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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 41
October 13, 2024
Week 41 Day 1: Registration by Families ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Nehemiah do after the completion of reconstructing the wall?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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After the wall had been rebuilt and doors were set in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.
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Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the citadel were put in charge of Jerusalem. Hanani was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
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God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.
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The whole company numbered 42,360.
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The list of some heads of the families contributed to the work.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - To rebuild the wall, Nehemiah assembled the people to unify them and bought them to become one. We need to be aware that serving is not just to get things done, but to build relationships in constructing Christ’s body. What can I learn from this?
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Fidelity - What was Nehemiah’s criteria to put Hanani in charge? What can I learn from this?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 41 Day 2: Obey the Law ⇧ ⇩
Question
Why did all the people come together?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the seventh month, Ezra read aloud the Law before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
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Nehemiah and Ezra said to the people: “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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The whole company built temporary shelters and lived in them. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - What were the people’s reaction when Ezra praised the Lord, the great God? When I worship, do I shout out amen from within my heart?
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Identity - Why did the people weep when they listened to the word of the Lord? Why did they celebrate in great joy later? Have I experienced similar feeling when worshiping God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 41 Day 3: Confession and Covenant ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the Israelites make a covenant with God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. They confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
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The Levites praised the Lord that He created everything and delivered Israel time after time.
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They confessed their sins against the Lord.
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In view of all this, they made a binding agreement, put it in writing, and affixed their seals to it.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Why did the people fast? What does it mean for the confession of their sins? Through prayers, do I have a better understanding of my spiritual identity and original sins?
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Identity - What does it mean to Israelites’ understanding of God by looking back in history? Do I often look at God’s blessing from the past so I may know better God’s will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 41 Day 4: Of the Law ⇧ ⇩
Question
What commitments did the Israelites make to the Lord?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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List of those who sealed the agreement.
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The rest of the people who separated themselves for the sake of the Law of God, all bond themselves with a curse and an oath, to follow the Law of God given through Moses and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord.
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They assumed the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of God.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - After fasting and sealing the agreement, the Israelites bond themselves with curse and oath to marriages, sabbath, offerings. Let me do a reality check of my commitment to my own spiritual growth.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 41 Day 5: In Many Cities ⇧ ⇩
Question
How were the Israelites dispersed in Jerusalem and other cities?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.
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The people of Judah and the Benjamites lived in the villages with their fields.
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The account of the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel.
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At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the people celebrated joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.
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Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites, contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Who must live in Jerusalem? Those leaders have the burden of protecting the people’s safety. What can I learn from that?
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Fidelity - What did the Israelites emphasize on at the dedication of the wall? Do I view importantly the holidays in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as the Good Friday and Easter? Why?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 41 Day 6: Purify the Temple ⇧ ⇮
Forward
We will complete the reading of the Book of Nehemiah this week and start on the Book of Esther.
Nehemiah dedicated the wall and all people were in great joy. The greatest joy of life is not the fulfillment of material desires as it cannot be forever satisfied in what is gained and will always be lost. Only the joy from sacrificing to God gives us the eternal memory for He enables us to be joyous in the midst of all difficulties and struggles. It is holy and pleasing to God to offer, to let go, and to commit ourselves to Him. The sound of joy in Jerusalem can be heard in faraway lands and our joy can bring those who are lost.
May you all be renewed each day in God’s word.
Question
What purification work did Nehemiah do in Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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No Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God.
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Eliashib provided Tobiah with a large room in the temple. Nehemiah was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
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Nehemiah saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in all kinds of loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Nehemiah warned them against selling food on that day.
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Nehemiah rebuked those who married foreigners, made them take an oath in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.”
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - Israelites did not take care of the Levites, violated the Sabbath, married foreigners, and so on were offenses committed knowingly. Am I doing some inappropriate things knowingly?
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Fidelity - The people committed offenses when Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem. What responsibility does a leader have toward the people? In correcting the people’s behavior, how did Nehemiah’s action inspire me?