This book was most likely written by Ezra and some evidence of that is in 7:28-9:15 which is written in the first person. Also, Nelson's points out that there is "a strong priestly emphasis." He was a "priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel." (7:11) Ezra was a descendant of Aaron the high priest. (7:5) In 538BC Cyrus had decreed that the Jews were allowed back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple! (1:1-4) Ezra led the 2nd return of the exiles to Jerusalem in 458BC which was during the reign of King Artaxerses. (7:7) The king was very kind to him and released him to Jerusalem with a letter saying, "You are to give Ezra…whatever he requests of you." (7:21) He was basically sent by the king to teach the returned exiles the law of God and to bring order and "appoint magistrates and judges" who knew God's laws to "govern all the people." (7:25) The purpose of Ezra was to bring the people back to the mindset of God and to facilitate new growth and a sort of revival among the returnees.
Five different times Ezra uses the phrase, "…the gracious hand of the Lord…" (7:6,9,28,8:18,31) To me that is expressing that God doesn't have to protect, or bless or orchestrate for our good but He does. He is full of grace! It amazes me! It's amazing grace! ;) I love how Ezra credits God constantly throughout the book.
I love Ezra's prayer on behalf of the people in chapter nine. What he says at the end stood out to me, "Oh Lord, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence." His prayer comes from such a broken and humble place. Earlier, in verse nine he says, "For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery." God revived His people and redeemed them despite their guilt. Once again the redemptive plan is seen and it is so beautiful. Once again God sustains His special possession.
Personal Application:
In my generation we don't realize that we are "standing on the shoulders of giants" in regards to the spiritual fathers and mothers who have gone before us. In Ezra 3:12&13, the "shouting and weeping mingled together" and that was because of the generations and what they had each seen and experienced. In my life I want to truly respect and learn from the older generations and appreciate the way they worship, teach, and worship; not be quick to think that my idea of "church" is better. So often I find myself in that mindset and that's not right. God is not limited to one way of doing things or one genre of music. No way! He transcends age, style, size, location, etc and I know that but it's hard to slip into that way of thinking. I pray that God will continue to change my heart and that I would come to love and encourage other ways of serving and worshipng in the Kingdom of God.
Personal Application:
In my generation we don't realize that we are "standing on the shoulders of giants" in regards to the spiritual fathers and mothers who have gone before us. In Ezra 3:12&13, the "shouting and weeping mingled together" and that was because of the generations and what they had each seen and experienced. In my life I want to truly respect and learn from the older generations and appreciate the way they worship, teach, and worship; not be quick to think that my idea of "church" is better. So often I find myself in that mindset and that's not right. God is not limited to one way of doing things or one genre of music. No way! He transcends age, style, size, location, etc and I know that but it's hard to slip into that way of thinking. I pray that God will continue to change my heart and that I would come to love and encourage other ways of serving and worshipng in the Kingdom of God.
Point of Passion:
My point of passion comes out of the same area of Ezra, 3:10 says, "When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord's temple, the priests put on their robes…blow their trumpets…clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed." It had been SO long since they would have worshiped God at a temple! They had been in exile for seventy years and before that who knows when the last time was. They looked back to King Davids way of worship and wasted no time, I'm sure, in getting their instruments out right after the foundation was done. The foundation! They didn't wait until the whole temple was done. That reminds me of life and how we at times don't worship and praise God after every "little" thing, we wait and worship God after it's all done; whatever the 'it' is. God is so good and deserves our worship at all times, after every success, after every blessing; no matter how "small the beginning." :)
Nehemiah was not a prophet but the cup bearer to the King Artaxerses. (1:11) It says in 1:1 that "these are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah." Although that is stated and Nehemiah speaks in the first person, the author is said to be Ezra which means Nehemiah was only quoted. (N155paraphrased) Nehemiah was around at the same time as Ezra and led the third group of exiles to Jerusalem in 444BC. (N156) He got permission from the King to go to Judah and rebuild the city, after much prayer on his part. (2:4-6) That was the purpose of Nehemiah, to rebuild the city and to reestablish the political system. The rebuilding of the wall is a large part of this book. (ch.1-7) Despite hostile attempts to frustrate the construction "the wall was finished just fifty-two days after" it had begun. (6:15) It is amazing what a bit of strong, godly leadership can do!
God answers prayer. Nehemiah was a man of prayer and God never left him hanging. (2:8) He was a passionate man with vision to see the wall restored. He stayed close to God and sought Him constantly. To me chapter nine encompasses God's character and nature and His redemptive plan. I went through the chapter and highlighted all of the things God did…"You made a covenant…You promised…You displayed…You knew…You have a glorious reputation…You divided the sea…You hurled their enemies…You led…You came down…You gave…You instructed…You commanded…You sustained…You helped…You placed…You made…You subdued…" and the list goes on! So powerful! It lays out God's nature and how He orchestrated everything and at the same time it goes almost full circle from creation to Abraham until post exile! The whole old testament! God's redemptive plan! He sustained and loved them through it all. He is sovereign, Almighty, the Great I Am and He brought them through the storms. After this prayer is over they make a "solemn promise" and turn their lives around to "obey the Law of God." (9:38,10:28) After hearing everything God had done I would too! WOW!
It is a mystery who the author of Esther is but it says in Nelson's that "the writers knowledge of Persian customs, the palace…and details of the events in the reign of Ahasuerus indicate that the author lived in Persia." (160) The SourceView says that the author "was a devout Jew" so my guess is that it was Mordecai or someone like him who was a Jew serving in the palace during the reigns of Xerxes or his son Artaxerxes. Esther may have even dictated it, if that was possible back then. I learned in lecture that the palace was destroyed 30 years after King Xerxes died so it would had to have been someone living at the same time. During the time of Esther, King Xerxes was on the throne and Persia was were the remaining Jewish captives were living, despite their release to go back to Jerusalem. The reason Esther was written was mainly to "record the events leading to the establishment of the Jewish observance of Purim." (SV, 9:24-32) It is still celebrated today and I'm sure was an important part of the Jewish history that they wanted to remember. This book allows them to look back and see the origin of the festival.
Esther is an amazing story showcasing God's providence and protection of the Jews, though God is never mentioned. He is clearly seen because of the events that happen so fluidly and just in the nick of time. (6:3,4) He is God over the world, even Persia a superpower, they got their power from God and He chose to rise Hadassah up into the midst of the kingdom. (2:17) He works in the details and guides our footsteps. God's redemptive plan is "written" all over this book. He doesn't even need to be mentioned for His plan to be seen. God rescued His people once again. He worked through an unassuming orphan to bring a king to his knees and save His people, the Jews.  |
| A painting my Grandmas did of Esther :) |
Esther really is "the stuff of fairy tales" and I absolutely love this story. Mostly because it's about God using a woman to save His people. As a woman I often feel inadequate or overlooked next to a man in ministry because I know that they are the head. But I have to remind myself that God has given us each equally important gifts, just different roles. Esther was empowered by God to approach the King. Wow. This book encourages me to be confident in my gifting and the talents God has given me and the dreams He has put in my heart. Because He made me, He called me, and it's not a lesser calling, it's a beautiful one.
Point of Passion:
They established the festival of Purim, "to commemorate a time when the Jew gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy." Joy! I find SO often when I am in church during the worship time that there is an absence of joy. No hands lifted, no shouts of joy, no dancing and hardly any clapping. I know each person has their own expression of worship but I think that if what Jesus did for us has really sunk in we would show it. We would be doing so much more than standing in the same spot, restrictive and self conscious of those around us. I am guilty of this for sure and it's so sad. I have been in worship times too that are crazy joyful and I broke off chains of self consciousness and danced and shouted and sang with everything in me. It was SO freeing and it felt so right. I was giving everything to God. I was fully expressing my heart for Him TO HIM. I wasn't holding back. I pray that in my church and every other church that this starts being the norm and that peoples chains are broken off and their love for God would overflow and be a testimony to God's amazing love.
Haggai is a post exilic prophet and though he isn't in very much of the Bible, his four messages are of great importance. Some might say 'short and sweet.' Well, I wouldn't use 'sweet' to describe his messages, 'strong' or 'stinging' are better choices. His first message was in 520BC and it happened during the reign of King Darius. (1:1) The construction of the temple had stopped in 534BC mostly because of "strong opposition from the Samaritans in the land." (N265) They were concentrating on their own homes "while my house lies in ruins." (1:4) Haggai was called by God to wake up His people in Judah to continue the construction. (1:8,9) Fearing God and rebuilding His temple was more important than what men could do to them. In Haggai's first message, 1:2-11, God says that the reason their crops were failing, amongst other things, was because they had neglected His house. His messages were to Zerubabbel and Jeshua who in turn told the "whole remnant of God's people." And they obeyed!! What?! (1:12)
God is very encouraging in this book. He says, "I am with you…Be strong…So do not be afraid." (1:13,2:4,5) At first He rebukes them through Haggai, but then He comforts and assures them also saying, "My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt." I love that, just as a Father would discipline His children but then tell them He loves them still. He "sparked the enthusiasm" and "they began to work on the house" of God. (1:14) He wanted them to succeed and shows His "cheerleader" side throughout Haggai. At the end He says the most beautiful thing to Zerubbabel, "I will make you like a signet ring on my finger." (2:23) Yes, that is one of the most affirming words I have read thus far. Nelson's says that Zerubbabel "becomes the centre of the messianic line, sealing both branches together." How amazing is that?! Haggai 2:9 is also amazing! God says, "The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory…I will bring peace." Yay for Jesus! Haggai is told of God's future redemption and "the crucial role the second temple was to have." (N266) Haggai is packed with treasures.
From the tribe of Levi came a "priest by birth but a prophet by calling" named Zechariah who was "a contemporary of Haggai." (N270) He was the "son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo." (1:1) He began prophesying the same year as Haggai, in 520BC, which means that King Darius was on the throne of Persia. He was younger than Haggai so he was also around when King Xerxes ascended to the throne. Zechariah was "commissioned by God" to spur on the completion of the temple in Jerusalem, just as Haggai was. (N270) Though Zechariah was quite different in his prophetic gifting because God showed him eight visions which are quite "out there." To be honest, Zechariah is a very intimidating book and I don't quite grasp all that is going on but I do know that it is powerful. The interaction with angels and even satan in chapter 3 set Zechariah apart. (In regards to the 'satan' traditions, don't even get me started;)
God is in all things and He carried ultimate authority over the earth. In 4:6-10 He says, "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit." He says that Zerubbabel will complete the temple and He tells him, "Do not despise these small beginnings." Through the visions given to Zechariah, God tells them that the building is by His power alone, then affirms his task and encourages perseverance. That would get me going! God's last words in Zechariah are the picture of hope and redemption. He says, "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them…They will call on my name…and I will answer them…These are my people…they will say, 'The Lord is our God.' " (13:8b-9) Future reconciliation and refinement. God isn't gonna stop being with them and working on their hearts.
I love that there is so much about Jesus in these post exilic prophetic books! "Then he will receive royal honour and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles." (6:13) In class I found out that kings come from the line of Judah and priests from Levi so they could never be both. But Jesus is both! Mind blowingly amazing! I just can't wait for Jesus! But my favourite reference to Jesus in Zechariah is 9:9, it says, "Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey - riding on a donkey's colt." Ahh!! Amazing that God would reveal that to Zechariah! So specific, hundreds of years before it came to pass.
Malachi was the author of this book of the same name and a prophet. According to Nelson's "Malachi" means "My Messenger" He was just that, a messenger sent by God to Israel. (1:1) According to the SourceView it was "composed sometime after 460BC, after the temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt (516BC)." Malachi was sent to get the people out of their religious slump. The spiritual leaders were majorly dropping the ball and allowing awful things to happen, in the temple especially. "Listen, you priests…make up your minds to honour my name…" (2:1-4) There was so much complacency and a huge lack of reverence, if any, towards God and His temple. There was divorce and marriage with pagan women. It was a mess that God sent Malachi to clean up, and that He did.
I see the Father heart of God in Malachi. His first words are "I have always loved you" (1:2) and He goes on to say, "guard your heart…return to me…They will be my people." (2:15, 3:7,17) He is so passionate in His love towards them…it is SO beyond beautiful that the last book before the New Testament ends with God speaking such great love over His remnant; who He has sustained.
"But for you who fear my name, the Sun of RIghteousness will rise with healing in his wings." (4:2) Ahhhhhh! Jesus!! This is God's redemptive plan in Malachi and almost the last thing God says. What beautiful imagery and especially since after it says, "And you will go free, leaping with joy…you will tread upon the wicked." (v3) Joy! Freedom! Triumph over evil! Through Jesus! If that's not redemptive I don't know what is! Personal Application:
My absolute favourite verse in Malachi was 3:10. It says, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you wont have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!" I love that! It is talking about if they bring their tithes but for me it is also an assurance that God is capable of more than we can imagine and He has so much in store for us. I can put my trust in Him all the time, always, without exception. He is so eager to bless and love us! It leaves me kind of speechless…the fact that He loves us that much. I can't fully comprehend it.
We need to come before God with a pure heart and in Malachi the people ask "why doesn't the Lord accept my worship?" (2:14) and its because of the deep sin that they were in. Guarding you heart is so important and God tells them that a couple times after that question. That says to me that it affects our worship because our hearts are where the outflow of worship comes from and if we don't make ourselves right with God our worship will be tainted. That is serious stuff. Leading people in worship is serious to me and to lead people, first, in setting their hearts right needs to happen before going into that beautiful intimate place of worship with God.
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