10.4 Chapter 12 – Rejoice

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres…When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and [...]

10.3 Chapter 11 – Refill

Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
(Nehemiah [...]

10.2 Chapter 10 – Recommit

“In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of [...]

10.1 The 4 R’s

Chapters 9-12 follow the series of steps Nehemiah and Ezra led the people through in order to honor God for the mighty work He had done through them. They provide a picture of the steps we should take anytime we fall in our efforts to maintain our sexual purity. These four R’s will help you [...]

9.7 Spiritual Entropy

“I want you young men to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed.”

~ General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army

Entropy can be defined as “a gradual decline into disorder.”2 It’s a term typically associated with thermodynamics, [...]

9.6 Spiritual Markers

On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention to the words of the Law. They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in booths [...]

9.5 The Father’s Forgiveness

Ever find yourself wondering if God can really forgive you after you’ve failed Him yet again? I do. I’ve learned so much about God’s limitless forgiveness when I repent (yes, even if it’s the 32,121st time) from my struggles with sexual purity.

Remember the prodigal son? You may have thought of him as a metaphor [...]

9.4 Guilt Trip

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, [...]