Esther 6-10

I love the story of Esther. It's very cinematic. It is, quite simply, a good story. The king is a bit of a cliche. His reactions are so extreme to everything. He either completely distances himself from any decision, simply ordering his advisors to do as they please, or he's quite dramatic. Haman gets truly … Continue reading Esther 6-10 →

Esther 1-5

A couple things stood out to me reading through the first half of Esther. The first is that Mordecai is not the comforting, faithful father figure I used to think he was. Yes, he took in Esther and raised her as his own daughter when her parents died. That speaks highly of his character. He … Continue reading Esther 1-5 →

Nehemiah 12-13

So that statement that Nehemiah made earlier in the book asking God to remember how he did such a good thing is starting to make more sense. He makes a similar statement again, and it doesn't read so much like boasting when it is once again surrounded by people making a mess of things and … Continue reading Nehemiah 12-13 →

Nehemiah 7-9

The joy of the Lord is my strength. I love this verse. A group of traumatized people have returned to their ruined city. They've just listened to someone read out the law of God, a law they have not been following. They are devastated. Probably really scared. More than a little worried. And Ezra tells … Continue reading Nehemiah 7-9 →

Ezekiel 40-44

Man. Okay, I know exile is pretty extreme. Siege and the horrible things that are done within the walls of a starving and frightened city are extreme. Judah faced pretty harsh judgment for their idolatry and profanity. But the personal nature of this judgment on the Levites is special. They are to tend the temple, … Continue reading Ezekiel 40-44 →

Ezekiel 34-36

So, being familiar with Psalm 23, David, and the metaphor of Christ as shepherd, it's fairly easy to read this prophecy as a metaphor, as about more than just the shepherds. So when it get down to the more explicit statements, it's not much of twist or reveal. I wonder, though, whether the people that … Continue reading Ezekiel 34-36 →

Ezekiel 31-33

I love human pride. Not really, but there's something poetic about it. "Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the lad; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.' Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your … Continue reading Ezekiel 31-33 →

Ezekiel 28-30

I've been doing this for almost a year now. I've been adding tags to each post. I wish I had been adding thematic titles to the Bible study posts as well. Mostly because once again I have nothing specific to say about this section, and I'm a bit curious how many times this has occurred … Continue reading Ezekiel 28-30 →

Ezekiel 25-27

And now God gets into the judgments against the surrounding nations. He promised they would be judged as well. Now those judgments are being pronounced. I find it interesting that one of the big reasons for judgment is rejoicing in Judah's fall. These were enemies. Historical, constant enemies. But they're being punished, harshly, for celebrating … Continue reading Ezekiel 25-27 →

Ezekiel 22-24

I've always been taught 22:30, "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none," meant that there wasn't a single righteous person left in Judah. Except, reading it this time, … Continue reading Ezekiel 22-24 →