Devotions from Ezra

Passage Read: Ezra 2-5 Meditation Verses: 4:1-4 It is great that these Samaritans wanted to help rebuild the temple, because they had been worshiping what they understood to be God from early on after their deportation to Israel. However, they also worshiped all their original…

Passage Read: Ezra 6-9 Meditation Verses: 9:13-14 Ezra says they are in difficult circumstances, though now they have been returned to their own land. They have been released from exile and permitted to return to their ancestral homes, which is very good. But other books…

Passage Read: Ezra 10 - Nehemiah 3 Meditation Verse: Ezra 10:1 Both Ezra and Nehemiah found people who were willing to support and cooperate with the burden God impressed on both of them. Ezra was mourning over the sins of his people, and as he…

Passage Read: Ezra 2-5 Meditation Verses: 4:23-24 They rejoiced at the laying of the foundation, but when the governors of the land came by force to shut them down, they stopped. They didn't appeal the decision, they didn't remind the governors of Cyrus's decree, they…

Passage Read: Ezra 6-9 Meditation Verses: 9:13-14 This is a right understanding of grace: After all we have suffered for our evil deeds and great guilt, because Jesus has taken the punishment we deserve on Himself for our sins, so God has repaid us less…

Passage Read: Ezra 10 - Nehemiah 3 Meditation Verses: Ezra 10:2-4 The law commanded the people not to intermarry with foreigners, whether giving their daughters in marriage to foreigners or bringing in their daughters in marriage to their sons. Yet the Jews who returned from exile…