Esther 4:1-7:10
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Today in Esther chapter 4 we read about Mordecai persuading Queen Esther to help save the Jews from Haman’s evil plot. In verse 14 we read these amazing words of Mordecai’s to Esther: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” For such a time as this. Powerful words to consider. You’ll recall similar words were used in the narrative of Joseph in Genesis – Joseph was sent ahead to Egypt by God to save his family from famine “for such a time as this.” Esther was married to the Persian King for such a time as this. And I believe that you and I have been placed on this earth this very day for such a time as this. Do you believe it is true that you really have been placed on this earth by God for such a time as this? Do you believe that there is a definite purpose for your life that God has called you to? Do you realize that you have the choice – as Esther had the choice – to move forward with God’s vision and plan for your life or to say no to God? Our time on this life is short. We can live our lives in accordance with God’s will and purpose for us or we can waste away our life with useless distractions. Trust me – the devil wants nothing more than to distract you from what God has called you to for such a time as this. So, what say you? Will you live your life wholly and purposefully for God for such a time as this? Will you leave the distractions behind?

Below is an amazing painting by Rembrandt from the year 1660 of Esther revealing the evil plans of Haman to King Xerxes at the banquet in chapter 7.  Check out how Haman is off in the left in the shadows… apropos!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Esther titled “Esther’s Dilemma and Decision” is at this link and “Sleepless in Susa” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Third Day’s great song “Your Love Oh Lord!”

Do you know God’s love that reaches to the heavens? Click here to reach for faithfulness that reaches to the sky!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray for God to reveal to you why you are on the planet right now, for such a time as this. Pray for God’s perfect will in your life each and every day. Pray that you will stay in the center of God’s will for your life, for such a time as this.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Esther 1:1-3:15
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Today we begin reading about Queen Esther! Hold on tight because Esther is an amazing book – and next week we launch into Job, which is incredible in its spiritual depth. We’re entering some amazing spiritual territory of the Old Testament. Don’t miss it!  Below is Esther:

~ Esther ~
Author: Unknown
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: The book of Esther deals with a momentous event that took place after the Persians had destroyed Babylon and while many Jews were still living in the land of their captivity. The story concerns a Jewess named Ester who had become the wife of the Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). An evil advisor to the king, named Haman, sought the destruction of the Jews in order to gain control of their wealth, but Esther tactfully intervened and saved her people from this fate. Haman was executed, and after some civil strife things quieted down once more. The remarkable deliverance of the Jews was celebrated by a feast named Purim and it remains to this day.
Theme: The providence and power of God are the central points of this book. God was protecting his people even in their captivity and was working al things together for their good. God’s power is seen in the overthrow of Israel’s enemies. It is important to note that God used human beings to accomplish his purpose here, rather than doing it directly himself. We must be ready at all times to do God’s will when he so directs. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 9)  More commentary on the book of Esther is at this link.  Below is a fresco of “Queen Esther” from 1450 by Italian artist Andrea Del Castagno:

A map of the Persian empire at the time of the book of Esther in approximately 480 B.C. is below.  You can see the city of Susa, just above the Persian Gulf, where the book of Esther begins, as we read in verses 1 & 2 today: “This happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. At that time he ruled his empire from his throne at the fortress of Susa.”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Esther titled “Miss Persia” is at this link and “Hanging Out At the Gate” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Kutless’ “Sea of Faces:”

Are you lost in a sea of faces? Click here to be Found!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 12:27-13:31
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We finish up the book of Nehemiah today!  Esther is up tomorrow!  Today in Nehemiah chapter 12 we read about the dedication of Jerusalem’s Wall, which is awesome to read about.  Verses 27 & 28 tell us – “During the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem, the Levites throughout the land were asked to come to Jerusalem to assist in the ceremonies. They were to take part in the joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, lyres, and harps. The singers were brought together from Jerusalem and its surrounding villages and from the villages of the Netophathites.”

Below is a great image for Nehemiah chapter 12 verse 30 today:

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the beautiful song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:”

Are your eyes looking at Jesus? Click here to turn your eyes toward Him!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 11:1-12:26
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Today in Nehemiah chapter 11 we read about the people of Israel occupying Jerusalem – and not necessarily by their own choice!  Lots had to be thrown to determine which 1 out of every 10 people in rural areas would move to Jerusalem.  Verses 1 & 2 tell us: “Now the leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city, at this time. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there, too, while the rest stayed where they were. And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.”  I read an interesting commentary that speculated that some people did not want to move to Jerusalem from the countryside because it would mean they would have to more stringently follow God with their lives.  This would be due to social pressures of living in Jerusalem and proximity to the Temple.  And this made me wonder – are we like this in our lives today too?  Maybe we go through periods of time where we don’t go to church because it means we might have to actually start living our lives like Christians due to the community that church provides?  I am always worried when I get to points in my life where I don’t feel like going to church.  It is in those moments that I realize how desperately I need church – and yet how I’m trying to avoid going.  I don’t want to change some behavior.  I don’t want people to see me for who I really am.  I don’t want to be too close to the “Temple”…  How about you.  If you’re called to “move to Jerusalem” by God, will you move?  In the words of a famous Switchfoot song, “I dare you to move.” Below is a nice map of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time:

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, “Do Everything:”

Are you doing everything for God? Click here for Everything!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 9:22-10:39
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Today in Nehemiah chapter 9 we wrap up the wonderful prayer of the Levites that began in yesterday’s readings!  This prayer is a fantastic overview of God’s grace and discipline to the Israelites.

Today in Nehemiah chapter 10 we read the vows of the people, including these in verses 30 & 31: “We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, nor to let our sons marry their daughters. We further promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it. And we promise not to do any work every seventh year and to cancel the debts owed to us by other Jews.”  How are you doing with taking a Sabbath?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminds me of the wonderful Selah video and song “You Raise Me Up:”

Has God raised you up? Click here for Resurrection!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 7:73-9:21
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We have powerful readings in Nehemiah today!  Just to frame up for us the date of these readings, in chapter 8 verse 2 we are reading about October 8, 444 B.C.  Verses 2 & 3 today tell us: “So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law.”

You’ll note in verse 2 that we read about Ezra for the first time in the book of Nehemiah.  And of course we just recently read the book of Ezra.  Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries.  Ezra was a priest and scribe – a religious leader – whereas Nehemiah was the governor – not a member of the religious establishment nor a prophet.  However, it’s important to note that Nehemiah was a layman who was very devoted to God!  Nehemiah pursued God’s will in a secular world.  Do you suppose that you and I could learn something for our lives today from Nehemiah’s devotion to God as a layperson?  As a layperson, are you living your life fully devoted to God and pursuing God’s will?  Let us live like Nehemiah encourages us to live in chapter 8 verse 10 today!  “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”  What do you think Nehemiah meant here by saying the joy of the Lord is your strength?  Today, in your life, is the joy of the Lord your strength?  If not, will you pray to know the joy of the Lord as your strength?

In Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 5 through 37 we read one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible!  I love it.  Think you could ever pray a prayer like this one?  I definitely don’t believe all of our prayers need to be like this one at all – but it’s pretty amazing to think about perhaps writing out a prayer of praise like this to God.  Maybe even integrating in some of the amazing ways God has redeemed me.  I’ll admit I’ve never done a prayer like this.  But maybe someday I will.  Maybe someday will you?

Worship Video: Chris Tomlin does a nice job quoting from Nehemiah 8:10 – for the joy of the Lord is our strength! – in his song “Holy is the Lord”:

Is the joy of the Lord your strength? Click here for Strength!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray for joy in the Lord today. Pray that the joy of the Lord is your strength, today and forevermore!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 5:14-7:73
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It is great to see Nehemiah’s strong character in today’s readings!  As governor, he could have taken full advantage of collecting food allotments from the people.  But he didn’t, as he knew these allotments would have been a burden on them.  Then, Nehemiah sticks to leading the people in the goal of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem – which was an incredible feat that was pulled off in less than 2 months through God’s grace.  And this is a wall that was down for 150 years! Is there anything you can apply to your life through today’s readings about Nehemiah?  Are there areas of your life where perhaps you are taking advantage of a situation you shouldn’t?  Is there a goal in your life that you’re not moving on that you should?  Will you pray to God like Nehemiah did in 6:9 – “But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.””

Below is an image of Nehemiah in chapter 6 verses 4 through 7: “Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “Geshem tells me that everywhere he goes he hears that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets to prophesy about you in Jerusalem, saying, `Look! There is a king in Judah!’ You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the wonderful Crowder/Maverick City song “God Really Loves Us:”

Do you believe that God really loves you? Click here and receive God’s love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 3:15-5:13
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Today in Nehemiah chapter 3 we read about the Israelites involvement in the various segments of the wall of Jerusalem being rebuilt!  Below is an image by C.F. Vos titled “Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem”:

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the awesome Sidewalk Prophets song called “The Words I Would Say:”

What are the words God would say to you? Click here for the Word!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Nehemiah 1:1-3:14
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Today we begin the book of Nehemiah! This is one of my favorite books of the Bible! Rebuild the Wall!

Author: Nehemiah
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: The book of Nehemiah continues the story begun by Ezra and deals with life in the restored community. The major point of Ezra is the rededication of the Temple. The major point of Nehemiah is the rebuilding of the city walls of Jerusalem. The book begins by explaining the need Jerusalem had for protection that walls would give. This is followed by a discussion of how the walls were build in spite of numerous problems both in the community and outside of it. A national day of repentance was called for and the project was completed.
Theme: The main theme of this book is the sad fact that people are slow to learn the lessons God wants to teach them. The Israelites had been carried into captivity because of their sin, but now the very same problems rose again. The people were neglecting worship, prayer, and Bible study, not to mention the fact that they were treating each other unjustly. But God in his patience continued to send his messengers to them to offer salvation and pardon. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 8-9) More commentary on the book of Nehemiah is at this link: https://bible.org/article/introduction-books-ezra-nehemiah

Below is an image from today’s readings from Nehemiah chapter 1 verses 3 & 4 – “”Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been burned.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”

Today in Nehemiah chapter 2 verse 17 we read “Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I am fascinated by the rebuilding of the Temple that we read about in Ezra and now the rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah. The thought of rebuilding is something that I think each of us needs to meditate upon at times. I believe that over time in our lives we unfortunately can tear things down. Things that need rebuilding. Perhaps we have torn down our faith in some way. Perhaps our love for God. Perhaps our connection to a church community. Perhaps our relationship with a family member. Perhaps our service to the poor. Is there an area of your life that is in need of rebuilding? Will you meditate upon your life and begin to rebuild in that area? Will you pray to God for strength in rebuilding in that area and will you allow his Spirit to lead you? I pray you will be encouraged by our readings this week in Nehemiah as you read about the Israelites rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And I pray you will begin rebuilding the things in your life that have perhaps tumbled down over time!

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of Rebecca St. James song “Wait for Me”:

Are you waiting on God’s timing in your life? Click here and wait for Him no longer!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Ezra 10:1-44
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We have some powerful readings in Ezra chapter 10 today, as we read about people publicly confessing their sin!  An image is below for verses 10 through 12 – “Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them: “You have sinned, for you have married pagan women. Now we are even more deeply under condemnation than we were before. Confess your sin to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.” Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Casting Crowns song “If We are the Body.”  Here’s a live version of this powerful song:

Are you part of the Body? Click here to join God’s Body!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!