Prayer lifts us up to God. But it does more than that. It brings God into our circumstances, too. It’s essential to learn to “weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). But it’s not enough to only weep. Rivers of tears have flowed from human eyes out into the desert of lethargic inaction. But before Nehemiah lifts […]
“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble” (1 Pet 3:8, NASB). “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah” (Neh 1:1) are the introduction to the book of Nehemiah. It’s a rare thing to find a first-person autobiography in the Bible, but this is one. We’re informed that he was busy “in […]
Spiritual accomplishments are designed so they require both faith in God and grace from God. Although Ezra and Nehemiah were individual writers inspired by the Spirit, in the Hebrew Bible their books were treated as one. While there is overlap, they each deserve their own place in the Canon. Remember, there were three waves of […]
A little old lady throws a bottle with a message into the Lake. Guess who found it? […]
Shechaniah (“dwelling with Jah”), like a shooting star, appears just long enough to light up the darkness. While Ezra was crying out to the Lord, “a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel,” also weeping bitterly (Ezra 10:1). Whatever the decision, it would have very sad results. Suddenly a man named […]
Is it just preachers and missionaries who should live by faith? Jesus says “No.” We’re not just saved by faith; we should all live by faith too. […]
Rarely are the right choice and the easy choice the same thing. God’s will is never said to be easy. At the pivot point in Ezra’s prayer, he says, “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?” (Ezra 9:10). Have you ever been in a situation where you know something has to be done […]
God’s door is open. He knows the whole story. His heart is toward us. He wants to restore us. Are we ready? The prayer of Ezra (Ezra 9:5-15) plumbs the depths of shame and humiliation as he views the ragged landscape of the nation’s “iniquities [that] have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt…grown up to the […]