Celebrating the rediscovered Law
Ezra reads the Law; the people celebrate the Feast of Shelters, confess their sins, and promise to start observing the …
Previous articles
The wall is finished
Nehemiah defends the oppressed and finishes the wall of Jerusalem: Nehemiah 5–8:1 Despite the opposition, threats and intimidation, the returning …
To rebuild a wall with weapons
Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem and finds the city wall in a bad way. His rebuilding program meets with some opposition …
Shivering with cold and guilt
Ezra goes to Jerusalem with the support of king Atarxerxes, then he needs to reform local marriage practices with the …
Switching sides
Esther asks for mercy for her people, exposing Haman in the process. Haman dies on the gallows he’s prepared for …
30 (or more) years of peace, then Haman plots genocide
The Temple is finished, then Judah’s enemies stir up trouble when Xerxes becomes king of Persia, but Esther becomes queen …
Zechariah sees a king on a donkey
Zechariah prophesies a restored Jerusalem, the coming messiah, and future rule of the Lord over all the earth: Zechariah 9–14 With …
Fasting and feasting: justice not food
Zechariah’s vision of four chariots. Work on the Temple is finished after Darius confirms it should continue. Then a call …
Build the Lord’s house first
Haggai and Zechariah call to rebuild the Temple, with some encouraging prophecies for the Israel and messianic and end-times prophecies: Haggai …
Reassurance after a terrifying vision
A messenger tells Daniel about the ‘end times’ and future kings of the north and south. Darius becomes king of …
The joy of the new Temple foundation
Cyrus lets the exiles return. They start rebuilding the Temple, but they are opposed by locals who stop the works: Ezra …
Daniel’s humble prayer
Daniel in the lion’s den; Daniel counts 70 years since he was exiled and prays for Israel’s restoration. Cyrus allows …
The fall of Babylon
Daniel’s vision of four beasts; the writing on the wall and the subsequent fall of the Babylonian king, Belshazzar: Daniel 7–8, 5 Isaiah, Jeremiah, …
But my work seems so useless
Isaiah prophesies the fall of Babylon and the coming of the Messiah: Isaiah 48:12–52:12 Why are these chapters of Isaiah here, …
Cyrus: so they all know He is God
Isaiah criticises idolatry, promises Cyrus will restore Judah, and the fall of Babylon: Isaiah 44:6–48:11 Why are these chapters of Isaiah here, …
The long-term plan for Judah’s salvation
Isaiah promises comfort and redemption to Judah and Israel: Isaiah 40–44:5 Why are these chapters of Isaiah here, towards the …
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