中文 | English
|
| « Prev | Next » | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
| Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
Weekly Guide：Week 67
April 18, 2021
Week 67 Day 1: Judah king Manasseh ⇧ ⇩
Question
Under what circumstance did Manasseh turn back to the Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- Manasseh reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
- In his distress Manasseh sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
- Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.
- Amon reigned in Jerusalem two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
- Josiah reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, purged Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols, and restored the temple of the Lord.
- Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Then the king called together all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.
- Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - In his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the Lord and humbled before Him and God saved him. How do I view God’s discipline? Complain or repent?
- Integrity - What did Manasseh do after he repented? What did I do? What is true repentance?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 67 Day 2: Judah in Exile ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Judah go into exile?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. He provided the sacrifices to the people and the priests and Levites.
- Necho king of Egypt went up and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. Josiah would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command. Archers shot King Josiah and he died.
- Jehoahaz son of Josiah and became king in Jerusalem in place of his father. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem.
- Jehoiakim reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
- Jehoiachin reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
- Zedekiah reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, carried them to Babylon.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - What role did the Babylonians play in the history of Israel? Who was in control of history? How do I view the events in my country and around the world?
- Identity - The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Why did He put Judah into exile? How do I understand His compassion and grace?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 67 Day 3: Return from Exile ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God fulfill promise to return the Israelites to Jerusalem from exile the first time?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- To fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. He made a proclamation to let the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
- God moved the heart of fifty thousand Israelites to return to Jerusalem in company with Zerubbabel. They prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
- King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Nearly fifty thousand Israelites (most of them likely were the next generation born in Babylon) were moved and obeyed God, to leave the familiar land, to leave their livelihood, to accompany Zerubbabel, trekking a long way, through all difficulties, to go back to the unfamiliar homeland to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Do I know that I am of the people of God? Even though the journey of life is filled with struggles and the world is full of temptations, am I still aiming wholeheartedly to go through the narrow door which leads to the promises of God?
- Integrity - God accomplished His plan according to His timetable. Seventy years after the Israelites’ exile, God fulfilled His word spoken through Jeremiah, to move the heart of Cyrus king of Persia, and by his hands contributed to the return. Do I believe God has a great plan for me and would accomplish it according to His timetable? Pray to God to give me faith in Him and wait for His timing.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 67 Day 4: Opposition to Rebuilding ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites and their enemies react to the temple’s rebuilding effort?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- After returning to Jerusalem, the Israelites came together to rebuild the altar, sacrificed offerings each day, and celebrate the sacred festivals of the Lord.
- In the second year, Zerubbabel led the people to begin the work on the temple. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, and the sound was heard far away.
- They refused to let their enemies to join in the temple rebuilding. So their enemies set out to work against them and to frustrate their plans
- The rebuilding effort was stopped until the reign of Darius. The opposition continued until the reign of Xerxes and the reign of Artaxerxes.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - When laying the foundation, the people shouted to the Lord. Some with shouts of joy and some wept. We react differently to the same thing because we have different experiences. How may I accept other’s viewpoints and try to understand them?
- Integrity - Israelites refused their enemies’ request to rebuild the temple and brought opposition to their rebuilding effort and caused it to stop. In real life, have I experienced unreasonable attack because of my refusal to offend God? How did God strengthen my faith?
- Fidelity - The Israelites rebuilt the altar together and renewed their offering before the temple reconstruction began. How am I building my relationship with God and make it the foundation of my life and serving the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 67 Day 5: Completion of Rebuilding ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God fulfill the Israelite’s effort in rebuilding the temple?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- In the second year of Darius’s reign, the Lord raised up the prophets to prophesize to the Jews to restart the temple rebuilding.
- Zerubbabel and Joshua set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
- Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius the news of temple’s rebuilding. By God’s protection and the rebuilding continued without pause.
- King Darius issued an order to prevent any disturbance to the temple’s rebuilding and to provide all necessary funding and all that is needed for burnt offerings.
- The temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites returned from exile and celebrated the Passover.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The rebuilding of the temple was paused for fourteen years because of the oppositions. Many of those who returned from exile might have lost their hope and enthusiasm. But, by God’s own timetable, He re-energized His servant, turned around the situation, and completed the rebuilding in four years. Am I waiting for God? Do I feel the waiting has no end in sight? Seeing what God had done in the temple’s rebuilding can I patiently and faithfully wait for His timing?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 67 Day 6: The Second Returning ⇧ ⇩
Question
What was the purpose Ezra taking the second wave of Israelites back to Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- During the seventh year of king Artaxerxes’ reign, Ezra brought the second wave of Israelites return to Jerusalem.
- God was with Ezra, caused Artaxerxes to provide Ezra everything he asked for and the gold and silver articles for worship in the temple, as well as the tax burdens of the Levites and priests.
- Ezra called on the Levites to return to Jerusalem to serve in the temple.
- Ezra refused the protection from Artaxerxes’ soldiers but fasted and petitioned to God for protection.
- The hand of God protected them from enemies and bandits along the way.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Ezra fasted to petition to God for protection and refused Artaxerxes’ protection. He believed God is His only protector and provider. When I face challenges, do I first go to God? What does Ezra’s faith remind me?
- Fidelity - Ezra called on and prepared the right people to help him to serve God. Am I co-working with others in concert to serve God?