Esther 9:20-22: The Power of Influence Esther 9:20-22 (NIV) “Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies,…
Faithfulness in Adversity: Insights from Esther 7:3-4 Esther 7:3-4 (NIV) “Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and…
Esther 4:14: Courage and Divine Purpose Esther 4:14 (NIV) “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?” Verse…
Nehemiah 4:14: Perseverance in Opposition Nehemiah 4:14: Perseverance in Opposition Nehemiah 4:14 (NIV) “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and…
Nehemiah 2:4-5: Prayer and Action Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV) “The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah…
Nehemiah 1:3-4: Vision and Leadership Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV) “They said to me, “Those who survived the exile are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some…
Rebuilding Together: Community and Worship in Ezra 3:10-13 Ezra 3:10-13 (NIV) “When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With…
Ezra 7:10: The Importance of God’s Word Ezra 7:10: The Importance of God’s Word Ezra 7:10 (NIV) “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” Verse Exploration In the Book of Ezra, chapter 7, verse 10, we see…
Ezra 1:1-4: Returning to God Ezra 1:1-4: Returning to God Ezra 1:1-4 (NIV) 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put…
Renewal and Restoration: A Deep Dive into 2 Chronicles 34:29-33 Renewal and Restoration: A Deep Dive into 2 Chronicles 34:29-33 2 Chronicles 34:29-33 (NIV) 29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of…