Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Good morning to each one of you. It is cold and sunny in Ohio but a good cup of hot coffee makes the morning chill disappear. I hope that our study of Nehemiah & Ezra is used of God to help us cultivate Godly character in our individual lives.  When I survey the cultural and political trends in America I am reminded how morally bankrupt our nation has become.  Christians must seek to be men, women and children of integrity, honesty and live in obedience to God's word.  We should ask the LORD to work in our hearts and change us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Our Father in heaven is ready and willing to do this work in us just as Christian parents are ready and wiling to tie the hearts of their children to the LORD. {An artists rendition of Nehemiah leading the reconstruction of the walls at Jerusalem.}  What a daunting project this was for Nehemiah to complete.  He had a good mind and was able to prioritize the work and to organize ...

At the end of Nehemiah 1, his time of prayer and fasting is over and Nehemiah committed all that was on his heart into the Lord's hand. Nehemiah resumed his duties as the cupbearer and he noted that previously he was generally cheerful before King Artaxerxes.  On this day, however, Nehemiah was saddened by the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem.  He was miserable and vexed because things were hard for Jewish people in their homeland. Artaxerxes was an attentive ruler and he knew that something was amiss.  He asked Nehemiah why he was sad and could see that it was "sorrow of the heart." Not only was Nehemiah sad for the Jewish people, he also knew that he lived or died at the pleasure of the King and therefore he was afraid for his life.  Yet, Nehemiah had prayed to Jehovah and was given boldness enough to clearly state the reasons why he was sad.  He spoke of the poor condition of Jerusalem with pertinent details. Nehemiah 2:1-3 And it came to pass in the m...

This morning is a gray November day but we have enjoyed good coffee and breakfast together and we are getting ready to read the scriptures as a family. I hope that each one of you are enjoying your morning whether you are at home or out and about. We are moving into the book of Nehemiah since it is closely connected to all that happened in the book of Ezra. The period of history in the book of Nehemiah begins about 12 years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem.  I am putting in the chart we used before so that we can have a timeline in front of us.  The book of Esther falls between the first group returning to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel and the second group led by Ezra. Haggai and Zechariah both prophesied during the migration led by Zerubbabel. The book of Malachi was written before Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem the second time.  The chart notes that Nehemiah came two different times to Jerusalem because he still had duties that necessitated his return to Kin...

It is a good morning when we begin the day with reading the Word of God and enjoy a good cup of coffee.  Caffeine wakes us up and the scriptures revive our minds and spirits.  Holy men and holy things polluted The book of Ezra ends on a somewhat sad note.  The last 2 paragraphs contain a list of those who had married pagan wives. First, we see that 17 priests, 10 Levites, a singer and 3 gatekeepers had intermarried.  The last paragraph lists 84 other names of men who married pagan wives.  Ezra 10:18-24 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, ...

Good morning to all and I pray that we are all energized to do all things for the glory of God this day, whether doing chores, getting groceries or if we are going to school or work.  Ezra's humble but hurting heart is used of God to impact those around him The text below gives us an indication that the Spirit of God has been at work. Ezra continued to be severely impacted bu the people's sins. He prayed and confessed their sins with many tears. He cast himself down at the house of God because only Jehovah could help them.  He was a man of a humble spirit and a contrite heart even though he did not commit the sin, he was part of the remnant that did sin. Ezra's ongoing heartache and humility of heart before the Lord is most striking.  After a while a great congregation of men, women and children came to Ezra weeping and sorrowing for their sins. This is how we know that the Spirit of God is at work. He labors to convict us of our sins so that...

Good morning to each Reader and I hope it is a joyous day for each one of you.  Please pray that our wonderful God and Savior Jesus Christ will continue to help this Bible study blog reach into the world carrying the light of His Truth to those who need it the most.  I am grateful to each of you who share this blog with others or who are using it in your own circle of family and friends to understand what God is saying to us. May He be pleased with our response to His word. Ezra discharges his duties with honesty and carefulness Ezra faithfully completes his duties with scrupulous care.  The trip was made and God protected them from robbers and murderers along the way.  We see that special phrase "the hand of our God was upon us" as Ezra gives glory to Jehovah for their safety.  It took the group 3 days to settle in at Jerusalem and on the 4th day Ezra had all the silver, vessels and other items associated with the Temple transferred to the chief p...

Good day to everyone joining us to study God's eternal truth.  The wonderful character of Ezra will be on full display today and the church can learn much from this humble man of God.  Ezra's humble posture before his God I mentioned in our last post about the humility of Ezra.  The concluding text of Ezra 7 puts that on display for us.  God included this in the inspired record so that we can see what a man (or woman) of integrity looks like.  I think Ezra was so overwhelmed by the outpouring of God's goodness that his happy heart burst with praises to Jehovah.  First, he blesses Jehovah Elohim, the One, True God of heaven and earth.  Second, he acknowledged that Jehovah can turn a king's heart any direction that He deems necessary and Artaxerxes was stirred to offer the strongest possible support to Ezra.  Next, Ezra praises Jehovah Elohim for His abundant mercy that was showered upon this humble priest.  The result of this i...

Good morning to all. It is a quiet morning in Northeast Ohio. Sunshine is over the horizon and illuminating tree tops around us. Birds of all kinds are busy flying in and out of our feeder and the pesky squirrels are chasing each other around. Fascinating to watch all the playful interactions of animals that God created. Ezra now comes on the scene and it begins with his family genealogy.  You notice that he is a direct descendant from Aaron and ultimately from Levi, the father of the Levites.  Ezra's family history is found in Ezra 7:1-5. We will see much about the excellent character of Ezra.  The text below begins by reminding us that it is "this Ezra"  (who is descended from Aaron) who is the man we are learning about. There may have been others with the same name but "this Ezra" stands out.  Ezra was a ready scribe Ezra was a ready scribe.  This term means that he had dedicated himself to studying the Law of Moses and not all the extra thin...