Two year Bible reading program.

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 31:10 Understanding to grow in Through the prophets, God had promised to restore his people to Jerusalem and renew their hearts so that they could serve him faithfully (Ezek 36v24-36). But it is evident this was only partially fulfilled. The people's hearts remained the same. The very things they had committed to do they failed to do: The tithes were not being distributed properly, with the storage for offerings compromised. The Sabbath wasn't being kept. And the people were intermarrying with non-Jews. All this defiled the people and put them (yet again) in danger of God's wrath. Nehemiah set an example of a godly reformer, by seeking to put things right for the Lord's sake. But t...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 31:9 Understanding to grow in It's a challenge to be ready to move house in order to establish good churches. People were ready to move to Jerusalem to ensure God's city was well established. But the leaders set an example by moving there first. This was so commendible, that the names of those who moved are listed before any others. The completion of the rebuilding of the walls was then celebrated with the people purified, two large choirs giving thanks, and a commitment to provide for the musicians and the work of the temple. Joy has always marked the service of the people of God. The existence of the church, and the building up of the church are both reasons to celebrate. Indeed, don...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 31:8 Understanding to grow in God's word must be the centre for any revival or reformation of the church. Here the people initiate it, asking for God's law. And they get a sermon lasting half a day! He reads it to "all who were able to understand" from daybreak until noon, with the Levites explaining its meaning. We read the people listened "attentively." It's a model for all God's people in every generation. Their attitude was one of worship - praising God and bowing down as the book is opened, for when God's word is read God is present and speaking. Their response was one of repentance, mourning and weeping as they listened - no doubt remembering the exile...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 31:4-7 Understanding to grow in A famine had hit. Because of their involvement in the building those with many children hadn’t been able to produce enough grain. Others were having to mortgage their property to gain money for grain, whilst others were having to borrow money to pay taxes, probably to the Persian Empire. In the latter two cases, it was Jewish nobles and officials who were lending their fellow Jews the money they needed, but charging high interest (against Deut 23:20), forcing them to sell them their children as slaves in order to pay their debts (as Deut 15v12). Nehemiah is rightly angry, noting this shows no fear of God or concern to honour him before the Gentiles. He publicly...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 31:1-3 Understanding to grow in Everyone plays their part in building the church, just as they did Jerusalem. Each has a different role. Some have authority over others. All accept the role assigned for them and give themselves eagerly to it. We should ask: "What role can I best play?" Whatever role it is, however, it will not always be easy. We may be opposed and mocked in our Christian service. As with those opposing Nehemiah, people may stir up trouble for us - even threaten us. But, our passage teaches us to do three things at such times. First, turn to the Lord in prayer. Second, take practical measure for protection - not arming ourselves with swords, but certainly keepi...

BEGIN WITH PRAYER "Lord open my eyes and my heart." Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world. Wisdom to chew on Proverbs 30:32-33 Understanding to grow in It's possible to remain faithful to God whilst at the centre of a pagan nation. Nehemiah is serving the Persian king in Susa, the capital of his empire. But his heart is for the Lord and pining for Jerusalem. It's 445BC, and hearing that the city remains in ruins, Nehemiah mourns and confesses the sins of Israel that brought this on them. But he also remembers God's promise to restore them if they repent. And so he prays for God to grant him success before the king he serves. With another arrow prayer just as he is about to speak (2v4-5), God moves Artaxerxes to permit Nehemiah to return and rebuild. Like Ezra, after a three day rest he sets to work by...