Nehemiah

The Cupbearer’s Memory

In Hebrew Bible times, the cupbearer to the king was an office of extraordinary responsibility and prestige. A cupbearer served wine to the king, but his job was much more as it involved tasting the wine before the king drank, for quality but also in case of poison. An office of oppositions. There are twoContinue reading “The Cupbearer’s Memory”

Remember us, O our God, for good

I am trying to move on to Esther, but I can’t leave Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s life is so full of Jesus Christ, his narrative so beautifully punctuated with devotion and prayer. When the book begins, when Nehemiah learns about the great trouble and disgrace of Israel’s remnant, we witness the heavenly love and zeal that flowsContinue reading “Remember us, O our God, for good”

The zeal that consumes us

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31 The book of Nehemiah is so compelling, so piercing, so full of love and longing for God. So full of Christ. Nehemiah rebuilds the Temple after exile, as Jesus would rebuild the Temple of His Body, even us (Jn 2:19, 1 Cor. 12:27). But there’s more.Continue reading “The zeal that consumes us”

Even the women and children rejoiced

In Ezekiel 8, the Spirit lifts Ezekiel up between earth and heaven and brings him in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy is located. There, Ezekiel witnesses women sitting and weeping for Tammuz, an ancient Mesopotamian god believed to beContinue reading “Even the women and children rejoiced”

Because They Understood

When the people of God had rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, the seventh month came, and all of Israel were in their cities (Neh. 7:73). Then the people gathered as one man (Rom. 5:19), and Ezra the priest read out the law and explained it them. All the people answered “Amen! Amen!” lifting up theirContinue reading “Because They Understood”

Until the Stars Appeared

In the book of Nehemiah, God’s people rebuild Jerusalem, City of God, after their exile to Babylon and then to Persia. But their enemies are watching in anger and will not leave them alone for long. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, regional governors under the king of Persia, are among the troublemakers. They mock the JewsContinue reading “Until the Stars Appeared”