Bible Reading Plan

Author: Jon Green

  • Esther 4

    Esther 4

    Read Esther 4

    Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

    When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

    4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

    6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

    9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

    12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

    15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

    17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

    Go Deeper

    Throughout the book of Esther, there are reminders of God’s providential care for His people (without a mention of His name). It is suggested that this is a literary technique to draw the reader to look for God in each event. At this point in the story, Mordecai is mourning publicly the dangerous plight of the Jews due to Haman’s edict to slaughter all of them. Esther’s awareness of this dreadful plan through her servants results in Mordecai’s direction for her to plead with the king on behalf of her people. Esther explains that this is a really big ask of her, placing her in a life-threatening position. Mordecai counters with a remarkable statement, pointing her and us to God’s sovereign care of His people. He recognizes that the Jews’ deliverance will arise, even if Esther is silent, from somewhere, but her position as queen could be for such a time as this. Esther’s response calls for all Jews to join her in a three day fast. She then boldly commits to approach the king, imploring him to save her and her people. In v. 16, Esther reveals a brave resolve and trust in God’s providential care. 

    During this fluid account, one can observe reminders of God’s providence, accomplishing His purposes in the lives of Esther and Mordecai. God faithfully brings about His plan through the lives of imperfect people. Esther’s story is a powerful reminder, and a great encouragement, that God can and does use even those who do not acknowledge His power to accomplish His plan.

    In a world that ignores or blatantly rebels against God, a reminder of God’s providence offers Christ followers comfort, peace, hope and courage. The challenge is to remember who God is, recall His great faithfulness, and act in trust as we face situations that God has placed us in for such a time as this. Like Esther, Jesus placed Himself in a life-threatening situation willingly and boldly. Unlike Esther, He humbled Himself by dying on the cross, and, as Timothy Keller suggests, His words are not “if I perish, but when I perish.” Jesus’ surrender to God’s plan accomplished God’s purpose – to redeem and restore His people.  

    Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, confidently trusting in His ability to accomplish every purpose He designs. 

    Questions

    1. How would viewing your current life situation through the lens of “it is for a time such as this” influence your actions?
    2. When have you experienced God’s providential care? (Stop and give thanks to Him) Who may be encouraged to hear that? 
    3. Where do you need to replace fear with courage and trust, taking bold steps to identify with Christ and share the gospel?

    Dig Deeper

    We learn a lot about Esther’s faith in Esther 4:16 when she says, “If I perish, I perish.” Want to read more about the significance behind that statement? Check out this article from GotQuestions.org.

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  • Esther 3

    Esther 3

    Read Esther 3

    Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews

    After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

    3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

    5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

    7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

    8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

    10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

    12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

    15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

    Go Deeper

    Today’s reading opens with the events that unfold after Mordecai uncovers the plot against King Xerxes’ (or King Ahasuerus’, depending on your translation of Scripture) life. Xerxes replaces the men behind the plot on his life with a man named Haman. When Haman asks that the whole of the royal court bow and pay him honor, Mordecai refuses to do so, and in response, Haman conspires to have Xerxes kill all of the Jews in the kingdom.

    We learn something interesting about the backdrop of Esther’s story here. Verse 1 tells us that Haman is an Agagite. So, Haman descends from the Amalekites, God’s enemies who Saul was supposed to (but didn’t completely) destroy in 1 Samuel 15. Mordecai is a member of the tribe of Benjamin—the same tribe from which King Saul descends (Esther 2:5; 1 Samuel 9:1-2). This leads us to a couple of conclusions. 

    First, this story is not a contained narrative separate from the broader story of the Scriptures. It contains a picture of the conflict between Israel (represented by Mordecai and Esther, two Benjaminite nobles) and those outside of the family of God (represented by Haman the Agagite, a native of the land of Canaan). Biblical scholars refer to this narrative device as a type, a smaller story or conflict that illustrates a larger conflict or tension in the broader scriptural narrative. 

    Secondly, the text shows how God’s commands always have purpose—had Saul been faithful to destroy all of Amalek in 1 Samuel 15, Haman might not have had the noble standing he ascended to, or perhaps may not have even been born at all, and Israel would have been protected from a madman trying to enact genocide on her people. As confusing as a command to wipe out a city might seem, we see here that God is deeply intentional to protect His people in all His commands.

    This chapter also serves as a reminder about the nature of living as exiles. When we live as foreigners in a foreign land, there will be people and cultural pressure asking us to bow down and worship anything but God—be it a person, a political philosophy, or a cultural value. But Mordecai teaches us that when we are asked to bow before anything but God, don’t. This resolve to stand in the face of oppression, to refuse to bow before idols, is a weighty, challenging calling. It could have cost Mordecai his life, but he didn’t budge. Let’s remember we are still called to wholehearted worship to God alone today, even when the world disapproves.

    Questions

    1. What does this chapter teach you about the character of God?
    2. Is there a time God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense, but you later realized His instruction protected you from a particular hurt?
    3. What idols are asking you to bow down to them? Are you standing firm, or have you worshiped an ideology, a behavior or preference, or a person before God?

    Did You Know?

    Depending on the translation of Scripture you read, your Bible may call the King of Persia either Xerxes or Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name originally used in the text, but Bible scholars deduced over time that it seems to be a folk name for King Xerxes.

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  • Esther 2

    Esther 2

    Read Esther 2

    Esther Made Queen

    Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

    5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

    8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

    10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

    12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

    15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

    17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

    Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

    19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

    21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

    Go Deeper

    If Esther 2 were a movie, parental guidance would definitely be advised. King Xerxes is now lonely and missing his queen, so his advisors suggest he choose a queen by having hundreds of virgins from all the provinces of his kingdom parade in front of him. It is implied that he sleeps with each of them (v. 13-14), and then the king gets to choose who he would like to crown as his new wife and queen. If this sounds like an ungodly and even pagan practice, it’s because it was. 

    Before we become appalled by the fact that stories like this are in the Bible, we need to remember that King Xerxes, also known as King Ahasuerus (depending on your translation of Scripture), was not a godly man. Historically, he is often referred to as a pagan king. His behavior in chapter one, in which he threw lavish parties, got drunk, and participated in lewd behavior, seems to confirm this descriptor. Evil abounded in Xerxes’ kingdom.

    Despite the darkness, though, God is at work. Even though there is no mention of the name of God in Esther 2, we see God’s providence bring light to even the darkest of situations. Esther is one of the hundreds of young women groomed to be part of King Xerxes’ beauty pageant to choose his queen. Unlike most of the other women, though, Esther is not a native to the land and is a Jewish exile. In addition, she is an orphan. Based on her pedigree and background, Esther would be near the very bottom of the list of women likely to be chosen as queen.

    However, from the very beginning, Esther impresses Hegai, the person in charge of the harem. Verse 2:9 says, “She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.” The most unlikely of women makes an impression on the palace administration and is given food, seven maidservants, an apartment, and beauty treatments galore! When the King finally meets Esther in verse 17, we learn “the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight” (ESV). Amidst a pagan culture ruled by a pagan king who enforces pagan practices, God is not deterred. 

    We must wait to read the rest of the story to know exactly what God is up to, but for the time being, we can rest in the fact that not only is God protecting Esther, but He is silently working to bring about His will and save His people. It also gives us the assurance that no matter how bad, how evil, or how dark a situation seems, God’s plans cannot be defeated.

    Questions

    1. Esther found herself in a palace by the sovereign will of God. Where has God placed you?
    2. Has your obedience to God ever landed you in an uncomfortable situation? How can we respond in faith when we can’t see how God is moving in our lives?
    3. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Spend some time in reflection of God’s providential hand in your own life.

    By the Way

    As you read the story of Esther, notice the parallels between her story and the story of Joseph (in Genesis) and Exodus. Keep a running list of the similarities you see between all of these different narratives!

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  • Esther 1 + Introduction

    Esther 1 + Introduction

    Esther Introduction

    Esther reads more like a medieval play than a narrative in the Bible. The entire book of Esther is a fascinating story with dramatic twists and turns filled with mystery and marvel. A book whose main character, God, is not mentioned one time. This makes Esther a unique book of the Bible and one that may cause us to ask, “If the Bible is a book about God and we know all Scripture is profitable and beneficial to teach us or reveal something about Him, how do we learn from a book that is absent of His name?”

    We would be wise to dig into the pages of Esther and ask God to give us eyes to see His providence and plan. Although His name is absent from this book, He is still very active in every part of it. His silence doesn’t mean He isn’t working. If that was the only lesson we learn from this book, it would be enough—even when we feel like God is silent, He is never inactive. Nothing happens by chance. 

    Throughout the book of Esther we will encounter a few different major characters: Esther, Mordecai (her uncle), King Xerxes, and Haman (the book’s antagonist). Part of what makes the historical books in the Old Testament fun to read is that we can visualize what’s going on as each chapter unfolds. Pay close attention to the arc that this story follows and take note of all the different ways you see God moving through His people. Over the next ten chapters, engage with the story of Esther and ask yourself how God is moving in the details of your own life today. 

    Read Esther 1

    Queen Vashti Deposed

    This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.

    4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

    9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

    10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.

    13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.

    15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”

    16 Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.

    19 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

    21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.

    Go Deeper

    Esther 1 begins with the party of all parties. We cannot grasp the grandeur of it. For 180 days, the Persian King, Xerxes, flaunted his power, possessions, privilege and political strength. Read verse 4 again: “For a full 180 days, he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.” 

    We learn Xerxes is proud and misuses his power. He throws a party for people to praise his wealth and power. After the party nears an end, Xerxes saves the best for last—or so he thinks. Under the influence of much wine, Xerxes summons for his wife, Queen Vashti. Vashti is asked to be put on display for all to see. It was as if Xerxes was planning to say, “Look at my power, look at my glory, and look at my wife!”

    We don’t know much about Queen Vashti. Only that her beauty was unmatched and when her husband summoned her to show her off, she said, “No.” We don’t know why she declined. Perhaps she considered his request an affront to her dignity. Maybe she couldn’t stand her husband. Maybe she valued modesty and his request would compromise her value. We don’t know.

    The great tragedy that seems to plague us as humanity is the misuse and abuse of power. Oftentimes we read or hear of people in positions of authority mishandling and misusing their power like Xerxes did. God’s design for us never included stripping away our dignity. He never condones objectification of anyone. He never uses His power to manipulate or control. In fact, we get a picture in Philippians of the mentality and posture of the One True King whose glory and splendor and majesty are unending and unmatched:

    In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.Philippians 2:5-7

    Make no mistake. We have a King who values and gives dignity to people. He has not and will not abuse His power. His fingerprints are all over the events in Esther. His fingerprints are all over our lives, too. He alone is God. He alone is Lord. He alone is King. 

    And, no matter how the story appears at the moment, He is working for our good.

    Questions

    1. Are you easily intoxicated by power, privilege, and prestige? How does pride play out in your life?
    2. Have you abused or misused authority? If yes, what’s your plan to repent, seek forgiveness, and reconcile?
    3. Have you experienced seasons of God’s silence in your life? What do you do to stay the course in the midst of His silence? 

    Watch This

    Check out this overview of the book of Esther from The Bible Project. 

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  • Rest Day + Family Guide (Nehemiah 8-Nehemiah 13)

    Rest Day + Family Guide (Nehemiah 8-Nehemiah 13)

    Rest Day

    Each Sunday is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence.

    Each Rest Day, we will have an additional element to help you dig deeper. Sometimes it will be extra resources to further your study, a video to watch, or a podcast to listen to. Sometimes we’ll have a verse to commit to memorize to help you hide God’s Word in your heart. 

    If you have kids, our Family Guide will help you discuss what you’re reading and learning with them! It’s a great opportunity for your family to read God’s Word together and review what we read the previous week!

    Keep Digging

    Check out this helpful resource from The Bible Project for the book of Ezra & Nehemiah! 

    Family Guide

    Check out this week’s Nehemiah 8-13 Family Guide!

  • Nehemiah 13

    Nehemiah 13

    Read Nehemiah 13

    Nehemiah’s Final Reforms

    On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) 3 When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.

    4 Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, 5 and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.

    6 But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission 7 and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9 I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.

    10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

    12 All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. 13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

    14 Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

    15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah. 17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”

    19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

    Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

    23 Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. 25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. 27 Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?”

    28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.

    29 Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

    30 So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. 31 I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits.

    Remember me with favor, my God.

    Go Deeper

    The walls of Jerusalem had just been rebuilt, the people had committed themselves to God (Nehemiah 10:28-29), and Nehemiah had left Jerusalem. It was the perfect happy ending to a long story of restoration. But it didn’t last long. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to find that the people had already lost sight of the commitment they had made to God.

    The Israelites were instructed not to allow Moabites or Ammonites to enter the assembly of God (v. 1). Still, they allowed Tobiah, an Ammonite, to make his home in a temple room reserved for offerings (v. 5) and had intermarried with the Ammonites (v. 23). The people had stopped giving offerings to the house of God, so the Levites left their service in the temple and returned to their old work (v. 10). They stopped honoring the Sabbath day and used it as another day to work, trade, and sell goods. Despite the clear commands given to them, the Israelites were quick to forget their commitment to God.

    It’s easy to look at the Israelites and recognize their mistakes and how far they fell from faithfulness to God. They had so clearly lost sight of all that God had done to restore them. Yet, we often look just like the Israelites in our own lives. We lose sight of what God has done in us and begin to turn our eyes away from Him. We make small compromises that turn into larger compromises that turn into lives that look nothing like God’s best for us. When we lose sight of God’s goodness and faithfulness, we walk right back towards the sin from which Christ so graciously freed us. God has given us this opportunity for new life and a restored sense of purpose, but we are easily distracted and follow our own desires instead of His will.

    Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and helped the Israelites remember the covenant they had made. The story isn’t over for us, either. God is still faithful, even when we turn away from Him. Just like God used Nehemiah, He often uses our community to point us back to Himself and remind us of His faithfulness. Jesus paid the price to secure our salvation, knowing our inability to fully follow Him by our own strength. May we respond in praise and turn back to Him again today.

    Questions

    1. Who has God placed in your life to point you back to Him and help you walk in obedience?
    2. In what areas of your life have you been making small compromises? Confess those in prayer and to your community.
    3. From what has God given you freedom? Thank Him for His faithfulness to you.

    Keep Digging

    Read this article to learn more about the Ammonites and why it was so important for the Israelites not to intermarry with them. 

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  • Nehemiah 12

    Nehemiah 12

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    Priests and Levites

    These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:

    Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

    2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

    3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

    4 Iddo, Ginnethon,

    Abijah,

    5 Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,

    6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

    7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.

    These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.

    8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.

    10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.

    12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:

    of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;

    of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;

    13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;

    of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;

    14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;

    of Shekaniah’s, Joseph;

    15 of Harim’s, Adna;

    of Meremoth’s, Helkai;

    16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;

    of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;

    17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;

    of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;

    18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;

    of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;

    19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;

    of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;

    20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;

    of Amok’s, Eber;

    21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;

    of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.

    22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

    25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.

    Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

    27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

    31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.

    38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

    40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

    44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter in Nehemiah is really what the whole book has been building toward. The wall has been rebuilt, exiles have returned to Jerusalem, and the people of God now are able to celebrate His faithfulness. This passage gives us a detailed instruction of who was there for the dedication and describes exactly what took place. While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the list of names and places, this chapter gives us an important lesson as followers of Jesus today.  These people have just seen God answer a prayer, and they were willing to stop everything else in their life to make time for celebration.

    Unfortunately for us, the speed of our lives frequently prevents these types of celebrations from taking place. We may want to be grateful, but we just don’t have the time for it. When God answers a prayer for us, we’re prone to just start worrying about the next problem in our life. If our life lacks a dedicated time for joy-filled celebration (both individually and corporately), our relationship with Jesus will be stunted. We will begin to believe that we are doing more for Him, than what He has done for us. 

    This dedication ceremony would certainly have an important role for the Jewish people in the days ahead. There would surely be times where they would lack faith in God or a desire for God. But on those days, they could remind each other of this day of celebration of the Lord’s faithfulness. If God was able to help them rebuild the wall, couldn’t He help them in whatever situation they were in next?

     On this day there was so much celebration that “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” (v. 43). Shouldn’t this be what our lives with Jesus look like? We should take the time to get with other believers to rejoice about what God has done in our midst. And as we rejoice, others will be able to hear and take note of the goodness of our God.

    Questions

    1. What do you think it felt like to be at the dedication on that day?
    2. Why do you think it was important for everyone to be present on the day of dedication?
    3. Is there anything in your life for which you have failed to slow down and give God thanks?

    Did You Know?

    The trumpet that earlier was used as a tool to rally the workers against a potential threat (4:18) now became one of the instruments used to celebrate what God had allowed them to accomplish.

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  • Nehemiah 11

    Nehemiah 11

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    The New Residents of Jerusalem

    Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

    3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem):

    From the descendants of Judah:

    Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.

    7 From the descendants of Benjamin:

    Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9 Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city.

    10 From the priests:

    Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

    15 From the Levites:

    Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.

    19 The gatekeepers:

    Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

    20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property.

    21 The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.

    22 The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. 23 The musicians were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.

    24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in all affairs relating to the people.

    25 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its surrounding settlements, in Dibon and its settlements, in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth Pelet, 27 in Hazar Shual, in Beersheba and its settlements, 28 in Ziklag, in Mekonah and its settlements, 29 in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam and their villages, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its settlements. So they were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

    31 The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba lived in Mikmash, Aija, Bethel and its settlements, 32 in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah, 33 in Hazor, Ramah and Gittaim, 34 in Hadid, Zeboim and Neballat, 35 in Lod and Ono, and in Ge Harashim.

    36 Some of the divisions of the Levites of Judah settled in Benjamin.

    Go Deeper

    When we come to a list of names in our Bible reading we often are tempted to skip over them, but instead we should ask ourselves, why are they here? What do I have to learn from them? Let’s take a moment to review. Jewish exiles have returned to Jerusalem, which had been previously destroyed (Ezra 1-2). They rebuilt the temple (Ezra 3-6), they rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days under the leadership of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:15), and Ezra read them the law and they understood it (Nehemiah 8). Jerusalem and the Israelites are ready, it’s now time to inhabit the city God has prepared for them.

    Previously, the leaders had set an example by being the first to live in Jerusalem, but it required more people to be able to run and defend the city well. Therefore, ten percent of Judah, every tenth man from each tribe, were selected either by casting lots or through volunteering. It was not an easy commitment to live in Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah. The temple and wall had been rebuilt, but much of the city had been abandoned for over 70 years. Many of them left their families, their land, and comforts of home, to fulfill the calling of living in the city God had given them. Verses 3-36 lists out who they were and their variety of roles, such as leaders, military, priests, gatekeepers, civil and royal servants.

    Inhabiting the city took sacrifice and faithfulness. The calling on their lives looked much like the life Jesus has called us to today as believers. In the gospels, Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). There is a cost to following Jesus. It requires us to lay down our lives. Some of us face opposition from our families, leave comforts, lay down dreams or certain careers, to be a disciple. Jesus goes on to tell his disciples “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39, 16:25) He has true life and freedom ahead for us. 

    Just as God had prepared a special place for his people to dwell with Him in Jerusalem, through Jesus, we get to dwell with Him daily. When we lay aside what the world thinks is important and follow Jesus faithfully, we begin to inhabit the life God has prepared for us. Let’s step forward, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example of sacrifice and faithfulness.

    Questions

    1. What have you had to sacrifice or lay aside in order to follow Jesus?
    2. Is anything hindering you from inhabiting the life God has for you?
    3. What does John 10:10 say about the kind of life Jesus promised believers? Turn that promise into a prayer today. Let those words encourage you today

    Did You Know

    David Guzik’s Enduring Word commentary paints a clear picture of what it looked like to live in Jerusalem during Nehemiah 11:

    1. To live in Jerusalem, you had to re-order your view of material things. You had to give up land in your previous region and take up some kind of new business in Jerusalem.
    2. To live in Jerusalem, you had to rearrange your social priorities, certainly leaving some friends and family behind in your old village.
    3. To live in Jerusalem, you had to have a mind to endure the problems in the city. It had been a ghost town for 70 years, and was now basically a slightly rebuilt, somewhat repopulated ghost town. The city didn’t look all that glorious and it needed work.
    4. To live in Jerusalem, you had to live knowing you were a target for the enemy. There were strong walls to protect you, but since Jerusalem was now a notable city with rebuilt walls, the fear was more from whole armies than bands of robbers. The old village was nice, but not in much danger from great armies.

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  • Nehemiah 10

    Nehemiah 10

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    Those who sealed it were:

    Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hakaliah.

    Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

    3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,

    4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,

    5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

    6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

    7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

    8 Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah.

    These were the priests.

    9 The Levites:

    Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,

    10 and their associates: Shebaniah,

    Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

    11 Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,

    12 Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

    13 Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.

    14 The leaders of the people:

    Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

    15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

    16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

    17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

    18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

    19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

    20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

    21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

    22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

    23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

    24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

    25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

    26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

    27 Malluk, Harim and Baanah.

    28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— 29 all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

    30 “We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.

    31 “When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.

    32 “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.

    34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.

    35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.

    36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.

    37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.

    “We will not neglect the house of our God.”

    Go Deeper

    Last we left off, the returned exiles had gathered around the word of God and worshipped God for His goodness. In view of this reading, they confessed their previous failures to keep the Law of Moses before God and one another; now, the exiles seal an agreement among the people to ensure that they never again rebel against God as they had before. The people of Israel are recommitting themselves to the Lord by laying out a covenant before Him. 

    This covenant has the potential to affect lasting behavioral change because it is specific in its commitment and personal in its accountability. The people specify what it is about their behavior they will change, generally falling under three categories: a commitment to covenant faithfulness in marriage, in business dealings, and in supporting the work of God. These three broader commitments are bound together in a final oath—“we will not neglect the house of our God.”   

    The people’s covenant agreement, however, is meaningless unless someone puts his name behind it—if no one commits to be held accountable for the actions of the people, then there will be no permanence to what they swear. There were 84 leaders of the remnant out of Babylon who committed to stand in the gap and be accountable for the actions of the people, before God and one another. This is an immense commitment, given that the people at this point likely number over 50,000 if the genealogy in Nehemiah is to be believed. These leaders echo the principle we find again in James 3:1—God holds those who lead to a high standard, and they will answer for those they shepherd.

    This text is a powerful picture of how to effectively turn from sin. First, Israel specifically identifies and confesses what they did wrong. Then, they specifically identify what they will do differently. Finally, they make clear how they will be held accountable to making lasting change. Joel 2:12-14 is clear that God’s heart for repentance is not that we would just make a show of knowing we sinned, but that we would offer him our hearts once more in obedience and in affection—exactly what the exiles do here.  

    Questions

    1. What did this chapter teach you about God? What did it teach you about humanity?
    2. Try to make your own repentance covenant:
      1. What sin do you need to repent of? 
      2. What about your disobedience needs to particularly change?
      3. Who is going to hold you accountable, and how?
    3. Who can you stand in the gap for and hold accountable to repentance in your community? How might you help them commit to a faithful covenant relationship with Jesus?

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  • Nehemiah 9

    Nehemiah 9

    Read Nehemiah 9

    The Israelites Confess Their Sins

    On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. 4 Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God. 5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.”

    “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

    7 “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.

    9 “You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. 10 You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. 12 By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.

    13 “You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.

    16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.

    19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.

    22 “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24 Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.

    26 “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27 So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

    28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

    29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. 30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

    32 “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.

    36 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.

    The Agreement of the People

    38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”

    Go Deeper

    Nehemiah 9 covers the national confession of sin. The Israelites had recently completed work on the wall—what a victory! Yet, the Israelites took on a posture of humility, and they spent six hours reading from the book of the law and six hours in confession and worship. That’s twelve consecutive hours of being with the Father!

    The verses that follow communicate not only how Israel sinned, but also who God is and what He did for the Israelites. The author writes the word “you” over thirty times when speaking of God initiating or accomplishing something. Throughout the 37 verses of the chapter, the author attributes these action words to God:

    • gave
    • multiplied
    • handed
    • warned
    • heard
    • told
    • provided
    • created
    • found 
    • delivered
    • …and many more 

    These verses remind us of the initiator and sustainer that God is. The promises of God depend on God. God held the Israelites together and carried out His plan for their lives though they lived in rebellion. We can expect the same from God in our own lives. God holds the world together; we do not. God keeps our relationship with Him intact, and we get to respond to that assurance daily.

    The word “but” appears in this chapter a few times. Right before each “but,” the passage describes God’s overwhelming kindness and generosity to the Israelites.

    •  Verse 25: “They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.”
    • Verse 27: “In your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies”
    • Verse 29: “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law”

    God did not have to show abundant compassion or even warn the Israelites, yet He did. We see God’s gentleness toward people who keep missing the mark. After these same three examples, following the “but,” we see the rebellion of the Israelites.

    •  Verse 26: “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law.”
    • Verse 28: “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight.”
    • Verse 29: “But they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands.”

    When the Israelites rebelled, they weren’t trying to get on God’s good side. Yet, their bad behavior didn’t change God’s character. God is kind, and He wasn’t just kind to them once. His kindness won’t run out on us either. He keeps His promises regardless of our actions. Though the Israelites suffered consequences from sin, God continued to deliver them and extend compassion to them. He is truly a “gracious and merciful God” who “keeps his covenant of love” (v. 31-32). Be reminded that God’s love for us is so much greater than ours could ever be for Him. 

    Questions

    1. How have you seen God’s kindness to you despite your failures?
    2. Have you spent time in confession and prayer about the ways you’ve missed the mark?
    3. What is one way this week you can act in humility?

    A Quote

    “The great basis of the Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.”—Tim Keller

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