Scripture Reading: Ezra 3:8-13, Nehemiah 2:11-18, John 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:9-17
This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll finish the Historical Books and move into the genre of Wisdom Literature.
The Book of Ezra: The book of Ezra records the Jewish people’s return to Jerusalem from their Babylonian captivity, the ongoing rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the people’s recommitment to the law, led by the scribe Ezra.
The Book of Nehemiah: The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book, documenting the rebuilding of Jerusalem once the exiles returned from captivity. The book of Nehemiah records Nehemiah’s leadership in the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem. It includes an exhortation to remain faithful to the Lord despite opposition and calls Israel to return to their God in their restored capital.
How Ezra and Nehemiah Fit into the Story: The events in the books of Ezra & Nehemiah—rebuilding the temple, stabilizing Jerusalem, and developing the Jewish community—all played key roles that lead to the life and ministry of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. The role of the rebuilt walls was to protect a functional temple. The temple may not have been as magnificent as Solomon’s, but it would serve as the central place of worship for the Jewish people for centuries until Christ removed the need for a physical temple.
Reflection Questions:
1. Throughout the New Testament, the Church and its people are referred to as the temple of God. How does the value the people of Israel placed on the temple in both Ezra and Nehemiah change the way you view both the Church and yourself today?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
Leave a Reply
99 thoughts on "Ezra & Nehemiah"
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Jesus Christ is the only way we can be saved nothing else can save us expect Jesus and that’s it. We have to remember that the promises God promised for Israel were not replaced by a church and will stand up bringing brought about how the Jews said no to Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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Mercy, thank you for all the context and application you wrote in your response!
Thank you Kathryn!
Do you know that you are Gods temple and spirit dwells within you? What a great reminder. As I navigate through a new job and the stress that comes for doing something totally different it is a good reminder to know that God will make all things new again. I feel very anxious over feeling like I’m failing at this but I know overtime it will get better.
Praying for you sister, things are challenging at first but you got this. One day at a time. Praying for new strength and smooth adjustment.
Ladies…praise the Lord! I got the appt for tomorrow at 9am. Thank you for praying❤️
Yay! Thank you Lord!
That’s wonderful news Wendy!
Good news, Wendy! ❤️
Praise, PRAISE, PRAISE the Lord for HEARING our prayers and granting that FAVOR!!!Prayers forbyoy and the doc doc for accuracy and wisfom! ❤
*You and the doc!* I was so excited I couldn’t even type!
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Wonderful! Praying for your appt this morning!
Reflection Questions:
1. Throughout the New Testament, the Church and its people are referred to as the temple of God. How does the value the people of Israel placed on the temple in both Ezra and Nehemiah change the way you view both the Church and yourself today?
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Thank you SRT for a wonderful summary. These are often overlooked books in the Bible, and I’ve never viewed them through this lens before. I absolutely love this takeaway: “The role of the rebuilt walls was to protect a functional temple. The temple may not have been as magnificent as Solomon’s, but it would serve as the central place of worship for the Jewish people for centuries until Christ removed the need for a physical temple”.
The book of Nehemiah really changed how I view brokenness, restoration, and boundaries. I grew up believing the cliché that “love knows no boundaries,” which unfortunately left me feeling walked on and pushed around. Reading Nehemiah 2 today opened my eyes to the importance of rebuilding walls (boundaries) and gates (access points). After the exile, Jerusalem’s walls were in ruins and its gates were burned. God gave Nehemiah a deep burden to become a rebuilder, a massive calling from Isaiah 58:12: “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings”. Applying this to our spiritual growth, we must remember that we are now the temples housing the Holy Spirit. There is a powerful modern application here for the Church and individual believers: we cannot grant access to our hearts, minds, or inner circles without careful consideration. We need to inspect our friendships, media consumption, and habits in the light of Truth before letting them through the gates. The input (what comes in): guarding our eye and ear gates against negativity, gossip, and media that degrades our spiritual environment. The output (what goes out): offering our gifts, love, and service to others without completely draining our core emotional, financial, and physical resources. The Refuse Gate (the exit): intentionally purging bitterness, unforgiveness, and old mindsets from our lives. This connects to Dr. Henry Cloud’s book, Boundaries. It was an incredibly healing resource for me when I was completely depleted from living under the false idea that love means having no limits. We are limited beings, only GOD is unlimited. Just as Nehemiah’s Jerusalem had specific gates, our living temple requires distinct boundaries.
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2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
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When I read the many efforts that Nehemiah and his team went through, Nehemiah’s reconstruction of Jerusalem’s ancient ruins provides a hidden blueprint for how God rebuilds lives broken by sin.
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When sin takes over, it compromises our identity, damages our relationship with God, and destroys our protective boundaries. True spiritual restoration doesn’t begin with a cosmetic makeover. Nehemiah’s strategy reveals the real stages of redemption. He started with grief and repentance, he sat down, wept, fasted and prayed, confessed his own sins and the sins of his people. Then, he did a secret midnight assessment, this is the painful phase where we must quietly take inventory of our lives. We cannot rebuild what we pretend isn’t broken, whether it is an addiction, toxic habits, compromised integrity, or fractured relationships. Next, Nehemiah co-labored with God and a team of people. “For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building”. We aren’t saved to retire, we are God’s workers on His field, at every stage of life, to lay a foundation on top of Jesus’ primary foundation. We don’t have to carry the full weight. We simply lay our work on top of His.
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I wanted to go deeper into the 10 gates. This really piqued my interest. I googled the map of the Old City and saw the many gates around it. This surprised me. The ancient layout offers some powerful modern day application for us today, about the 10 gates:
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1.The Sheep Gate: where sacrifices were brought into the temple. It’s the starting point acknowledging our need for the Sacrifice/ the Savior. This is where forgiveness begins through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
2.The Fish Gate: the marketplace for merchants and fishermen, transitioning from being served to serving, becoming “fishers of men” and finding the calling/purpose.
3.The Old Gate: the ancient, original pathway into the city, reminder to ground our life in foundational principles, timeless truths from the Ancient of Days, and leaving behind modern, deceptive compromises.
4. The Valley Gate: opened up to the low steep valleys outside: humility & testing, the necessary season of humbling ourselves, learning through trials, and recognizing our own weaknesses.
5. The Dung Gate: the exit used to carry refuse and garbage out to be burned, repentance & cleansing, actively throwing away old habits, toxic relationships, secrets, and sinful patterns. It’s the “housecleaning” stage.
6.The Fountain Gate: located by the Pool of Siloam, providing fresh water (the famous site where Jesus healed a man born blind, I once was blind and now I see), once the garbage is cleared, the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit cleanses, refreshes, and satisfies the soul, opens the spiritual eyes.
7. The Water gate: leading out to the Gihon Spring, the only natural fresh water source of the original city of Jerusalem at the time, without it, the ancient people could not have survived (washing ourselves in Scripture), the name Gihon comes from Hebrew word for “gushing”, makes me think of the image of abundant water.
8. The Horse Gate: where the king’s horses and warriors entered for battle. Spiritual Warfare: recognizing that a rebuilt life requires daily vigilance, discipline, and fighting against temptation.
9. The East Gate: faces the rising sun/ light (traditionally associated with the Messiah), keeping our eyes on the return of Christ and the promise of ultimate redemption.
10. The Inspection Gate: where soldiers stood for review and judgment. Self-Examination: standing before God daily, inviting Him to examine our heart, and living an accountable, transparent life. “See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:24.
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The Bible is so rich and detailed isn’t it? It is a diamond that sheds new light in different angles as you shift and gaze into the diamond. And its light is pure. The Bible can always afford new revelation and new meaning for modern day readers and seekers of Truth. Thank you shes for encouraging me to share these nuggets with you.
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Be blessed dear sisters.
Oh wow! Thank you Mercy forsharing all of this. ❤️
What an amazing way to look at walls (borders) and gates in our lives today. Very thought provoking. Thank you so much for sharing.
Yes I agree! And love Mercy, that yes, the Bible is so rich and always giving us new insight and angles! That’s why I love this community so much!
Beautiful thank you!
Thank you for the gate research, Mercy. ❤️
Thank you, Mercy, for sharing your thoughts. I shared your thoughts from yesterday about once saved always saved with my Bible study group today. We all were supposed to look up thoughts about eternal security. One member asked her pastor and he gave Judas as an example of losing your salvation. I never thought about the example that you gave of the Vine. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve read up on the gates before, too. Fascinating! The timelessness of the Word is so compelling! Thanks for sharing your “jewels” each day! ❤
The gate application was wonderful, and eye opening. Thank you mercy
This is a new insight for me. I will have to sit on this. Thank you Mercy.
Thank you for this blessing!
Wow! Thank you for sharing! I certainly never thought of the 10 gates in those lights.
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The temple was very important for those times. We are blessed with being God’s temple. We carry Him with us always. The church is still wildly important. To worship along side others. To have accountability. Friendship with believers.
Wishing you all a day filled with the peace ️ of the Lord. prayers for those in need of healing
Thank you Donna, praying with you.
I think they valued where God’s presence was. It was where they met and heard from God.
I think if we have Jesus as our Savior, His presence goes with us wherever we are! We have a very special privilege to be able to call on the Lord anytime!
Collectively, at a church building, it is other believers worshiping God and receiving instruction. Reminds me of heaven.
Reminds me of this song
Chorus
In the presence of Jehovah
God Almighty Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish hearts are mended
In the presence of the King
Verse 1
In and out of situations
That tug- a -war at me
All day long I struggle
For answers that I need
Then I come into His presence
All my questions become clear
And for a sacred moment
No doubt can interfere
Verse 2
Through His love
The Lord provided
A place for us to rest
A place to find the answers
In hour of distress
There is never any reason
To give up in despair
Just slip away and breathe His name
He will come and meet you there
(REPEAT CHORUS TWICE)
Ending
In the presence of the king
In the presence of the king
Copyright:
1983, 1985 Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Songchannel Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
We need to just remember where we are in the midst of all the distractions. Just take a moment to step into His presence!
Praying for all!
Reflection Questions:
1. Throughout the New Testament, the Church and its people are referred to as the temple of God. How does the value the people of Israel placed on the temple in both Ezra and Nehemiah change the way you view both the Church and yourself today?
Back in those times the temple was a place of sacrifice and worship a physical reminder of the glory of the Lord. Today we know a new temple; the body of Christ. Today we no longer need to make sacrifices to the Lord because of our new covenant through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
A deep seated gratitude to Jesus who bore the brunt of our sin on the cross to give us a new covenant and way to the Father.
What a bittersweet time for these people! And what a challenge lay before them. Nehemiah is such a good example for us- so encouraging in obedience.
From verse 20: “The God of heaven will help us succeed.”
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Whatever God had called us to rebuild in our lives, God will help us succeed! Praise Him!
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From Warren Wiersbe NKJV Study Bible:
“The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people.
The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service.
The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity. …
we must build with the right motive. That motive is the glory of God.”
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From NIV Aplication Bible:
“‘What has been built’ (v. 14a) refers to Christ’s assessment of the way Christians live their lives after salvation. The nature of believers’ rewards remains unspecified here (v. 14b), but in 4:5 it will be described as ‘praise from God.'”
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
TERESA DONLEY- successful surgery and recovery ❤
HARPER and parents- recovery and patience giving pain meds❤
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SONG SHARE:
Resurrender – Hillsong Worship
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I Surrender All (hymn)
Praise Him… Amen, Cee Gee!
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I Surrender all.. good one sister, good one!❤️
That made me smile, TINA, thanks for that encouragement! Love you, sister!
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Joining you in prayers. What a lovely song reminder.
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I listened to I Surrender All this morning by CeCe Winnans. I couldn’t decide if hers was a remake of a hymn or what.
I just listened to one and it’s pretty much straight from the hymn book lyrically, but she did repeat the last verse and tag it and she added some Cece runs for embellishment. That video was posted 5 days ago ( a cross and church talley board in picture. The older version wzs harx for me to hear, si not sure about it. It shows her leaning against the arm of a white chaise and gold background, I think.
Thanks for mentioning the video, Rhonda! The song literally popped into my mind as I was getting ready to post. The title of the other song, I guess, brought it to mind. ❤
In ancient Israel the Temple was holy and the national identity of the Jewish people was deeply tied to the Holy Temple.
There were times I felt their love for this structure was borderline or idolatry for the beautiful structure of Solomon’s Temple.
For deeply pious Jews it was the dwelling of their God on earth.
The body of Christ is where God dwells today. Holy Spirit filled Christians are the royal priesthood. We are the hands of God and feet of God empowered by His Holy Spirit.
Redemption makes all things new and sets upright what was broken. After the Benei Israel ( people of Israel) rejected Jesus; God formed a new nation of believers from Jews and Gentiles who would believe and accept the redemption of Christ’s blood.
Your notes are always so informative; thank you! ❤
Yes, we are saved through Jesus Christ only, Jews and gentiles alike! But remember, that God’s promise for Israel is not replaced by “the church,” and will still be brought about. The Jews reject Jesus as their Savior now, but they will recognize Jesus during the tribulation when the 2 (Elijah and Moses) witness and testify! The 144 thou, the remnant. But the whole nation once Jesus Christ returns! Jesus comes back to the temple, is it the east gate? (I thought of that whnen Mercy mentioned it.)
(I think I got that right!)
I agree, Rhonda❤️
The Temple was the place where God dwelled and now, because of Christ’s work, He dwells in and with His people through the Holy Spirit! We often take this tremendous gift for granted when instead we should be living boldly for Christ!
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Yes we do!! I did for a long time, most of my life! Oh to have an epiphany and everything changes! Thank you Lord for conviction and opened eyes!
for the people had a mind to work
..And so should we for His glory.. always for HIS Glory..❤️
amen
In my experience, so many Christians can easily refer to their body as being a temple, but very few have ever seen the value in going back, looking deeply into the Old Testament and the construction/detail of what God made the temple to be. We will never fully understand the depth of value we hold without first understanding what he created in the physical temple. The details, the rooms, the symbolic representation all throughout. Then, through Jesus, there is this shift, the curtain is torn, and God begins equating our very bodies as his temple… All that was represented in the original temple is still represented now, but within our physical existence— but, even greater still— has been made eternal! I watch the value and effort they put into rebuilding this home for God and I question my own self and how much effort to I put in bringing this kind of honor with MY temple? I think I use a lot of plastic and trinket where the Israelites used pure gold and rubies…
I wanted to share something I’d previously written for myself about the 3 waves of exile-return in order to keep the leaders/their contributions all straight in my head! :) The “worship, word, wall” part I got from (I think) a study by Jen Wilkin – the rest is just an example of how my brain works lol :) Enjoy!
3 wave return from exile:
“Bringing Z.E.N. to Jerusalem”
1. Zerubbabel – brought WORSHIP- rebuilding the alter and 2nd temple. (538 bc)
2. Ezra – brought the WORD – lead in spiritual and relational/community rebuilding by teaching Torah and restoring the Law. (458 bc)
3. Nehemiah – brought the WALL – Focused efforts on rebuilding the walls of protection around the city. (445 bc)
So good! Thank you HEIDI.
Clever and helpful! ❤️
Very i rightful, Heidi. Thank you.
insightful
Very helpful to remembering the Exile! Thank you!
Appreciate everyones insights, thoughts and comments as I really continue to struggle with the format, making the connections to the passages to the questions and just even understanding this study. The podcast is helpful, but your explanations have been of great help for me to focus in better:)
Please pray I get a call today that the appt I am awaiting is available for me tomorrow. Thank you. Praying for your requests ❤️
Praying for your appointment and that you will keep reading and that you will receive what you need from this study! I love that even though it is difficult, you keeping coming back!
ditto! ❤
Wendy- I just prayed again – thanking God for taking care of you in this wait and asking for a cancellation so you can be seen sooner, and for peace in the wait.
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You are not alone re: the reflection questions! I always struggle with them, but this time seems especially difficult. These readings don’t shape my understanding of redemption. That was ‘shaped’ a long time ago. Reflect, enhance, maybe.
Love you and continued prayers! ❤
I’m not very good with the questions either. I do think it’s good for me personally to try, even though I struggle and often fail. Maybe I’ll get the hang of it… lol
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Praying for that appointment to open up ❤️
Praying for your appointment to become available.
This isn’t my favorite structure for a study either. But, like you, I gained a tremendous amount of insight from the comments of everyone here.
Well, I have never liked this format, but glad for those that do. Be like me, and ignore the questions as you go about your thoughts! :))
We (Christ-followers!) need to value what God values! In a way, I miss this grand temple, the dwelling place of the Holy God, that hundreds of thousands would place on hold everything in their lives..work, house-hold duties, livestock tending, farm work, gardening for food….all this stops, to trek to the location and wonder of the temple to engage with GOD! Now that had been destroyed. Those that felt the impact and had been crushed now are seeing it being re-built. And they are overcome with emotion.
I have to say I feel this when I go to church on Sundays. I look forward to Sundays to GO (trek), drop everything else (the need to sleep in, sports, whining kids..) and WORSHIP together with the Brethren. It is a privilege. A Joy. A Renewing and the Holy Spirit dwelling with us!!! We get to be nourished, we get to pray with and for others.
Why do we take it for granted? Why is it mechanical? Why don’t we want to drive the 20 minutes and use our gas? Why do other things take priority even in a believer’s life?
We have become complacent. We have become busy, and self-centered/focused. Or perhaps family focused?
So it may seem that Rhonda sure does love to “preach” to us! But I am preaching to myself- for I DO love to go to church, yet my husband and I have been watching more online the past 2 months. It is just so easy to not “get ready” but to flip on the streaming. But it is not the same. God calls his people to gather and to worship and praise and pray as HIS PEOPLE! I often look around as I am singing. It gives me a little thrill to see others vigor and desire for OUR GOD! And when I GET to go to the altar and pray for those in need, what a blessing to be used BY GOD in that way!!
I love the story of Nehemia- he was in a great spot. He was in another country, cup bearer for the king!! He did NOT have to go back to Jerusalem to get the building of the temple started!! Head IT UP! BUT his heart wept for the ruins that it had become! He yearned to do something!! Do we YEARN to do something for God!!? Do we ASK him daily…LORD, LET ME BE YOUR HANDS and Feet…what can I do? How can I GO! How can I move?! Give me divine encounters Lord!! Oh how fun and exciting it is!! I have SO many accounts in the last 4 years of what God has done in my life!! I wouldn’t trade it for anything!! I even write it all out as a journal for what God has done!! And of course ya’ll have SEEN it (well heard it!!). God can do mighty and powerful things in our lives, he just needs our YES, and then he will provide the way and the means!! Amen.
It Wednesday, that I get to go to a Jail, and talk about the LOVE of God. What a joy and passion, that I never would have known if it wasn’t for that first nudge! That first step to go through the logistics. To take 3 hours to go through the orientation at the jail.
Do you know we MAKE time for the things we love. We know our priorities by where are time is spent. Do you know how much time we spend these days just wasting time on social media? On keeping our house looking like a magazine? To make sure our kids play the sport they/we want? We work so hard and long hours for more money. Where is our priority. Nehemiah and Ezra’s was a heart to follow after God and to follow his will for their life! Let us be like them! Like the disciples that drop everything and follow. Obedience for Jesus. Your will be done. Amen. Use your She’s Lord..put it in our heart what we can do for you today. This week! Amen!
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“we make time for the things we love” ❤️ what a heart check. Amen sister.
Amen!!
I love it when you say you’re going to jail! It makes me giggle! ❤️
Unlike the first temple that was burnt to the ground and was no more – God’s temple now is not made with hands, but by His Spirit which is eternal.
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“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1
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Amen!!
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Praying for your requests. Have a wonderful Wednesday! ❤️
Amen, Sharon!!!, ❤️
Amen!
Verse 18 really is a sweet reminder that whatever we are called even when it seems so big we need only a heart that is willing and the Lord will provide the rest. Giving strength and resilience where we saw little.
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“we need only a heart that is willing and the Lord will provide the rest!” Amen!
Willing- is the key word! We have to have a desire for what God’s desire is! He needs (wants) action from us! We get to partner with him but we often shy away from being used! The study I just finished was so good on this “What Happens When Women Say YES to God” by Lyza Terkeurst
It really is fun and exciting and fulfilling when we walk with the Spirit!
Amen, Mary Macdonald,!, ❤️
Weeping, shouting with praise and singing. We see such high, varied and powerful emotions when definable progress – the foundation- was seen in the rebuilding of the temple.
At what times in our walk with Christ have these same emotions converged?
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Nehemiah 2:18 …. “the king’s words that he had spoken to me.” Earlier in chapter 2, Nehemiah prayerfully made his request to King Artaxerxes for time off to rebuild the walls of Judah, and for letters of authority for travel and needed building supplies. The king did that and more as Nehemiah had found favor with him. I love the parenthetical note in vs 6 that the queen was there as well :)
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When we accept the gift of salvation, the Lord begins the work scrapping the flimsy foundation we built ourselves and guiding us as we begin and continue rebuilding our lives on His firm foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:17b For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
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1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
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I know I’m forgiven yet I can still remember the sting of shame in not handling my life nor treating myself as God’s temple. Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness, mercy and grace.
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Reminded of Firm Foundation (He Won’t), Cody Carnes (written by Cody Carnes, Austin Luke Kaleolanakila Davis, Chandler Moore).
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Cody’s comment on the song: “In such a shaky season, it was burning in my heart to write a song that declared what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7,” shared Cody Carnes on the inspiration for this song. “The world can be in chaos all outside our windows, but when we build our house on Jesus, we can have confidence knowing that our foundation is secure. We’re not going down! This new song celebrates that truth. I pray it blesses you.”
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CEE GEE ❤️ great share on redemption last night!
MERCY ❤️ “I was going that direction. I am now choosing to go Your direction” Sister, let’s all go God’s direction! How amazing that would be!
B ❤️❤️❤️ still praying, sister! Thankful for the improvement you’ve seen!
RHONDA ❤️ praying for Michael and all our lost & prodigals, may today be the day they turn to Jesus!
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I love seeing all the new (or new to me) sisters in this study! Every day our sisterhood grows ❤️
I think I just experienced that with the loss of a friend! I wanted to cry for his departing but wanted to jump for joy that he is out of pain and in Jesus’ arms!
Thank you!
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Thank you❤️
Amen to the extra verses you shared.❤️ Let the Bible prove the Bible. It all clicked. I don’t know how God wrote the Bible through different writers in different times and locations and yet it all ties together. And we have the finished book. I always cherish the Bible thinking of the early disciples going through hardships and persecution without it and the encouragement in it. We are so blessed now.❤️
Thanks, Searching; I looked for your comment earlier- more than once- but somehow missed it! So good as always and great references! I am going to listen to that song now. Thanks for sharing it! ❤
Continued lrayets for CC!
Oh, I know that song- love it! It’s been a while since I heard it on the radio and didn’t remember the title. So good to hear it again; it’s perfect for today’s reading! ❤
Amen
I WELCOME God to cleanse and strengthen every area of my heart. May I remember the truth of being the temple of God and carrying his presence. ❤️
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Amen
Israel valued the temple as the place where God dwelt AMONG them. They gathered in Jerusalem to worship Him.
Today God dwells WITHIN His people and whether we gather or are alone, He is with us.
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Today’s reading shows God’s faithfulness to His promises. The plan of redemption will not be thwarted.
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Nehemiah: “So they strengthened their hands for the good work”. In the middle of the work week, Lord! I am worn down! Thank You God for the reminder to step aside!
Praying for a refreshing for you today Hannah!
I think that we don’t treasure the fact that we are the temple of God. A building is visible and easy to treasure as we can see it but we have God living within us and that is more doec
I agree. We don’t often think about ourselves, our bodies being “the temple of the Spirit!”
I just started leading a new study that shows the correlation of our physical body and our faith! “Balance and Strength with Jesus!” Both need attention to the roots and foundation and then continued maintenance! We will grow strong, balanced, flexible through the trials of life upon this firm foundation. Both our physical bodies and faith need continued water and nutrients, they otherwise will not have what they need when needed. They both will grow (when fueled properly) with perseverance and endurance, and hold us strong!