September 28 - Nehemiah 8-10: Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites Renew God's Covenant with God's Chosen People

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 8-10

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Nehemiah and Ezra lead Israel to rededicate their lives to God.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Everyone gathered to hear Ezra read the Revelation of Moses. Priests and Levites helped everyone understand it.
Nehemiah and Ezra sent everyone home to celebrate a holy day with their neighbors.
Israel's leaders gathered to deepen their understanding of the revelation. Israel celebrated the Feast of Booths for the first time since Joshua's days.
Ezra read from Moses' Revelation daily.
A few weeks later everyone confessed their sins and broke ties with foreigners. A group of Levites retold how God blessed their ancestors though they would not obey Him. Israel pledged to obey God then signed and sealed the pledge.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Nehemiah and Ezra work together to "re-baptize" Israel's hearts.

This section is similar to Exodus 24 and Deuteronomy 27 where Moses and Aaron lead Israel to promise to obey God; Joshua 24 with Joshua's challenge to Israel; and the dedication of the Temple in Honor of God with Israel responding to Solomon's prayer. It is meant to re-center Israel on obeying God's Word found in God's Law—similar to how baptism centers our minds on our Calling. They wanted Israel to publically seal their part in the Law, like baptism publically seals our part as God's Chosen People. Public proclamation of God's Word centers a group on God's Way.

Nehemiah and Ezra station Levites to help Israel understand the Law while they read the Law.

Ezra knows that reading God's Law does not help a person become wholly for God. They must live a life of setting things right to be holy. To help Israel live God's Law they positioned Levites throughout the area to help Israel understand what was being read. Later they brought together the heads of each family and the civic leaders "to get a deeper understanding of the words of The Revelation" (8:13, The Message). It pays immediate dividends—they celebrate the Feast of Booths for the first time since the days of Joshua. When God's Chosen People seek to understand God's Word, they can set things right.
One of the reasons I wanted to do this Bible in a year project was because I had read through the Bible in a year twice but felt I did not understand very much. I did not understand how all the pieces fit together and wanted to spend time each day putting them together. Thanks to the Petaluma Church I've had a chance to do that. By providing this resource I hope you have understood more of God's Way as presented in God's Word.

The Levites retell the story of God's Love for His Chosen People—Israel—to give a common bond.

We have read the entire Spirit-led, written history of Israel in nine months. This is a period of over 1000 years. In addition, almost no one in Ezra's audience grew up in Israel's land. They needed something to remind them of God's faithfulness to Abraham's descendents. It reminded Israel of God's perfect Holiness and Israel's record of unholiness. They had a chance to distance themselves from their father's sins and renew their Covenant with God. God wants the Story of His Faithfulness to Abraham's Descendents to be known to keep our Covenant fresh in our minds.
I hope churches keep track of their congregation's history beyond sheer numbers and names. Seeing how God helped the congregation through one test after another, even when the congregation failed to stay holy to God, helps the members see how God is working in their church today. I am afraid we stay in a 2000+ year-old history lesson and give the impression all God cares for now is the number of people who walk into the auditorium each Sunday. Let's tell our story completely from the Abram until today. Don't stop with John and the Revelation. That history may not be pretty, but it's to show God's Faithfulness, not ours.

Do you know the full history of your congregation of God's Chosen People?

September 25 - Ezra 7-10: Ezra Goes to Jerusalem; Israelites Separate from Foreign Wives

Today’s Reading: Ezra 6-10

The Message

English Standard Version

Ezra brings us to 36 books! Only 3 left.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The sin Ezra prays to God about is unholiness not interracial marriage.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

King Artaxerxes sent Ezra, a descendent of Aaron dedicated to studying, living, and teaching God's Word, to Jerusalem to restart Temple worship.
Ezra asked Levites to join the travelling party. They fasted and prayed for wisdom and guidance from God. When they arrived they offered sacrifices.
Ezra learned that some Israelites had married foreign women. Ezra ripped his clothes and prayed to God because they made ties with the people in the land.
Shecaniah suggested everyone remove their foreign wives and children and separate from the people of the land to honor God's Law. Israel agreed and did just that.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Ezra was sent to Jerusalem because Artaxerxes saw he was dedicated to God.

What a great description of Ezra. He was not only dedicated to learning God's Law, he was dedicated to living God's Law. Because of this God was with Him and Artaxerxes could see this. When God's Chosen People dedicate themselves to God's Law, the whole world knows God is with them.

Ezra sought God's guidance on his life.

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was not as safe as today; therefore, Ezra asked God to help him and the others arrive safely. They wanted God's guidance in how much to request in gold and assistance for the Temple. God's Chosen People should ask God for guidance in all areas of life.

The issue with foreign wives is a matter of allegiance, not race.

The last two chapters of Ezra are often ignored because they seem to bring a contradiction in something we will read next week. What we must understand when reading this section is that they are not suggesting divorcing these women because they want to keep Israel's blood pure. Back in the book of Exodus God told Israel

Be careful that you don't make a covenant with the people who live in the land and take up with their sex-and-religion life, join them in meals at their altars, marry your sons to their women, women who take up with any convenient god or goddess and will get your sons to do the same thing. (34:15-16, The Message)

Even though the translation of Ezra 9:2 could be "holy race" (as in the ESV), the emphasis is holy race. The issue is allegiance to God not racial purity. The reason these women needed to go was because they would tempt God's Chosen People to worship other gods—as they had with Solomon, starting a chain of events which sent both nations into exile. God wants His Chosen People to be fully devoted to Him and not to marry those who are not fully devoted to Him.
What does this mean for us today? Do not marry someone who does not have full allegiance toward God setting all things right. Remember, this is not about denominational or racial purity. Having split allegiances in marriage is difficult for the one fully dedicated to God setting all things right. If you are already married, Paul will have something to say to you, so I will leave the idea here and pick it up in 1 Corinthians.

Can people see God is with you because you are dedicated to studying, living, and teaching His Way?

September 19 - Ezra 4-6; Psalm 137: Israel Endures Harassment to Rebuild the Temple in Honor of God

Today’s Reading: Ezra 4-6; Psalm 137

The Message

English Standard Version

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Israel's enemies wanted to stop the Temple's construction. Instead, they condemned themselves.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Israel's enemies heard they were rebuilding the Temple. They harassed the builders 15 years. They wrote accusation letters to Artaxerxes about Judah's rebellious past and warned that the Temple was a ruse to rebel again. Construction was stopped.
Tattenai, the governor, asked Darius to find the order for construction. The decree from Cyrus was found. It warned that if anyone tried to stop Israel, they would be executed. Darius enacted the order fully.
The Temple in Honor of God was rededicated with a large feast. Everyone observed the Passover—exiles and locals alike. They enjoyed a sea of joy.

Psalm (P)Synopsis

Psalm 137

While the exiles mourn the loss of Zion their captors demand happy songs. How could they sing happy songs at a time like this? They will always remember Jerusalem. They cry for God to repay the Babylonians for what they have done!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Israel had to endure harassment 15 years.

When their first plan of sabotage was foiled, Israel's enemies settled in on the sure-fire way of working against Israel while not being punished—discouragement. This went on for 15 years. This type of psychological warfare may not stop the victim from trying, but it severely weakens their resolve to do something difficult. It is easy, cheap, and less risky than physical warfare. God's Chosen People must endure discouragement from people who do not care to set things right.
One of the hardest obstacles for Christians to overcome is discouragement. We struggle with our own doubts while having to listen to harassment by people who don't understand our faith, our trust, and our willingness to obey God. While some Christians are too quick to claim they are being persecuted, we must admit there are some who do not want to see Christians succeed. Some may have had negative experiences with Christians before. Others may have no reason other than wanting to see Christianity look bad. No matter what type of discouragement comes our way, we, too, should have faith that God will set things right and continue in our obedience.

Half-truths can only win if no one is willing to seek for the whole truth.

Israel's enemies sent a letter to the Persian king Artaxerxes detailing Judah's rebellions. They were historically accurate but telling only half the truth. They either did not know or knowingly omitted Cyrus' decree. The interesting part is that it took Israel at least two years to remind king Darius of Cyrus' decree. They almost allowed the harassment and half-truths to keep the Temple in Honor of God from being rebuilt.
Those who tell half-truths hope no one is willing to do research to question their assertions. We hear half-truths often. It may be difficult to go against them, but we must be willing to demand the whole truth to set things right.
At the same time, half-truths come in handy when they make ourselves look good; however, we cannot succumb to the low road. Beware half-truths and half-truth-tellers. They do not set things right.

God "plunged them into a sea of joy" (6:22, The Message).

At last, God has rebuilt the Temple to His Honor. Israel is now safe in its borders again (though not self-governing). The Levites and priests became ritually clean and everyone observed the Passover together, although the time for God to accept anyone into the Temple is still ahead. Non-Chosen People observing the Passover is nothing new, but a great thing to see—especially after 70 years of no one observing the Passover.

Psalm 137 is an emotional response to a great loss.

Psalm 137 may be the most difficult psalm to read because they cry:

God, remember those Edomites,
   and remember the ruin of Jerusalem,
That day they yelled out,
   “Wreck it, smash it to bits!”
And you, Babylonians—ravagers!
   A reward to whoever gets back at you
   for all you’ve done to us;
Yes, a reward to the one who grabs your babies
   and smashes their heads on the rocks! (vv. 7-9, The Message)

As I wrote earlier, we are not used to such emotional responses. Some take these sections to discredit the entire Bible. What I hope we get from this psalm is a sense that these people were real and were not dispassionate robots doing God's Will. God does not censure emotional responses. Neither should we.

How can we encourage you today?

September 18 - Ezra 1-3: Cyrus Send the Exiles to Rebuild the Temple in Honor of God

Today’s Reading: Ezra 1-3

The Message

English Standard Version

Ezra 2 gives the genealogy of the returning exiles. Scan through this chapter if you are behind or have little time today.

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Daniel's positive influence on the king of Persia may have lead to the return of the exiles to Jerusalem.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

King Cyrus commissioned a return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple in Honor of God. He encouraged the exiles to give to the cause. Judah's, Benjamin's, and Levi's descendents went. Cyrus returned everything Nebuchadnezzar stole from the Temple.
Thousands of Judeans returned to their towns. A few families could not prove their lineage and were barred from priestly work.
Seven months later, Jeshua and Zerubbabel built the Altar to the God of Israel and began offering sacrifices on it. Seven months later, they laid the Temple's foundation. David's music rang in Jerusalem again—to loud shouts and cries of joy.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

King Cyrus wanted to help Israel rebuild the Temple.

Jeremiah told Judah that God would return the furnishings of the Temple. God also told Judah that Cyrus would be the king to do it. God used Cyrus, a non-Chosen Person, to set things right for God's Chosen People. God will use anyone willing to set things right.

God protected the returned exiles.

When Jeshua and Zerubbabel began offering sacrifices on the Altar in Honor of the God of Israel they were worried their neighbors would attack. They were right to be worried, too. However, God protected them from Gog and anyone else who wanted to steal what they had. God will protect His Chosen People.

David's music was heard in Jerusalem for the first time in generations.

Jerusalem had been silent for 70 years. Before that the Temple had been used to house a plethora of gods. Only the oldest people remembered even seeing the building. In our readings, we have not heard a positive story about Jerusalem for 45 days. Finally, we have a group of people who are willing to serve God again. Their shouts of joy and weeping for joy were so loud no one could tell the difference because God had given them grace to return and praise Him again.

Praise God for His Mercy and Grace to allow us to praise Him!