266 - Ezra and Nehemiah.

Kathleen's thoughts

Ezra 10: 1-8, 10: 9-44
Nehemiah 1: 11, 2: 1-6, 5: 14, 2:10-16
Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem 437BC

Ezra plans national gathering He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

Ezra preaches and the people repent. You have been unfaithful by marring foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. Therefore, make a confession to the Lord God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the surrounding peoples and your foreign wives.

Foreign wives divorced.
Nehemiah's grief The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem's wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah's prayer Lord God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant's prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.
They are Your servants and Your people,. You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand.Please Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man.
At the time, I was the king's cup bearer.

Nehemiah's request
Nehemiah appointed governor Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah. - from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years - I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor,
Sanballat and Tobiah's indignation
Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem.


So then my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to act for His good purpose. Phil. 2: 12-13

Blessings
Kathleen.