Day 266 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 23 September 2023 reflections
Day 266, 23 September 2023
1) Ezra 7-10
Ezra 7
The Arrival of Ezra
1 (Ne 2:1; 1Ch 6:4-14) Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes
king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the high priest -
6 (Ezr 7:9; 7:11-12) this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled
in the Law of Moses, given by the Lord God of Israel. Because the hand
of the Lord his God was upon him, the king granted him all his requests.
7 (Ezr 8:1-20) Some of the children of Israel, along with some of the priests,
and the Levites, the singers, the porters, and the temple servants,
went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra arrived at Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the king's seventh year.
9 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 2:8) From the first day of the first month when the journey
from Babylon began, until the first day of the fifth month when he arrived
at Jerusalem, the good hand of his God was upon him.
10 (Dt 33:10; Ezr 7:25) Because Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law
of the Lord, he was doing so and teaching the statutes and judgments in Israel.
The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra
the priest, who was likewise the scribe, the one responsible for the words
of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel:
12 (Eze 26:7; Da 2:37) "Artaxerxes, king of kings,
"To Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven:
"Perfect peace, and so forth.
13 (Ezr 6:1) "I have issued a decree that all the people of Israel,
and their priests, and the Levites in my realm, who are inclined to go up
to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14 (Est 1:14) For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law
of your God which is in your hand,
15 (2Ch 6:2; Ps 135:21) and to carry the silver and gold, which the king
and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation
is in Jerusalem,
16 (1Ch 29:6; 29:9) along with all the silver and gold that you can find
in all the province of Babylon, plus the freewill offering of the people
and priests, who are voluntarily giving for the house of their God
in Jerusalem.
17 (Dt 12:5-11; Nu 15:4-13) Diligently use this money to buy bulls, rams,
lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them
on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18 "Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest
of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given to you for the service of the house
of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20 (Ezr 6:4) And whatever else is needed for the house of your God
and is your responsibility to provide, use the king's treasury to pay for it.
21 (Ezr 7:6) "I, even I Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree
to all the treasurers of the province Beyond the River, that whatever
Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, should request
from you, you should do it with all diligence-
22 as much as a hundred talents
[About 3 3/4 tons, or 3.4 metric tons.] of silver, a hundred measures
[Likely about 18 tons, or 16 metric tons.] of wheat, a hundred baths
[About 600 gallons, or 2200 litres.] of wine, a hundred baths
[About 600 gallons, or 2200 liters.] of oil, and salt (without prescribing
how much).
23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be zealously done
for the house of the God of heaven so as to avoid there being wrath against
the realm of the king and his sons.
24 (Ezr 4:13; 7:7) Also we are informing you that with regard to all
the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants,
or other servants of this house of God, it is not permitted to impose toll,
tribute, or custom on them.
25 (Dt 16:18; Ezr 7:10) "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God
who empowers you, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people
of the province Beyond the River, all those who know the laws of your God
and those who do not, whom you must teach.
26 (Ezr 6:11) Whoever will not observe the law of your God or the law
of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether that be death,
banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment."
27 (Ezr 6:22) Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such
a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord
in Jerusalem,
28 (Ezr 9:9; 5:5) and has extended mercy to me before the king,
his counselors, and all the king's mighty princes. Thus I had been
strengthened, because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me.
As a result, I gathered together some of the chief men of Israel
to go up with me.
[1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra
the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
[2] The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
[3] The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
[4] The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
[5] The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the chief priest:
[6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of
Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all
his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
[7] And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests,
and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
[8] And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh
year of the king.
[9] For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God upon him.
[10] For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do
it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
[11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto
Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments
of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
[12] Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of
the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
[13] I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his
priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to
go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
[14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers,
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God
which is in thine hand;
[15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers
have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
[16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of
Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests,
offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
[17] That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs,
with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the
altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
[18] And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with
the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
[19] The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of
thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
[20] And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which
thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure
house.
[21] And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the
treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily,
[22] Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat,
and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt
without prescribing how much.
[23] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done
for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against
the realm of the king and his sons?
[24] Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites,
singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not
be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
[25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set
magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the
river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
them not.
[26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,
let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
[27] Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as
this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in
Jerusalem:
[28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers,
and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand
of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief
men to go up with me.
Ezra 8
Family Leaders Returning With Ezra
1 (Ezr 7:7) Now these are the chiefs of the households of the fathers
and the genealogical register of those who went up with me from Babylon,
in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 (1Ch 3:22) of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the sons of David, Hattush,
3 (Ezr 2:3) a descendant of Shekaniah
and a descendant of Parosh, Zechariah, plus another 150 registered
in the genealogical register;
4 (Ezr 2:6) of the sons of Pahath-Moab; Eliehoenai a descendant of Zerahiah,
plus two hundred other males;
5 of the sons of Zattu, Shekaniah a descendant of Jahaziel,
plus three hundred other males;
6 (Ezr 2:15; Ne 7:20) of the sons of Adin, Ebed a descendant of Jonathan,
plus fifty other males;
7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah a descendant of Athaliah,
plus seventy other males;
8 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah a descendant of Michael,
plus eighty other males;
9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah a descendant of Jehiel,
plus two hundred and eighteen other males;
10 of the sons of Bani, Shelomith a descendant of Josiphiah,
plus one hundred and sixty other males;
11 (Ezr 10:28) of the sons of Bebai, his son Zechariah, plus 28 other males;
12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan a descendant of Hakkatan,
plus one hundred and ten other males;
13 (Ezr 2:13) of the last sons of Adonikam, the ones named Eliphelet,
Jeuel, and Shemaiah, plus sixty other males;
14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, plus seventy other males.
Temple Servants
15 (Ezr 7:7; 8:21) I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava,
and we camped in tents three days. As I examined the people and the priests,
I discovered that none of the sons of Levi were there.
16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan,
Zechariah, and Meshullam, chief men; and also for Joiarib and Elnathan,
discerning men.
17 (Ezr 2:43) I gave them orders for Iddo, chief at the place Kasiphia,
and crafted exactly what they would say to Iddo, his brothers,
and the temple servants at the place Kasiphia so that they would bring us
ministering servants for the house of our God.
18 (1Ch 6:19; Ezr 7:28) Because the good hand of our God was upon us,
indeed they brought us a man of understanding descended from the sons
of Mahli, who is a descendant of Levi, the son of Israel-Sherebiah along
with his sons and his brothers, eighteen men;
19 (1Ch 6:1; 6:16) and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons
of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men;
20 (Ezr 2:43; 7:7) and of the temple servants whom David
and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites,
two hundred and twenty temple servants, all of them designated by name.
21 (2Ch 20:3; Ps 5:8) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river
of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God,
to seek from Him a good route for us, our little ones,
and all our substance.
22 (2Ch 15:2; Ezr 7:6) For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort
of foot and horse soldiers to help us against the enemy on the way,
because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon
all who seek Him for good, but His power and His wrath are against all
who forsake Him."
23 (Jer 29:12-13; 1Ch 5:20) So we fasted and sought our God for this,
and He was moved by our prayers.
Temple Gifts
24 (Ezr 8:18-19) Then I separated twelve of the presiding priests-
Sherebiah and Hashabiah, along with ten of their brothers-
25 (Ezr 8:33) and weighed out to them the silver, the gold, the vessels,
as well as the contribution collected for the house of our God by the king,
his counselors, his lords, in conjunction with what all Israel had offered.
26 I weighed out into their hand six hundred and fifty talents
[About 24 tons, or about 22 metric tons.] of silver, silver articles worth
one hundred talents, [About 3 3/4 tons, or about 3.4 metric tons.]
one hundred talents [About 3 3/4 tons, or about 3.4 metric tons.] of gold,
27 twenty gold bowls worth a thousand darics, [About 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams.]
and two vessels of fine shining bronze, precious as gold.
28 (Lev 22:2-3; 21:6-8) I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord.
The vessels are holy also. The silver and the gold are a freewill offering
to the Lord God of your fathers.
29 (Ezr 8:33-34) Watch and guard them until you weigh them
before the presiding priests and Levites, and the presiding elders of Israel
at Jerusalem, for the chambers of the house of the Lord."
30 So the priests and the Levites accepted the weighed-out silver and gold,
along with the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
The Return to Jerusalem
31 (Ezr 7:9; 8:15) Then we began the journey from the Ahava River
on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God
was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the attacker
and the ambusher along the way.
32 (Ne 2:11) When we arrived at Jerusalem, we stayed there three days.
33 (Ne 3:4; Ezr 8:30) Then on the fourth day the silver and the gold
and the vessels were weighed out in the house of our God by the hand
of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest. With him was Eleazar
the son of Phinehas as well as Jozabad the son of Jeshua,
and Noadiah the son of Binnui-both Levites.
34 All of it was counted by number and by weight,
and all the information was recorded at that time.
35 (Ezr 6:17) Then, the children of the exile who had come out of captivity
offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel. On behalf of all Israel,
they offered twelve bulls, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats
as a sin offering. All of it was offered as a burnt offering to the Lord.
36 (Ezr 7:21-24) Finally, they delivered the king's decrees to the satraps
of the king as well as to the governors of the province Beyond the River.
Accordingly, they supported the people and the house of God.
[1] These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy
of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes
the king.
[2] Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of
the sons of David; Hattush.
[3] Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and
with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
[4] Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with
him two hundred males.
[5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three
hundred males.
[6] Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him
fifty males.
[7] And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him
seventy males.
[8] And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with
him fourscore males.
[9] Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two
hundred and eighteen males.
[10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an
hundred and threescore males.
[11] And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him
twenty and eight males.
[12] And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him
an hundred and ten males.
[13] And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet,
Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
[14] Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy
males.
[15] And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and
there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the
priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
[16] Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and
for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for
Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of
understanding.
[17] And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place
Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his
brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto
us ministers for the house of our God.
[18] And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of
understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and
Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
[19] And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his
brethren and their sons, twenty;
[20] Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the
service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were
expressed by name.
[21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might
afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and
for our little ones, and for all our substance.
[22] For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and
horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto
the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek
him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
[23] So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
[24] Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
[25] And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even
the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellers,
and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
[26] I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver,
and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
[27] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of
fine copper, precious as gold.
[28] And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy
also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God
of your fathers.
[29] Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the
priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem,
in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
[30] So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the
gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
[31] Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the
first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and
he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by
the way.
[32] And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
[33] Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels
weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the
priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was
Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
[34] By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was
written at that time.
[35] Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come
out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve
bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs,
twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto
the LORD.
[36] And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants,
and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people,
and the house of God.
Ezra 9
Ezra Prays About Intermarriage
1 (Ne 9:2; Lev 18:24-30) Now when these things were done, the leaders
contacted me, saying, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites
have not separated themselves from the people of the lands. They practice
the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,
the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 (Ex 22:31; 34:16) Specifically, they have taken some of their daughters
as wives for themselves, as well as for their sons, so that the holy seed
has been mingled with the people of the lands. In fact, the involvement
of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this vile behavior."
3 (Ne 1:4; Jos 7:6) When I heard this, I tore my clothes and my robe,
plucked out the hair of my head and from my beard, and sat down astonished.
4 (Ezr 10:3; Ex 29:39) Because of the vile behavior of those who had been
in exile, every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered
to me, but I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.
5 (Ex 9:29; 1Ki 8:22) At the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness
and, despite having my clothes and my robe torn, I knelt on my knees
and stretched out my hands in prayer to the Lord my God
6 (2Ch 28:9; Rev 18:5) and said:
"O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God,
because our iniquities have expanded over our heads and our wrongdoing
has grown up to the heavens.
7 (2Ch 29:6; Da 9:5-8) Since the days of our fathers until this day,
we have been in a great guilt. It is because of our iniquities that we,
our kings, and our priests have been delivered-by the sword, by captivity,
by spoil, and by being shamed-into the hand of the kings of the lands.
This day is like that, too.
8 (Ps 13:3; Ecc 12:11) "Yet now for a little while, there has been a favorable
response from the Lord our God-leaving us a remnant to escape, giving us
a tent peg from His holy place, having our eyes enlightened by our God,
and giving us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For though we were slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage
but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, granting us
a reviving for the rebuilding of the house of our God, for the repairing
of its ruins, and for giving us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 "Now, O our God, what shall we say after this?
For we have forsaken Your commandments,
11 (Ezr 6:21) which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying,
'The land you are going to possess, it is an unclean land with the filthiness
of the people of the lands. By their abominations, it is has been filled
from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 (Dt 7:3; 23:6) Now, therefore, cease giving your daughters as wives
to their sons, do not take their daughters to your sons,
and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you might grow strong
and eat the good of the land and leave it as an eternal inheritance
to your children.'
13 (Ps 103:10) "After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds
and our great guilt, seeing that You our God have punished us less than
our iniquities deserve and have given us such deliverance as this,
14 (Dt 9:8; 9:14) should we again break Your commandments
and intermarry with the people of these abominations?
Would You not become so completely angry with us that there would be
no remnant nor any who escape?
15 (Ps 130:3; Da 9:14) O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous,
for we who escaped exile yet remain to this very day. Here we stand before
You in our guiltiness even though we should not stand before
You because of this."
[1] Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The
people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated
themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their
abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
[2] For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their
sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those
lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this
trespass.
[3] And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
[4] Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the
God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried
away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
[5] And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having
rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands
unto the LORD my God.
[6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee,
my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass
is grown up unto the heavens.
[7] Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this
day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been
delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to
captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
[8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God,
to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place,
that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our
bondage.
[9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage,
but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give
us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations
thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
[10] And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken
thy commandments,
[11] Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The
land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness
of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it
from one end to another with their uncleanness.
[12] Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take
their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for
ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for
an inheritance to your children for ever.
[13] And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our
great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
[14] Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the
people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou
hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
[15] O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as
it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot
stand before thee because of this.
Ezra 10
The People's Confession of Sin
1 (2Ch 20:9; Da 9:20) Now while Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping
and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large congregation
of men, women, and children gathered around him from Israel, for the people
too wept bitterly.
2 (Ne 13:27; Ezr 9:2) Shekaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,
answered and said to Ezra, "We have acted with vile unfaithfulness against
our God and have wedded foreign women from the people of the land,
yet there is now hope in Israel concerning this.
3 (Dt 7:2-3; Ezr 9:4) Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God
to sever relations with all the women and their children according
to the counsel of my lord and those who tremble at the commandment
of our God. May this be done in accordance with the law.
4 (1Ch 28:10) Arise, for this matter is your responsibility.
But we are standing with you. Be courageous and act!"
5 (Ne 5:12; 13:25) Then Ezra stood and made the presiding Levitical priests
and all Israel to swear an oath to act according to this word.
And they swore an oath.
6 (Dt 9:18; Ne 3:1) Then Ezra stood in front of the house of God
and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib.
When he arrived there, he ate no bread and drank no water because
he was mourning over the vile unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the children
of the exile to assemble in Jerusalem.
8 Whoever would not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,
according to the counsel of the leaders and the elders, and would himself be
excluded from the congregation of the exiles.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together
to Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month,
on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat on the grounds
of the house of God, trembling about this matter and also because
of the great rain.
10 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them,
"You have acted unfaithfully by bringing home foreign women,
adding to the guilt of Israel.
11 (Jos 7:19; Ezr 10:3) Now therefore make confession to the Lord God
of your fathers and do what pleases Him: Sever your relationships
with the people of the land, especially from the foreign women."
12 Then all the congregation answered loudly, "As you have said to us,
that we will do.
13 But there are many people, and because it is the rainy season
we will not be able to set up outside. Moreover, this is not a task
for a day or two since we have so grievously transgressed in this matter.
14 (2Ch 29:10; 30:8) Let now our rulers preside over all the congregation
so that, in each of our cities, all who have married foreign women,
along with the elders and judges of that city, will come at appointed times,
until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter is turned from us."
15 (Ne 11:16) Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah
opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
16T hen the descendants of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest selected men,
heads of the fathers' households, according to their families,
each of them by name. They sat down in the first day of the tenth month
to examine the matter,
17 and finished dealing with every man who had married foreign women
by the first day of the first month.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 (Ezr 2:2; 3:2) Some of the sons of the priests were discovered to have
wedded foreign women,
namely the sons of Joshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers:
Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 (Lev 6:6; 2Ki 10:15) They committed to sever their relations with their
women, and, being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20 (1Ch 24:14; Ezr 2:37) Likewise, of the sons of Immer,
there were Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 (1Ch 24:8) Of the sons of Harim,
there were Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 (1Ch 9:12) Of the sons of Pashhur,
there were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Also, from the Levites,
there were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Among the singers,
there was Eliashib,
and from the porters,
there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 (Ezr 2:3; Ne 7:8) Further from Israel,
of the sons of Parosh,
there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26 (Ezr 10:2) Of the sons of Elam,
there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 (Ezr 2:8; Ne 7:13) Of the sons of Zattu,
there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons of Bebai,
there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 Of the sons of Bani,
there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 Of the sons of Pahath-Moab,
there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui,
and Manasseh.
31 (Ne 3:11) Of the sons of Harim,
there were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin,
Malluk, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum,
there were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,
and Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani,
there were Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 Of the sons of Binnui,
there were Shimei,
39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 (Ezr 2:29) Of the sons of Nebo,
there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All these married foreign women,
and some of them had wives that had children.
[1] Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting
himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel
a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept
very sore.
[2] And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and
said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange
wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning
this thing.
[3] Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the
wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord,
and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done
according to the law.
[4] Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee:
be of good courage, and do it.
[5] Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all
Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
[6] Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat
no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of
them that had been carried away.
[7] And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the
children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem;
[8] And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the
counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had
been carried away.
[9] Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto
Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of
the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God,
trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
[10] And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed,
and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
[11] Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do
his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from
the strange wives.
[12] Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou
hast said, so must we do.
[13] But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not
able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are
many that have transgressed in this thing.
[14] Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and
with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce
wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
[15] Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were
employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped
them.
[16] And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with
certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of
them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the
tenth month to examine the matter.
[17] And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives
by the first day of the first month.
[18] And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken
strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his
brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
[19] And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and
being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
[20] And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
[21] And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
[22] And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
[23] Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is
Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
[24] Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem,
and Uri.
[25] Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and
Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
[26] And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi,
and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
[27] And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth,
and Zabad, and Aziza.
[28] Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
[29] And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and
Sheal, and Ramoth.
[30] And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
[31] And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
[32] Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
[33] Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei.
[34] Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
[35] Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
[36] Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
[37] Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
[38] And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
[39] And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
[40] Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
[41] Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
[42] Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
[43] Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel,
Benaiah.
[44] All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom
they had children.
2) Our Daily Bread for 23 September 2023 titled
All the Answers
John 14:15-26
The Promise of the Spirit
15 (Eph 6:24) "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 (Jn 15:26; 14:26; 1Jn 2:1) I will pray the Father, and He will give you
another Counselor, that He may be with you forever:
17 (Jn 15:26; 16:13; 1Co 2:14) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him,
for He lives with you, and will be in you.
18 (Jn 14:3) I will not leave you fatherless. I will come to you.
19 (Jn 7:33; 16:16) Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more.
But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 (Jn 10:38; 14:10) On that day you will know that I am in My Father,
and you are in Me, and I am in you.
21 (Jn 14:15; 16:27) He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one
who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I will love
him and will reveal Myself to him."
22 (Lk 6:16; Ac 1:13) Then Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it
that You will reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?"
23 (Jn 14:15; 14:21) Jesus answered him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep
My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home
with him.
24 (Jn 7:16; 14:10) He who does not love Me does not keep My words.
The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "I have spoken these things to you while I am still with you.
26 (Jn 15:26; 16:7) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that
I told you.
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also.
[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I
in you.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt
manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye
hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes the awful moment he understood his father was
gone. Motor racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. had just been killed in a
horrific crash at the end of the Daytona 500-a race in which Dale Jr. had
also participated. "There's this noise coming outta me that I can't
re-create," said the younger Earnhardt. "[It's] this bellow of shock and
sorrow-and fear." And then the lonely truth:
"I'm gonna have to do this by myself."
"Having Dad was like having a cheat sheet," Earnhardt Jr. explained.
"Having Dad was like knowing all the answers."
Jesus' disciples had learned to look to Him for all the answers. Now, on the
eve of His crucifixion, He assured them He wouldn't leave them alone. "I will
ask the Father," Jesus said, "and he will give you another advocate to help
you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth" (John 14:16-17).
Jesus extended that comfort to all who would believe in Him. "Anyone who
loves me will obey my teaching," He said. "My Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with them" (v. 23).
Those who choose to follow Christ have within them the Spirit who teaches
them "all things" and reminds them of everything Jesus taught (v. 26). We
don't have all the answers, but we have the Spirit of the One who does.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What big questions trouble you?
How do you sense the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) guiding you in this?
Heavenly Father, help me to seek You for the answers I need.
Help me trust You completely and find real peace in You.
For further study, read Learning to Love Scripture through Learning to Love the Questions.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 7 - The Cost of Widsom
Proverbs 4:4,7
Proverbs 4
4 (Pr 7:2; Eph 6:4) He also taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
7 (Mt 13:44-46) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding. "
4 He taught me also, and said unto me,
Let thine heart retain my words:
Keep my commandments, and live.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
And with all thy getting get understanding.
Establishing priorities is a popular topic of conversation in our
generation. We carry appointment calendars and attend goal-setting
strategy seminars. We let machines answer our telephones so that
we won't miss any important messages, or so that we can screen calls
before we answer them. We order our lives so that we can "get ahead".
"Getting ahead" in God's kingdom, however, involves other priorities
than the ones we may set for ourselves. "Wisdom is supreme," the
principal thing, says Proverbs 4:7, "Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding."
Wisdom is defined as "an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting."
Biblical wisdom is not merely the accumulation of facts about God and his
teaching, but the application of those truths of life, taking on
the character of God as we mature in the image of Christ.
Such wisdom may, indeed, come at great cost. Jesus calls us to "lay
down our lives" to follow him - perhaps not literally to die, but to die
to self-centered priorities, to allow the Holy Spirit to establish
his value system in us.
"Keep my commandments and you will live," Proverbs 4:4 says. Real life -
rich, fulfilling, significant, abundant life - comes only through union
with God. The success offered by the world, the acclaim of others, material
prosperity and convenience cannot satisfy us once we have tasted
the joy of life with God in Christ.
Application
a) What does "getting wisdom" means to me?
b) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on the priorities and values of the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich ,and He adds no sorrow with it.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich,
And he addeth no sorrow with it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Saddened by Loss
1 Cor 15:35-38,51-57
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up?
With what body do they come?"
36 You fool! What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 When you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but a bare kernel,
perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
38 Then God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,
for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For tis corruptible will put on incorruption,
and this mortal will put on immortality.
54 When this corruptible will have put on incorruption,
and this mortal will have put on immortality,
then the saying that is written shall come to pass:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ!
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up?
and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be,
but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him,
and to every seed his own body.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 23 of the Month
a) Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
b) Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
(
John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
Rom 12:10
10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one another in honour
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
Heb 10:24
24 And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works.
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious,
and be kind.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:23
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name
of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a prayer of national confession for your nation to confess their sin.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, help me to seek You for
the answers I need. Help me trust You completely and find real peace in You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to get understanding and wisdom.
Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for His joyful blessing.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the power of the Rapture.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
Pray that Iranian refugees in Turkey will be reached for Christ
and provided needed ministry and resources.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) Ezra 7-10
Ezra 7
The Arrival of Ezra
1 (Ne 2:1; 1Ch 6:4-14) Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes
king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah,
the son of Hilkiah,
2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar,
the son of Aaron the high priest -
6 (Ezr 7:9; 7:11-12) this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled
in the Law of Moses, given by the Lord God of Israel. Because the hand
of the Lord his God was upon him, the king granted him all his requests.
7 (Ezr 8:1-20) Some of the children of Israel, along with some of the priests,
and the Levites, the singers, the porters, and the temple servants,
went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8 Ezra arrived at Jerusalem in the fifth month, during the king's seventh year.
9 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 2:8) From the first day of the first month when the journey
from Babylon began, until the first day of the fifth month when he arrived
at Jerusalem, the good hand of his God was upon him.
10 (Dt 33:10; Ezr 7:25) Because Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law
of the Lord, he was doing so and teaching the statutes and judgments in Israel.
The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra
the priest, who was likewise the scribe, the one responsible for the words
of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel:
12 (Eze 26:7; Da 2:37) "Artaxerxes, king of kings,
"To Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven:
"Perfect peace, and so forth.
13 (Ezr 6:1) "I have issued a decree that all the people of Israel,
and their priests, and the Levites in my realm, who are inclined to go up
to Jerusalem, may go with you.
14 (Est 1:14) For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law
of your God which is in your hand,
15 (2Ch 6:2; Ps 135:21) and to carry the silver and gold, which the king
and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation
is in Jerusalem,
16 (1Ch 29:6; 29:9) along with all the silver and gold that you can find
in all the province of Babylon, plus the freewill offering of the people
and priests, who are voluntarily giving for the house of their God
in Jerusalem.
17 (Dt 12:5-11; Nu 15:4-13) Diligently use this money to buy bulls, rams,
lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them
on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
18 "Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest
of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given to you for the service of the house
of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20 (Ezr 6:4) And whatever else is needed for the house of your God
and is your responsibility to provide, use the king's treasury to pay for it.
21 (Ezr 7:6) "I, even I Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree
to all the treasurers of the province Beyond the River, that whatever
Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, should request
from you, you should do it with all diligence-
22 as much as a hundred talents
[About 3 3/4 tons, or 3.4 metric tons.] of silver, a hundred measures
[Likely about 18 tons, or 16 metric tons.] of wheat, a hundred baths
[About 600 gallons, or 2200 litres.] of wine, a hundred baths
[About 600 gallons, or 2200 liters.] of oil, and salt (without prescribing
how much).
23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be zealously done
for the house of the God of heaven so as to avoid there being wrath against
the realm of the king and his sons.
24 (Ezr 4:13; 7:7) Also we are informing you that with regard to all
the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants,
or other servants of this house of God, it is not permitted to impose toll,
tribute, or custom on them.
25 (Dt 16:18; Ezr 7:10) "You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God
who empowers you, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people
of the province Beyond the River, all those who know the laws of your God
and those who do not, whom you must teach.
26 (Ezr 6:11) Whoever will not observe the law of your God or the law
of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether that be death,
banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment."
27 (Ezr 6:22) Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such
a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord
in Jerusalem,
28 (Ezr 9:9; 5:5) and has extended mercy to me before the king,
his counselors, and all the king's mighty princes. Thus I had been
strengthened, because the hand of the Lord my God was upon me.
As a result, I gathered together some of the chief men of Israel
to go up with me.
[1] Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra
the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
[2] The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
[3] The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
[4] The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
[5] The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of
Aaron the chief priest:
[6] This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of
Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all
his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
[7] And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests,
and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto
Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
[8] And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh
year of the king.
[9] For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from
Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem,
according to the good hand of his God upon him.
[10] For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do
it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
[11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto
Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments
of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
[12] Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of
the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
[13] I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his
priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to
go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
[14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers,
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God
which is in thine hand;
[15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers
have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
[16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of
Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests,
offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
[17] That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs,
with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the
altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
[18] And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with
the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
[19] The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of
thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
[20] And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which
thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure
house.
[21] And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the
treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done
speedily,
[22] Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat,
and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt
without prescribing how much.
[23] Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done
for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against
the realm of the king and his sons?
[24] Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites,
singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not
be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
[25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set
magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the
river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
them not.
[26] And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king,
let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to
banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
[27] Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as
this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in
Jerusalem:
[28] And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers,
and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand
of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief
men to go up with me.
Ezra 8
Family Leaders Returning With Ezra
1 (Ezr 7:7) Now these are the chiefs of the households of the fathers
and the genealogical register of those who went up with me from Babylon,
in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 (1Ch 3:22) of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the sons of David, Hattush,
3 (Ezr 2:3) a descendant of Shekaniah
and a descendant of Parosh, Zechariah, plus another 150 registered
in the genealogical register;
4 (Ezr 2:6) of the sons of Pahath-Moab; Eliehoenai a descendant of Zerahiah,
plus two hundred other males;
5 of the sons of Zattu, Shekaniah a descendant of Jahaziel,
plus three hundred other males;
6 (Ezr 2:15; Ne 7:20) of the sons of Adin, Ebed a descendant of Jonathan,
plus fifty other males;
7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah a descendant of Athaliah,
plus seventy other males;
8 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah a descendant of Michael,
plus eighty other males;
9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah a descendant of Jehiel,
plus two hundred and eighteen other males;
10 of the sons of Bani, Shelomith a descendant of Josiphiah,
plus one hundred and sixty other males;
11 (Ezr 10:28) of the sons of Bebai, his son Zechariah, plus 28 other males;
12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan a descendant of Hakkatan,
plus one hundred and ten other males;
13 (Ezr 2:13) of the last sons of Adonikam, the ones named Eliphelet,
Jeuel, and Shemaiah, plus sixty other males;
14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zakkur, plus seventy other males.
Temple Servants
15 (Ezr 7:7; 8:21) I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava,
and we camped in tents three days. As I examined the people and the priests,
I discovered that none of the sons of Levi were there.
16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan,
Zechariah, and Meshullam, chief men; and also for Joiarib and Elnathan,
discerning men.
17 (Ezr 2:43) I gave them orders for Iddo, chief at the place Kasiphia,
and crafted exactly what they would say to Iddo, his brothers,
and the temple servants at the place Kasiphia so that they would bring us
ministering servants for the house of our God.
18 (1Ch 6:19; Ezr 7:28) Because the good hand of our God was upon us,
indeed they brought us a man of understanding descended from the sons
of Mahli, who is a descendant of Levi, the son of Israel-Sherebiah along
with his sons and his brothers, eighteen men;
19 (1Ch 6:1; 6:16) and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons
of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men;
20 (Ezr 2:43; 7:7) and of the temple servants whom David
and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites,
two hundred and twenty temple servants, all of them designated by name.
21 (2Ch 20:3; Ps 5:8) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river
of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God,
to seek from Him a good route for us, our little ones,
and all our substance.
22 (2Ch 15:2; Ezr 7:6) For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort
of foot and horse soldiers to help us against the enemy on the way,
because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon
all who seek Him for good, but His power and His wrath are against all
who forsake Him."
23 (Jer 29:12-13; 1Ch 5:20) So we fasted and sought our God for this,
and He was moved by our prayers.
Temple Gifts
24 (Ezr 8:18-19) Then I separated twelve of the presiding priests-
Sherebiah and Hashabiah, along with ten of their brothers-
25 (Ezr 8:33) and weighed out to them the silver, the gold, the vessels,
as well as the contribution collected for the house of our God by the king,
his counselors, his lords, in conjunction with what all Israel had offered.
26 I weighed out into their hand six hundred and fifty talents
[About 24 tons, or about 22 metric tons.] of silver, silver articles worth
one hundred talents, [About 3 3/4 tons, or about 3.4 metric tons.]
one hundred talents [About 3 3/4 tons, or about 3.4 metric tons.] of gold,
27 twenty gold bowls worth a thousand darics, [About 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams.]
and two vessels of fine shining bronze, precious as gold.
28 (Lev 22:2-3; 21:6-8) I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord.
The vessels are holy also. The silver and the gold are a freewill offering
to the Lord God of your fathers.
29 (Ezr 8:33-34) Watch and guard them until you weigh them
before the presiding priests and Levites, and the presiding elders of Israel
at Jerusalem, for the chambers of the house of the Lord."
30 So the priests and the Levites accepted the weighed-out silver and gold,
along with the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
The Return to Jerusalem
31 (Ezr 7:9; 8:15) Then we began the journey from the Ahava River
on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God
was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the attacker
and the ambusher along the way.
32 (Ne 2:11) When we arrived at Jerusalem, we stayed there three days.
33 (Ne 3:4; Ezr 8:30) Then on the fourth day the silver and the gold
and the vessels were weighed out in the house of our God by the hand
of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest. With him was Eleazar
the son of Phinehas as well as Jozabad the son of Jeshua,
and Noadiah the son of Binnui-both Levites.
34 All of it was counted by number and by weight,
and all the information was recorded at that time.
35 (Ezr 6:17) Then, the children of the exile who had come out of captivity
offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel. On behalf of all Israel,
they offered twelve bulls, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats
as a sin offering. All of it was offered as a burnt offering to the Lord.
36 (Ezr 7:21-24) Finally, they delivered the king's decrees to the satraps
of the king as well as to the governors of the province Beyond the River.
Accordingly, they supported the people and the house of God.
[1] These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy
of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes
the king.
[2] Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of
the sons of David; Hattush.
[3] Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and
with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
[4] Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with
him two hundred males.
[5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three
hundred males.
[6] Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him
fifty males.
[7] And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him
seventy males.
[8] And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with
him fourscore males.
[9] Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two
hundred and eighteen males.
[10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an
hundred and threescore males.
[11] And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him
twenty and eight males.
[12] And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him
an hundred and ten males.
[13] And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet,
Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
[14] Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy
males.
[15] And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and
there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the
priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
[16] Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and
for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for
Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of
understanding.
[17] And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place
Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his
brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto
us ministers for the house of our God.
[18] And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of
understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and
Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
[19] And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his
brethren and their sons, twenty;
[20] Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the
service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were
expressed by name.
[21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might
afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and
for our little ones, and for all our substance.
[22] For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and
horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto
the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek
him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
[23] So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
[24] Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah,
Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
[25] And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even
the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellers,
and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
[26] I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver,
and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
[27] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of
fine copper, precious as gold.
[28] And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy
also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God
of your fathers.
[29] Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the
priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem,
in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
[30] So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the
gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
[31] Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the
first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and
he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by
the way.
[32] And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
[33] Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels
weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the
priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was
Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
[34] By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was
written at that time.
[35] Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come
out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve
bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs,
twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto
the LORD.
[36] And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants,
and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people,
and the house of God.
Ezra 9
Ezra Prays About Intermarriage
1 (Ne 9:2; Lev 18:24-30) Now when these things were done, the leaders
contacted me, saying, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites
have not separated themselves from the people of the lands. They practice
the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,
the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 (Ex 22:31; 34:16) Specifically, they have taken some of their daughters
as wives for themselves, as well as for their sons, so that the holy seed
has been mingled with the people of the lands. In fact, the involvement
of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this vile behavior."
3 (Ne 1:4; Jos 7:6) When I heard this, I tore my clothes and my robe,
plucked out the hair of my head and from my beard, and sat down astonished.
4 (Ezr 10:3; Ex 29:39) Because of the vile behavior of those who had been
in exile, every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered
to me, but I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.
5 (Ex 9:29; 1Ki 8:22) At the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness
and, despite having my clothes and my robe torn, I knelt on my knees
and stretched out my hands in prayer to the Lord my God
6 (2Ch 28:9; Rev 18:5) and said:
"O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God,
because our iniquities have expanded over our heads and our wrongdoing
has grown up to the heavens.
7 (2Ch 29:6; Da 9:5-8) Since the days of our fathers until this day,
we have been in a great guilt. It is because of our iniquities that we,
our kings, and our priests have been delivered-by the sword, by captivity,
by spoil, and by being shamed-into the hand of the kings of the lands.
This day is like that, too.
8 (Ps 13:3; Ecc 12:11) "Yet now for a little while, there has been a favorable
response from the Lord our God-leaving us a remnant to escape, giving us
a tent peg from His holy place, having our eyes enlightened by our God,
and giving us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For though we were slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage
but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, granting us
a reviving for the rebuilding of the house of our God, for the repairing
of its ruins, and for giving us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 "Now, O our God, what shall we say after this?
For we have forsaken Your commandments,
11 (Ezr 6:21) which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying,
'The land you are going to possess, it is an unclean land with the filthiness
of the people of the lands. By their abominations, it is has been filled
from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 (Dt 7:3; 23:6) Now, therefore, cease giving your daughters as wives
to their sons, do not take their daughters to your sons,
and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you might grow strong
and eat the good of the land and leave it as an eternal inheritance
to your children.'
13 (Ps 103:10) "After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds
and our great guilt, seeing that You our God have punished us less than
our iniquities deserve and have given us such deliverance as this,
14 (Dt 9:8; 9:14) should we again break Your commandments
and intermarry with the people of these abominations?
Would You not become so completely angry with us that there would be
no remnant nor any who escape?
15 (Ps 130:3; Da 9:14) O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous,
for we who escaped exile yet remain to this very day. Here we stand before
You in our guiltiness even though we should not stand before
You because of this."
[1] Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The
people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated
themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their
abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the
Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
[2] For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their
sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those
lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this
trespass.
[3] And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and
plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
[4] Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the
God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried
away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
[5] And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having
rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands
unto the LORD my God.
[6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee,
my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass
is grown up unto the heavens.
[7] Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this
day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been
delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to
captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
[8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God,
to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place,
that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our
bondage.
[9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage,
but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give
us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations
thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
[10] And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken
thy commandments,
[11] Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The
land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness
of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it
from one end to another with their uncleanness.
[12] Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take
their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for
ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for
an inheritance to your children for ever.
[13] And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our
great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our
iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
[14] Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the
people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou
hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
[15] O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as
it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot
stand before thee because of this.
Ezra 10
The People's Confession of Sin
1 (2Ch 20:9; Da 9:20) Now while Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping
and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large congregation
of men, women, and children gathered around him from Israel, for the people
too wept bitterly.
2 (Ne 13:27; Ezr 9:2) Shekaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam,
answered and said to Ezra, "We have acted with vile unfaithfulness against
our God and have wedded foreign women from the people of the land,
yet there is now hope in Israel concerning this.
3 (Dt 7:2-3; Ezr 9:4) Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God
to sever relations with all the women and their children according
to the counsel of my lord and those who tremble at the commandment
of our God. May this be done in accordance with the law.
4 (1Ch 28:10) Arise, for this matter is your responsibility.
But we are standing with you. Be courageous and act!"
5 (Ne 5:12; 13:25) Then Ezra stood and made the presiding Levitical priests
and all Israel to swear an oath to act according to this word.
And they swore an oath.
6 (Dt 9:18; Ne 3:1) Then Ezra stood in front of the house of God
and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib.
When he arrived there, he ate no bread and drank no water because
he was mourning over the vile unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the children
of the exile to assemble in Jerusalem.
8 Whoever would not come within three days would forfeit all his possessions,
according to the counsel of the leaders and the elders, and would himself be
excluded from the congregation of the exiles.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together
to Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month,
on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat on the grounds
of the house of God, trembling about this matter and also because
of the great rain.
10 Ezra the priest stood up and said to them,
"You have acted unfaithfully by bringing home foreign women,
adding to the guilt of Israel.
11 (Jos 7:19; Ezr 10:3) Now therefore make confession to the Lord God
of your fathers and do what pleases Him: Sever your relationships
with the people of the land, especially from the foreign women."
12 Then all the congregation answered loudly, "As you have said to us,
that we will do.
13 But there are many people, and because it is the rainy season
we will not be able to set up outside. Moreover, this is not a task
for a day or two since we have so grievously transgressed in this matter.
14 (2Ch 29:10; 30:8) Let now our rulers preside over all the congregation
so that, in each of our cities, all who have married foreign women,
along with the elders and judges of that city, will come at appointed times,
until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter is turned from us."
15 (Ne 11:16) Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah
opposed this, with Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
16T hen the descendants of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest selected men,
heads of the fathers' households, according to their families,
each of them by name. They sat down in the first day of the tenth month
to examine the matter,
17 and finished dealing with every man who had married foreign women
by the first day of the first month.
Those Guilty of Intermarriage
18 (Ezr 2:2; 3:2) Some of the sons of the priests were discovered to have
wedded foreign women,
namely the sons of Joshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers:
Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 (Lev 6:6; 2Ki 10:15) They committed to sever their relations with their
women, and, being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
20 (1Ch 24:14; Ezr 2:37) Likewise, of the sons of Immer,
there were Hanani and Zebadiah.
21 (1Ch 24:8) Of the sons of Harim,
there were Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22 (1Ch 9:12) Of the sons of Pashhur,
there were Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
23 Also, from the Levites,
there were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah,
Judah, and Eliezer.
24 Among the singers,
there was Eliashib,
and from the porters,
there were Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
25 (Ezr 2:3; Ne 7:8) Further from Israel,
of the sons of Parosh,
there were Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.
26 (Ezr 10:2) Of the sons of Elam,
there were Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.
27 (Ezr 2:8; Ne 7:13) Of the sons of Zattu,
there were Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.
28 Of the sons of Bebai,
there were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
29 Of the sons of Bani,
there were Meshullam, Malluk, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
30 Of the sons of Pahath-Moab,
there were Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui,
and Manasseh.
31 (Ne 3:11) Of the sons of Harim,
there were Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32Benjamin,
Malluk, and Shemariah.
33 Of the sons of Hashum,
there were Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,
and Shimei.
34 Of the sons of Bani,
there were Maadai, Amram, Uel,
35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,
36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.
38 Of the sons of Binnui,
there were Shimei,
39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,
40 Maknadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43 (Ezr 2:29) Of the sons of Nebo,
there were Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.
44 All these married foreign women,
and some of them had wives that had children.
[1] Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting
himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel
a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept
very sore.
[2] And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and
said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange
wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning
this thing.
[3] Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the
wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord,
and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done
according to the law.
[4] Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee:
be of good courage, and do it.
[5] Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all
Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
[6] Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the
chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat
no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of
them that had been carried away.
[7] And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the
children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem;
[8] And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the
counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be
forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had
been carried away.
[9] Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto
Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of
the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God,
trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
[10] And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed,
and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
[11] Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do
his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from
the strange wives.
[12] Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou
hast said, so must we do.
[13] But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not
able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are
many that have transgressed in this thing.
[14] Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them
which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and
with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce
wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
[15] Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were
employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped
them.
[16] And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with
certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of
them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the
tenth month to examine the matter.
[17] And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives
by the first day of the first month.
[18] And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken
strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his
brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
[19] And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and
being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
[20] And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
[21] And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and
Jehiel, and Uzziah.
[22] And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel,
Jozabad, and Elasah.
[23] Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is
Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
[24] Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem,
and Uri.
[25] Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and
Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
[26] And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi,
and Jeremoth, and Eliah.
[27] And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth,
and Zabad, and Aziza.
[28] Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.
[29] And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and
Sheal, and Ramoth.
[30] And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
[31] And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
[32] Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.
[33] Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai,
Manasseh, and Shimei.
[34] Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
[35] Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
[36] Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
[37] Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,
[38] And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
[39] And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
[40] Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
[41] Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
[42] Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
[43] Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel,
Benaiah.
[44] All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom
they had children.
2) Our Daily Bread for 23 September 2023 titled
All the Answers
John 14:15-26
The Promise of the Spirit
15 (Eph 6:24) "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 (Jn 15:26; 14:26; 1Jn 2:1) I will pray the Father, and He will give you
another Counselor, that He may be with you forever:
17 (Jn 15:26; 16:13; 1Co 2:14) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him,
for He lives with you, and will be in you.
18 (Jn 14:3) I will not leave you fatherless. I will come to you.
19 (Jn 7:33; 16:16) Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more.
But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 (Jn 10:38; 14:10) On that day you will know that I am in My Father,
and you are in Me, and I am in you.
21 (Jn 14:15; 16:27) He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one
who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I will love
him and will reveal Myself to him."
22 (Lk 6:16; Ac 1:13) Then Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it
that You will reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?"
23 (Jn 14:15; 14:21) Jesus answered him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep
My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our home
with him.
24 (Jn 7:16; 14:10) He who does not love Me does not keep My words.
The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "I have spoken these things to you while I am still with you.
26 (Jn 15:26; 16:7) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that
I told you.
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also.
[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I
in you.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt
manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye
hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes the awful moment he understood his father was
gone. Motor racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. had just been killed in a
horrific crash at the end of the Daytona 500-a race in which Dale Jr. had
also participated. "There's this noise coming outta me that I can't
re-create," said the younger Earnhardt. "[It's] this bellow of shock and
sorrow-and fear." And then the lonely truth:
"I'm gonna have to do this by myself."
"Having Dad was like having a cheat sheet," Earnhardt Jr. explained.
"Having Dad was like knowing all the answers."
Jesus' disciples had learned to look to Him for all the answers. Now, on the
eve of His crucifixion, He assured them He wouldn't leave them alone. "I will
ask the Father," Jesus said, "and he will give you another advocate to help
you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth" (John 14:16-17).
Jesus extended that comfort to all who would believe in Him. "Anyone who
loves me will obey my teaching," He said. "My Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with them" (v. 23).
Those who choose to follow Christ have within them the Spirit who teaches
them "all things" and reminds them of everything Jesus taught (v. 26). We
don't have all the answers, but we have the Spirit of the One who does.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
What big questions trouble you?
How do you sense the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) guiding you in this?
Heavenly Father, help me to seek You for the answers I need.
Help me trust You completely and find real peace in You.
For further study, read Learning to Love Scripture through Learning to Love the Questions.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 7 - The Cost of Widsom
Proverbs 4:4,7
Proverbs 4
4 (Pr 7:2; Eph 6:4) He also taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
7 (Mt 13:44-46) Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding. "
4 He taught me also, and said unto me,
Let thine heart retain my words:
Keep my commandments, and live.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
And with all thy getting get understanding.
Establishing priorities is a popular topic of conversation in our
generation. We carry appointment calendars and attend goal-setting
strategy seminars. We let machines answer our telephones so that
we won't miss any important messages, or so that we can screen calls
before we answer them. We order our lives so that we can "get ahead".
"Getting ahead" in God's kingdom, however, involves other priorities
than the ones we may set for ourselves. "Wisdom is supreme," the
principal thing, says Proverbs 4:7, "Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding."
Wisdom is defined as "an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting."
Biblical wisdom is not merely the accumulation of facts about God and his
teaching, but the application of those truths of life, taking on
the character of God as we mature in the image of Christ.
Such wisdom may, indeed, come at great cost. Jesus calls us to "lay
down our lives" to follow him - perhaps not literally to die, but to die
to self-centered priorities, to allow the Holy Spirit to establish
his value system in us.
"Keep my commandments and you will live," Proverbs 4:4 says. Real life -
rich, fulfilling, significant, abundant life - comes only through union
with God. The success offered by the world, the acclaim of others, material
prosperity and convenience cannot satisfy us once we have tasted
the joy of life with God in Christ.
Application
a) What does "getting wisdom" means to me?
b) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on the priorities and values of the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich ,and He adds no sorrow with it.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich,
And he addeth no sorrow with it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Saddened by Loss
1 Cor 15:35-38,51-57
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up?
With what body do they come?"
36 You fool! What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 When you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but a bare kernel,
perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
38 Then God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,
for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For tis corruptible will put on incorruption,
and this mortal will put on immortality.
54 When this corruptible will have put on incorruption,
and this mortal will have put on immortality,
then the saying that is written shall come to pass:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ!
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up?
and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be,
but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him,
and to every seed his own body.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought
to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 23 of the Month
a) Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
b) Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
(
John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
Rom 12:10
10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one another in honour
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
Heb 10:24
24 And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works.
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious,
and be kind.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:23
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name
of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray a prayer of national confession for your nation to confess their sin.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, help me to seek You for
the answers I need. Help me trust You completely and find real peace in You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to get understanding and wisdom.
Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for His joyful blessing.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the power of the Rapture.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
Pray that Iranian refugees in Turkey will be reached for Christ
and provided needed ministry and resources.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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