Suppose one day you decide you need to up the ante on your physical fitness. You get off the couch, hop in your car and head to a nearby health club to check things out. When you walk in the door, you are greeted by a staff member who agrees to walk you from station… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 7 1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he wasa more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 6 Conspiracy Against Nehemiah 1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying,… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 5 Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor 1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 4 Opposition to the Work 1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 3 Rebuilding the Wall 1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur… Continue Reading
In 1 Corinthians 11:4-6, Paul applies the principle of authority to local Corinthian customs. He calls on both men and women to honor the Lord by respecting the symbols of respect and authority in their culture – specifically long hair and head coverings. It is a disgrace for a man to cover his head while… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 2 Nehemiah Sent to Judah 1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?… Continue Reading
Nehemiah 1 Report from Jerusalem 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And… Continue Reading
Ezra 10 The People Confess Their Sin 1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith… Continue Reading