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 10-11

If the word curse was explicitly used in reference to the covenant before this, I glossed right over it. I know the language of the covenant is very clearly if...then from the very beginning. God makes the consequences of breaking the covenant extremely clear. It simply isn't possible that anyone ever entered the covenant without … Continue reading Nehemiah 10-11 →

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 →

Nehemiah 4-6

There's something about Nehemiah that sets it apart from the other books. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but it's something about the style, the voice of Nehemiah. It's written in first person. Ecclesiastes is written in first person, a few chapters in other books, but mostly it's just the Psalms. And Nehemiah. That … Continue reading Nehemiah 4-6 →

Nehemiah 1-3

Now, I'm not entirely clear on why the wall wasn't rebuilt after the temple. Did they just not have explicit permission to rebuild anything more of the city than the wall and they were too afraid to do so? It would make sense. They were surrounded by some pretty nasty people. I only wonder because … Continue reading Nehemiah 1-3 →