Day 258 of the 2nd Bible Study Journey - 15 September 2022 reflections
Day 258, 15 September 2022
1) Ezra 9
Ezra 10
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 2
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.
Nehemiah 1
The Prayer of Nehemiah
1 (Ne 10:1; Zec 7:1) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakaliah.
In the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the palace,
2 (Ne 7:2) Hanani, one of my relatives, and some men of Judah arrived. So I
asked them concerning the returning Jews who had been in captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
3 (Ne 2:17; 2Ki 25:10; Ne 2:3) They said to me, "The remnant that returned
from captivity is there in the province enduring great affliction
and reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem remains broken down,
and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 (Ne 2:4; Ezr 10:1) When I heard these words, I sat down and wept
and mourned for days. Then I fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Ex 20:6; Dt 7:21and said:
"I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
6 (Da 9:20; 2Ch 6:40) Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open,
that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I now pray before You,
day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You.
Both my father's house and I have sinned.
7 (Ps 106:6) We have acted very corruptly against You
and have not obeyed the commandments, nor the statutes,
nor the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8 (Dt 4:25-27; 28:64) "Please remember the word that You commanded
Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you behave unfaithfully, then I will scatter
you among the nations,
9 (Dt 12:5; Lev 26:39-42) but if you return to Me and keep My commandments
and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest part of the heavens,
I will gather them from there and bring them back to the place where I have
chosen to establish My name.'
10 (Dt 9:29; Ex 32:11) "Now these are Your servants and Your people,
whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
11 (Ne 1:6; 2:1O) Lord, I implore You, let Your ear be attentive
to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants
who delight to revere Your name. And let Your servant prosper this day, a
nd grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
For I was the king's cupbearer.
[1] The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in
the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
[2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah;
and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left
of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
[3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of
Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
[4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven,
[5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and
terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and
observe his commandments:
[6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou
mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day
and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and
my father's house have sinned.
[7] We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the
commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou
commandedst thy servant Moses.
[8] Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant
Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
[9] But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though
there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I
gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have
chosen to set my name there.
[10] Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by
thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
[11] O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of
thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name:
and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the
sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem
1 (Ezr 7:1; Ne 1:1) In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year
of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took the wine
and gave it to the king. Never had I been upset in his presence.
2 (Pr 15:13) So the king said to me, "Why is your face troubled though
you do not seem sick? This is nothing but a troubled heart."
Then I became very much afraid
3 (Ne 1:3; Da 2:4) and said to the king, "May the king live forever!
Why should not my face be troubled when the city, the place
of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 (Ne 1:4) So the king said to me,
"What are you requesting about this matter?"
Immediately, I prayed to the God of heaven
5 and then said to the king, "If this pleases the king
and if this might be good for your servant who is before you,
then would you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs
so that I may rebuild it?"
6 (Ne 13:6; 5:14) The king, with the queen sitting beside him, said to me,
"How long would your journey be? And when will you return?"
Because it pleased the king to send me, I established a timetable for him.
7 (Ezr 7:21; 8:36) I further said to the king, "If this pleases the king,
may letters be given to me for the governors of the province
Beyond the River so that they would allow me to pass through
until I come to Judah,
8 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 7:2) as well as a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's
forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates
of the temple mount, for the city wall, and for the house into
which I will enter." The king granted me these things, because the good hand
of my God was upon me.
9 (Ezr 8:22) When I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River,
I gave them the king's letters. He also sent with me commanders of foot
and horse soldiers.
10 (Ne 2:19; 4:7) When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
subordinate heard this, it deeply grieved them that there was a man
coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
11 (Ezr 8:32) When I arrived in Jerusalem, I was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men who were with me;
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
There was no animal with me, except the one on which I rode.
13 (Ne 1:3; 2Ch 26:9) So I went out by night by the Valley Gate toward
the Dragon's Well and then to the Dung Gate, because I was inspecting
the broken-down walls of Jerusalem and its burned gates.
14 (Ne 3:15; 2Ki 20:20) Next I passed by the Fountain Gate
and then to the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
15 (2Sa 15:23; Jn 18:1) By going up along the riverbed at night,
I inspected the wall. Then I turned back so that I could enter
by the Valley Gate, and then came back again.
16 The officials did not know where I went or what I did, since I had not
yet told it to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials,
or to any of the others who would do the work.
17 (Ne 1:3; Eze 5:14; Ps 44:13) Finally, I said to them, "You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem is devastated and its gates are burned
with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will
no more be a reproach."
18 (2Sa 2:7) Then I told them that the hand of my God had been good to me
and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me.
And they said, "Let us rise up and build!"
So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 (Ne 6:6; 6:1-2; Ps 44:13-14) But when Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the Ammonite subordinate, and Geshem the Arabian heard it,
they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said,
"What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 (Ezr 4:3; Ne 2:4) Then answered I them and said to them,
"The God of heaven, He will enable us to prosper. Therefore we His servants
will arise and build, but you will have no portion, or right,
or memorial in Jerusalem."
[1] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and
gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
[2] Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou
art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore
afraid,
[3] And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my
countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
[4] Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed
to the God of heaven.
[5] And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant
have
found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto
the
city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
[6] And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long
shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to
send me; and I set him a time.
[7] Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be
given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over
till I come into Judah;
[8] And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may
give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained
to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God
upon me.
[9] Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's
letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
[10] When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek
the welfare of the children of Israel.
[11] So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
[12] And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I
any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was
there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
[13] And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the
dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which
were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
[14] Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but
there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
[15] Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and
turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
[16] And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as
yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the
rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
[17] Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how
Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and
let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
[18] Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also
the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up
and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
[19] But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us,
and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
[20] Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will
prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no
portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
2) Our Daily Bread for 15 September 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/09/15/where-i-belong
Entitled "Where I Belong"
PSALMS 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2 ) It is like precious oil upon the head,
that runs down on the beard-
even Aaron's beard-
and going down to the collar of his garments;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) as the dew of Hermon,
that descends upon the mountains of Zion,
for there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
even life forever.
Psalms 133
[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity!
[2] It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the
beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
[3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains
of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
At the end of a meal to mark Passover, a traditional Jewish holiday that
celebrates and remembers the greatness of God’s saving work, church members
expressed their joy by dancing together in a circle. Barry stood back,
watching with a huge smile. He remarked how much he loved these occasions,
saying, "This is my family now. This is my community. I've found somewhere
where I know I can love and be loved . . . where I belong."
In his childhood, Barry suffered cruel emotional and physical abuse, robbing
him of his joy. But his local church welcomed him and introduced him to Jesus.
Finding their unity and joy infectious, he began following Christ
and felt loved and accepted.
In Psalm 133, King David used powerful images to illustrate the far-reaching
effects of the "good and pleasant" unity of God's people. He said it's like
someone who is anointed with precious oil, the liquid running down over their
collar (v. 2). This anointing was common in the ancient world, sometimes as a
greeting when one entered a home. David also compared this unity to the dew
that falls on the mountain bringing life and blessing (v. 3).
Oil releases a fragrance that fills a room and dew brings moisture to dry
places. Unity too has good and pleasant effects such as welcoming those who
are alone. Let's seek to be united in Christ so that God can bring about good
through us.
By: Amy Boucher Pye
Reflect & Pray
When have you seen unity at work in your community?
How could you reach out to someone you don’t know at your church?
Jesus, help me to show Your love, not only to those
I find easy to accept but also to those I find challenging.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 5 - 1 John 1:9
9 (Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13) If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
"If God already knows everything about me, everything I've done,
then why do I need to confess it?" Grant struggled with a common
dilemma for many Christians. Indeed, God, knew all his sin - much
better than Grant did himself. But Grant needed to confess,
not for God's benefit, but for his own. Grant needed to agree with God
that his sin was wrong, and put himself in a position to receive God's
grace in forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 make the process quit clear. We confess,
and God forgives and cleanses. Many of us, however, want to take on
God's part as well. We confess, agreeing with God that our sin is wrong.
But then we proceed to try to 'clean up our act,'bargaining with God,
promising that if he will forgive us just this once,
we won't ever to it again.
The problem is, we can never keep such a promise.
We probably will do it again, and then we are back where we started,
begging for forgiveness, and trying once more to cleanse
ourselves for our unrighteousness.
God offers freedom from such futile performance. He says, "Just confess.
Agree that you sinned. Submit yourself to me. Then I'll take over from there."
God's grace does not give us freedom to keep on sinning, of course - we need
to cooperate with the work of his Spirit in our lives and do all we can
to avoid sin. But we do not have to beg God for forgiveness - forgiveness
is offered to us freely.
We do not have to clean up out act before God will accept us; God can make
the necessary changes in our lives. When we confess, submit ourselves to God,
and allow him to work within us, he is able both to forgive us and to cleanse
us from unrighteousness.
Application
a) In what ways have I bartered with God and tried to "Clean up my act"
in order to deserve his forgiveness?
b) What is my part in confession? What is God's response?
Why it is important for me to recognize God's part in my
confession and forgiveness?
c) What spiritual truths can I see now that I could not see
when I lived in darkness?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 16:10-12
10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful
also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also
in much.
11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who will give you that which is your own?"
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Reconciling Peace
Col 3:12-17
12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.
13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another
and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,
even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,
which is the bond of perfection.
15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,
to which also you are called in one body,
rule in your hearts. And be thankful.
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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
15th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Lord to convict all Canadians of His Righteous
standards of living (John 16: 8 - 11
8 "When He comes, He will convict the world of sin
and of righteousness and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I am going to My Father,
and you will see Me no more;
11 and of judgment, because the ruler of this world stands condemned."
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
)
b) Pray for the province of Nova Scotia
I) Pray for the leaders of Nova Scotia, that God's Spirit would influence
them to act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards.
( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His favour.
Pray to the Lord: "Jesus, help me to show Your love, not only to those
I find easy to accept but also to those I find challenging."
Pray to the Lord and confess your sins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be faithful in all you do.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be in unity and community.
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 Lord to convict all Canadians of His Righteous
standards of living
Pray that Somali and Eritrean refugees in Djibouti will have opportunities
to hear the Gospel.
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 9
Ezra 10
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 2
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.
Nehemiah 1
The Prayer of Nehemiah
1 (Ne 10:1; Zec 7:1) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hakaliah.
In the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the palace,
2 (Ne 7:2) Hanani, one of my relatives, and some men of Judah arrived. So I
asked them concerning the returning Jews who had been in captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
3 (Ne 2:17; 2Ki 25:10; Ne 2:3) They said to me, "The remnant that returned
from captivity is there in the province enduring great affliction
and reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem remains broken down,
and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 (Ne 2:4; Ezr 10:1) When I heard these words, I sat down and wept
and mourned for days. Then I fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 Ex 20:6; Dt 7:21and said:
"I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
6 (Da 9:20; 2Ch 6:40) Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open,
that You may hear the prayer of Your servant, which I now pray before You,
day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You.
Both my father's house and I have sinned.
7 (Ps 106:6) We have acted very corruptly against You
and have not obeyed the commandments, nor the statutes,
nor the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8 (Dt 4:25-27; 28:64) "Please remember the word that You commanded
Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you behave unfaithfully, then I will scatter
you among the nations,
9 (Dt 12:5; Lev 26:39-42) but if you return to Me and keep My commandments
and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest part of the heavens,
I will gather them from there and bring them back to the place where I have
chosen to establish My name.'
10 (Dt 9:29; Ex 32:11) "Now these are Your servants and Your people,
whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
11 (Ne 1:6; 2:1O) Lord, I implore You, let Your ear be attentive
to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants
who delight to revere Your name. And let Your servant prosper this day, a
nd grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
For I was the king's cupbearer.
[1] The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in
the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
[2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah;
and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left
of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
[3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of
Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
[4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven,
[5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and
terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and
observe his commandments:
[6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou
mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day
and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins
of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and
my father's house have sinned.
[7] We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the
commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou
commandedst thy servant Moses.
[8] Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant
Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
[9] But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though
there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I
gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have
chosen to set my name there.
[10] Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by
thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
[11] O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of
thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name:
and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the
sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem
1 (Ezr 7:1; Ne 1:1) In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year
of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took the wine
and gave it to the king. Never had I been upset in his presence.
2 (Pr 15:13) So the king said to me, "Why is your face troubled though
you do not seem sick? This is nothing but a troubled heart."
Then I became very much afraid
3 (Ne 1:3; Da 2:4) and said to the king, "May the king live forever!
Why should not my face be troubled when the city, the place
of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 (Ne 1:4) So the king said to me,
"What are you requesting about this matter?"
Immediately, I prayed to the God of heaven
5 and then said to the king, "If this pleases the king
and if this might be good for your servant who is before you,
then would you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs
so that I may rebuild it?"
6 (Ne 13:6; 5:14) The king, with the queen sitting beside him, said to me,
"How long would your journey be? And when will you return?"
Because it pleased the king to send me, I established a timetable for him.
7 (Ezr 7:21; 8:36) I further said to the king, "If this pleases the king,
may letters be given to me for the governors of the province
Beyond the River so that they would allow me to pass through
until I come to Judah,
8 (Ezr 7:6; Ne 7:2) as well as a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's
forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates
of the temple mount, for the city wall, and for the house into
which I will enter." The king granted me these things, because the good hand
of my God was upon me.
9 (Ezr 8:22) When I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River,
I gave them the king's letters. He also sent with me commanders of foot
and horse soldiers.
10 (Ne 2:19; 4:7) When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite
subordinate heard this, it deeply grieved them that there was a man
coming to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
11 (Ezr 8:32) When I arrived in Jerusalem, I was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men who were with me;
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
There was no animal with me, except the one on which I rode.
13 (Ne 1:3; 2Ch 26:9) So I went out by night by the Valley Gate toward
the Dragon's Well and then to the Dung Gate, because I was inspecting
the broken-down walls of Jerusalem and its burned gates.
14 (Ne 3:15; 2Ki 20:20) Next I passed by the Fountain Gate
and then to the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.
15 (2Sa 15:23; Jn 18:1) By going up along the riverbed at night,
I inspected the wall. Then I turned back so that I could enter
by the Valley Gate, and then came back again.
16 The officials did not know where I went or what I did, since I had not
yet told it to the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials,
or to any of the others who would do the work.
17 (Ne 1:3; Eze 5:14; Ps 44:13) Finally, I said to them, "You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem is devastated and its gates are burned
with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will
no more be a reproach."
18 (2Sa 2:7) Then I told them that the hand of my God had been good to me
and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me.
And they said, "Let us rise up and build!"
So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 (Ne 6:6; 6:1-2; Ps 44:13-14) But when Sanballat the Horonite,
Tobiah the Ammonite subordinate, and Geshem the Arabian heard it,
they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said,
"What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 (Ezr 4:3; Ne 2:4) Then answered I them and said to them,
"The God of heaven, He will enable us to prosper. Therefore we His servants
will arise and build, but you will have no portion, or right,
or memorial in Jerusalem."
[1] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and
gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
[2] Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou
art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore
afraid,
[3] And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my
countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
[4] Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed
to the God of heaven.
[5] And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant
have
found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto
the
city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
[6] And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long
shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to
send me; and I set him a time.
[7] Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be
given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over
till I come into Judah;
[8] And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may
give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained
to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall
enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God
upon me.
[9] Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's
letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
[10] When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek
the welfare of the children of Israel.
[11] So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
[12] And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I
any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was
there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
[13] And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the
dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which
were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
[14] Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but
there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
[15] Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and
turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
[16] And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as
yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the
rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
[17] Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how
Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and
let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
[18] Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also
the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up
and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
[19] But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite,
and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us,
and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
[20] Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will
prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no
portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
2) Our Daily Bread for 15 September 2022
https://odb.org/CA/2022/09/15/where-i-belong
Entitled "Where I Belong"
PSALMS 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2 ) It is like precious oil upon the head,
that runs down on the beard-
even Aaron's beard-
and going down to the collar of his garments;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) as the dew of Hermon,
that descends upon the mountains of Zion,
for there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
even life forever.
Psalms 133
[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
in unity!
[2] It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the
beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
[3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains
of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
At the end of a meal to mark Passover, a traditional Jewish holiday that
celebrates and remembers the greatness of God’s saving work, church members
expressed their joy by dancing together in a circle. Barry stood back,
watching with a huge smile. He remarked how much he loved these occasions,
saying, "This is my family now. This is my community. I've found somewhere
where I know I can love and be loved . . . where I belong."
In his childhood, Barry suffered cruel emotional and physical abuse, robbing
him of his joy. But his local church welcomed him and introduced him to Jesus.
Finding their unity and joy infectious, he began following Christ
and felt loved and accepted.
In Psalm 133, King David used powerful images to illustrate the far-reaching
effects of the "good and pleasant" unity of God's people. He said it's like
someone who is anointed with precious oil, the liquid running down over their
collar (v. 2). This anointing was common in the ancient world, sometimes as a
greeting when one entered a home. David also compared this unity to the dew
that falls on the mountain bringing life and blessing (v. 3).
Oil releases a fragrance that fills a room and dew brings moisture to dry
places. Unity too has good and pleasant effects such as welcoming those who
are alone. Let's seek to be united in Christ so that God can bring about good
through us.
By: Amy Boucher Pye
Reflect & Pray
When have you seen unity at work in your community?
How could you reach out to someone you don’t know at your church?
Jesus, help me to show Your love, not only to those
I find easy to accept but also to those I find challenging.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 5 - 1 John 1:9
9 (Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13) If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
"If God already knows everything about me, everything I've done,
then why do I need to confess it?" Grant struggled with a common
dilemma for many Christians. Indeed, God, knew all his sin - much
better than Grant did himself. But Grant needed to confess,
not for God's benefit, but for his own. Grant needed to agree with God
that his sin was wrong, and put himself in a position to receive God's
grace in forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 make the process quit clear. We confess,
and God forgives and cleanses. Many of us, however, want to take on
God's part as well. We confess, agreeing with God that our sin is wrong.
But then we proceed to try to 'clean up our act,'bargaining with God,
promising that if he will forgive us just this once,
we won't ever to it again.
The problem is, we can never keep such a promise.
We probably will do it again, and then we are back where we started,
begging for forgiveness, and trying once more to cleanse
ourselves for our unrighteousness.
God offers freedom from such futile performance. He says, "Just confess.
Agree that you sinned. Submit yourself to me. Then I'll take over from there."
God's grace does not give us freedom to keep on sinning, of course - we need
to cooperate with the work of his Spirit in our lives and do all we can
to avoid sin. But we do not have to beg God for forgiveness - forgiveness
is offered to us freely.
We do not have to clean up out act before God will accept us; God can make
the necessary changes in our lives. When we confess, submit ourselves to God,
and allow him to work within us, he is able both to forgive us and to cleanse
us from unrighteousness.
Application
a) In what ways have I bartered with God and tried to "Clean up my act"
in order to deserve his forgiveness?
b) What is my part in confession? What is God's response?
Why it is important for me to recognize God's part in my
confession and forgiveness?
c) What spiritual truths can I see now that I could not see
when I lived in darkness?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 16:10-12
10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful
also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also
in much.
11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who will give you that which is your own?"
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Reconciling Peace
Col 3:12-17
12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.
13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another
and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,
even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,
which is the bond of perfection.
15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,
to which also you are called in one body,
rule in your hearts. And be thankful.
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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
15th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the Lord to convict all Canadians of His Righteous
standards of living (John 16: 8 - 11
8 "When He comes, He will convict the world of sin
and of righteousness and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I am going to My Father,
and you will see Me no more;
11 and of judgment, because the ruler of this world stands condemned."
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
)
b) Pray for the province of Nova Scotia
I) Pray for the leaders of Nova Scotia, that God's Spirit would influence
them to act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards.
( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His favour.
Pray to the Lord: "Jesus, help me to show Your love, not only to those
I find easy to accept but also to those I find challenging."
Pray to the Lord and confess your sins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be faithful in all you do.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be in unity and community.
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 Lord to convict all Canadians of His Righteous
standards of living
Pray that Somali and Eritrean refugees in Djibouti will have opportunities
to hear the Gospel.
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.