Daily Bible Reading “Opposition Arises” (Ezra 4:1-10)

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Deborah H. Bateman

Opposition Arises

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 4:1-10. In this Scripture, we see that the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard they were building the Temple to the LORD, God of Israel. They went to Zerubbabel, and asked him to let them build alongside the people of Judah. They claimed to be seeking and serving the same God as the children of the captivity.

Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and all the leaders of Israel told these enemies that they had nothing to do with them and the building project. The leaders let them know that the people of Judah were commissioned by King Cyrus, the king of Persia to build the temple and nothing would deter them. Have you noticed when you are doing something good everybody wants to jump on board? Sometimes they are jealous and want to hinder our progress rather than help us.

These particular people were jealous and angry. They tried to cause trouble for the people of Judah and slow the progress on the building of the Temple of God. They even bribed counselors to hinder the work. Historically, they caused the people of Judah trouble during the whole reign of King Cyrus and into the reign of King Darius, King of Persia.

When Solomon built the first temple, 1 Kings 5:4 tells us that he didn’t have any opposition. “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” The children of the exile were not going to be that fortunate; they would have to fight for years to complete the job of building the Temple of God. One of the enemies’ strategies was to tie the children of captivity up in legal matters to keep them from doing the work of the LORD.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 4:1-10

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

Things to think about:

Have you ever had anybody try to discourage you from doing the work God called you to do?

How do you respond when opposition arises?

What is the best way we can defeat the enemy?

Prayer of the day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study the book of Ezra, we see that the people of long ago had opposition as they tryed to do the work You called them to do. Help us to not allow the enemy side track us and delay what You have called us to do. Help us to stay true and faithful to You and Your calling. Give us strength and courage when we face the enemy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

I have shared the first five lessons from The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection this week to give you an idea of what the book is about. The book has a total of seventeen lessons. These first five lessons set the stage for the rest of the book and the adventure that the children of Israel experience while attempting to build the temple at Jerusalem. If you haven’t read the book yet, get a copy, and you will be blessed by the story that is revealed in The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection.

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Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. After seventy years of Babylonian captivity God commissions King Cyrus to write a decree allowing the Jewish people to return home for the purpose of building the second temple at Jerusalem.

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Each lesson consists of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection is a great Bible study for personal or group Bible study.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Celebrating God’s Blessings” (Ezra 3:8-13)

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Deborah H. Bateman

Celebrating God’s Blessings

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 3:8-13. Our next lesson fast forwards in time to mid spring, April and May of 536. The second month of the second year finds the Israelites ready to build the house of the LORD.

Zerubbabel, Jeshua, the priests and Levites appointed men from the tribe of Levi who were 20 years old and older to oversee the work on the Temple of God. They gathered the workmen, and the builders laid the foundation.

When the foundation was completed, the Israelites had a victory celebration. The priests dressed in their ceremonial garments took their places. They blew their trumpets, while the sons of Asaph, originally appointed as musicians by King David, added their cymbals to the celebration. Everyone worshipped and praised the LORD.

Zechariah 4:10 says, “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”

They were praising God because He is good and His mercy endures forever toward Israel. With shouts and praises to the LORD, the people rejoiced that the foundation of the Temple of God was completed. There were mixed emotions during the celebration, though, because some of the older men who remembered the first temple were saddened. They remembered the glory of Solomon’s Temple, even though more than fifty years had passed since its destruction. The noise of the people’s celebration was so great it was hard to discern between the shouts of joy and the expressions of sadness. The Bible tells us that the noise was heard from far away.

Isn’t it funny how people can attend the same event and experience different emotions? Sometimes significant events can bring about mixed feelings, just like this one did for the children of Israel. Certain things may trigger emotions from our past and cause sadness or joy.
The celebration reminds us that we need to thank God along the way for each success He gives us. The Israelites were thanking God that the foundation of the Temple of God was built, even though the whole temple was not yet completed. Similarly, God is not through with us yet. Like the temple, we are a work in progress, and need to celebrate the victories He gives us along the way.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 3:8-13

8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Things to think about:

What do you thank God for through praise and worship?
How do you celebrate the victories of God in your life?
What are some ways we can celebrate God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the glimpse of Your people celebrating the victory You gave them when the foundation of the Temple of God was completed in Jerusalem. Help us to celebrate the victories You give us in our lives by worshiping and praising You. Help us to rejoice with those who are happy, and show Your compassion by crying with those who are sad. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

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Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

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Daily Bible Reading “Sacrifices” (Ezra 3:1-7)

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Deborah H. Bateman

Sacrifices

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 3:1-7. The third chapter of Ezra begins in the seventh month, of the Hebrew calendar, which is the fall of the year. By this time the children of Israel had settled in their cities and then assembled together in Jerusalem as one man with a unified purpose.

Jeshua and his fellow priests rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses. Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they built the altar, set it upon its base, and offered morning and evening burnt offerings to the LORD. They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, as was prescribed by the Law, by offering daily burnt offerings (Leviticus 23:33-43).

After the feast, they offered continual burnt offerings, for the new moons and all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD. They also gave freewill offerings to the LORD (Leviticus 23). Even though they had not yet laid the foundation of the temple, they offered these burnt offerings beginning on the first day of the seventh month.
They hired masons and carpenters. They gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Zidon and Tyre to pay them for bringing cedar trees from Lebanon to Joppa by the way of the sea, as Cyrus the king of Persia arranged. They returned to their land, served the LORD, and continued to build the Temple of God.

As we study about the temple and the Old Testament practice of animal sacrifice, we must keep in mind that when Jesus died on the cross, He offered up the final sacrifice for our sin. Now we no longer have to sacrifice animals on the altar as atonement for sin. Because Jesus lives inside those of us who are saved, we are His dwelling place, just as the tabernacle and temple were in times past. Now our sacrifice is a consecrated life yielded for His glory.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 3:1-7

1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.

3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.

7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

Things to think about:

Do you need to return to the God of our fathers?

What do you sacrifice for the LORD?

What are some ways we can show our obedience to the LORD?

Prayer of the day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that in this Scripture we see that the people worshiped, praised, and sacrificed for You. They returned to their land and to the teachings of Your Word. Help us to have the same determination they had to serve You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The picture above is a reconstruction of an ancient Israelite horned altar (based upon the remnants of the original one) as it was used to sacrifice animals. The original altar was probably dismantled during the time of Hezekiah, the King of Judah, with the centralization of the Israelite cult in the temple of Jerusalem. Location Tel Be’er Sheva.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

Christian Music Video:

Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Christian Daily Resources

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive the Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Daily Bible Reading “The Register” (Ezra 2)

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Register

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 2. We see in Ezra 2 a record of all the people who went back to Jerusalem to build the Temple of God. I did not show the Scripture here for the sake of space, but I encourage you to follow along with me in your Bible as we consider the census listing.

Some of the names were Hebrew, some Jewish, some Persian, some were listed by their city of origin. Most of them are listed as children of …, some of them are listed as men of …, and some are listed as singers, some as porters, some as priests and some as Levites.

This register was intended to record those who came from the families that came from Jerusalem and Judah. Verse 62 tells us there were some whose names were not listed in the register. These men were considered polluted and removed from the priesthood.

Just as the exiles had to prove they were part of the family to be included in the register, we, too, will have to prove our relationship for our names to be written in God’s Book of Life. None of us want to hear the words, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). Let’s look at 1 John 5:9-13 to see what the Bible has to say about this:

1 John 5:9-13

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

In Ezra 2:64 we see there were a total of 42,360 people who went back to Jerusalem to help build the Temple. There were 7,337 servants and maids and 200 singing men and women. We see from this list that there were praise and worship leaders back then, too. They gave of their means gold, silver and priests garments to help build the Temple of God. In light of their generous example, it is appropriate to ask ourselves, how are we contributing our resources to build the Kingdom of God?

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 2:1, 62-70

1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;

67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:

69 They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.

70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Things to think about:

Is your name been written in the book of Life?
Were you surprised at the number of people who went to Jerusalem to build the temple? How many were there?
What were the duties of some of the people?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study The Book of Ezra, we are thankful for the people of past generations who went before us to work and sacrifice to keep Your work alive. Their work enables us know about You. Help us to do our part to continue to spread the gospel throughout the earth, so everyone will have a chance to have their name written in Your book of records. That way, when we stand before You, there will be a permanent record that we are Your children. We love you, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

Christian Music Video:

Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

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Daily Bible Reading “God Commissions King Cyrus to Build the Temple” (Ezra 1:1-11)

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Deborah H. Bateman

God Commissions King Cyrus to Build the Temple

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 1-11. The Book of Ezra starts in the first year of the reign of Cyrus king of Persia. Also known as, Cyrus the Great, he reigned as king of Persia for thirty years, from 559BC to 530BC. Fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy, (Jeremiah 25, 29) God stirred the heart of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation saying that God charged him to build a Temple of God at Jerusalem, in Judah.

King Cyrus asks for men of God to go to Jerusalem and build the Temple of God. Cyrus also requests that people of the surrounding area who encounter the Israelites as they travel would contribute gold, silver, supplies, beasts, and offerings. These provisions would help them travel to Jerusalem and build the house of God.

God stirred the hearts of the priests, Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to build the temple. All their neighbors contributed silver, gold, and various valuable items. Even King Cyrus brought from his treasury the vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had looted from Jerusalem and placed his pagan temple. He understood that these vessels rightfully belonged in the house of the LORD.

Cyrus instructed Mithredath, who was the treasurer of Persia, to count the valuables, record them, and present them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah leading the exiles in their return. The total number of gold and silver pieces Sheshbazzar brought with them from Babylon to Jerusalem numbered 5,400. God called the exiles to go to Jerusalem to build His temple, He planned to provide everything they needed to complete the task.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 1:1-11

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, 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,

2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all [them] whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

Things to think about:

Has God ever asked you to do a work for Him?
How did God provide for you?
What can we learn from this lesson in the book of Ezra?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You, as we study the book of Ezra, we see Your hand at work right from the start. You stirred the hearts of Your people to build the Temple of God. We also see Your provision for them. We thank You that You are our provider, giving us the means to do whatever work You call us to. Help us to be obedient to Your will for our lives. We love you LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

Christian Music Video:

Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Christian Daily Resources

Bible Verse Tweet

Recipe for Life

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive the Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.