Neh 6:15-19; 7:1-5 Despite badgering, opposition, tactics to frighten the workers, discredit their leader and forcibly stop the project, the breaches have been filled and the Jerusalem wall now stands, less than two months after the project began (Neh 6:15).…

Neh 6:1-14 When I was teaching Introduction to the Old Testament at Bible college/seminary, I used to set weekly exercises for my students with Bible readings and comprehension questions to build up their Bible knowledge. Some students complained that their…

Neh 5:14-19 Thinking of generosity, numerous examples spring to mind when Christians helped and supported me. When I was a volunteer in a Christian youth hostel in Israel, my money was stolen early on, and the manager reimbursed me from…

Neh 5:1-13 Last year, I heard the wife of a pastor brag about the material blessings they have received including a new luxury car gifted by an anonymous donor. The church this couple leads believes that God blesses people of…

Neh 4:6-23 Professional long-distance runners are sometimes asked what the hardest portion of a run is. The answer varies, of course, since each part has its particular difficulties. Frequently though, somewhere past the mid-point is seen as mentally the most…

Neh 4:1-5 Years ago, I worked as a volunteer at a Christian youth hostel in Israel. One of the team, when he first arrived, became affectionately known as ‘the man with the iron’ because he asked for an iron for…

Neh 3:1-32 On an elders’ retreat that I was a part of, we had a speaker talking about leadership. He described how his son, a pastor, was about to choose a co-pastor. Our speaker’s question to him was whether he,…

Neh 2:11-20 As numbers in most Western churches are dwindling, many ask what the church needs to do to attract more people and thrive. Some look to different projects, to community outreaches, vibrant worship, activities for the kids, entertaining and…

Neh 2:1-10 Thinking about courage, I came across this quote on the internet, parts of which are also cited by others. ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act in the presence of fear. Faith is…

I continue the study of Ezra-Nehemiah, which were originally written on one scroll and were meant to be read as one book. For an overview, see my Ezra-Nehemiah Intro – When restoration is not a quick fix. Neh 1:1-11 On…