saw that half of their children spoke a foreign

language and did not even know how to speak the language of Judah. This

greatly disturbed Nehemiah. The language and faith of Israel were not

being passed on to the next generation. This broke Nehemiah's heart.

Verse 25 tells us that he rebuked these individuals and called down curses

on them. He took some aside and beat them, pulling out their hair. In the

culture of Israel, when a man shaved his hair, he was humbling himself.

Nehemiah not only beats these individuals to punish them for their sin but

he also pulled out their hair so that they would be put to shame for their

evil. He then made them take an oath that they would never give their

daughters or sons to marry any foreigner. Neither were they to marry any

foreign wives. He reminded them that it was because of this very sin that

Solomon fell into sin (1 Kings 11:4).

Notice in verse 28 that one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib, the high

priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Sanballat was not only a

foreigner but also worked with Tobiah to hinder the work of the wall.

Nehemiah drove this young man from Israel. It grieved Nehemiah that even

the priests had been guilty of permitting their children to marry foreigners.

As priests, they were under a special obligation before God to honour His

covenant.

During his time in Jerusalem, Nehemiah restored obedience to God’s laws.

He removed the detestable practices from the land, purified the priests and

placed people in spiritual leadership to assure that the Law of God would be

observed.

What ought to strike us here is how quickly God's people wandered from

the truth of His Word. Very rapidly, they began to compromise their faith.

Soon the Law was twisted to suit their preferences. Eventually, they turned

completely from the Lord’s commands.

We need to praise the Lord for men and women like Nehemiah who were

concerned for the truth of God's Word. Nehemiah’s heart was broken by the

evil he saw in the land, and he refused to compromise. He would not accept

anything but complete obedience to the Word of God. Nehemiah was not

afraid of what others would think of him when he stood up for truth and

discipline. All too many of us have become so blind to what is happening

around us; we hardly notice evil in the land.

Could it be that we need to look deep inside our hearts and take a spiritual

inventory? Maybe our churches need to experience a spiritual cleansing.

Nehemiah seems harsh in this passage. However, this is how we need to be

when it comes to sin in our midst. We need more people like Nehemiah

who will not stand for sin but will root it out for the glory of God and the

advancement of His kingdom, no matter the cost.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the importance of purity among

the people of God?

Are their commands of God that we have trouble obeying?

What are they?

What do we learn from Nehemiah about the seriousness of

sin?

What foreign influences have come into our lives today?

To what extent do you feel we have missed the blessing of

God because we have failed to take sin as seriously as we

should?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to pass on your faith to your own

children. Take a moment to pray for them and their walk with

God.

Ask God to reveal anything in you that does not bring Him

honour and glory.

Ask the Lord to give you seriousness when it comes to sin.

Ask Him to help you to see sin as Nehemiah did.

Ask God to give you strength to obey Him no matter the cost.

INTRODUCTION TO

ESTHER

Author:

he author of the book of Esther is unknown. There is nothing in

this book that would give any clue as to its authorship. The details

recorded in the book, however, indicate that the author was close

enough to the characters and events to know what was happening. It is

supposed that book was written shortly after these events took place by

someone close to Esther.

Background:

Esther is the main character of the story. She was a Jew born with the name

Hadassah. Esther 2:7 tells us that she was raised by her cousin Mordecai

because she had no father or mother. She would be better known by her

name Esther. She lived at the time when the Jews had returned to their

homeland to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. For some reason, she and

Mordecai did not return to Israel choosing instead to stay in Persia.

When King Xerxes divorced his wife, a search was made of the entire

kingdom for a new queen. Esther was brought into the harem of King

Xerxes. She found favour with the king, and he chose her to be his wife. In

this capacity as queen, God used Esther to crush a plan to destroy the

Jewish nation.

Many commentators take note of the fact that the name of God is not

mentioned at all in this book. While the Lord’s name is not mentioned,

however, there is powerful evidence of His presence in the book.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

The sovereign working of God is evident in the book of Esther. We see the

events of Esther’s life working out to accomplish the purpose of God for

her nation even though there is evidence that she was not as aware of Him

and His requirements.

One cannot help but notice how God uses human decisions to accomplish

His will. Mordecai and Esther chose to stay in Persia. The king’s officials

decided to seek a wife for the king. Xerxes chose Esther to be his wife.

Those who were making these decisions were not aware that God was

working out His purposes. What comfort this ought to give us in our day.

God is over every human decision and will accomplish His purposes.

Esther was an orphan raised by her cousin in a foreign land. She may not

have been well educated in the ways of God and appeared to fall into

circumstances that were less than favourable in life, ending up in the harem

of a Persian king. She would eventually marry a divorced unbeliever

(something that God forbade in his law). Who would have thought that the

Lord God would use this woman to accomplish His purposes? God’s ways

are very different from our ways. He uses people we would not expect He

would use. The book gives us cause to reflect on how we treat those around

us who have made bad decisions in life and who have found themselves in

less than favourable circumstances. God still has a purpose for their lives.

God is over our circumstances. He is bigger than the problems we find

ourselves in today. He can use the decisions we have made (even the bad

ones!) to accomplish greater things than we could ever expect. Esther is the

story of how a Jewish orphan was raised up by God to save His nation from

destruction. It is a story that ought to inspire our faith and encourage us to

step out more boldly into the purpose God has set out for our lives.

25 - THE DISOBEDIENCE

OF QUEEN VASHTI

Read Esther 1:1-22

he events of the book of Esther take place while God's people were

in exile for their sin. The Persians were the dominant world power,

having conquered the Babylonians. The reigning king of the time

was King Xerxes. Verse 1 gives us an idea of the extent of his reign and

power. He ruled over 127 provinces in a territory that stretched from India

to the region of Ethiopia (Cush).

It was in the third year of his reign that Xerxes prepared a banquet for his

nobles and officials. On that occasion, the military leaders of Persia and

Media and the princes of his provinces were present. The celebration was to

last for six months (180 days). During that time, the king displayed the

wealth of his kingdom to all who were present. Xerxes basked in his pride

and arrogance. He openly displayed how rich and powerful he was. His

officials would have been impressed by their king and his power. The show

of power and wealth would have put a fear in the hearts of the nobles and

officials. Their king was like a god to them.

When the lengthy celebration was over, Xerxes gave a great banquet lasting

seven days in the enclosed garden of his palace. The banquet was open for

everyone in the citadel at Susa, whether they were rich or poor. The garden

was richly decorated for this celebration with hangings of white and blue

linen. These hangings were fastened to marble pillars by white linen cords

and silver rings (verse 6). The pavement was made from porphyry (a rock

containing crystal formations and usually purple), marble, mother of pearl

and precious stones. Beautiful couches of gold and silver were scattered

here and there on this pavement.

The wine was served in abundance in goblets of gold. Every goblet was a

work of art with no two goblets being the same. The king ordered that all

guests be permitted to drink as much as they wished. We can only imagine

the scene that day as guests drank all the wine they wanted. Drunkenness

and all that comes with it would have been very noticeable that week.

Queen Vashti, the wife of King Xerxes, offered a banquet for the women at

the same time in a separate location.

By the seventh day, King Xerxes found his spirits high from wine. At that

time, he commanded seven eunuchs who served him to bring Queen Vashti

before him wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show her beauty to the

drunken nobles who were present. When the servants told Vashti the king’s

command, Vashti refused to go.

While we are not told why Queen Vashti refused to obey the king’s

command, it would seem quite evident that she was a respectable woman

who did not wish to parade herself before a band of drunken men. This was

not only beneath her dignity as a woman but also as a queen and example to

other women in the community.

Vashti’s refusal to obey the command of the king was an embarrassment to

Xerxes. He was the most powerful king on the earth, but his wife refused to

bow to his command. This was especially embarrassing and dangerous

because all the nobles were present that day to witness this challenge to his

power. Xerxes consulted experts in the law and wise men that understood

the times and asked them what should be done in such a case.

Memucan told the king in verse 16 that Queen Vashti had wronged every

noble and citizen of the king’s provinces. He reminded King Xerxes that

every woman in the nation would hear of the queen’s conduct. They would

follow her example and disrespect their husbands. Memucan advised the

king to issue a royal decree and make it a law that Vashti never again be

permitted to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Everything that belonged to

Queen Vashti was to be taken from her; her position was to be given to

someone else. Memucan believed that by doing this, King Xerxes would

make an example of Queen Vashti so that when the women of the nation

saw what happened to her, they would learn to respect their husbands.

Those present at the banquet were pleased with the advice of Memucan.

The king acted on Memucan’s advice and stripped Vashti of her position.

Dispatches were sent to all the provinces to share the news of Vashti's

demise and to command that every man should be the ruler of his

household.

There are a few points we need to consider in this chapter. First, this chapter

calls us to examine the question of whether Vashti was right in what she did

that day. Should Vashti have appeared before those drunken men just

because her husband asked her to do so? Does headship in a family mean

that the man can ask his wife to do whatever he wants (even when he is

under the influence of much wine) and she is required to obey him? In this

situation, Vashti was not willing to violate her moral principles. For her to

display herself before these lustful and drunken nobles was not only

beneath her dignity but would have violated a higher principle of morality.

In matters of personal preference, we need to be willing to submit to those

who are over us. There are times, however, when we are asked to go against

a higher moral or spiritual principle. In these cases, we should be willing to

disobey and suffer the consequences. The general principle, whether in

marriage, work, or laws of the land is that we respect and obey those who

are over us. If I am at work, however, and my boss asks me to do something

immoral or dishonest, I am obliged to obey God rather than my boss. It

would seem to me that Vashti did what was right and proper in her situation.

She was also willing to suffer the consequences of her disobedience.

Notice second, that sometimes even the righteous will suffer for doing what

is right. We must be prepared for this. As servants of God, we will enter

conflict with the standards of this world. We need to be ready to suffer for

doing what is right.

We will see the final point as we move through this story of Esther. Queen

Vashti's removal from her position would open the door for Esther to

become queen. Through Esther, God would save the nation of Israel from

destruction. What we need to understand here is that God will use this event

to accomplish His purposes in Israel. God's ways are quite strange at times.

God blessed Vashti's decision. He needed to remove her so that His

objectives could be accomplished. We will examine how this takes place in

the rest of this book.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about God's ways? How does God use

the removal of Queen Vashti to accomplish His purpose?

What do we discover in this chapter about the spiritual

climate in the days of Xerxes?

The Bible makes it quite clear that we are to be submissive to

those who are in authority over us (see Romans 13). What

should we do in a situation where the requests of those in

authority over us enter into conflict with the moral and

spiritual commands of God?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you the grace to honour and obey those

in authority over you.

Ask God for strength and willingness to suffer for doing what

is right.

Take a moment to pray for those who are suffering today

because they have done what was right.

26 - IN SEARCH OF A

QUEEN

Read Esther 2:1-17

n the first chapter of this book, we saw how Queen Vashti was

relieved of her position as queen. Her husband King Xerxes was not

only under the influence of much wine at the time but was publicly

embarrassed before the nobles who had come to his celebrations. When

King Xerxes came to his senses, he realized what he had done. Verse 2 tells

us that the king's attendants proposed that a search be made for a beautiful

young virgin to get the king's mind off Queen Vashti. The hope was that this

would cheer up the king.

The proposal was made that commissioners in every province in Xerxes’

realm bring the most beautiful young virgins of their province to Susa to be

part of the king's harem. They were to be placed under the care of the king's

eunuch, a servant by the name of Hegai. He was to look after their beauty

treatments and prepare them to meet the king. Given the size of the king’s

realm (from India to Ethiopia) this matter would have taken some time and

required considerable effort.

The king's attendants proposed that the king examine each of these young

virgins and select one of them to become queen in the place of Vashti. The

king was quite delighted with this proposal, and so he issued the decree.

In Susa lived a Jewish man by the name of Mordecai. He had been carried

into exile when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and brought back its

choicest citizens to work for him as servants. Mordecai had a cousin named

Hadassah. This girl had lost her father and mother, and so he brought her up

as his own child. Although Hadassah was a cousin to Mordecai, it is quite

evident that she was very much younger.

Hadassah was also known as Esther. Hadassah was her Jewish name

meaning "myrtle." Esther was her Persian name meaning "star." Esther, as

she will be known throughout the rest of this book, was very beautiful. As

such, she was a prime candidate for the king’s harem. When the decree was

issued, Esther along with many other girls were brought to the citadel and

put under the care of Hegai the king’s eunuch.

There was something particularly pleasing about Esther. She won Hegai’s

favour. Seeing her beauty and grace, he immediately began her beauty

treatment. He also put her on a special diet. Esther was given seven maids

to care for her needs and moved to the best place in the harem. Obviously,

the hand of God was on her.

Many men and women of faith saw the favour of God on them in such a

way. Joseph experienced this in his time in Potiphar's house (Genesis 9:4).

Nehemiah experienced the favour of God when he approached the king to

ask for permission to return to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:5). The early church

experienced this favour in the eyes of the unbelievers (Acts 2:47). Jesus

experienced favour with both God and man (Luke 2:52). When God wants

to accomplish His purposes, He will sometimes give us favour with those to

whom He is sending us. Certainly, this is the case with Esther.

When Esther had left for the king's harem, Mordecai told her that she was

not to reveal her nationality. To admit that she was a Jew in that time would

have put her at a disadvantage. The Jews were a conquered people. They

were servants and did not have the same status as those of the region. We

will discover in the course of this story that the fact that her nationality was

hidden would work out to her advantage and ultimately bring great victory

to the Jews. God had every detail worked out. Even the hiding of her

identity would prove to be important.

Though Esther was no longer living in his home, Mordecai still was very

concerned for her. Verse 11 tells us that every day he walked back and forth

near the courtyard of the harem to find out how she was doing and what

was happening to her. Apparently, he loved Esther very much and was

genuinely concerned about her situation.

Meanwhile, Hegai was busy preparing the girls to see the king. Before a girl

could see the king, she would have to undergo twelve months of beauty

treatment. For six months, she was treated with the oil of myrrh, very likely

to soften the skin. In the remaining six months, special perfumes and

cosmetics were applied to her skin.

When the day came for the young virgin to appear before the king, she was

permitted to take anything she wanted from the harem. Likely, what this

verse means is that she was permitted to take whatever jewellery or clothing

she desired to make her impression on the king. The young virgin would go

to the king in the evening and stay with him throughout the night. In the

morning, she would return to another part of the harem. After returning

from the king, she would be placed under the direction of Shaashgaz,

another one of the king's eunuchs who oversaw all the king’s concubines.

These women were to remain under the care of Shaashgaz and would not

see the king again unless he called for them by name. Adam Clarke, in his

comments on Esther 2:14, tells us that after this the concubine would never

be given in marriage to another man. (Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's

Commentary on the Bible: Esther 2:14, Formatted for Palm Bible+

ver.2.47. Under GNU GPL license). While they would be well cared for,

these women were to be reserved for the king alone but only permitted to

enter his presence when called for by name.

When Esther's turn came to see the king, she listened carefully to the advice

of Hegai. She was taken to see the king on the tenth month of the seventh

year of Xerxes' reign. When the king met Esther, he was attracted to her.

She won his special favour and approval. He was pleased to put the royal

crown on her head so that she became queen in place of Queen Vashti.

In all of this, we see the work of a sovereign God. Vashti was removed from

her position so that Esther could take her place. While the whole nation is

involved in this process, God was over all. He worked out all the events to

accomplish His purposes. Esther becomes the queen of the most powerful

nation on the earth. The hand of God was moving and granting favour to

Esther. She willingly stepped out in that favour and passed through the

doors God was opening for her. God is setting up the scene to accomplish

the salvation of His people. Even before His people are in need, God

prepared a solution. What a wonderful thought this is. Through the prophet

Isaiah, God says:

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I

will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)

God knows what our needs will be even before we have those needs. He has

already prepared the solutions to our future problems. Our prayers are

already answered in the mind of God. The Lord is arranging circumstances

and situations so that those prayers can be answered. How we need to thank

the Lord that He cares for us in this way.

For Consideration:

How does God prepare the way for Esther to accomplish His

purposes? What encouragement do you take from this in your

own life and ministry?

Who does God use to accomplish His purpose of making

Esther queen? Are these people aware that they are the

instruments of God to bring salvation to His people? What

does this tell us about God?

What encouragement do you find in the fact that the Lord has

prepared answers to problems of His people even before there

is any evidence of these problems?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a sovereign God who works out all

things according to His purposes.

Thank the Lord that He knows what you need before you

even have the need. Thank Him that He is working out the

solution to the problems you have not yet faced.

Ask God to give you favour with those who are between you

and the accomplishing of His purpose for your life.

27 - HAMAN AND

MORDECAI

Read Esther 2:18-3:15

y the grace of God, Esther had become queen in the land of

Persia. Unknown to her and the Jews of that day, God was

preparing the scene for a terrible declaration that would threaten

to exterminate them as a people in the land of Persia.

In verse 18, King Xerxes prepared a grand banquet in honour of his new

wife. He assembled his nobles and officials and proclaimed a holiday

throughout the provinces of his land. Gifts were given with liberality.

Xerxes seems to have been a man of great extravagance.

During the time of the celebrations, Mordecai was sitting outside the king's

gate. As he sat there, two of the king's officers who guarded the gate

became very angry and planned to kill King Xerxes. Mordecai heard about

the plot and told Queen Esther who reported it to Xerxes and gave credit to

Mordecai. When the report was investigated and discovered to be true, the

two officials were hanged. The incident was recorded in the records in the

presence of the king. At that time, nothing was done to reward Mordecai,

but all this was in God's hand. The time would come when Mordecai would

be rewarded—but not yet. God's timing is not like ours.

After this event, King Xerxes honoured a man by the name of Haman and

gave him a position that was higher than any of the other nobles. The king

commanded that everyone should honour Haman. Wherever he went,

people would kneel and pay their respects to him. Mordecai, however,

refused to pay him honour.

We may legitimately ask why Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman.

The answer may be found in the command the king gave to his people

concerning Haman. Verse 2 tells us that the king commanded his people to

"honour" Haman. The Hebrew word here is the word "shachah" which can

mean to worship or reverence. It is quite likely that Haman was expecting

to be worshipped as a god. If this is the case, the reason why Mordecai

refused to bow down was that, as a Jew, Mordecai would only bow the knee

in worship of the God of Israel. Mordecai willingly risked his life to be

obedient to the command of the Lord God of Israel.

The refusal of Mordecai to bow down and worship Haman perplexed the

royal officials at the king's gate. They would ask him why he refused to

obey the command of the king and risk his life. Each day they tried to

persuade him to bow down before Haman, but Mordecai continually

refused.

Verse 4 tells us that Mordecai revealed to the royal officials that he was a

Jew. This is important. Could it be that the reason why Mordecai was

compelled to disclose this fact was because he was explaining to the

officials that, as a Jew, it was against his faith to bow down to anyone but

the one true God?

On hearing his explanation, the officials went to Haman and told him what

Mordecai had said. It may be that they wondered if leniency would be given

to him because of his faith. Haman was furious when he heard that

Mordecai refused to kneel despite repeated efforts of the officials to

convince him to do so. When Haman heard that Mordecai was a Jew, he

decided to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. This decision was made

partly because of Mordecai, but we should not see this as the only reason

for the decision of Haman. Haman hated the Jews because he saw them as

an obstacle to his aspirations of being honoured as a god.

It should be noted here that Haman was an Agagite (3:1). Agag was an

Amalekite King in the days when Saul was king of Israel (1 Samuel 15).

After an attack on the Amalekites, King Saul spared Agag. This angered

God who had commanded Saul to destroy this people. God sent His prophet

Samuel to confront Saul about this matter. Samuel, himself, became the

instrument of God’s judgment and killed Agag with the sword. The

Amalekites continued to be an enemy of Israel (1 Samuel 30). Haman

would have been aware of this history, and this may also have been a

motivation for him to seek revenge on the Jews.

With the decision fixed in his mind, Haman needed only to decide when

and how he should execute his plan to exterminate the Jews. To determine

this, he cast the pur. That is to say; he cast “lots.” We are not told how this

was done. It could be that they rolled a dice or did something of this nature

to fix the month when his evil plan was to be carried out. Casting the pur

may even have been part of a religious ceremony.

When the month was fixed, Haman went to King Xerxes and revealed his

plan to him. Haman told the king of a people whose ideas and customs were

different than theirs. He told Xerxes of how the Jews refused to obey the

king's laws. This might lead us to believe that Mordecai was not the only

one to refuse to bow down to Haman. Haman advised the king that it would

be in his interest to destroy these people.

Haman hid his hate of Mordecai in the guise of loyalty to the king. Haman

even offered to put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for

the men who would carry out this plan and proposed that a decree be issued

to this effect.

Xerxes took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman. The ring

was a symbol of authority. It was used to stamp official documents. When

the king gave his ring to Haman, he was in effect giving him the right to

carry out his evil plot. Notice in verse 11 that King Xerxes placed full

confidence in Haman. He told him to keep his money but to do whatever he

felt was necessary with the Jews.

Very little time was wasted in this matter. On the thirteenth day of that same

month, secretaries were assembled to write out the king's decree in the

various languages of the people. The orders were then sealed with the

king’s signet ring and made official.

Messengers were sent to all the king's provinces with the order to annihilate

all Jews. No Jew was to be spared. Young, old, women and little children

were to be killed. This was to happen in a single day, the thirteenth day of

the twelfth month. Everyone was to be ready to perform this terrible deed

on that day and then plunder all the possessions of the murdered Jews.

Having issued his decree, Haman and the king sat down to drink. The city

of Susa, however, was confused by this horrible command. Behind it was a

very evil, jealous and proud mind. Controlling all this evil, however, was a

sovereign God who knew what would happen. Even then, God was working

out His plan to defend His people. While the king and Haman drank

together in celebration, God prepared the defeat of all their purposes.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the courage of Mordecai?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were

tempted to hide or compromise in your faith? What challenge

does Mordecai bring to us?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt

that things were completely out of control and all hope was

lost? What encouragement do you see here in the fact that

though outwardly, things do appear to be very terrible, God is

still working behind the scenes?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you the courage to stand firm in your

walk with Him.

Thank the Lord that He is a sovereign God who controls the

future.

Thank God that no matter how difficult things appear, in Him

there is always hope.

28 - IF I PERISH, I PERISH

Read Esther 4:1-17

he plan to exterminate the Jews had been decreed. Messengers

travelled to the far corners of the Persian Empire to issue the order

that on a particular day all citizens were to rise up to kill the Jews

and plunder their possessions.

The news of this plot reached Mordecai. When he learned of about Haman's

plan, he tore off his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of

mourning, and went out into the city wailing bitterly. The burden would

have been particularly great for Mordecai because he understood that it was

because of his refusal to bow down to Haman that this evil had come to

them as a nation. He may have wondered why the Lord would have

permitted this to happen when he had been faithful in keeping the Lord’s

commandments. What made matters worse was that he could only go as far

as the king's gate because no one who was dressed in sackcloth and ashes

was allowed to enter. This meant that he did not have access either to the

king to petition him for mercy or to Esther who could have seen the king on

his behalf.

There was a similar response everywhere the decree was read. The Jews in

all the provinces mourned, fasted and wept with sackcloth and ashes. God's

people turned to Him in this time of trouble. They had nowhere to turn but

to the Lord, so they fasted and sought His mercy.

It was Esther's maids and eunuchs who came and told her about Mordecai.

On learning that Mordecai was dressed in sackcloth, Esther sent clothes for

him to put on. Apparently, she did not know what it was that was troubling

Mordecai. Mordecai refused the clothes.

Esther understood that something very serious was disturbing Mordecai.

She called Hathach, one of the eunuchs assigned to attend to her, and

commanded him to speak to Mordecai to find out what was worrying him.

Hathach did as he was commanded and learned about the plot to kill the

Jews. Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree for the annihilation of

the Jews. Through Hathach, Mordecai pleaded with Esther to approach the

king to ask for mercy and beg him to save her people. We need to see here

that while Mordecai did not have direct access to Esther now that she was

queen, God opened a door for him to speak to her through her servant

Hathach.

When Esther received the report from Hathach, she sent him back to remind

Mordecai that the custom of the royal court stated that no man or woman

was ever permitted to approach the king in his inner court without first

being summoned. Anyone who did so would be put to death unless, at that

moment, the king extended his sceptre to them and spared their life. Esther

reminded Mordecai that she had not been called to see the king and to see

him without being summoned would be to risk her life.

Esther is not sure what she was to do. She obviously grieved for her people

and Mordecai, but if the king was not pleased with her, she would be killed

and not be of any benefit to her people. When Mordecai heard what Esther

had to say, he told her that she would not be spared just because she was in

the king’s house. Mordecai was telling her that her life was also in danger.

Once it was discovered that she was a Jew, the king would be forced to kill

her to obey his own decree. Whether or not she approached the king, her

life was in danger. Mordecai went on to reminded Esther that if she

remained silent at this time, God could raise up deliverance from another

source but she and her household would perish. He told her that it might

have been for this very purpose that she was queen.

Mordecai's response is very wise. There are several things we should notice

in his response. First, notice that Mordecai reminded Esther that she was in

danger herself. It may be that Esther had become comfortable in her

situation. She was living with a false sense of security. She believed that

because she was queen, she would be spared. Mordecai made her realize

that this was not the case. She was in danger whether she saw it or not.

Esther wasn't sure if she should risk her life. Mordecai reminded her that

she if she did not do something, she would perish even though she was

queen.

Many people live today with false security. They believe that because they

go to church or because they accepted Jesus as their Saviour, they will not

have to answer to God for their actions. The reality of the matter is that we

will all have to answer to God on that final Day of Judgment.

Second, notice that Mordecai believed in deliverance. He realized that the

situation looked very dismal. He did not know how the Lord was going to

set His people free from this evil plot, but he spoke of God's deliverance for

His people. Mordecai believed that Esther could be the answer to this

problem. He told her, however, that if she did not do something, God would

raise up someone else to be the deliverer.

God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes. Mordecai believed that

Esther was the instrument of God, but he did not place his faith in her. It

was God who would deliver not Esther. If she refused to take on the

responsibility, God would find someone else.

God is preparing us for a particular ministry. The circumstances He has put

you through, and the trials you have had to bear are all preparation for that

ministry. Not everyone accepts God’s calling, however. Some people are

disobedient. Some are fearful. If we do not step out, we will suffer

significant loss. We will not see the fruit that God intended for our lives. We

will suffer spiritually. God's purposes will not be hindered, however. He is

fully able to use someone else to accomplish those purposes.

Mordecai reminded Esther of God's sovereign purposes. He challenged her

to look at what the Lord had done over the last while. He challenged her to

ask the questions: Why has God placed me in this palace? Why has He

given me this position? Mordecai somehow believed that God had given

Esther this place of honour so that she could be His instrument in this hour

of need. As much as he loved Esther, Mordecai challenged her to take the

risk and go to the king.

Mordecai's words caused Esther to think. She sent word to Mordecai to

gather all the Jews of Susa and ask them to fast three days for her. She and

her maids would do the same. After three days, she would risk her life and

go to the king, even though it was against the law. In verse 16, she resigned

herself to the will of God: "if I perish, I perish," she said. Encouraged by

this, Mordecai gathered the Jews of Susa together and called them to pray

and fast for three days.

God needed to bring Esther to the point where she was willing to risk

everything. This is a place where we all need to be in our relationship with

God. Are we willing to risk everything to accomplish what God has called

us to do? It was relatively easy for Esther when God called her to be queen

and live in the lap of luxury. But then God called her to be willing to lay

aside all that and risk her life for Him. Would we be ready to go this far for

the sake of the Lord and His kingdom?

For Consideration:

Do bad things happen to good people? What evidence is there

here to support your answer?

Esther may have a false sense of security in this chapter.

What false securities can we cling to today?

What do we learn here about the sovereignty of God in

working out the circumstances of life? Is there evidence in

your life of how God prepared you for a ministry or

challenge? Explain.

How important is it that we come to the place where we are

willing to risk everything for the Lord?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to bring you to the point of laying down

everything for Him.

Thank the Lord that He is a sovereign God who works out

His purposes and plans for our lives.

Ask the Lord to make you willing to follow Him not only in

the easy times but also in the difficult times.

29 - A BANQUET AND A

GALLOWS

Read Esther 5:1-14

he Jews of Susa had fasted and prayed for three days at the

invitation of Queen Esther. On the third day, she approached the

king to seek his favour and mercy for her people. Though

approaching the king without invitation could mean death, Esther willingly

took the risk for the sake of her people.

On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal robes and stood in the inner

court of the palace in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his

throne facing the entrance when she walked in. This was the moment of

truth. Would the king have mercy and extend his sceptre or would he order

that she be killed for defying the law of the court?

When the king saw Esther, he was pleased with her. To show his favour, he

extended his sceptre. Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.

It appears that touching the tip of the sceptre was a means of recognizing,

receiving and expressing gratitude for the king's favour and mercy. When

the formalities were over, King Xerxes asked Esther what she wanted. He

offered her up to half his kingdom. Aparently, he understood that she would

not willingly defy the law of the court without reason.

While Esther could have made her requests known at that time to the king,

she chose to ask him to come to a great banquet she was preparing for him.

She also invited Haman. King Xerxes, from what we have seen of him in

the first part of this book, seemed to enjoy feasting and celebrating. He was

quite delighted to accept the invitation and ordered that Haman be brought

at once so they could attend the banquet Esther had prepared for them.

It is uncertain why Esther did not immediately ask the king to spare the

lives of her people. Maybe she felt she needed to prepare him for this

request. Perhaps the timing was not right. It seems to be clear that she did

not have the freedom from the Lord to ask him at this time. She waited for

the right moment. The right words spoken at the wrong time will not

produce the desired result. As representatives of the Lord, we need to know

what the Lord would have us to speak. It is just as important, however, for

us to wait for the Lord’s timing in speaking that word.

As the king drank wine at Esther’s banquet, he again asked her what was on

her mind and what he could give her. Again, he promises her up to half his

kingdom. For the second time, Esther asked him to return the next day with

Haman for another banquet. She promised to give him her request at that

time.

As Haman left the banquet that evening, he was delighted. As he passed the

king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai sitting there. He noticed that

Mordecai still refused to bow down to him. This made him very angry.

Verse 10 tells us that he restrained himself and went home. Haman could

have done something right then to have Mordecai punished, but God does

not permit this to happen. God protected Mordecai on this occasion.

When he returned home that evening, Haman called his friends and family

together. He boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and how

the king had honoured him above every other noble in the land. He told

them of how Esther had invited him alone to the banquet she had prepared

for the king and how she had asked him to return the next day. Haman felt

important. He saw himself as the most important man in the Persian

Empire, next to the king.

Haman then told his friends and wife that all this gave him no satisfaction

as long as Mordecai refused to bow to him and recognize his authority and

dignity. Mordecai was a thorn in his side. Haman's wife Zeresh and his

friends suggested that Haman build a gallows seventy-five feet high

(twenty-three meters). The idea was to humiliate Mordecai. Gallows this

high would be visible. People would be able to see him hanging from these

gallows all over the city. Haman liked the idea but did not have the right to

pass the death sentence. He decided, therefore, to ask the king in the

morning for permission to have Mordecai hung from these gallows for his

refusal to honour and respect him as the king’s representative. Haman

immediately ordered that the gallows be built, expecting a positive response

from the king.

As for Mordecai, problems seemed to be increasing. Time was running out

for the Jews. If Haman had his way, Mordecai had only one more day to

live. God's timing is not the same as ours. What appeared to be the end of

all hope was the beginning of God’s wonderful plan of deliverance.

There are several principles we need to see in this passage. First, notice the

hand of God on the lives of His people. We see this in the way God

answered the prayers of His people and gave Esther favour in the eyes of

the king. We also see His favour on Mordecai as he kept him from Haman’s

anger at the king's gate. God does answer prayer. On the surface, we see the

evil schemes of individuals to destroy the people of God. Behind the

scenes, however, the Spirit of God is moving powerfully to bring victory to

His people. The outward appearance easily deceives us. God works quietly

behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose.

Second, notice the importance of waiting on God's timing. Esther does not

immediately bring her request to the king. It was not God's time. Haman

needed to build gallows. Those gallows would be proof to the king of his

evil intentions. We will also discover in the next chapter that the king

himself needed to be prepared for Esther's request. There is a right time for

everything. Only when Haman and the king had been adequately prepared

by God would Esther be permitted to share her request. Esther needed to be

in tune with God’s timing.

When he was forty years of age, Moses had a burden for his people (Acts

7:23). He wanted his people to see him as their deliverer (Acts 7:25). While

it was the will of God to use Moses to deliver His people, the timing was

not right. Moses was not ready to be used. God sent him into the wilderness

for forty years. Only when he was eighty years of age did God permit

Moses to return to Egypt to deliver His people.

Timing is important. The right word or the right action acted at the wrong

time will not accomplish the purpose of God. The Lord may burden us and

place a message on our heart, but He also intends for us to wait for His

timing. Behind the scenes, God is working to prepare the hearts and lives of

those to whom that message is intended. We must be in tune with God in

this matter.

For Consideration:

In this chapter, we see how the enemies of God's people

plotted against them. At that same time, however, we see the

hand of God at work. What evidence is there that God is at

work in the lives of His people in this chapter?

Take a moment to consider how God is at work in your life

today.

Why is timing important in the ministry of the Kingdom of

God?

Have you ever found yourself so anxious to accomplish the

work of God that you did not wait for Him? What was the

result?

How can you know when the timing of God is right? Do you

have personal examples of bad timing? What about examples

of good timing?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to wait for His timing in your ministry

and decisions.

Thank the Lord that He does answer prayers. Thank Him that

He does this despite all the efforts of the enemy to defeat us.

Thank the Lord that He extends His hand of favour to us, as

He did for Esther. Thank Him for the privilege of being a

chosen servant in whom He delights.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you failed to trust

His purposes and looked more on the outward appearance.

Ask Him to give you faith to trust Him even when things

don’t appear to be going in the direction you had hoped.

30 - A REWARD IN ITS

PROPER TIME

Read Esther 6:1-14

n the last meditation, we saw how Esther invited the king and Haman

to a banquet in their honour. At that banquet, the king asked Esther

what he could do for her, but Esther was not prepared to share her

request with the king. Instead, she asked him to return to a second banquet

she was preparing for him and Haman. At that time, she would give him her

answer.

What is essential for us to understand is how God is working behind the

scenes to accomplish His purpose. As Esther waited for the right moment to

ask the king to save her people, Haman moved forward in his plan to kill

Mordecai. The gallows were being prepared to hang Mordecai, but this

would ultimately work against Haman.

While Haman was preparing the gallows for Mordecai, God was working in

the king's life. That evening, the king could not sleep. He ordered that the

book of the chronicles of his reign be brought to him. As he read the

account of his reign, the king's attention was drawn to an incident recorded

in the chronicle about Mordecai who had saved his life by exposing an

assassination plot. There was no record in the chronicle of any honour or

recognition given Mordecai for exposing this plot. The king asked his

servants what had been done to recognize Mordecai for his actions. His

attendants assured him that Mordecai had never been acknowledged or

honoured for his deed.

Again, we see the importance of God's timing in all matters. As the king

thought about what needed to do for Mordecai, Haman appeared in the

court. He had come at that precise moment to ask the king for permission to

hang Mordecai from the gallows he had prepared. The king requested that

Haman be brought before him. When Haman approached, the king asked,

"What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?" (verse 6).

Haman could never have imagined that the king was speaking about

Mordecai when he asked this question. Haman thought the king was talking

about him. Thinking of himself, Haman told the king that he should dress

the person he wanted to honour in one of his royal robes and place him on a

horse the king had ridden. Haman then suggested that this honoured person

should be led through the streets of the city by one of the king’s most noble

princes proclaiming, "this is what is done for the man the king delights to

honour!'" (verse 9).

The matter of wearing one of the king’s royal robes and riding a horse the

king had ridden was a very high honour. In that day even the king’s wives

could not approach him without special invitation. The king was saying that

the person whom he privileged in this way was worthy of great honour.

The king liked Haman’s suggestion. He suggested that Haman lead the

horse through the city with Mordecai seated on it. We can only imagine

how devastating this must have been for Haman. He had come to ask for

Mordecai's death, but instead, he was ordered to honour him as no other

man had been honoured. To parade Mordecai through the city in this way

would have been humiliating for Haman. Added to this was the fact that the

gallows were even now being built to hang the man the king wanted to

honour. This would not go well for him. It now set Haman against the king

because it would be discovered that he wanted to kill the man who had

saved the king’s life.

After he had paraded Mordecai through the city in this way, Haman

returned home filled with grief. He told his wife and friends what had

happened that day. His advisers made a fascinating observation. They told

him that because Mordecai was of Jewish origin, he could not stand against

him. His ruin was sure.

There may be various reasons why Haman's advisers made this statement. It

may have been because they had heard about the God of the Jews. He was a

powerful God who fought for His people. Haman was setting himself up

against the God of the Jews and, therefore, he could not possibly succeed.

Beyond this, however, was the fact that Mordecai had just been honoured

above Haman. Mordecai had achieved a very powerful position in the land.

As a Jew, he would not sit by and watch Haman destroy his people.

Haman's plot to kill the Jews would be exposed, and he would be seen as a

traitor to the king.

Haman was still speaking to his advisors about this matter when the king's

eunuchs came to escort him to the banquet Esther had prepared. When he

went this time, however, Haman was not quite so proud. There would have

been fear in his heart. Overnight his position before the king had changed.

The proud boasts of Haman are stopped in an instant.

God works in his time. As Esther delayed, God worked. Soon the time

would be perfect for her to ask the king to save her people from the hands

of Haman. Two days before, the response of the king would have been very

different. Now, his heart was prepared to give Esther her request.

Many times, we do not see what God is doing. In an instant, everything can

change. The answer to the problem the Jews were experiencing came

overnight. One moment they were in despair; the next moment they were

rejoicing in victory.

For Consideration:

Why is timing so crucial in the work of the kingdom of God?

What is God doing behind the scenes in this passage? Could

it be that God is working out the solution to the problem you

are facing today?

Are you facing a trial that seems to be overwhelming right

now? What does this passage tell us about how close that

victory could be?

What evidence is there that the time was right for Esther to

share her request?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a God who answers prayer.

Ask that Lord to forgive you for the times you have doubted

His provision and purpose.

Thank the Lord that He is always working for our good.

Praise Him that He has already heard your request and is

even now working on the solution.

Ask God to help you to know how to wait on Him and His

timing.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you have stepped

out too quickly and taken matters into your own hands.

31 - A REVERSAL OF

HAMAN'S PLOT

Read Esther 7:1-8:17

his was the second banquet Esther had prepared for the king and

Haman. Haman came to this second banquet, however, with a

heavy heart. The king had just honoured Mordecai whom Haman

had intended to hang.

As the king and Haman dined with Esther, things would get worse for

Haman. Unknown to him, Esther and Mordecai were related. Also, Haman

did not know that Esther was a Jew. As they were drinking wine that day,

the king asked Esther for the third time:

"Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What

is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be

granted." (Esther 7:2)

This time, Esther would give the king her answer. Everything had been

prepared. To the shock of the king that evening, Esther asked him to save

her life and to spare her people. She told the king that she and her people

had been sold to destruction, slaughter and annihilation. She told him that if

they had merely been sold as slaves, she would not have bothered him but

she could not bear to see the extermination of her people.

We can only imagine the response of Haman as he sat there at that banquet

table. Fear and terror would have overcome him. He had not known that

Esther was of Jewish nationality. What she was telling the king struck dread

in Haman’s heart.

King Xerxes was very obviously disturbed by this request. He asked Esther

who would dare to do such a thing. Esther pointed to Haman. Haman was

speechless. His heart was filled with terror as he looked at the king.

The king left the banquet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. At

that point, King Xerxes would likely have felt betrayed. Haman had been

his trusted servant. He had lifted him up beyond all other servants in the

land. He had trusted him implicitly. When he had come to ask permission to

deal with a people whom he said were in opposition to the king's reign,

Xerxes had trusted him. Very likely, as he walked in his garden, the king

considered his options.

When the king left the banquet, Haman stayed behind with Esther. He knew

that his life was in danger. Esther was reclining on a couch in the banquet

hall. Just as the king returned from the garden, he saw Haman falling on the

couch where Esther reclined, possibly to beg for mercy. The king was not

pleased. He accused him of molesting the queen. Servants immediately

covered Haman’s face. The covering of Haman's face was typical of what

would happen to the condemned criminal. It was a symbolic way of saying

that the individual was no longer worthy to look on the face of the king.

The covering of Haman's face was his sentence of death.

It was one of the king's eunuchs, a man by the name of Harborne, who told

the king that Haman had ordered the construction of the seventy-five-foot

gallows to hang Mordecai. This was an even greater insult to the king. Just

that day the king had honoured Mordecai for saving his life. Haman had

been planning to hang the man who had saved the king.

The king ordered that Haman be hung on the gallows he had prepared for

Mordecai. The enemy of God's people was defeated, but there was still

much to do to save the lives of the Jews. Haman’s order had already gone

out, and it could not be changed. God’s people were still in grave danger of

annihilation.

That very same day, King Xerxes gave Queen Esther Haman’s estate. This

estate would have been worth a considerable fortune, as Haman was the

highest ranking official in the kingdom.

Esther told the king that she was related to Mordecai. When the king heard

this, he commanded that Mordecai be brought into his presence. That day

the king took off his signet ring, the symbol of his authority, and gave it to

Mordecai. Esther appointed him to oversee Haman's estate. Everything that

belonged to Haman was given to Esther and Haman. God took Haman’s life

and wealth and gave it to His people. God had spoiled the enemy’s plan and

stripped him of his power.

That day, Esther pleaded with the king to put an end to the evil plot of

Haman. King Xerxes listened to Esther and extended his gold sceptre to her

as a sign of his favour. Esther asked the king to write and order overruling

the command of Haman. The king could not do this because Haman’s

decree was official. It had been stamped with the king’s signet ring and

could not be changed even by the king himself. King Xerxes did, however,

gave Esther and Mordecai permission to write a different decree—this one

on behalf of the Jews. The king told them to write it as it seemed best to

them and to seal it with the king's signet ring making it official and

irrevocable (verse 8). The challenge was for Esther and Mordecai to write a

decree that would protect the Jews but not change what Haman had

decreed.

In verse 9, the royal secretaries were summoned. A decree was drafted for

the governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to

Ethiopia. This decree was translated in the languages of all the provinces so

all could understand. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed

with his signet ring. Couriers were sent on fast horses to each of the

provinces to bring the king’s decree to the governors and nobles.

The decree granted the Jews in every city the right to defend themselves.

They could destroy, kill or annihilate any armed force of any nationality or

province that might attack them, their women or their children. They were

also given the right to plunder the property of their enemies. This decree

was issued as law in every province. Mordecai's wisdom is seen in this

decree. Knowing that he could not change the order of Haman, Mordecai

discouraged the enemies of God's people from attacking.

Mordecai left the presence of the king dressed in royal robes and a large

gold crown. The city of Susa celebrated his promotion. Especially for the

Jews, this was a day of great joy feasting and praise. God had been faithful.

Haman's evil plot had been reversed.

What is of great interest to us here is that verse 17 tells us that many people

from the various provinces became Jews because the fear of God had seized

them. God strengthened His people and added to their number.

Earlier, Mordecai had given Esther to God and His will for her life.

Mordecai had given her to be the wife of the king, and this was not without

personal sacrifice. During that time, he was not able to see Esther. God

blessed Esther and Mordecai and brought them back together. Mordecai

waited patiently and obediently, and God blessed his faith. Mordecai and

Esther now served the Lord together. God does reward faithful sacrifice.

What a blessing it is to know that no weapon forged against us will prevail

(Isaiah 54:17). God will strip our enemies of their sword. God is the

protector of His people. There were many times when Israel did not

understand the purpose and plan of God. Their enemies seemed to prevail,

but God would not let His people be destroyed. He cared too much for

them. He is the same God today. He cares for us and will protect us. As we

wait for the Lord and trust in Him, we too will see this same victory in His

time.

For Consideration:

Once again, we see the importance of the Lord's timing in

this passage. How is this timing evident in this section?

What weapons has the enemy been using against you? What

encouragement do you receive from this passage?

What do we learn here about how God rewards those who are

faithful to Him?

What struggle are you facing today? What are the promises

of God for you here?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is your protector.

Ask the Lord to help you to live like Esther and Mordecai in

absolute obedience to His Word, purpose and timing.

Thank the Lord that He can turn the enemy's sword against

him.

Take a moment to consider the way the Lord has guided and

blessed you. Thank Him for those blessings.

32 - PURIM: A

CELEBRATION OF

VICTORY

Read Esther 9:1-10:3

hings had radically changed for the people of God. In just a short

while, the Lord had turned the tables on Haman. A decree had

gone out in the land that the people of God were to take up arms to

defend themselves against any enemy that might attack them.

On the day of the attack, the Jews assembled in all the provinces of King

Xerxes to defend themselves. God gave the Jews victory that day. When

their enemies came to fight, the Jews defeated them. Even the nobles,

governors and satraps of the various provinces chose to side with the Jews

because they feared Mordecai who had become very important in the land.

He held a prominent position at the palace, and his reputation quickly

spread throughout the empire.

Verse 5 tells us that the Jews struck down their enemies with the sword. In

the citadel of Susa alone, the Jews killed five hundred men. Among them

were ten sons of Haman. Though they were permitted by law to plunder

their enemies, the Jews refused to do so.

When the king heard how many men were slain in Susa that day, he was

concerned. He questioned Esther about what had happened in the rest of his

kingdom. Though the numbers concerned him, Esther still found favour in

his eyes. Despite the loss of lives that day, the king still gave Esther full

permission to carry out her plan. When Esther asked permission for the

Jews to carry out the edict for one more day as well as permission to hang

the ten sons of Haman on the gallows, the king readily agreed. Esther and

Mordecai were intent on wiping out their enemies.

In all of this, we see the tremendous favour of the Lord on the Jews. From

that point on there could be no doubt in the mind of the citizens of the

Persian Empire that King Xerxes was protecting the Jews and saw them as

his friends. With Queen Esther being of Jewish nationality and Mordecai in

such a high position in government, people would have hesitated before

speaking out against the Jews.

The next day, as the king had commanded, the Jews in Susa gathered again

and put to death another 300 men, for a total of eight hundred dead in Susa.

In other provinces, another seventy-five thousand enemies lay dead at the

hands of the Jews. On the fourteenth day of the month, the Jews of the

provinces celebrated their victory. In Susa, because they were permitted to

fight one more day, they celebrated their success on the fifteenth of the

month.

Mordecai recorded these events and wrote letters to the Jews in various

provinces to have them remember the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the

month of Adar each year. Every year they were to celebrate this victory

over the enemy. The Jews were to celebrate the day by feasting, joyous

celebration and by giving gifts to one another and the poor.

The celebration is known as Purim. The name comes from the word "pur."

In Esther 3:7 Haman decided when he would carry out his evil plot by

casting the "pur." To cast the “pur” meant to cast lots. The lot may have

been some form of dice that were cast to determine the will of the gods.

Purim is the celebration of how the Lord overruled the decision made by the

"pur." The Jews of Esther's day passed down this yearly celebration to their

descendants to remember what the Lord God had done for His people.

God rewarded Xerxes for the favour he showed the Jews. He grew in

wealth and power. Mordecai also increased in power in the land. The record

of his service in Persia was written in the annals of the kings of Media and

Persia. He was held in high regard by the Jews for his work on their behalf.

In the end, the Lord God overcame the enemies of His people. While God's

people were in exile because of their sin, God still took care of them. There

were times when God's people questioned His ways and purposes. There

were times when the Jews could neither understand what God was doing

nor could they see His purpose. God had not abandoned them in their hour

of need.

I find it tremendously encouraging that all this took place as God was

punishing God's people for their rebellion against Him. It was in the land of

exile that the Lord met them in such a powerful way. This encourages me

because I see that God will keep me even when I fall short of His standard.

He loves me even when I sin. He will not abandon me because I have not

perfectly served Him. I often fall short, but God will always be faithful.

How thankful we need to be.

God will never change. What he did for His people in the days of Esther, He

will do for us today. He raises up those who seem insignificant and makes

them people of tremendous influence. He reaches out to a less than perfect

people and blesses them. As Esther and Mordecai stepped out in obedience

and faithfulness, God opened doors of opportunity and deliverance. I

believe we can trust him to do the same for us today.

For Consideration:

What is Purim? How was it celebrated?

What victories has the Lord God given you in your life? How

have you demonstrated your gratitude to God for these

victories?

Have you ever found yourself questioning the purposes and

plans of God for your life? Have things in your life ever

become overwhelming? What does this chapter teach us

about God and the victory He offers?

How vital was the favour of God on the life of Esther and

Mordecai? Is the favour of God on His children today? How

might we experience God’s favour?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the victories He has given you in your

life.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you have not

trusted Him and His purpose.

Thank the Lord for the way He goes before us to open doors.

Ask God to enable you to know His purpose and plan for

your life. Ask Him for strength and enablement to step out in

that purpose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path (LTMP) is a book writing,

publishing and distribution ministry reaching out

to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy pastors

and Christian workers around the world. To date, tens of thousands of books

are being used in preaching, teaching, evangelism and encouragement of

local believers in over sixty countries. Books have now been translated into

a number of languages. The goal is to make them available to as many

believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith-based ministry, and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light to My Path visit our