Read Nehemiah 4-5
 
Nehemiah 4:1-4 Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap – and charred ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!”
 
THE nations around Judah and Israel benefited from a ruined, defeated Jerusalem. God’s glory – his power and his rule – had been gone from his city for the 70-year exile and another 80 years of inconsistent efforts to re-establish the city and nation. A strong country was gone. A beautiful city still lay in ruins. The LORD’s people seemed weak and powerless. Surely they would never rise again.
   But wait. What’s that sound In Jerusalem? It is the sound of men and women working to move dirt and rubble. “Do you see that? The walls are going up? What’s happening?” Judah’s enemies – God’s and Nehemiah’s enemies – ridiculed the rebuilding. Surely those weak Jews’ would build weak walls. They were bullies who attempted to make the Jews succumb to ridicule. But the mockers ignored one thing. Judah’s God was their helper. He was their strength. Their trust was in the LORD. Judah’s God was empowering them to build. Judah’s God was protecting them. Judah’s God had given them a vision, leaders and will to rebuild.
   Nehemiah, the good leader, stood in the LORD’s power. “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the LORD, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” God’s leader spoke God’s power into his people.
   It is possible in their heart Sanballat and Tobiah and the others knew there would be no stopping Nehemiah and his people. Nehemiah had authority from the earthly king and the heavenly King. He was truly God’s man, a good shepherd to justly lead.
   One thing we must note: Nehemiah was a warrior. He did not relent. A spiritual battle was raging over Jerusalem. In response, Nehemiah stayed true to God, trusting the LORD of Heaven’s armies to guide his people into this battle. God’s enemies would receive judgment. God’s people would receive reward.
   What’s your story? Are you seeing only a pile of rubble around you? Then believe that you, too, can be a warrior for your LORD. Trust God to lead you to denounce the bully Satan. Rebuild your life Jesus’ resurrection power. Be strong and courageous in the rebuilding. Stand firm against those who will doubt and mock you. There will be many such people. There is much more of God.
 
 

Read Nehemiah 1-3
 
Nehemiah 1:4-6 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!”
 
THE man Nehemiah is a very practical example of faithful God-inspired leadership. As Christians are called to lead in God’s kingdom, we can learn much from Nehemiah.
   The first thing we learn is that a proper grief can compel us to action. Are you grieved about some aspect of your own life, your family, your faith, your nation and/or your church? Would you like those circumstances to change? Then Nehemiah teaches you to first seek the LORD. Second, you must respond to what the LORD points you to do. Seek God’s wisdom. Go do what he tells you.
   For example, there are people who become politicians, business people, missionaries, soldiers, social workers, teachers, attorneys, nurses, engineers, farmers, etc. because they believe God is leading them to those vocations. They see their work as a means to respond to issues that grieve them. History records a great number of people who have helped improve the human condition, even changed cultures and worldviews, as they worked to solve poverty, slavery, hunger, disease and hard labor. Some of the world’s most effective companies, governments and ministries came about because some one person or a small group of people grieved the circumstances they witnessed. They understood some new efforts and means were needed to solve the issues. Then they did something about it.
   Nehemiah, cupbearer to a king, became an active, committed servant of God. Being a cupbearer to one of the world’s most powerful kings, as dangerous as that could be, did not qualify him to rebuild Jerusalem. But his love for God and his faith in God did.
   Read his humble prayer and pray it for yourself. See its confession, intercession and compassion. Read how Nehemiah specifically asked God to grant his desires and ease his grief in the will of God.
   Too often when something grieves us, we may say, “It is what it is.” Well, that could be true because no one does anything to change “it”. Maybe it’s time you did.

Read Ezra 9-10
 
Ezra 9:8a, 9 “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the LORD our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant…9 For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”
 
READING these words amid Ezra’s prayer, one would believe all is well in Jerusalem. Unfortunately there is much more to the prayer that expresses deep shame for the sin in Judah. “I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads.” (Ezra 9:6) and “We have abandoned your commands!” (Ezra 9:10)
   Ezra, who has come to teach God’s law in Judah, has learned the men of Israel disregarded God’s lessons. They have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. (Ezra 9:1-2) Ezra’s praise of God’s grace in his prayer is telling the Jews to wake up! How, he wonders, can they so blatantly disobey God when he has given them so much of himself?
   During our study through the Bible, we have too often seen the grievous results of Israel’s men marrying pagan women. Even before the nation reached the Promised Land, God’s deadly judgment purged such relationships from the camp (Numbers 27). Samson’s and Solomon’s weaknesses very pointedly illustrate this deadly practice corrupted God’s chosen leaders. Those types of marriages led to idolatry, which led to exile. In utter despair, Ezra cries out, “Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives?” (Ezra 9:14b)
   But praise God. Ezra 10 reveals something new in Judah. It is called grief, confession and repentance of sin. A very large crowd of people from Israel – men, women, and children – gathered and wept bitterly with him. (Ezra 10:1b) They confessed, “We have been unfaithful to our God. Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. (Ezra 10:2-3) Three months later the leaders began a remarkable process to put their words into action. Then the names of each offender was written for all present and future Jews to know!
   What do you think? Would you like your name written in a book detailing your sins? Is this too harsh? It’s not if you remember the terrible cost of idol worship.
   In truth, your sins will be revealed as you stand before God. But we thank God you can know there is a new covenant truth in Ezra’s praise, “For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery.” We’re more accustomed to hear this in such language as Ephesians 2:4-5 But God was so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
   What do you think? Surely we should be committed to God to live fully in his law. Daily in your prayers and conversations express gratitude God has saved you. Live right. Love the LORD and his Word. You will be sure to rejoice forevermore when your name is written in the Book of Life. 

Read Ezra 7-8
 
Ezra 7:25-26 “And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. 26 Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”
 
TO help us understand the events of the “end-of-exile books” – Haggai, Ezra, Zechariah, Esther, Malachi and Nehemiah (next), it helps to know these history and prophecy books were written from about 540 – 430 BC. The priest Ezra wrote Ezra 1-6 as an historian to record the events of the first years the Jews returned. Ezra 7 begins 57 years later.  
   Haggai and Zechariah also tell of the first people who returned under Zerubbabel, the governor, and Jeshua, the priest. Esther’s story occurred during the 57 years between Ezra 6 and 7. The Temple was completed also in 515 BC.
   Then God moved Ezra to Jerusalem be a scribe and a teacher. He had no special position in Persia. God touched Ezra to go and Artaxerxes to send him. Writing and teaching were Ezra’s gifts. That’s why the king encouraged him to use the wisdom your God has given you to lead and teach.
   One lesson we must continually grasp as we journey through the Bible is this teaching from the apostle Paul: Romans 13:1a all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. We see this in Egypt and through the years of the Divided Kingdom. During the exile, God particularly used Babylon’s prideful Nebuchadnezzar to declare God’s majesty. He has equipped the Persian rulers Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes to order the Jews to return home to rebuild the Temple. Artaxerxes even seems to have spoken here as a prophet. He is a man of the law who knows the law’s primacy. An absolute ruler required absolute obedience. The LORD God was not Artaxerxes’ god, but the Persian king knew he is the Jews’ absolute God. His message to Ezra was clear then and remains sure today. What else must we do but use our wisdom to know the law, teach the law and enforce the law?
          King Jesus commands us to do exactly that in his authority. Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” One thing we often miss in this “Great Commission” is Jesus’ declaration of his authority. He is absolute King of the church. His commands are clear. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach the new disciples to obey. Jesus has given us the command to go. And Scripture is clear elsewhere he will punish deliberate disobedience. We must be wise to know Jesus’ truths and disciplined in Jesus’ authority to teach his absolute commands. In this all believers will enjoy his grace, so we will live in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23:6b)
​

Read Malachi
 
Malachi 3:16-17 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. 17 “They will be my people,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.”
 
THERE are many in the world and even in the church who wonder, “Why know the Bible? Such an old book can’t be real for my life.” Such doubts and questions come from people who often hear God’s Word – maybe most Sunday mornings in church – but neglect to truly learn its powerful truths to affect each minute of our lives. Our sin nature forms our expectations to believe God’s will is done on earth only when he meets our desires. Our mindset is something like this: “Surely the LORD God is ready and willing to give me what I want. If he doesn’t, he’s not real for my life.”  We might also look upon wealthy, successful people who disdain God. Then we may complain as the faithless Jews, “What’s the use of serving God?” (Malachi 3:14)
   But we thank God for the faithful Jews, who feared the LORD and spoke with each other. What joy, too, that even in his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
   In other words, the names of God’s faithful people were written in a book as a testimony to their faith. These are the faithful people who understood God is holy. They believe God’s will is God’s will, not our desires, that will be done on earth. Our relationship with our Father in heaven becomes true when we fear – we respect, honor and revere him.   
   God promises such people, “They will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.” Think of this! God treasures his own. He holds you in high value. This is for you, church, who are all who faithfully strive to believe in God and to believe God.
   One commentator summarizes God’s promise in this way: (1) “The LORD promises to keep a permanent record of those who bring honor to him by the way they live. (2) God recognizes and remembers our faithfulness to him and our love for him. When we stand before him at the time of judgment, he will reward us eternally as we truly live in the fear of God, devoted to worship, honor, obey and love him.”
   In the way the Jews wrote the names of faithful believers, God is doing the same: Revelation 21:26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
          Is your name there? You will know the answer when you know how to answer the question, “Do you fear God?”

Read Esther 5-10
 
Esther 5:1 On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance.
 
“ON the third day” as recorded in Scripture is often a time of preparing for some significant event. The most evident is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then the Lord opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.” 
   In addition, there are about 48 references to “on the third day” throughout the Bible. Because this appears so often, surely God has a reason. Let’s examine a few, so we can understand God’s purpose with three days.
   First, life came to earth on the third day: Genesis 1:12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. Next, we see Abraham walking to Mt. Moriah at God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac: Genesis 22:4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. About 400 years later the LORD God revealed himself to his people this way: Exodus 19:11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
   Three days was the LORD’s timeframe to help King Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:5-6 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life.’”  We turn then to Jesus’ first recorded miracle: John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. (NIV) So then, “Why the third day?”
   It seems to be the mark of life. Each account above relates to creation, commitment, healing and resurrection. Three days is a God-ordained time to bring his glory from heaven unto the earth. The consistency of the third day tells us God is constant. He works in an orderly fashion to give life.
   That certainly is what happened here in Esther 5. God revealed to Esther her task to go to the king. Just as Abraham going to Mt. Moriah, Esther turned to God to walk with God while waiting on God. She knew in one way or another God would act in his purpose. Esther faithfully called on the LORD. She knew her steps were impossible without God’s strength moving her. Her responsibility was to obey.  
   What decision is facing you today? Perhaps you can trust God to give you an answer as you commit for three days to seek his direction for your life. He is pointing the way for you to go. Do you trust him to go there?
 

​The Big Issues
Read Esther 1-4
 
Esther 1:1 These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia…11 (Esther said) “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.”…13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
 
LET’S consider issues that confront us. Some are little and quickly disappear. Others loom large to threaten our peace and cause great fear. How do we respond?  
   The power of God’s Word is displayed in the real ways it teaches us to live a real life. No, the Bible doesn’t teach about living the easy life. But the Living Word calls us to commit to truth. This is the power of Esther’s story.
   We enter into the life of a simple young girl God used to demonstrate his gracious, powerful and unrelenting presence with his people in Persia. Esther was an orphan, raised by her uncle Mordecai. He was a learned man. Mordecai was a faithful man. He was purposeful to teach Esther who she is.
   She was a Jew. She was one of God’s chosen people. She was unique in her beauty. God used those traits to make her queen in Xerxes’ court. Then a deadly decree confronted her with life-changing choice. Her people – all the Jews – were to be killed. The only way to stop this was to turn from her fear and turn to face the most powerful man in the world. The whim of the king could destroy her.
   At first, Esther did as any of us would do. She wavered. But she then did what few of us would do. She stared back into the fear. Esther could do this because she turned face God. Esther believed God’s promises and believed in God’s power to do his will. She fasted and prayed to prepare for her task. She called other Jews in Susa to fast and pray for her. Esther humbled her heart, submitted to God and turned from fear to seek God’s face. That’s what God’s followers do.
   In turn, God uses people who do that. He used Esther for victory. God honored and blessed Esther to fulfill his will to protect his people in Persia.
   Are you facing fear? Then turn and face God. Let him strengthen you to do what you need to do.
 
 

Read Zechariah 9-14
 
Zechariah 14:3-4 Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south…7 yet there will be continuous day! Only the LORD knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light. 8 On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter. 9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD—his name alone will be worshiped.
 
AS Zechariah concludes, this follows the common prophetic pattern. It begins with two very difficult verses of God’s judgment on Jerusalem. But then God graciously directs us to his salvation. This is sin’s severity and salvation’s power of God’s final victory over sin.
   Indeed, what wondrous images we have of God’s triumph for our souls. First is the magnificent image of Jesus standing on Olivet to declare his kingship. This mount just east of Jerusalem’s Temple is likely the place from where Jesus ascended. This is Jesus’ visual fulfillment: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
   Water, from first to last, is God’s image and source of life. Water covers the earth in the first creation. As declared in Ezekiel 37, Living Water then flows through the new creation. Jesus said it would: John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
   Third is God’s eternal light to cover his city. Light was the revelation of God’s presence in the new earth: Genesis 1:2-3 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
    How surely and plainly the gospel’s life message moves throughout the earth. The truth of God comes through the law, the prophets, the gospels and the epistles. Prophet to prophet, testament to testament, apostle (messenger) to apostle the Holy Spirit moves life to the human mind. How is it possible the gospel can be so distorted or ignored?
   Be eager each day to drink of God as the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. (Psalms 42:1) Might there be something that dies your soul and weakens your view of God? Then be assured: The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1)