365 Days of Pursuit.org

OVERVIEW:

King Ahasuerus issues another decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies; the Jews defeat and destroy their enemies; the feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate this victory; Mordecai’s prosperity and promotion.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

To this point in our overview of the book of Esther, our emphasis has primarily been on the storyline, or the “historical” application. What an intriguing story it is! It is literally packed full of all the things that typically hold our interest as humans when reading a story: a villain, a hero, hatred, love, danger, and romance. While all of these things have been recorded in Esther’s book with precise historical accuracy, it is important to note that in the “doctrinal” or “prophetic” application, this story is actually an incredible picture of the unfolding daily “drama” of the Christian life as “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” (Galatians 5:17)

From the perspective of the “doctrinal/prophetic” application (i.e. what a verse, passage, chapter, or book of the Bible is actually “teaching” us through the “real-life” illustrations in pictures and types):

• King Ahasuerus is a picture of the human soul, and particularly our will. (Where DECISIONS are made, POLICIES are determined, and DECREES are put into motion.)
• Vashti is a picture of the fallen human spirit, representing our “old” or “fallen” nature.
• Esther is a picture of the human spirit, revived by the Holy Spirit, representing our “new” nature.
• Mordecai is a picture of the Holy Spirit.
• Haman is a picture of the flesh.  

With these pictures in mind, understand that it is a monumental thing when Ahasuerus gives his ring to Haman in chapter 3:10, for whoever has possession of the king’s ring has the “power” or, is “in control”. Chapter 3 becomes, then, a perfect picture of the flesh (Haman) in control, “lusting against the Spirit (Mordecai)”, and chapter 4 becomes a perfect picture of the “Spirit (Mordecai) lusting against the flesh (Haman)”.

Note also in chapter 4, that when the flesh (Haman) is in control, the Spirit (Mordecai) is “grieved”. What an incredibly graphic and horribly sad glimpse of what actually takes place in “the midst of our city” (or, on the inside of us) when the flesh is “wearing the ring” or, is “in control” of our lives. We “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God within us! (Ephesians 4:30) Oh, what a difference it would make if we could only see and hear what Esther 4:1 describes through the picture of Mordecai, as the Holy Spirit in us is wearing “sackcloth and ashes” and weeping with a “loud and bitter cry”. God help us!

Notice also in today’s reading in Chapter 8, that because of the law of the Medes and Persians (8:8), the king could not cancel the decree that had been written to put the Jews to death. The only way to prevent the execution demanded by the old law was to institute and implement a new law. It is a perfect picture of what Paul revealed to us in Romans chapter 8. The law of sin and death (the Old Testament) is binding and in effect. “The wages of sin” is most certainly “death”. (Romans 6:23a) There is no reversing that. The only remedy is the institution and implementation of the new law provided in and through our Lord Jesus Christ that supersedes the old law, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 8:2) Hallelujah!

In light of these incredible pictures, Esther 8:8 also becomes a beautiful verse that pictures for us the New Testament teaching of the “eternal security of the believer.” As pictured in the law of the Medes and Persians, once something had received the “sealing” of the king, no man had the ability to reverse it, not even the king himself! In the New Testament, Ephesians 1:12–14 and 4:30 teach us that the moment we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone for our salvation, He “sealed” us with His own Spirit! Ephesians 1:14 even calls this “sealing” the “earnest” (or “down payment” and literally, “engagement ring!”), guaranteeing our complete redemption, and the inheritance of eternal life. May we not only rejoice, but rest in the fact that when the King of creation and salvation seals us with His Holy Spirit, we are secure in Him for all of eternity! (Also see Daniel 6:17.)

Esther 8:10–14 is a beautiful picture of the urgency of taking the life and death message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Observe how the scribes hurriedly wrote the message and the official ambassadors quickly took the “good news” to the four corners of the kingdom. Likewise, we have become the King’s “ambassadors” commissioned to take the message of “good news” to the four corners of the globe while we still have time! Note also, that when the Jews received the message of “good news”, namely, that the OLD law ensuring DEATH had been superseded by a NEW law ensuring LIFE, it not only provided deliverance, but incredible rejoicing! 

In chapter 9, note that the Jews avenged themselves of their enemies, trusting God to destroy them all; all 75,810 of them! (75,000 in 9:16; 500 in 9:6; 300 in 9:15; and the 10 sons of Haman in 9:13.) Note also in chapter 9, while comprehending the actual history of what actually was happening in Esther’s day, at least six powerful New Testament principles concerning the Christian life that apply directly to believers in our day:

Principle #1: What I do to ensure victory TODAY, is the same thing I must do to ensure victory TOMORROW.  (9:12–13)

The middle of verse 13 says, “…do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree…” The victory in the Christian life is simply a matter of reckoning our death to self and Christ’s life within us on a daily basis. (Romans 6:11; 2^nd Corinthians 4:10–11; 1^st Corinthians 15:31)

Principle #2: Even though my flesh is already dead, I must take it out daily and nail it to the cross. (9:13–14)

The end of verse 13 says, “…and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.”  Notice that the ten sons of Haman were already dead, but they still took them out and hanged them the next day. (See Romans 6:11–15)

Principle #3: In order to attain and sustain victory in my spiritual walk, my motives must be free of self-interests. (9:10b, 15b,16b)

Verse 10 says, “…but on the spoil laid they not their hand.” Verse 15 says, “…but on the prey they laid not their hand.” Verse 16 says, “…but they laid not their hands on the prey.”

See 1^st Corinthians 6:19–20.

Principle #4: As I walk in the victory of the fullness and power of the Spirit, God’s love will be shed abroad through me causing me to fulfill the “one another” commands of scripture toward my brothers and sisters and causing me to express compassion for the poor. (9:22)

See Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” See Romans 5:5, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” See the New Testament “one another” commands. (John 13:34; Romans 12:5, 10, 16; 13:8; 14:13, 19; 15:5, 7, 14; 16:16; 1^st Corinthians 4:6; 6:7; 11:33; 12:25; 16:20; Galatians 5:13, 15, 26; Ephesians 4:2, 25, 32; 5:21; Colossians 3:9, 13, 16; 1^st Thessalonians 3:12; 4:18; 5:11; 1^st Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 13:13; 10:24-25; James 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1^st Peter 1:22; 3:8; 4:9-10; 5:5, 14; 1^st John 1:7; 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11)

See Galatians 2:10, “…remember the poor.”

Principle #5: There is a memorial feast that I am to celebrate in remembrance of the day God turned my inevitable destruction into deliverance and salvation. (9:17–32)

See 1^st Corinthians 11:23–26.

Principle #6: I must constantly remember that God’s Spirit (Mordecai) will not override my will (King Ahasuerus), and only through yielding my will to Him will I ever experience the spiritual wealth and peace of the Spirit in the kingdom I call my life. (10:1–3)

See Romans 6:13–22.        

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through MORDECAI — Esther 10:3. He became “next unto the king” after delivering God’s people from sure destruction. Jesus “sat down on the right hand of God” after delivering us all from sure destruction. (Hebrews 10:12–14)


OVERVIEW:

Mordecai and the Jews mourn over the king’s commandment to destroy them; Esther and Mordecai work a plan to save the Jews; Esther plans a banquet for the king at which she makes her request of him to save her people, the Jews; the king belatedly honors Mordecai for his service to him in uncovering the assassination plot; Esther accuses Haman before the king and Haman is executed. 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In chapter 4, Mordecai grieves and weeps in sackcloth and ashes in the streets of the city over the decree issued by the king to destroy the Jewish race. He does this right in the king’s gate where everyone could see him, without fearing the consequences, and certainly without being ashamed of his God or his people. Esther, not understanding why Mordecai was expressing such extreme public emotion (and commotion!), sends a servant to find out what was wrong. Mordecai sends word back to her explaining his actions, along with a copy of the king’s decree to exterminate the Jews, so she might understand just how desperate the situation actually was. Mordecai proceeds to convince Esther that she is the one that God wants to use to deliver His people, suggesting that her rise to such an exalted position in the kingdom might well have been “for such a time as this.” (4:14) We must admire Esther, for she presents herself before the king as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) to do God’s will, knowing she could die if the king doesn’t hold out the golden scepter to her. 

Based on Mordecai and Esther’s behavior, we would do well to ask ourselves two simple but very sobering introspective questions: 

• Am I like Mordecai in that I am deeply concerned for those who are condemned?  
• Am I like Esther in that I am willing to sacrifice myself to intercede on behalf of those who are facing inevitable judgment?

Rather than just being forthright with her request to the king concerning her people, however, Esther very wisely presents herself before him, extending what might be considered somewhat of a formal invitation to attend a special banquet that she wanted to prepare for him and Haman. She was obviously keenly aware of the king’s strong affinity for food and wine, and decided her best chance for getting her request granted would be when the king was of a “merry heart”. (Proverbs 15:13, 15; 17:22) At the banquet, the king asks Esther what was on her mind, and confirms his willingness to grant her petition, even if it were for half of the kingdom! Once again, rather than present such a grave and monumental request at an inappropriate or inopportune time, she chooses to invite him to yet another banquet on the following day. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

As Esther’s first banquet came to an end, Haman walks out feeling like he was sitting on top of the world! He ponders the fact that not only was he the king’s “right-hand man” but that he was the only man in the entire kingdom that the queen invited to her special banquet. As he walks past the king’s gate after the banquet, however, he once again finds himself enraged because of Mordecai’s refusal to do obeisance to him. When he gets home, he tells his wife and friends about the “high” of his day, with the special “honor” of his exclusive time with the king and queen, and the “low” of his day, with that “despicable Jew” not bowing to him in the gate! They suggest for Haman to command gallows to be made for Mordecai’s “terrible insurrection” and that he be hanged on them the next day.

At the same time that Haman is plotting these things against Mordecai in his house, for some strange reason, the king, in his house, finds himself unable to sleep. He commands that the recent chronicles of his kingship be read to him, and as they are, he is reminded of how that it was Mordecai that was used to foil the recent assassination attempt against him. He is also reminded that no kindness had been extended to Mordecai for his heroic deed, so he decides to do something special to honor him but found himself at a loss for just exactly how to do it. He hears that Haman is in the court, and calls him in to seek his counsel on what he thought would be an appropriate way for the king to bestow honor upon a very special individual. Thinking that the king must certainly have been referring to him, Haman wastes no time concocting an extravagant plan to exalt himself before all the people. The king thought Haman’s plan was absolutely perfect and was excited to see it enacted. What a humiliating shock it was to Haman when the king gave him the personal assignment to see that every last detail of his plan be lavished upon “Mordecai the Jew”! (6:10) Haman was so beside himself that he immediately goes home to tell his wife and his counselors what had unfolded in his meeting with the king, and rather than attempt to encourage him, they basically tell him that this will prove to be something he will not be able to overcome. (6:13) While they were discussing this matter, the king’s chamberlains came to tell Haman that it was time for Esther’s second banquet.

As the banquet begins in chapter 7, the king is very anxious to find out just what the request is that Esther has in her heart, and why it was that she was being so mysterious about it all. When she finally tells the king that there was a conspiracy unfolding to exterminate her and her people, the king is absolutely wroth! He wants to know immediately “who” it is that has devised such a heinous plan, and “where” is he! What an unbelievable surprise it is to the king when Esther points across the table and says, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.” The chapter ends with the king ordering that Haman be executed upon the very gallows that he had commanded to be built to hang Mordecai.                  

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through ESTHER – Esther 5–7.  Esther goes before the king pleading for the salvation of her people knowing it may cost a very high price: her own life! Jesus goes before the Father (or King) on our behalf as our Advocate (1^st John 2:1, Revelation 12:9–10) to plead our case for forgiveness considering the very high price He had to pay to obtain it: His own life!


OVERVIEW:

Vashti (a Gentile woman) is removed from her royal position as queen; Esther (a Jewish woman) is chosen to be the new queen; the evil plot of Haman against the whole Jewish race.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The events of Esther take place between Ezra 6 and 7. When verse 3 of Esther chapter 1 sets the time as the third year of Ahasuerus, the year is actually 483 B.C. Note that the term “Ahasuerus” is not a particular man’s name, but was the title used to refer to the supreme ruler in Persia at this period in history, just as “Pharaoh” was the title of the supreme ruler in Egypt. 

It is interesting to note that God’s name is not found anywhere in the book of Esther, although Jewish scribes have found the name Jehovah “hidden”, as it were, in five different verses. It illustrates a beautiful spiritual lesson: when it seems that God is nowhere to be found, if we look beneath the surface, we will actually find Him working “behind the scenes” to accomplish His purposes for our lives! (Romans 8:28)

The book of Esther opens with the king holding a seven-day feast for all those in his palace. (1:5) After seven days of excessive drinking (1:10), Ahasuerus decides to show off Vashti, his beautiful “trophy wife” and queen, to all of his male friends. In her wisdom, however, and with her apparent high moral values, Vashti refuses to cater to the king’s selfish and carnal drunken request. This, of course, infuriates the male chauvinist king, and all his male chauvinist princes, so they collectively decide that it would be best for the king to remove her from her exalted position, and to spread the word of her removal, so that all the women in the kingdom might not follow her “rebellious example”, but would rather “learn from her mistake”, and would be sure to “honor their husbands”.

After about four years, however, the king begins to miss his wife, and regrets his rash decision to put her away. (2:1) Recognizing, not only his regret, but his loneliness, the king’s servants convince him to pick a new queen, from among the many beautiful women in his kingdom, by holding what might be considered the equivalent of a “beauty pageant”. “It just so happens”, that God had placed a Jew, a man named Mordecai, in a very important position, seated at the king’s gate. (2:21) Mordecai, a cousin of Esther, who had not only brought her up from her youth, but had actually become like a father to her (2:7), decided to enter her into this “contest” to potentially become the next queen. Per the instruction of Mordecai, Esther did not let it be known to anyone, however, that she was a Jew. (2:10, 20) 

In God’s sovereignty, and because of her distinct character and beauty, Esther was chosen by the king to be his new queen, and a feast was held in her honor. At the end of chapter 2, Mordecai finds out about a plot to kill the king. He notifies Esther, who in turn, tells the king in Mordecai’s name, and it all gets written down in the book of the chronicles of the king. While this may seem like a rather insignificant detail at the time, we’ll find that it ends up being the very thing that God uses to save His people from destruction! Isn’t it just like God to save His people by something written in “the Book of the King”?! (Romans 10:17)

Chapter 3 begins with a man named Haman getting a big promotion from the king. Haman becomes the king’s “chief advisor” and “right-hand man”! It might be important to note, that he just happens to despise the Jews! Haman, as a perfect picture of the flesh, is a selfish, self-seeking, self-serving, egomaniac. When he sees that Mordecai refuses to bow to him as he passed by, he becomes incensed. (3:5) Haman decided to offer the king the equivalent of about $25 million in silver if the king would pass a law condemning the entire Jewish race to death (including women and children). This money would, no doubt, come from the revenue acquired from the sale of the property of the slain Jews, much like what has happened at other times in history, such as with Hitler during WWII, and the Roman Catholic Church during the crusades. The king passes the law and the date for their execution was set by casting lots. (Esther 3:7, Proverbs 16:33) In God’s providence, the date for the extermination of the Jews was set an entire year away (3:7), providing plenty of time for the “plan of God” to unfold through the “plan of Mordecai”, to halt this satanically generated plot against the Jewish people.                   

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through KING AHASUERUS — Esther 1–2. There is coming a day very soon when God will remove (rapture) the church (His Gentile bride and queen) off this earth because of her unfaithfulness to Him and replace her with the nation of Israel (His Jewish queen) for His 1000-year reign on earth as King.

OVERVIEW:

The list of leaders who placed their seal on the covenant with God; the city of Jerusalem is populated by the Jews; the dedication of the city wall; Nehemiah condemns the people’s wicked ways and reforms the abuses.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

After making a “sure” covenant with God in chapter 9 to do all things according to His word, the leaders then “sealed” it. (9:38) Chapter 10 then lists for us the names of those that entered into this covenant with God that day by sealing it themselves. Little did they realize that their names would be recorded eternally in God’s word as an example for believers in every subsequent generation! In 10:28–39, we see the people actually applying the word in a practical way to their everyday lives. They gave evidence that they weren’t just coming to the word of God to gain INFORMATION but that they were coming to it because they were desiring TRANSFORMATION! It’s one thing for people to pray and sign a covenant; it is quite another thing for people to actually separate themselves from evil (10:28), straighten out their homes (10:28–30), honor the sabbath (10:31), contribute to the house of God (10:32–33), and serve God with their tithes and offerings! (10:34–39) In the 21^st century, too many Bible conferences, Bible studies, Bible lessons and church services end with people feeling emotionally stirred and blessed, but somehow it doesn’t seem to translate into repentance, obedience, and transformation of life! Maybe this is a good time for all of us to honestly ask ourselves:

Am I able to detect life change through the things God is teaching me through the ministry of the word in and through my own local church, and through the 365 Days of Pursuit?

In chapters 11 and 12, the city of Jerusalem is populated, and the wall of Jerusalem is dedicated. It was necessary to at least get a portion of the Jews to live in the city, both for the good of the city and for the glory of God. This, of course, demanded faith because it required them leaving their homes for an unspecified place. Notice that all of the leaders moved into Jerusalem, some of the people graciously volunteered to move there by faith, and the rest of the people cast lots to determine who was to go so that a minimum of 10% of the people were actually dwelling in the city of Jerusalem. (11:1–2) Were you to take the time to do the math in 11:3–19, it would reveal that 3044 men actually made the move into Jerusalem. If this represents 10% of the male Jewish population that had returned from exile back into the land that was promised, it reveals just how small the returning remnant actually was. It certainly reiterates the principle Jesus taught in Matthew 7:14: ”Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.”

From Nehemiah 7:2 and 13:6, we learn that Nehemiah had returned to Babylon for a few years, leaving the actual governing of the city in the hands of his brother, Hanani. Even though Hanani was “a faithful man, and feared God above many” (7:2), when Nehemiah returned, he discovered that the people had fallen back into their old ways. We would be wise to force ourselves to both observe and meditate on the horrible biblical reality that sin in the lives of God’s people tends to find a way of repeating itself! We can certainly never allow ourselves to become complacent! When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem: he found that the inner parts of the house of God were being used to commit fornication (13:7); the Levites were not being supported for their work in the temple, forcing them to forsake their work in the house of God to work in their fields in order to sustain themselves (13:10); the sabbath day was being abused (13:15–22); and the Jewish men had repeated the sin of taking for themselves heathen wives. (13:23– 27; Deuteronomy 23:3–5) In fact, even the priests had sinned in this way! (13:28–31) It was necessary for Nehemiah, the courageous saint and leader that he was, to honestly confront the people with the reality of their sin, and to explain God’s judgment concerning it—and that’s exactly what he did! (13:1–3, 8–9, 11) Let his example cause us to examine whether we are judging the sin in our own lives, and whether we are being a good enough friend to those we say we love (or are leading) to confront them with their sin, that our Lord might receive the glory that is due His name through their lives.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the WALL OF JERUSALEM — Nehemiah 12:27. God is our fortress in whom we trust. (Psalm 91:2)


OVERVIEW: 

The anger of Nehemiah regarding the way the wealthy Jews had taken advantage of the poorer Jews; the enemy attacks with deceit, slander, and threats; the people who returned are numbered; the word of God is preached to the people; the Levites cry out to God praising Him for His mercy and goodness. 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Nehemiah 5 is just a sad chapter. The Jews are selfishly preying upon one another for the sake of material gain and wealth! It just so happens, that no building takes place in this chapter! There were great economic burdens on the Jews, not only because of the famine (Haggai 1:7–11), but also because of taxes and tributes that were being inflicted upon them. To provide food and the basic necessities for their families, the poorer Jews were being forced to mortgage their property and sell themselves into servitude to their own Jewish kinsmen. God had instructed and admonished His people, the Jews, just as He has Christians today, to watch out for one another; to love one another; to help one another; and to care for one another. They did the exact opposite! Rather than “PRAY FOR” each other, they “PREYED UPON” each other. Proverbs 3:27 tells us to, “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”  Philippians 2:4 says, “look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” It is a great reminder to us that if we aren’t careful, we can become so selfish and self-serving that we choose to make money on those to whom we should be ministering! Note that Nehemiah’s extremely angry response to witnessing the Jews gauging one another for personal gain is the same response our Lord Jesus Christ had when this same type of thing was happening in His day! (Mark 11:15–17) Nehemiah very wisely put this evil and selfish practice to an end, and refocused the people to the work at hand. (Nehemiah 5:9–12)

In chapter 6 the work on the walls resumes. Recognize that it is no coincidence that when the work restarted, the enemy also reappeared! This time, however, Sanballat and his men aim their attack against Nehemiah, the leader. Satan knows very well that everything rises and falls on leadership. He knows that if he can get Nehemiah to stop leading, the work of rebuilding the walls will soon come to a complete halt. It should be noted, that if you are in any type of leadership position (i.e. pastor, father, mother, teacher, discipler, etc.), there is a high price to pay! There is a large target on your back for which the enemy is constantly seeking to take aim. It is of great necessity and importance, therefore, that we learn to put on the whole armor of God on a daily basis! (Ephesians 6:10–18) 

Observe that Sanballat repeatedly tries to arrange a meeting with Nehemiah “just to talk”, as it were. Nehemiah did not fall for this deception, however, because he was “not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” (2^nd Corinthians 2:11) Let us, likewise, learn to beware of the smiles of the enemy, for Satan is often more dangerous when he appears to be our friend than when he appears to be our enemy! Sanballat extends four invitations to Nehemiah, and he wisely refused them all. (Nehemiah 6:3–4) Again, let us likewise, learn to keep ourselves focused on the task at hand when our enemy extends an invitation designed to deceptively redirect us in an attempt to halt the work of the Lord through us. When the first four “invitations” failed to get the response Sanballat was hoping for, notice that the fifth messenger was sent with a different strategy. He arrives with an “open letter” filled with slanderous accusations against Nehemiah. (6:5) “It is reported”, as it says in 6:6, is one of the devil’s chief weapons when wanting to disrupt the people of God and the work of the Lord. “People are saying…” or “I’ve been hearing…” and “Did you know…” are usually phrases that introduce gossip and lies. In this case, Nehemiah’s life and character, however, refuted every lie in the letter. Note that as a tremendous leader of God’s people, once again, Nehemiah takes this problem to the Lord in prayer. (6:9) As servants of God, may we learn that we can’t control what people may say about us but we can certainly control what kind of character and testimony we have! And we can certainly do with the accusations against us what Nehemiah did: we can take them to the Lord in prayer! Recognize that had Nehemiah stopped the work to defend his reputation, the walls would never have been built! Because he gave the problem to God, the walls were completed in just 52 days! (6:15) The result was, God was glorified and the enemy was embarrassed! (6:16). May all the work we allow the Lord to do through us end with this same incredible result!

Chapter 7 is a numbering of all the people who had returned from the exile. In Chapter 8, Ezra returned to Jerusalem to assist Nehemiah with the dedication of the walls and the sanctifying of the people. It is significant that the people gathered to hear the word of God at the “water gate” (8:1) as water, in the Bible, consistently pictures the word of God. (Ephesians 5:26) Notice also, that 8:1–9 provides a description of what we might refer to as the “perfect church service”! 

• The people all assembled to listen.
• The Word was exalted high.
• The preacher read and explained the word so the people could understand it.
• The people wept at hearing the word, which no doubt, revealed their sensitivity to the working of the Spirit as He revealed areas of sinfulness in their lives!  

This reading of “the word of God” in chapter 8, provoked the leaders to pray to “the God of the word” in chapter 9. All of chapter 9 is simply a prayer that provides us a beautiful spiritual summary of the Old Testament history of the Jews. In this prayer, they praise God for His mercy to them despite their unfaithfulness to Him. Let us praise Him today for the same!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through NEHEMIAH — Nehemiah 5:17–19. He was the governor of the people yet, he fed all who came to his table (Jews, nobles, and even Gentiles!) at no cost to them.

OVERVIEW: 

Nehemiah prays to God about Jerusalem’s desolate condition; Nehemiah petitions the king for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem; Nehemiah organizes the people and they begin repairing the walls; opposition to the work arises.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As the book of 2^nd Chronicles came to an end, we saw that God’s people were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. In the book of Ezra, we saw that God worked in the heart of Cyrus, the pagan king of Persia (note, that while Israel was in captivity, the Babylonians were overtaken by the Persians), to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, and to restore temple worship. After this small “revival” (only a remnant of God’s people chose to return), which began around 536 B.C., God used a prayerful man named Nehemiah in 445 B.C. to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the ruined city. God’s purpose behind this mission was to restore both safety and order to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

After hearing reports of the sad state of the city of Jerusalem, Nehemiah became burdened for his brethren and began to pray. This was all in spite of the fact that he was in a high position in the king’s court (he was the cupbearer — Nehemiah 1:11) and truly had no worries for himself. After all, it wasn’t his fault that the city was in the condition it was in! He could have easily justified not doing anything but praying. Instead, he risked his own life by going before the king with his request to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:1–6) Unlike Nehemiah, so often we pray, expecting God to do all the work. Nehemiah, however, was willing, not just to pray, but to get up off of his knees, stand to his feet, and do something about the need at hand! Proverbs 16:9 talks about the Lord directing our steps but for Him to do that, keep in mind, it necessitates that we be standing and moving! Notice that God did more than just get the king to grant his permission for the work to be accomplished! He also worked in the king’s heart to make him willing to fund the entire project! It becomes yet another example of the fact that our God is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!” (Ephesians 3:20) But do recognize, that just like Nehemiah, we need to ASK and then we need to ACT! We must, as the old saying goes, “PRAY as if it all depends upon GOD, but WORK as if it all depends upon US!” God expects us to DO the POSSIBLE and TRUST HIM for the IMPOSSIBLE.

In chapter 3, notice that God lists the names of the workers and the actual work He used them to accomplish. Note that each man had a specified area of responsibility. It is a great reminder of the principle that “NO man can do EVERYTHING, but EVERY man can do SOMETHING.” It is interesting to note in verse 5, however, that some of the “nobles” didn’t do anything! God talked about this very thing through the Apostle Paul in 1^st Corinthians 1:26–29, when he said, “not many NOBLE are called” to do the work of God. Perhaps we should do some major introspection if we find ourselves at a place in time where we are not involved in the work of the Lord. It may be because we feel that we’re “above” doing such insignificant tasks, or that we have the egotistical attitude that we are too “noble” for such trivial work. Note that God also used the Apostle Paul to talk about those who think of themselves “more highly than [they] ought to think”! We must always keep in mind, we are “SERVANTS of the MOST HIGH God!” (Daniel 3:26)

Note also, that there are 10 gates that were repaired in this chapter. They paint for us an incredible picture of the Christian life:

1. The SHEEP Gate. (3:1) This speaks of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. This was the first gate to be repaired, for without the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, there is no salvation. Note that the Sheep Gate had no locks or bars, for the door of salvation is always open for the sinner to enter!


2. The FISH Gate. (3:3) Symbolizing that as the recipients of salvation, we have been called to be “fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)


3. The OLD Gate. (3:6) Pictures the fact that we are to follow the “old paths” of the word of God, that we might find “rest for [our] souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)


4. The VALLEY Gate. (3:13) Picturing that we are not to think more “highly” of ourselves than we ought to think, but to “lower” ourselves, having an attitude of humility, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did. (Philippians 2:5–9)


5. The DUNG Gate. (3:14) This is the gate through which the waste of the city was taken, picturing the fact that we are to “…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2^nd Corinthians 7:1)


6. The Gate of the FOUNTAIN. (3:15) This points to our need to “be filled with the Spirit”. (John 7:37–39, Ephesians 5:18)


7. The WATER Gate. (3:26) This gate speaks of the word of God. (Ephesians 5:26) Notice that this “just happens” to be the seventh gate mentioned! (As we have previously seen, seven is the number of perfection/completion in the Bible.) Psalm 19:7 says that God’s word is “perfect”! As you might could suspect, it “just so happens” that this gate needed no repairs!


8. The HORSE Gate. (3:28) The horse is a symbol of war in the Bible, and pictures for us the fact that we are in a warfare as soldiers of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:10–17; 2^nd Timothy 2:1–4)

9. The EAST Gate. (3:29) This is a picture of Christ’s return; that time when the “Sun of Righteousness” will rise in the east with healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2)


10. The Gate MIPHKAD. (3:31) This gate is a picture of God’s judgment. Note that the Hebrew word “miphkad”, that the translators chose to not translate here, means “appointment, account, or census.” It points us to the reality that one day we all have an “appointment” with our Lord Jesus Christ at His Judgment Seat, at which time we will give an “account” of the life we lived after being inhabited by His Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:10–12; 2^nd Corinthians 5:10)    

If you’ll take just take a minute to walk back through the 10 gates, you’ll notice that even the very order in which the gates are mentioned is highly instructive about how we have been called to walk as believers now that we’ve entered through the “narrow gate” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Note in chapter 4 that the enemy appears. There is one thing for which we can always be certain: when God’s work is being accomplished, the enemy will always show up to come against it! The enemy will ridicule us, try to discourage us, and/or attempt to strike fear in us, anything to try to halt “the work of the Lord” through us! Notice what chapter 4 reveals about how this remnant actually overcame their enemies! It was through prayer! (4:9) Again, notice in verse 9, that Nehemiah did not just depend on prayer alone; he also set a watch! Four times in the New Testament Jesus told us to “watch AND pray!” (Matthew 26:41; Mark 13:33; 14:38; Luke 21:36) May God also find us giving diligence to both!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the KING’S CUPBEARER — Nehemiah 1:11 (Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer – i.e. He served the king beverages at his table, just as Jesus drank the cup of the King’s wrath for us on the cross – Luke 22:42.)

• Through NEHEMIAH — Nehemiah 1–3 (Nehemiah left the king’s court and his high position behind, to go far away (approx. 750 miles) to build a wall of protection for God’s people, in the same way that Jesus left the King’s court and His exalted position to build a wall of protection for us!)

• As the SHEEP GATE — Nehemiah 3:1 (Jesus is the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” — John 1:29. The only way we can become one of Christ’s “sheep” is by entering through the right “door,” which is none other than Christ Himself — John 10:1, 7, 9, 10.)


OVERVIEW:

Ezra leads a second group of Jews to return to the land; the sinful condition of the people; Ezra’s prayer and confession; the people repent.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Ezra chapter 7 begins approximately 60 years after the end of chapter 6. Ezra is now leading a second wave of Jews who had chosen to leave their captivity and return to Jerusalem. Ezra, who obviously had a good testimony before King Artaxerxes, receives a letter from the king authorizing their return. The description of Ezra in 7:6–10 is one we all should desire to be said of us. 

Note that 7:6 says he was a “ready scribe in the law of Moses”. Though Ezra could not perform all of his duties while in captivity, he still had made himself “ready” for the time when God would use him. We would do well to ask ourselves, “Am I preparing myself through my relationship with God and His word for whatever it is that He may want to accomplish in and through me in the future?” No, for whatever reason, we may not be able to accomplish it now but what are we doing now to make ourselves “READY” for when God does change our circumstances and allows it to happen?!

The good news is, chapter 7 reveals to us just what it was that Ezra did to make himself “ready”! Verse 10 says, “Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Notice that Ezra recognized that he first must “seek the law of the Lord.” Proverbs 2:4–5 lets us know that when we’re seeking God’s word as if it were “silver”, and searching for it as we would for “hid treasure,” that’s when it will do its transforming work in us! It is “then” that we will understand “the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God!” Can you honestly say that you are presently “preparing yourself” for what God may have for you in the future by seeking the truth of His word like that now? 

Secondly, notice that Ezra was “prepared” to “DO it”! Many of us have a good handle on the “KNOWLEDGE” of God’s word, however, the real key is, are we “prepared” to “DO it”? (John 13:17) We know we should “seek the things which are above” (Colossians 3:1–2), but do we “do it”? We know we should “submit ourselves one to another” (Ephesians 5:21), but do we “do it”? We know we should “love our neighbor as our self” and not “bite and devour one other” (Galatians 5:14–15), but do we “do it”? We know we should be “patient” with one another and not hold “grudges” or be “bitter” against others, offering the same forgiveness to them that we have received from God (James 5:9; Ephesians 4:32), but do we “do it”? There are lots of things we “know” but how much do we actually “put into practice”?  

Thirdly, notice also that “God’s hand” was upon Ezra. (7:6, 28) Recognize that this was certainly not a coincidence! God’s hand was upon Ezra because he was a man surrendered to His purposes. To put it in the words of 1^st Peter 5:6, God’s hand was upon Ezra for the simple fact that he had “humbled himself under God’s mighty hand”! We, too, can have God’s hand upon our lives, if we, like Ezra, will be willing to humbly surrender ourselves under God’s hand and for His purposes. (1^st Peter 5:6) Many 21^st century Christians want the blessing of God’s hand upon their lives and yet, in their pride, pursue their own purposes. It doesn’t work that way!

Once Ezra approaches the outskirts of the city of Jerusalem, he soon learns of the true condition of those who had previously returned. Though they had “physically” returned to the place God intended them to be (the land promised), they were not “spiritually” in the place God intended them to be! Once again, God’s people had fallen prey to their own sinful flesh and were involved in the same abominations as the heathen around them. We must remember that even though we may “physically” be in a good church, and even though “physically” we make our way into the 365 Days of Pursuit on a daily basis, it is no guarantee of our true “spiritual” condition! The battle with the flesh is a daily “spiritual” battle not just a “physical” one! We can never get to the place that we think we’ve conquered our flesh or that we think we can coast spiritually. Remember 1^st Corinthians 10:12! The very time we think we are the strongest, is actually the time we are the most vulnerable!

Notice that Ezra’s response to news of the spiritual condition of God’s people was absolute brokenness. What an incredible example of the heart God intends those in positions of leadership, in the lives of His people, to possess! In 9:3, Ezra testifies, “And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down ASTONIED.” Physically, Ezra was so distraught, he was unable to even move a muscle! He says that it was as if he actually had turned into “a stone”!  In 9:5 he says, “And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my HEAVINESS…” Notice that sin in the lives of the people of God was actually a weight in this godly and passionate leader’s soul! As you proceed in chapter 9, and you begin to listen to Ezra’s prayer, it is very interesting to consider how this leader personally identifies himself with the people of God! Note the continual references throughout his prayer, not to “they, their, and them” but to “our, we, and us”! (9:6–15) Rarely do leaders in the 21^st century express the type of brokenness over sin that Ezra demonstrated in this prayer not to mention, the personal identification with the people we’re seeking to lead. Oh, we may talk to others about it; we may think it’s terrible; we may have even expected that something of this nature was going to happen; but rarely in Laodicea are we truly broken and in heaviness because of it! If you listen to our prayers, seldom, if ever, will we ever even get close to identifying ourselves with our people because of sin in our midst. Perhaps that’s the reason we also fail to see the revival Ezra was able to lead God’s people to experience! 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through EZRA (a priest) making intercession for his people. — Ezra 9:1–5; 10:1 (Hebrews 7:25–27 says Jesus is our High Priest who “…ever liveth to make intercession for them.”)

OVERVIEW:

The decree from Cyrus; the returning Jewish families are listed; the altar and temple are rebuilt; the adversaries come against the work.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we begin the book of Ezra today, keep the “big picture” in mind. This book breaks down into two sections, each based upon the leader and the time period. Chapters 1–6 are under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Chapters 7–10 are under the leadership of Ezra and take place approximately 60 years after chapter 6.  

As the books of 2^nd Chronicles ended and Ezra begins, also keep in mind that the children of Israel have been in captivity for 70 years. It is then that God works in the spirit of Cyrus, a pagan king, to issue a decree for the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. This fulfills the prophecy in Jeremiah 29:10 and Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1. Because of the wording of the decree and its emphasis upon God as “THE God,” many have speculated that Daniel had an influence upon the king’s decree, or even wrote the decree on the king’s behalf. Whatever the case, the Jews returned to their homeland, not because of Cyrus, or even because of Daniel, but because God said they would!

Recognize, however, that the Jew’s captivity in Babylon was not the same kind of slavery and bondage they had endured in Egypt. The Jews had actually functioned quite well as a people during the Babylonian captivity. That’s why only a remnant of the Jews chose to return to their homeland when Cyrus issued the decree. The ones who chose to return, however, made it to the land, and once they did, immediately began the process of restoring the temple.  

The restoration is led by Zerubbabel from the “king’s” line, and Jeshua from the “priest’s” line. Knowing the scope and magnitude of this great work, in their wisdom, these two men lead the people to keep God Himself the priority (as opposed to the project!) by first establishing the altar. It is a great reminder to make certain that we constantly keep WORSHIP as our first priority, recognizing that we are all always very susceptible to allowing ourselves to be so caught up in the “WORK” of the LORD that we forget the “LORD” of the WORK! 

The remnant begins rebuilding the temple in the second year after their return to the land, starting, of course, with the foundation. (3:8) Once the foundation was completed, an emotional dichotomy erupted amongst the people! The Jews who were too young to have recollection of the glory and magnificence of Solomon’s temple looked at the foundation and were so emotionally overjoyed and jubilant that they burst forth with great shouting and praise! (3:11) The older generation, who had witnessed the previous temple, however, looked at the size of the foundation of this new temple, and immediately burst forth with wailing and weeping. (3:12) The emotional responses were so dramatic on both ends of the spectrum that it was impossible to discern the wailing from the rejoicing! (3:13)

The foundation of the temple was completed in chapter 3, and as chapter 4 begins, the people of God begin to experience opposition to the work. First, the adversaries offer their services to join the Jews in the building of the temple. However, when Zerubbabel and Jeshua refuse their offer, their real motives surface. The adversaries begin to trouble the people (4:4), and even hire counselors to “frustrate their purpose” (4:5). The adversaries then appeal to the new king to make the people stop the construction, citing the history of the Jewish people as the reason, and in essence, accusing them of being a “rebellious” people, constantly guilty of “sedition” and “insurrection”. The new king investigates their claims and comes to the same conclusion, so the work was halted.

However, Zerubbabel (from the kingly line) and Jeshua (from the priestly line), along with the prophets, are able to encourage the people and lead them to begin the work again, even without permission. When they are questioned about it, they make request to the king and their request to continue the work is granted.

My, oh my, what a beautiful picture of the restoration God intends for our lives! It begins by making sure that like this remnant in Ezra 4, we, too, are being led by a King and a Priest. A “King” that we submit to as Lord to do His will; and a “Priest” that not only can “cleanse us from all sin” but can also be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities”! There are times, folks, when we just need to get back to the altar of God, where it is just us and God so that the intimacy of our fellowship with Him can be restored and revived! The good news is, unlike the Jews in today’s reading, we don’t have to lay the foundation again! First Corinthians 3:11 says that Christ is our foundation! He is the foundation that cannot be moved! (2^nd Timothy 2:19) We need only to concern ourselves with how we build “our temple” upon that foundation! (1^st Corinthians 3:10–15) As we do, may we keep ever-present in our minds, that there will be adversaries! (1^st Corinthians 16:9) 

As pictured in today’s reading, we must recognize that the first attack of the enemy will be an attempt to get us to compromise by becoming “unequally yoked” with them. (4:1–2; 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–18) If that doesn’t work, the adversary will then “trouble us” attempting to “frustrate our purpose.” Many well-intentioned Christians have been knocked out of the battle for the simple reason that their purpose was frustrated. When those times come (and they will!) we need to persevere in the work to which God has called us, and appeal to our King to intervene on our behalf. We don’t always know how God’s plan will unfold. Our responsibility, however, is simply to be faithful to our purpose and persevere in the work of the Lord! (1^st Corinthians 15:58) 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through the GREAT STONES used in building the temple of God — Ezra 5:8. Christ is the Stone which the builders rejected, and He has become the Cornerstone of our faith. (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42)


OVERVIEW: 

Assyria invades Judah; Hezekiah’s death; Manasseh’s reign; Amon’s reign; Josiah’s reign; the book of the law is found; the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; the fall of Jerusalem; Judah is taken into Babylonian captivity; the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Our closing commentary concerning the victorious life of Hezekiah in yesterday’s reading was, “Let each of us, ‘Do thou likewise!'” His positive example is only further reiterated in today’s reading. The character of Hezekiah made manifest through the incredible decisions and reforms he made during his reign was a rare commodity in the kings of Judah and Israel. As we have seen with every king, however, God allowed each of them to be tested. In chapter 32, Hezekiah faces a major test as he gets word that Sennacherib, the wicked king of Assyria, with his ferocious army “purposed to fight against Jerusalem.” (32:2) When faced with similar dilemmas, so many other kings we have read about resorted to the arm of the flesh for help, and/or contracting the help of pagan kings and nations. Note the incredible surrender of Hezekiah to the Lordship of Jehovah, and his absolute confidence and complete trust in the Lord’s strength for victory in the battle. My, my, my, do we 21^st century Christians need to learn from Hezekiah’s example! When faced with the threat of Sennacherib’s army, Hezekiah didn’t “freak out” or kick into “panic mode” in any way! Rather, he spoke “comfortably” to the people of Judah, saying, “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our GOD, to help us, and to fight our battles…” (32:7-8a) Wow! What strength! What faith! What dependence! What trust! Notice the response of the people: “And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” (32:8b) This is the way it is supposed to work!

Note also that this great demonstration of faith didn’t cause Satan (i.e. Sennacherib) to roll over or shut up. Actually, it caused him to run his blasphemous mouth even more! He sought to intimidate the people saying, “Yeah, yeah, all the other countries that I’ve humiliated and obliterated thought their god was going to deliver them out of my hand, too, and you see where it got them! You’re going to end up just like them!”

Verses 9–18 of chapter 32 let us know that Satan (i.e. Sennacherib) used every opportunity and available means to continuously seek to destroy the people’s confidence in Hezekiah’s leadership and Jehovah’s lordship. He was barking up the wrong tree, though! You’ve just gotta love verse 19: “And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.” The point is, Sennacherib was successful in defeating those gods, because they were “man-made gods.” Now, however, he was coming against the “God who made man!” Hezekiah and Isaiah join their hearts together in prayer to “THAT God”, and the rest is history! God turned loose an angel, and buddy, that was it! The battle was over just that quick! Verse 21 says that loudmouth Sennacherib “returned with shame of face to his own land.” (For those of you who are acquainted with Asian and Middle Eastern culture, you understand that that “shamed face” thing is monumental!) It was so monumental that when he did get home, his own sons slew him with their swords! (32:31)

In 32:24–26, Hezekiah is faced with another test, and he briefly allows his pride to cause him to sin against God. In great Romans 7 fashion, however, he immediately humbles himself before the Lord. Again, let us follow his incredible example when our pride gets in the way and causes us to sin against the Lord.

After his death, his son Manasseh comes to the throne. His reign was even more wicked than that of Ahaz, if you can even possibly imagine that! He gets “the prize”, not only for having the longest reign in Judah (55 years), but for having the most evil reign! The list of sins he was involved in and led the people into is nothing short of horrendous! (33:3–8) Verse 9 of chapter 33 takes the cake! It says, “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, (and catch this!!!) and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.” 

But for those who have a family member, co-worker, neighbor, friend, etc. that you can think is just too far gone to ever turn to God, let the remainder of Manasseh’s story in chapter 33 fill you with hope and revive your prayers for them!

A great revival takes place in chapter 34 under the reign of one of the greatest kings in Israel and/or Judah, Josiah. Time and space will not allow to highlight all of the accomplishments of this incredible young man, but read chapter 34 slowly and carefully taking note of a guy who was doing the best he could with what he knew of the Lord and then watch what happens when he gets the word of God in his hands and ears! Excuse the grammar, but may “he” be “we”! Because, like Josiah, we too have the word of God in our possession! Note what is said of him in 2^nd Kings 23:25: “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

The last four kings of Judah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, were all evil, and led the nation spiraling downward to its disastrous end morally, politically, and spiritually. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and his army finally break through the north wall of Judah, killing anyone and everyone in sight, regardless of their age. (36:17) They remove all of the vessels out of the temple, break down the walls of the city, and burn the temple to the ground. (36:18–19) Those who weren’t killed in the massacre were taken into captivity where they would remain for 70 years.

While in captivity, Babylon was conquered by Persia, which led to the great, history-changing proclamation of Cyrus, their king in 36:22–23: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through the messengers of God who were rejected by His people — 2^nd Chronicles 36:15–16 (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; 17:25; 20:17)


OVERVIEW: 

The reign of Jotham; the reign of Ahaz; Syria and Israel defeat Judah; the death of Ahaz; Hezekiah’s reign; worship is restored in the temple; Hezekiah destroys idolatry and paganism in Judah; the tithes and offerings of the people.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As chapter 26 ended in yesterday’s reading, Uzziah had been stricken with leprosy because of his sin of pride in going into the temple to burn incense, and had been made, not only an outcast from the temple, but even his own palace. In chapter 27, Uzziah’s son, Jotham, begins to reign in Judah. Verse 2 says that he followed in the footsteps of his father, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but, praise the Lord, he did not make the mistake his father had made in going into the temple! However, despite his personal devotion to the Lord, the people of Judah were living “corruptly.” (27:2)

When Jotham died, his son Ahaz came to the throne. To say that he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps might be the understatement of the year! He was the most wicked king that Judah had yet known. He plunged the entire nation headlong into idolatry, even burning his own children as sacrifices! Because of his unbelievable wickedness, the kingdom of Judah continued to suffer more and more loss of territory. The Edomites took over in the southeast; the Philistines had raided the cities of the southwest and were now occupying them (28:17–18); and thousands upon thousands of his people were taken as slaves into other countries. Rather than these things causing Ahaz to cry out to the Lord in humility and repentance, it caused him to become more wicked and to trespass against the Lord to an even greater degree. (See 28:22) By the time he died, the temple of the Lord was in shambles, and the entire kingdom of Judah was completely engulfed in idolatry. (28:23–25)

Remarkably, Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah, comes to the throne upon his wicked father’s death, and he is one of Judah’s greatest kings! For all who had a wicked father, take refuge and courage in the fact that God can enable you, by His grace and power in you, to intersect that cycle of sin and cause you to be a holy and profitable servant of the Lord Jesus Christ! What a blessing is Hezekiah! Four entire chapters are devoted to his reign in 2^nd Chronicles. (29–32)

Rather than bemoan his terrible upbringing and plight in life, or allow bitterness toward his godless father (or God for that matter!) to rule him, when given the opportunity, Hezekiah chose to put the past behind him and simply made decisions that were in accordance with God’s will and word. To put his mode of operation into the words of Paul, “Hezekiah forgot those things which were behind him, and went reaching for the things that were before him, pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!” (Philippians 3:13–14) Hallelujah! Let us follow his incredible example!

In the very first month of his reign, Hezekiah reopened and repaired the house of the Lord, restored the long-neglected priority of temple worship and the observance of the passover, and passionately sought to remove any and all idol worship or pagan practices in Judah. His obedience to God and His word, manifest through the reforms he set in place, brought about the wonderful blessing of God. The days of Hezekiah were the greatest time (30:26) since the glory days of Solomon’s reign. (1^st Kings 10; 2^nd Chronicles 9) God’s epitaph of him is worth noting and striving toward: “Hezekiah…wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” (31:20–21) Let each of us choose to, “Do thou likewise!” (Luke 10:37)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through KING HEZEKIAH who offered intercessory prayer for everyone in his kingdom that was seeking God — 2^nd Chronicles 30:18–19 (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:27, 34; John 17:9)