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Weekly Guide：2022-2023 Week 94
October 22, 2023
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 1: Rolled up Sealed ⇧ ⇩
Question
When will Daniel’s prophecy be realized?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
- The words of prophecy are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
- Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
- None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Daniel’s prophecy will not be realized in his time but rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Where’s my hope? Do I have faith in future, that I will rise to receive my allotted inheritance?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 2: Return from Exile ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God fulfill the 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, I still am 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 time table? Pray to God to give me faith in Him and wait for His timing.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 3: Opposition to Rebuilding ⇧ ⇩
Question
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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After returning to Jerusalem, the Israelites came together to rebuild the altar, sacrificed offerings each day, and celebrate the sacred festivals of the Lord.
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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.
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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
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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
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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 view points and try to understand them?
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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?
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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
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 4: Completion of Rebuilding ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did God fulfill the Israelite’s effort in rebuilding the temple?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the second year of Darius’s reign, the Lord raised up the prophets to prophesize to the Jews to restart the temple rebuilding.
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Zerubbabel and Joshua set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
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Dedication of the Temple
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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.
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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.
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The temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites returned from exile 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
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 5: The Second Returning ⇧ ⇩
Question
What was the purpose Ezra taking the second wave of Israelites back to Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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During the seventh year of king Artaxerxes’ reign, Ezra brought the second wave of Israelites return to Jerusalem.
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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.
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Ezra called on the Levites to return to Jerusalem to serve in the temple.
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Ezra refused the protection from Artaxerxes’ soldiers but fasted and petitioned to God for protection.
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The hand of God protected them from enemies and bandits along the way.
Meditation: My Story
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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 did Ezra’s faith remind me?
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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?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
2022-2023 Week 94 Day 6: Repent for Sins ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Ezra lead all Israel to repent for their sins?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Israelites in Jerusalem, including Levites and priests, married gentiles and strayed away from God.
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When Ezra heard this, he tore his tunic and cloak, pulled his hair from head and beard, and sat appalled. Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around Ezra fell on their knees with hands spread out to the Lord their God and prayed to repent their sins and guilt.
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They encouraged Ezra to make a covenant with God to send away the foreign women whom they have married and their children. Ezra and all Israel took oath.
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All Israel gathered in Jerusalem within three days. Ezra proclaimed the sins they have committed and led the way to repent to God. All people, greatly distressed, send their officials to act for the assembly, until the fierce anger of God in this matter had turned away.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Seventy years had span from the rebuilding of the temple to the second returning. Those in Jerusalem likely were the second generation of those who were in the first returning. They have forgotten their identity as God’s chosen people, married foreign women and strayed away from God. Perhaps it was caused by the circumstances, or perhaps their parents did not teach them God’s word. Am I committing the same mistake and compromising with the circumstances? Am I ignoring my responsibility to lead the next generation?
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Integrity - After Ezra led the assembly in prayer and repentance, they spent several months and series of actions to deal with their sins. How is this reminding me of my sins? After praying in repentance, what actions do I take to deal with my sins?