In Nehemiah, chapter two, verse eight, the hand of the Lord upon Nehemiah meant at least five things to him. He was sharing God’s purposes, as in chapter one. God was actively guiding him in verse twelve. God was granting him His favor and help, as in verse eighteen and Hebrews four, verse sixteen. God […]
The good hand of God upon me Read More »
In Nehemiah, chapter two, verse four, his first impulse always was to pray. Before answering the King’s question, he breathed a prayer to God for help and wisdom: just one of the many times in the book where Nehemiah spontaneously called upon God, as in chapter four, verses four through five, verse nine, chapter five,
In Nehemiah, chapter two, verse two, fear will always accompany an attempt to do the unusual for God. Courage is not the absence of fear but the knowledge that what one is undertaking is worth the fear. Although Nehemiah knew the human emotion of fear, the faith and courage he faced made the king enable
I was very sore afraid Read More »
In Nehemiah, chapter one, verse eleven, this “man” was Artaxerxes, King of Persia, Nehemiah prayed that God would grant him favor with the King on behalf of the Jews. When we desire to obtain anything from other people, we should first present our concerns to God. He can then move the hearts and minds of
Grant mercy in the sight of this man Read More »
In Nehemiah, chapter one, verse four, Nehemiah became deeply burdened for his people and God’s work in Judah. For four months, he poured out his heart to God in fasting and prayer with many tears because of the trouble afflicting God’s people in Jerusalem and Judah, as in Acts twenty, verse thirty-one. His prayer included
Wept mourned fasted and prayed Read More »
In Nehemiah, chapter one, verse one, he left for Persia for Jerusalem to be governor of Judah. Nehemiah came thirteen years after Ezra arrived there. He comes with a commission from the King of Persia to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, which had been broken down after Ezra attempted to rebuild the city, as in
In Ezra, chapter ten, verse eleven, the actions of Ezra and the Israelite community at this stage of history should not be considered a standard for those under the new covenant. Concerning marriage and divorce for New Testament believers, the scriptures teach the following: The believer must not wed an unbeliever, as in First Corinthians
Do His pleasure and separate yourselves Read More »
In Ezra, chapter ten, verse four, courage and decisive action in a leader are necessary to oppose worldly trends among God’s people, to issue an earnest call to sinners to turn away from sin and back to God, and to encourage obedience to His Word. Ezra demonstrated these qualities when he required that the chosen
Be of good courage and do it Read More »
In Ezra, chapter ten, verse three, Ezra required divorce for the following reasons: Marrying heathen women had constituted an act of unfaithfulness to God and His Word, as in verse ten, and chapter ten, verse two. True repentance required separation to rectify the evil. Divorcing heathen wives was necessary to maintain Israel’s purpose as a
Put away all the wives Read More »
In Ezra, chapter nine, verse three, Ezra’s response to grief and his prayer are a classic example of the concern and distress that all ministers of God should have when they see God’s people conforming to ungodly customs. Ezra was appalled, ashamed, and deeply saddened because of the guilt, as in verses three through six.Ezra
When I heard this thing Read More »
