August 9 Nehemiah 1-2 (ESV) Report from Jerusalem 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, [1] 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews … More August 9 Nehemiah 1-2
How prone are we to self-deception? Are we really able to be honest with ourselves as we talk with God? Do we remember daily the true source of our righteousness? Here is a devotional by Elaine Stedman, inspired by one of Ray Stedman’s sermons: Remember me with favor, O my God (Nehemiah 13:31b). Some people … More Remember me with favor, O my God
And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. —Nehemiah 12:43 C.H. Spurgeon comments: “For the Lord had made them glad with great joy.” God alone can give us this great joy. … More Joy and the power of the Word
Nehemiah 10:28 speaks of “the rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand.” Pastor P. G. Matthew, of Grace Valley Community Church, … More Confession: personal, public, practical and particular
Steven Cole on Nehemiah 9: God’s abundant mercy is the dominant theme of this prayer. It begins by exalting God and His glorious name (9:5) and then it starts where the Bible does, with God as the almighty Creator of everything, who gives life to every living creature. All the angels bow before Him (9:6). … More God’s grace is greater!
Phillip Graham Ryken writes in Thermelios: Ezra also had a mind for biblical truth. Perhaps the best example comes from Nehemiah 8, where Ezra gathers the Israelites to renew the covenant in Jerusalem. The heart of that renewal was the reading and preaching of God’s Word. Ezra gathered people in the square in front of the … More The heart of renewal: the reading and preaching of God’s Word
Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said … More Standing Guard
Nehemiah 6 tells of a tough situation in Nehemiah’s life. He and the people were just about finished building the wall, but his enemies were out to get him. they intended to do Nehemiah harm(v 2) they were spreading false rumors, “invented in their own mind” v8 (that Nehemiah and the people were intending to … More We get His strength and He gets the glory
In Nehemiah 4, we come to two statements which contain elements of God’s awesome power and sovereignty, and also elements of our responsibility. The setting is the rebuilding of the wall and the fierce opposition from the enemies of the Jews. In verse 9 we read: And we prayed to our God and set a … More Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight …
In Nehemiah 3, we read of the section-by-section, gate-by-gate repair of the broken walls and gates of Jerusalem. This was a group project, demonstrating their collective desire to see the wall restored. Spurgeon helps us see a spiritual dimension to this wall. C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, on Nehemiah 3: The broad wall afforded a … More Spurgeon: The broad wall
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 