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F260 Day 140: Nehemiah 5-6
Nehemiah 5-6 While rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah receives word that some of the Jews are being taken advantage of by their own countrymen. They are taxed exceedingly, which caused them to sell both their land and children to cover the costs. Nehemiah puts a stop to this injustice. But that is not the only issue
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F260 Day 139: Nehemiah 3-4
Nehemiah 3-4 Nehemiah’s third chapter gives us incredible detail about the names of people who rebuilt the walls & gates of Jerusalem. But, this work was not without opposition. Sanballat and others were furious with the Jews and mocked them. They even schemed to attack and kill the Jews. Nevertheless, the Jews resolved to continue
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F260 Day 138: Nehemiah 1-2
Nehemiah 1-2 Nehemiah is a Jew who served as the royal cupbearer under King Artaxerxes. Upon receiving word from his brother about the state of Jerusalem, Nehemiah wept and mourned. His mourning turned to fasting and prayer before the Lord. He prayed God’s promises back to him and gave his request to God. While before
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F260 Day 137: Esther 8-10
Esther 8-10 After Haman’s death, the king gave Esther his estate and then put Mordecai in his position. Esther once again pleaded with the king to revoke Haman’s plan. Since it could not be undone, he gave Esther and Mordecai the authority to do what they thought was best. On the same date they were
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F260 Day 136: Esther 5-7
Esther 5-7 After fasting, Esther begins her plan to approach the king and seek his favor. This begins by inviting both the king and Haman to a banquet she has prepared for them. She does this on consecutive nights. In the midst of this, Haman’s pride and discontent continue to grow. His friends suggest building
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F260 Day 135: Esther 3-4
Esther 3-4 Haman, one of the king’s officials, receives a promotion. This promotion places him above all the other officials. In addition to this, everyone is to pay homage and bow down. Mordecai refused to do this because it would violate God’s commands. This angered Haman so much that he sought to have all Jews
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F260 Day 134: Esther 1-2
Esther 1-2 In the beginning of Esther, we are introduced to King Ahasuerus, king of the Medes and Persians. During a period when he held a feast for 6 months, his queen, Vashti, did not come to him when requested. After seeking counseling, Ahasuerus removed her as queen and began a search for another. Hadassah
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F260 Day 133: Ezra 9-10
Ezra 9-10 The book of Ezra concludes dramatically. The leaders make Ezra aware of a problem among the returned exiles: intermarriage with the surrounding people. This went against the law of Moses and is one of the major things that led Israel to its current state. Upon hearing this, Ezra tore his clothes. After praying
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F260 Day 132: Ezra 7-8
Ezra 7-8 Some time after the temple had been rebuilt and dedicated, Ezra is introduced. Ezra is a scribe who was an expert. The Lord gave him favor with the king, which allowed him to go to Jerusalem with any of the priests and Levites who wanted to return with him. The Lord was with
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F260 Day 131: Zechariah 1:1-6; 2; 12
Zechariah 1:1-6; 2; 12 Zechariah’s prophecies begin with a call to repentance and turning to the Lord. Upon hearing this, the people repent. Zechariah’s visions include a restored Jerusalem full of people and bursting at the seams. The city is so full people live outside the walls and the Lord’s glory is in the midst.
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F260 Day 130: Ezra 5-6
Ezra 5-6 After hearing prophecies from Haggai and Zechariah, the Israelites resumed their work of rebuilding the temple. The prophets stayed with them to make sure the work continued and to be a constant encouragement. This, of course, sparked controversy with those who had tried to stop the work. At this, the elders reminded them
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F260 Day 129: Ezra 3-4
Ezra 3-4 Once the people were resettled in the land, they immediately worked on rebuilding the temple. Overseen by the priests, the workers first rebuilt the altar so sacrifices could resume. With the temple rebuilt, the people celebrated the Feast of Booths and made sacrifices to the Lord. From there, they worked to rebuild the
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F260 Day 128: Ezra 1-2
Ezra 1-2 After 70 years of exile in Babylon, King Cyrus of Persia takes the throne. During the first year of his reign, Cyrus decrees that the temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt. With this, he allows the Jews to return to Judah for this work. This fulfills Jeremiah’s prophecies (Jer. 25:12; 29:10-14), as well as
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F260 Day 127: Daniel 9-10; 12
Daniel 9-10; 12 During the reign of Darius the Mede, Daniel read the prophecies of Jeremiah. Upon seeing that the time of the exile was to be 70 years, Daniel prayed and repented on behalf of all of Israel for their sins. He confessed their sins of idolatry and rebellion against the Lord. He then
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F260 Day 126: Daniel 5-6
Daniel 5-6 In Daniel 5, a new king is on the throne in Babylon, king Belshazzar. Much like Nebuchadnezzar in his early days, Belshazzar is full of pride and arrogance. While feasting one night, a finger appears and writes on the wall. None of the wise men can interpret the writing. Finally, Daniel is called
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F260 Day 125: Daniel 3-4
Daniel 3-4 Nebuchadnezzar was a proud king who was full of himself. The Lord blessed him with a vast and powerful kingdom. But, he thought he had built it by the power of his own hands. In his pride, Nebuchadnezzar built a 90-foot tall gold statue that he made everyone worship. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
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F260 Day 124: Daniel 1-2
Daniel 1-2 Daniel is a Judean exile in Babylon, who was either nobility or of the royal family. In Babylon, Daniel and his friends were trained for 3 years so they could attend to the king. After their period of training, the four were found to be better than all their counterparts, so they were
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F260 Day 123: Ezekiel 1:1-3; 36:16-38; 37
Ezekiel 1:1-3; 36:16-38; 37 Ezekiel was a prophet during Judah’s exile in Babylon and he lived among them. Through Ezekiel, God spoke promises over Israel about their restoration. Not only would God restore the people of Israel to their land, but he would give them a new heart and spirit. God promised to place his
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F260 Day 122: Jeremiah 52; 2 Kings 24-25
Jeremiah 52; 2 Kings 24-25 Both the end of Jeremiah and the end of 2 Kings give the details of Judah’s fall. After two years of constant attack, Babylon invades Jerusalem. Along with capturing Zedekiah and his men, Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroys the temple and everything in Jerusalem. This includes tearing down the city walls. Many
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F260 Day 121: Jeremiah 31:31-40; 32-33
Jeremiah 31:31-40; 32-33 Even though Israel is in exile in Babylon, God has not forgotten his promises to them. God promises to make a new covenant with Israel that is better than the one he made at Sinai. Instead of stone tablets, he will write his law on people’s hearts, while also forgiving their sin.
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F260 Day 120: Jeremiah 25; 29
Jeremiah 25; 29 After 23 years of Jeremiah’s preaching, the people of Judah have not changed their ways. For years, God sent prophets calling his people to repent and turn away from their evil. Now, in response to their continued defiance, the Lord tells the people of Judah they will fall into the hands of
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F260 Day 119: Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Jeremiah 1:1-3:5 Nearly halfway through the reign of King Josiah, God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet. God tells Jeremiah he was chosen for this role before he was even created, showing God’s sovereignty. As part of the call, God touches his lips like he did Isaiah (Isa. 6:7) and puts his words in Jeremiah’s
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F260 Day 118: 2 Kings 22-23
2 Kings 22-23 After two evil kings, a good king takes the throne, Josiah at 8 years old. Josiah walked in the ways of the Lord and did what was right in his sight. He set out to repair the temple, and while doing so found the book of the law. When the book was
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F260 Day 117: 2 Kings 19-21
2 Kings 19-21 When faced with a possible invasion by the Assyrians, Hezekiah took his concerns to the Lord. Instead of trying to figure out everything on his own or in his own power, he sought godly counsel in the prophet Isaiah. Later Hezekiah takes his concerns directly to the Lord and lays them before