Nehemiah-Backyard Camping Feast

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 8

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The walls are finished, Israelites are living in the city, businesses are growing. 

We brought all the Israelites together and held a meeting by the Water Gate. Ezra, the prophet, read the Book of the Law of God to all the men, women, and the children who could understand. The people wept as they heard the laws and rules we hadn't been obeying. We all realized how we had failed. We realized what we should have been doing. The sorrow in our hearts felt heavy.

As one of their leaders I told the people to go home. Eat. Rest.

Now the second day of the seventh month has begun. Ezra, the Levites, and I continued to study the Book of the Law of God and found the Lord had commanded through Moses that we should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 

How exciting. We called the people back to hear these new instructions. Those who could come back gathered around the platform where Ezra stood. He read these instructions, "You are to live in booths during the feast of the seventh month and tell those who live in towns outside Jerusalem to go into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees. Also branches from myrtles, palms, and shade trees to make the booths."

The people left right away, combing the hillsides for the branches to make the booths. The booth was like a tent with an opening. The roofs of the houses were flat and made a perfect place for a booth. For those who didn't have room on their roof, they built booths in their courtyards, in the courts of the temple, and in the square of the Water Gate and Gate of Ephraim. 

Every family made a booth and lived in them for seven days. Sadly, from the days of Joshua until this very day, the Israelites had not celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in this way. We actually had a lot of fun. It was like the way you camp in your backyard. The children giggled. The adults praised God. Everyone sang and had so much fun.

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God for all to hear. The Israelite brothers celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day,  according to the rules in the Law all the Israelites in the area gathered for a meeting.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-Don't Be Sad, For the Joy of the Lords is Your Strength

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 8

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

The walls are finished, Israelites are living in the city, businesses are growing. 

Now that we felt like a nation, we needed to act like the nation God wanted us to be. Many of the people, including myself, didn't really understand what God expected from us. We'd mostly grown up in slavery in Babylon. Many Israelites were even born after our fathers had been taken as prisoners and had never seen this city before.

So, the time came to teach.

Photo Courtesy

A few years ago Cyrus, the king in Babylon at the time had sent the prophet Ezra to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. Ezra is still here.

He and I met. We talked about the need to read the Law of Moses to all the people, to teach them the ways of God. 

We set up a time for all Israelites to meet in Jerusalem. It was the seventh month when we asked the people to gather in the square before the Water Gate. 

photo courtesy

On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest stood on a high wooden platform built for this very moment. Priests stood on his left and right. Ezra opened the book before men and women and children who could understand the words about to be read. Everyone could see him no matter where they stood. The people stood as he opened the book. 

Ezra started by praising the Lord, the great God. All the people lifted their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

He read the Book of the Law of Moses aloud from daybreak till noon. The people listened, excited to hear every word.

Afterwards the Levites read from the Book of the Law of God, making the messages clear and giving meaning so the people could understand what was read.

Photo Courtesy

The people wept as they listened to the words of the law. Ezra and I were glad to see they were sorry, and wanted to help them move past their sorrow to see how much God loved them.

The Levites, Ezra, and I stood before the people. We said, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or cry. Instead, go and enjoy good food and sweet drink, and send food to those who have none. This day is sacred to our Lord. Don't be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

When we'd convinced the people, they went away to eat and drink. They also sent food to those in need and celebrated with great joy because they now understood the words that Ezra first read to them.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Ezra-The Terrible Storm

By Mary Vee
Ezra 10

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon. 

The king of Babylon sent me with a large number of Jews back to Israel. My job was to teach the law of Moses to the people.

When I arrived, I heard terrible news. The first group of Israelites had been doing many wrong things. Things that displeased God. 

Many of the men had married women from other countries. These women brought their false gods into the Jewish homes. Now the men were worshiping the false gods with their foreign wives.

I called the Levites and priests and told them to form a plan to get all the men of Judah and Benjamin here in three days. The punishment for any man not attending this very important meeting would be him forced to leave the country and to lose all he possessed.

Three days have passed. I have spent the time praying for the sins of Israel. The meeting was called at the footsteps of the temple. Outside. A powerful storm released it's rain on everyone as the meeting started. The men were bothered by the rain and upset at being forced to come to this meeting.

I didn't care if they were upset. They had disobeyed the law of Moses. I stood before them and said, "You have been unfaithful. You have married foreign women, adding to our nation's guilt before the Lord. Now, you are to confess these sins to the Lord the God of your fathers then do his will. Separate yourselves from the foreign people around you and from your foreign wives."

The men shouted, "You are right. We must do as you say. We want to obey right away but this is the rainy season. We can't possibly send all of our foreign wives back to their country in a short time. Let the officials set up assigned times for each of us and invite the elders to judge us. We will work on this problem until God is no longer angry with us."

This sounded like a good plan.

All the men agreed to this idea except Jonathan, Jehazeiah, Meshullam, and Shabbethai the Levite.

I agreed, too. I chose one man to be in charge from each family. The chosen men  began their investigation of the cases during the tenth month and finished dealing with all the men who had sinned by the first month. A scribe recorded a list of all who had sinned. 

The problem took a few months to solve, but thanks to the cooperation of the men who wanted forgiveness for their sin, everything returned to the way God wanted. No false gods brought to the homes by foreign wives.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

1. Why were the men angry (two reasons)
2. Ezra explained the problem to the men. What did the men say when he finished?
3. How many men did not agree with the plan?
4. Did the men who sinned fix the problem quickly? Why or why not?
5. What did God want the men who sinned to do?

Ezra-The Purifying of A People

By Mary Vee
Ezra 10

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon. And now, thanks to the loving grace of the Almighty God, I stand in Jerusalem. The land given by God to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The last time I visited you, I had wept bitterly. The leaders told me of a great sin committed by the first group of Jews who returned home. And the worst news, they were still doing the sin.

My heart ached so terribly. How could this much wrong be done in such a short time? I won't go into the details, you can scroll down and read my last post for that.

While I lay on the ground crying out to God for His forgiveness, Shecaniah said to me, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples and land around us. As you said, these foreigners have already kept us from our worship and obedience to God. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."

I sat up and listened to him. The crowd of men and women who'd gathered around me hushed to hear Shecaniah.

"There is a hope for Israel," he said. "Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign women and their children as you and the leaders of Israel have said. Let this be done according to the Law." 

He held out his hand to me. "Rise up. This matter is in your hands. We will do whatever you say. Please. Take courage and do what God encourages you to do."

I wiped the tears from my face and accepted Shecaniah's help to stand. "All right, then. I want all the leading priests and Levites to gather over here," I said.

The men I called for moved from the crowd and stood close to me. "You men must promise to carry out this duty. Do not stop until the job is completely done."

Every leading priest and Levite gave their word to do this job. They first met to form a plan. The plan ended with a rule for all Israelites. The rule said every exile living in Judah and Jerusalem must come to Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would lose all his property and be forced to leave Israel. This was the leaders and Levites decision.

During the time of their planning and waiting the three days I went to the house of Jehohanan. I spent my time in prayer and mourning the exiles great sin, refusing to eat or drink.

What I know is that we need to fix this problem before any more improvements can be made in Jerusalem.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

1. What was the problem?
2. Who suggested an answer?
3. What was his suggestion?
4. What plan did the leaders come up with?
5. What did Ezra do during this time?

Ezra-The Small Band of Escapees

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon.

It took four months for the group I led to travel to Jerusalem. We rested and had a time of celebration, praising God for His goodness.

We were the second group of Jews to return home. Time had passed since the first group arrived. The men another families from the first group had fixed their home and were to work on rebuilding the city and temple. I didn't see much of that work done.

I met with the city leaders to see what they had planned. In that meeting they told me news that broke my heart. 

See, a long time ago, when our fathers escaped from Egypt, God gave us His laws. There was the ten commandments and then other laws to help us keep healthy, clean, well, and live peaceably. 

In that second group of laws, God commanded us not to marry anyone from another nation. The reason, God told us, was to keep the false idols from coming into our homes and culture. Jews who lived before us became examples of the truth in God's words. Even King Solomon stopped worshiping God. He worshipped the idols of his wives to make them happy. In the end, he became miserable. 

The leaders told me that people of Israel, including the priests and Levites have married those from other nations. They have taken on the practices of worshiping the idols from the other nations. Not everyone did this, but many had. 

When I heard the news, I ripped my clothes, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down with so much sadness and anger I couldn't speak until that evening. 

That night I fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed: 

“O my God, I’m so totally ashamed, I can’t bear to face you. O my God—our iniquities are piled up so high that we can’t see out; our guilt touches the skies. We’ve been stuck in a muck of guilt since the time of our ancestors until right now; we and our kings and priests, because of our sins, have been turned over to foreign kings, to killing, to captivity, to looting, and to public shame—just as you see us now."

I wept and threw myself closer to the ground in front of a large crowd standing at the house of God.

"Now for a brief time God, our God, has allowed us, this battered band, to get a firm foothold in his holy place so that our God may brighten our eyes and lighten our burdens as we serve out this hard sentence. We were slaves; yet even as slaves, our God didn’t abandon us. He has put us in the good graces of the kings of Persia and given us the heart to build The Temple of our God, restore its ruins, and construct a defensive wall in Judah and Jerusalem."

Men, women, and children walked closer to me. Watching. 

“And now, our God, after all this what can we say for ourselves? For we have thrown your commands to the wind, the commands you gave us through your servants the prophets. They told us, ‘The land you’re taking over is a polluted land, polluted with the obscene vulgarities of the people who live there; they’ve filled it with their moral rot from one end to the other. Whatever you do, don’t give your daughters in marriage to their sons nor marry your sons to their daughters. Don’t cultivate their good opinion; don’t make over them and get them to like you so you can make a lot of money and build up a tidy estate to hand down to your children.’

Those watching wept with me. Their cries and wails growing louder.

“And now this, on top of all we’ve already suffered because of our evil ways and accumulated guilt, even though you, dear God, punished us far less than we deserved and even went ahead and gave us this present escape. Yet here we are, at it again, breaking your commandments by intermarrying with the people who practice all these obscenities! Are you angry to the point of wiping us out completely, without even a few stragglers, with no way out at all? You are the righteous God of Israel. We are, right now, a small band of escapees. Look at us, openly standing here, guilty before you. No one can last long like this.”

Oh what sad news. We all wept before the Lord, our Creator.


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
                The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

1. Ezra and those who traveled with him were the ______ group to return to Jerusalem.
2. After the celebration to God, what did the leaders tell Ezra?
3. What did Ezra do when he heard the news?
4. Then Ezra prayed. Where was he when he prayed?
5. Who came and watched Ezra pray?
6. What did they do when they heard Ezra's prayer?
7. How do you think the people felt at this time?

Ezra-Going Home For the First Time

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses as a servant in Babylon.

The Jews who met me by the river leading to Ahava had chosen to leave their homes in Babylon and return to the land of our fathers. A gift from God, promised to Abraham. 

We were excited. And nervous. Our whole lives have been spent living in Babylon as slaves. We didn't know any other way of life. We didn't know what the land would look like. How much work would be needed to restore the ruined homes and buildings when Babylon burned our city? We could only picture these things in our mind.

And so, at the end of our three-day fast and prayer we gathered our things. 

King Artaxerxes gave me offerings of silver and gold for the temple. I called the Levites to gather around the offerings. These were the men who were from the tribe of Levite, the chosen priesthood of the Jewish people. The men in this tribe were given the task to care for the temple by God. 

I weighed the silver and gold items in front of the Levites for the record. The same amount should be weighed when we arrive at Jerusalem.

I said to them, "You and these silver and gold articles are dedicated to the Lord. These articles are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard them carefully until you weigh them in the inner chambers of the house of the Lord in Jerusalem before the leading priests, your brother Levites, and the family heads of Israel."

The men took the job very seriously. They wrapped the articles carefully and packed them for the journey, agreeing to guard them and keep them safe at all times.

I looked around at the people. Everything was packed. We had formed groups to help each other carry our things, care for the animals, and assist those who needed help walking. "Let's go."

This was the twelfth day of the first month. The day we left the bondage of Babylon, the only life we knew, for the freedom of a new-to-us land. 

We arrived in Jerusalem the first day of the fifth month safe because the hand of God was on us. He protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. After the long journey, we chose to rest for three days.

On the fourth day, the Levites and I went to the house of our God. The silver and gold articles were placed in the hands of the priest. Eleazar and a number of Levites were there. All the articles from our journey were accounted for by number and weight and recorded at that time. Every piece had arrived safely.

We had such a great celebration giving offerings and praising the God of Israel. We also delivered the king's orders to the governors of Trans-Euphrates. The orders stated Trans-Euphrates should help us and assist in the repairing of the house of God.


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Before the people left Ahava, what job did he give the Levites?
2. Where were the people going?
3. Have they been there before?
4. Why were the people nervous about going?
5. After they returned to Jerusalem, and rested what was done?
6. Was the number correct?
7. That means who did their job honestly?

Ezra-For the Sake of Our Children

By Mary Vee
Ezra 8

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses while a slave in Babylon.

The king of Babylon has asked me to lead a group of Jews back to our homeland. He has given me the task to teach the Law of Moses to those living in Jerusalem.  

Apparently King Artaxerxes has decided that making Israel a good place for the Jews to live and worship our God is a good way to protect his kingdom from any surprise Egyptian attacks. He may think that is the reason, but I am convinced and praise God for His putting these thoughts into the heart of the king.

I must admit, the job seemed huge to me. I prayed and set my mind on doing the work. Although the king's invitation brought many Jews living in Babylon and willing to move back to our homeland, I didn't see any Levites, the chosen ones to work in the temple. 

I put out a notice for anyone interested in returning home to meet at the canal that flows toward Ahava. This was a river in Babylon near the Euphrates. Once everyone arrived, we camped for three days, hoping, and waiting... and still no one from the tribe of Levi showed. I sent messages to certain Levites who were good men of God and knowledgeable in the Law of Moses. I told them what to say to their brother Levites, hoping they could at least encourage some to go with us. It worked. They persuaded more than 250 Levite brothers to take the journey back to our homeland. 

I stood before all the men and women gathered at the river considering the instructions I would share. This would be a difficult journey. Most of us were born in this land of Persia as slaves. We had not seen the Promised Land given to our fathers by God. None of us really knew what to expect. Neither did we know if the journey would have hardships. We were leaving everything we knew behind. Everything. To go back to the land of our fathers and to build new lives in Jerusalem.

There, by the water's edge, I said, "Let us fast and humble ourselves before our God. Let's ask him for a safe journey for us and our children and all our possessions. I must tell you I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road because we had told the king 'The hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his anger is against all who turn away from him.' I am confident in our God that He will protect us."

Yes. God could protect us.

We continued to camp by the Ahaha canal to fast and ask our God about the journey. And He answered our prayer.  We should go. All of us.

That settled it. 

We were going home. To Jerusalem.


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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What task did the king give to Ezra?
2. Who were called to meet at the Ahava Canal?
3. What did Ezra ask the people to do while there?
4. What answer did God give the people?
5. Where were they going?

Ezra-The King Wanted To Help Us--Can You Believe It?

By Mary Vee
Ezra 7

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I have spent many years studying the Law of Moses. 

I have been a captive in the land of Babylon along with many other Jews. Our land had been conquered almost seventy years ago and we were brought here to serve the Babylonian people.

But there is a new king on the throne. And time has passed. Artaxerxes was the king of this land now called Persia. I had many opportunities to speak with him.

What I found especially exciting was seeing God work in the king's heart. A king who did not believe in God. 

Artaxerxes wanted people to occupy Israel. He wanted them to grow their crops, rebuild cities. Live. Worship a God he didn't know. 

As long as the Israelites remained strong, their cities would be like a wall between Egypt and him. This way, if Egypt decided to start a war against Babylon, they would first have to conquer Israel.

So, the king gave me everything I asked. God blessed us by causing Artaxerxes to want to help. In fact, King Artaxerxes gave me a letter to carry with me on my journey. This is what he wrote in the letter:

I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. I am sending you and my seven advisers to teach the people the Law of your God, which is in your hand. Take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel the silver and gold from those remaining in Babylon. Use these as an offering to your God for the temple of your God in Jerusalem. 

Use what ever money is left over in anyway your God says. Be sure to deliver all the articles given to you for the temple worship. And if you need any more money for the temple, you may have what you need from my royal treasurer.

I am ordering all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to give whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of God of heaven, asks. Whatever the God of heaven has ordered, let it be done for His temple. You may not impose any taxes on any priest or worker of the house of God.

And you, Ezra are to appoint leaders and judges using the wisdom God has given you. You are to teach any who do not know the laws of your God. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must be punished by death, banishment, lose their property, or put in prison.

This is what I, Artaxerxes decree.

And this is where the king's letter ended. Amazing, right?  I am so very happy.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Why did King Artaxerxes want to help Israel?
2. What did he give them?
3. What was his gift to be used for?
4. What could Ezra do if they needed more money?
5. Who did the king say the people had to obey?

Ezra- The Temple is Finished!!!

By Mary Vee
Ezra 6

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I am a prophet, which means God trusts me to give His message to His people.

Six years have passed since we have returned to the city of Jerusalem.

The good news is THE TEMPLE IS FINISHED!! 

We had a difficult time getting started. So many bullies came and threatened us if we built the temple. But, as you read in the last post from Zechariah, God gave us a message of encouragement. He told us to go ahead and build. That He would protect us and show His power.

So we did.

And now the temple is finished. 

This building is nowhere as magnificent as Solomon's temple. That temple was magnificent, so big, so...well, let's just say that anyone walking in Solomon's temple couldn't help but be silent and look. The evil Nebuchadnezzar burned Solomon's temple the very one that had once stood on these very grounds.

The Almighty told us this temple may not look as glorious as Solomon's, but it would have greater importance. We didn't fully understand what that meant, and may never, but we can  celebrate our new temple. A place to worship the living God.

The priests, Levites and the rest of the exiles celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. The offerings given by the people were great. The priests were installed in each division and the Levites given their jobs in the temple according to what was written in the Book of Moses.

Then, on the fourteenth day of the first month we celebrated the Passover. The priests and Levites did their ceremonial cleaning for the event. Offerings were given by the people.

We ate together and gave up all the wrong habits we had been doing. This was a time to celebrate and praise God.

For seven days we celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled us with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria. This change of mind caused him to to help us in the work on the house of God. The God of Israel.

Wow. Join us! You can celebrate, too! Take time to thank God for what He has done for you and given to you.


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sources: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000,  

1.  How long did it take for the people to finish the Temple?
2.  What made them take so long?
3.  Who helped them, encouraged them, protected them?
4.  What did the people do when they finished?
5.  What did the people stop doing?
6.  How did the people feel.

Ezra-Darius and the LAST Time the Advisors Tricked Him

By Mary Vee
Ezra 6 

From Darius' Chronicles

Photo Courtesy

My name is Darius. I am king over the territory belonging to the Medes and the Persians which includes the Babylonian provinces. 

One of the problems I am forced to deal with as king is bickering people. 

One recent event really blew up and it was because I listened and didn't check the facts. Well, I made sure to not let that happen again.

What was the problem, you ask? 

Well, a few of my advisors took it upon themselves to spy on the Jews who returned to Jerusalem. I must admit I didn't have the whole story. Before I became king,  the Jewish captives had been given permission to return to their home. Some did. Some did not. I had too many other issues to worry about and didn't have time to deal with this.

A few of my advisors, though, didn't like the situation. They went to Jerusalem and saw the Jews rebuilding their temple. I knew a former king of Babylon, a man named Nebuchadnezzar, had conquered the Jewish city and burned their temple to the ground. 

The advisors wrote me, reporting all the work the Jews were currently doing. They seemed to think this Jewish temple would give power to the Jewish people. They requested I have the work stopped. I didn't see anything wrong with the request. I ordered the work to stop.

A second letter came from my advisors claiming the people had indeed stopped their work at first, but then, resumed. When asked why they were disobeying orders, the Jews claimed Cyrus gave them permission to rebuild.

Cyrus? Really? A former king of the Medes and Persians? 

This new information turned the whole issued into a huge problem. Cyrus was not only a Mede, but also my relative. I couldn't undo one of his orders. I called the guard to conduct a search for Cyrus's decree. It took some time but they finally found it. And to my great disappointment, the Jews were right.

Great. Now I have to undo what I said to the advisors. That doesn't look good for a king.

I called the complaining advisers, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates and Shethar-Bozenai and their officials to come to my chambers. 

I said to them, "You are to stay away from Jerusalem. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. 

I also decree you must pay out of the royal treasury all the funds needed for the construction, specifically from the Trans-Euphrates funds. Whatever is needed--young bulls, rams, male lambs for offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem must be given to them daily for sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and then pray for the well-being of the king and his sons without fail.

AND, I decree that if anyone, ANYONE at all changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from his house and he is to be lifted up and impaled on it. And for this crime his house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

I, Darius, have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.

MOVE IT!!!

Those advisors left with a panic look on their faces. 

I must admit, I found my chat with those advisors rather entertaining. 

Especially when I received the report that they carried out my orders with diligence. That should be the last time they trick me.


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1.  Who was Darius?
2.  Why was he upset with his advisors from Trans-Euphrates?
3.  What did he tell them to do?