“When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!” —Edgar A. Guest We’re told in our decadent Western society that it’s dangerous to be too busy. Some have selected this as their favorite Bible verse: “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, […]
“By Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,…giving thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). “And when the seventh month had come,…the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem” (Ezra 3:1). For seventy long years the temple site had lain in ruins. The newly arrived inhabitants were using the revived Jewish calendar, with […]
Godly heroism—it comes in all shapes and sizes. In the face of unspeakable terror and cruelty, hear the words of a woman and her sons. No surprise if you weep and rejoice at the same time. […]
“When I see the Lord Jesus Christ, I simply want to be what He wants me to be.” —Oswald Chambers Did you notice the mention of Barzillai in Ezra 2:61? Actually there are two by that name. And there’s a lesson here that we can’t miss. We met the original Barzillai, an octogenarian who met […]
Read More… from March 7, 2025 — “Content To Let The World Go By”
When I was asked to write for this paper some years ago, I expressed my belief that “every article should have what they used to call a ‘point.’” “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) He was gracious in what He said, but people never got the idea that He was just passing […]
“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream” (Ps 126:1). Unlike the long recorded journey from Egypt to Canaan, the four-month trip from Babylon to Jerusalem, covering nearly 900 miles (1,448 km), is hardly mentioned. The numbers of their camels and mules, their horses and donkeys, are mentioned (Ezra […]
Missing from earth’s honor rolls, how wonderful to have my name written above in the autograph of God. As we examine the list of names in Ezra 2, two facts should be obvious. First, as in many lists already viewed earlier in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Lord doesn’t miss a thing. Unlike world rulers, God […]
With “an understanding heart” (1 Ki 3:9), Solomon foresaw both human failure and divine forgiveness. Solomon had prophesied it (1 Ki 8:46-50). The Lord had promised it (9:3). Daniel had prayed it (Dan 6:10; 9:3-19). The angel Gabriel proclaimed it (v 24). Now the people were practicing it (see Ezra 2:1-70). What was IT? Solomon’s prayer included […]