Old Testament: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14 Read this passage on BibleGateway.com Nehemiah 1:1-3:14 The Second Decree Remember Nehemiah and Ezra are linked as are Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra brought his exiles back to Jerusalem fifty years after Zerubbabel brought back the initial exiles after the decree of Cyrus […]
Spiritual Rants: “One Bad Apple” August 9 Daily Bible Readings in a year: Ezra 8:21-9:15 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Psalm 31:1-8 Proverbs 21:1-2
Old Testament: Ezra 8:21-9:15 Read this passage on BibleGateway.com Ezra 8:21-9:15 A Slow Fast Ezra proclaimed a fast. The purpose was that the Jews could humble themselves before God. Have you heard of fasting? It means to go without food for a period of time. Do you know why you haven’t heard of it? […]
Spiritual Rants: “Pity The Fool” August 8 Daily Bible Readings in a year: Ezra 7:1-8:20 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 Psalm 30:1-12 Proverbs 20:28-30
Old Testament: Ezra 7:1-8:20 Read this passage on BibleGateway.com Ezra 7:1-8:20 A “Good Hands” Person Ezra returned to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (v.7). It took him about four months of traveling to get there. He was not in the first wave of exiles to return. He brought about 2,000 more exiles […]
Spiritual Rants: “Don’t Look A Gift Teacher In The Mouth” August 7 Daily Bible Readings in a year: Ezra 4:24-6:22 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 Psalm 29:1-11 Proverbs 20:26-27
Old Testament: Ezra 4:24-6:22 Read this passage on BibleGateway.com Ezra 4:24-6:22 Tattenai Tattooed The enemy’s ploy worked and the work on the Temple stopped. But Haggai and Zechariah (yes, that Haggai and Zechariah) began prophesying and encouraging the Israelites to restart the work on the Temple (v. 5). Of course, they were met with […]
Spiritual Rants: August 6 “Attacked!” Readings to read through the Bible in a year: Ezra 3:1-4:23 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4 Psalm 28:1-9 Proverbs 20:24-25
Old Testament: Ezra 3:1-4:23 Read this passage on BibleGateway.com Ezra 3:1-4:23 Attacked! It’s a shame that it takes a disaster to wake God’s people up to do what they should. After our one hundred thirty year-old church building burnt down (I had recently warned them to install better security), everyone was happy to get back […]