“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 Jn 4:1). Here’s the irony of the situation. The people who wrote the letter to Artaxerxes to convince him to stop the building project in Jerusalem didn’t even belong in the Land. And they had not emigrated by choice; they […]
“Hate” has four letters, but so does “love”; “lying” has five letters, but so does “truth.” Write wisely. Normally it’s impolite to read someone else’s correspondence. But in this case, it’s encouraged. The Spirit included these written communications “for our learning” (Rom 15:4). I wonder if the authors of these letters might have said some things differently […]
It’s so 21st century! Sending propaganda through the media to ruin the reputation of others. The adversaries’ initial efforts to stop the temple project came to nothing, so they decided to bring out the big guns with a letter-writing campaign. Anyone seeking to understand Ezra 4 needs to be a little familiar with the kings […]
The enemy’s goal is distraction, division, despair. “But God is the strength of my heart” (Ps 73:26). Ezra 3 concludes as follows: “many of the…old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid…Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the […]
Read More… from March 13, 2025 — Who Shows Up At The Worksite?
“Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (Jn 17:11). When Solomon’s temple was built, David had already laid in store what was needed to start the project. But this time we don’t read of warehoused provisions, outstanding craftsmen to supervise, or skilled artisans […]
“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. […]