Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 40

Home	中文 \| English

« Prev		Next »
Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Day 5	Day 6

Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 40

October 06, 2024

Week 40 Day 1: 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.
Dedication of the Temple
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 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 40 Day 2: 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 did 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?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 40 Day 3: Repent for Sins ⇧ ⇩

Question

How did Ezra lead all Israel to repent for their sins?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

The Israelites in Jerusalem, including Levites and priests, married gentiles and strayed away from God.
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.
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.
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

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?
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?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 40 Day 4: Rebuilding the Wall ⇧ ⇩

Question

How did Nehemiah start rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

Nehemiah fasted and prayed for the land of his ancestors.
King Artaxerxes let Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.
Nehemiah inspected Jerusalem saw its wall lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire.
Nehemiah called the people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Meditation: My Story

Identity - Nehemiah heard about the wall of Jerusalem and fasted and prayed. What attitude can I see from him toward his country and people? Do I prioritize serving God higher than my own needs?
Fidelity - Nehemiah was a leader and did not act in recklessness. What spiritual principles can I learn from him? How may I apply what I learned in my daily life and service?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 40 Day 5: Rebuilding the Gates ⇧ ⇩

Question

How did the people work together to rebuild the wall?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

The people worked together to rebuild the gates in order.
Sanballat became angry and was greatly incensed when he heard that the Israelites were rebuilding the wall.
Sanballat plotted to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
The enemies did not come when they heard that the Israelites were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it.

Meditation: My Story

Identity - Sanballat was incensed when he heard about the Israelite’s plan. Am I discouraged by my own weakness? How may I be strengthened and encouraged?
Fidelity - Rebuilding the wall is a long and arduous process. But it was rebuilt in fifty-two days. What does work sharing means to God’s kingdom? Are the challenges remaining in my co-working with others?

Prayer

Notes and Responses

Week 40 Day 6: Wall Reconstruction Completed ⇧ ⇮

Forward

We continue to read the book of Nehemiah this week. The attacks from their enemies escalated when Nehemiah’s plan was going well. The Israelites worked in the daytime and took on defensive positions at night. They had to bear arms when went out for water. We often have to work relentlessly when we are in pursuit of something valuable. Going backward is not a meaningful choice when facing challenges, but success is brought by perseverance.

Those who persevere will be saved. It is not that they are never under pressure or without doubts, but from the Holy Spirit, they receive the strength to continue. Persevere in faith, in His word, to build on a solid and unshakable foundation, to hold fast the original believe, would be victorious in Christ.

May you all be renewed each day in God’s word!

Question

What was the reaction of all surrounding nations when the wall was completed?

Scripture Reading

Meditation: God’s Story

The people raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews because they are living in poverty.
Nehemiah was very angry when he heard this outcry.
For the twelve years Nehemiah was appointed the governor in the land of Judah, he never ate the food allotted to the governor.
When the enemies heard Nehemiah had rebuilt the wall, they schemed to harm him.
The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
When all enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of God.

Meditation: My Story

Community - Nehemiah accused the nobles and the officials that they were charging their own people’s interest. May we tell the truth with love to those who are doing things not pleasing the Lord? What do I need to be careful about?
Fidelity - Nehemiah was responsible and diligent in his service because he understood the importance of his ministry. How do I value my own service?