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In Esther, chapter three, verse two, Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman because of his loyalty to God, as in verse four. The honor paid to Haman by the king’s servants and others either was undeserved or bordered on conduct reserved by the Jews only for the worship of God. Therefore, Mordecai would not consent […]

In Esther, chapter two, verse twenty, although Esther had been chosen and crowned queen of the great Persian empire as in chapter two, verse seventeen, she was not puffed up with pride and self-importance because of her newly attained status and power. She did not despise her lowly cousin’s advice, nor did she disdain her

In Esther, chapter two, verse seventeen, the Persian king appointed Esther as the queen. The illustration shows how God can turn the hearts of sinful people to serve His purposes, as in Proverbs twenty-one, verse one. Esther was now in a position to help her people when the need arose about five years later. God

In Esther, chapter two, verse four, the book of Esther, although it contains no explicit mention of God, shows His continuing providence over the Jewish people. He directs, overrules, and uses the actions of men and women to accomplish His purposes and to persevere His chosen people. The book displays God’s foresight and providence in

In Nehemiah, chapter thirteen, verse twenty-five, Nehemiah contended with these people in chapter thirteen, verses eleven and seventeen. He cursed them, smote off their men, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God: Ye shall not give your daughters: On the recurrence of such marriages after the separations effected by Ezra of

In Nehemiah, chapter thirteen, verse seventeen, God’s people were allowing their business interests and their desire for things of the world to destroy obedience to God’s command to make the Sabbath a day of rest. The keeping holy the Lord’s Day forms a significant object for their attention that would promote true godliness. Religion never

In Nehemiah, chapter thirteen, verse twelve, Nehemiah restored worship in the temple, along with the ministries of the Levites and singers. As a result, the people were bringing their tithes to the very room that Eliashib had given to Tobiah. People are much more willing to tithe when they see the worship of God bringing

In Nehemiah, chapter thirteen, verse seven, Nehemiah had returned from Persia and was away from Jerusalem for some time, as in verses six through seven. When he returned, he discovered that the chosen people of God in Jerusalem had become lax in their moral and spiritual commitment to Him, and chapter thirteen records a number

In Nehemiah, chapter thirteen, verse three, the exclusion of pagan foreigners from Israel was to erect a barrier between God’s people and the wicked practices of unbelievers. The understanding of why God desired this is in the inherent tendency of His people to conform to the ways, pleasures, and lifestyles of the world. An essential

In Nehemiah, chapter ten, verse twenty-nine, the revival by Ezra in chapters eight through ten resulted in a firm commitment to obey the will of God. The people dedicating themselves to serving the Lord in faithfulness. Abide to His commandments, keeping unspotted and separate from the world. The commonality owned and ratified what the nobles