Exploring the Scriptures Together
Nehemiah 11:1-12:30; Psalms 120-124 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. Nehemiah 12:27 God’s people rightly celebrate the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. …
Continue reading “September 25 / Nehemiah 11:1-12:30; Psalms 120-124”
Psalm 119:81-176 See:
Psalms 1, 91, 119:1-80 Today we jump back into the Psalms, reading those that were likely written during the “postexilic” period. We might notice that — on the surface — some of these psalms may seem somewhat contrary to the message of Job, sounding a bit like Job’s friends with the “good things happen to …
Nehemiah 8-10 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who …
Nehemiah 5-7 Today Nehemiah confronts a problem that is all too common: the exploitation of the weak by the powerful. The not-so-noble nobles and officials are exacting exorbitant interest on loans to the poor, driving them further and further into debt so that their only recourse is to turn over their land or even their …
Nehemiah 1-4 Today we meet Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes, the king of Persia. It’s now 445/444 BC, 13 years since Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem and nearly a century since the return of the first exiles under Cyrus. While living in the Persian capital of Susa, Nehemiah hears of the poor condition of Jerusalem, particularly …
Ezra 7-10 Assuming that the Artaxerxes mentioned in Ezra 7:1 is Artaxerxes I, it is now 458 BC, and Ezra, the priest and scribe for whom this book is named, arrives on the scene. Ezra is a scholar who is well versed in the Law of Moses. (Ezra 7:6,10-12) As we can see from the …
Ezra 4:6-23; Malachi 1-4 Offering up second-rate (or worse) sacrifices to the LORD. Begrudging the LORD His due. Treating the LORD as wearisome. Cozying up to the world. Breaking promises and covenants. Calling evil good. Swearing falsely. Oppressing the weak and disadvantaged. Skimping on tithes to the LORD. Considering serving the LORD to be wasted …
Esther 6-10 Our story of Esther takes a dramatic turn today, with a complete reversal of “fortunes” for Mordecai and Haman in particular and for the Jews and their enemies in general. By “coincidence” the king cannot sleep the night before Esther’s second banquet and chooses to have boring historical records read to help put …
Esther 1-5 As the story of Esther begins, it’s now about 483 BC. Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes I) reigns over the Persian Empire. Although the people of Judah are no longer held captive, many continue to live abroad in the lands of exile (as is clearly still true today). Our story focuses on two such Jews, …