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David’s prayer in today’s lesson expresses a universal human longing to know God and to sustain that knowledge through worship and devotion: 17 I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, [...]

In seeking God’s will we are often at loose ends.  We wonder sometimes as we look out on a world that doesn’t make sense: a world in which terrible things are done and too often in his name.  All we can do is to seek God – in prayer, in fasting, in study – humbly [...]

When Ezekiel wrote these words did he understand their meaning? 11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 ”As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep , so I will care for My sheep and will [...]

Good class discussion today.  Just when you wonder how the Old Testament is relevant today, we’re reminded that just as Nehemiah’s purpose was to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, so it is our mission to build God’s Kingdom – the New Jerusalem: 5 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, [...]

There will come a time of rest, but in this life rest is something that is of short duration at best: 15 When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my [...]

Nehemiah not only asked for permission to go to Jerusalem, he asked the king to give him letters of passage.  This was important in that time – it was almost like having diplomatic immunity.  Having this authority allowed Nehemiah to get past people who didn’t want him there. 6 The king said to me (the queen [...]

Today’s lesson scripture could be viewed as simply an introduction – a setup for this week’s lesson on Sunday.  I mean, it’s just four verses that start with Nehemiah telling us that for the first time he was sad in the king’s presence, that the king noticed and remarked on this and that after Nehemiah [...]

If today’s lesson scripture seems familiar, read it out loud.  It may seem even more familiar because we hear in these words the pattern of prayer that we sometimes hear in worship today.  Spontaneous prayer is wonderful, but there is also a place for prayers that are written out as well.  They need not be [...]

Today’s lesson scripture opens our week of study of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was one of those Jews who had done well and prospered under the Persian kings.  His brother, Hanani, came back from a visit to Jerusalem and told Nehemiah how the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates destroyed.  In these opening verses [...]

Despite defeat, exile and hardship on their return to Judea, the Jewish people persevered in faith to God.  The expression of this faith is found in today’s lesson scripture: 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her [...]