God offers a tremendous promise in today’s Bible reading*: If you will return to me, I will return to you. God had exiled His people to Babylon to punish them for turning their backs on Him to pursue other gods. Now, under Darius’ rule, God tells His people that He is ready to restore them…
I have seen today’s Bible reading* used as a pretext for updating church buildings. I would agree that there is a case to be made and would be in the context of today’s readings. The thought is that we need to “keep up God’s house”. But, the last time I checked, God doesn’t live in…
In today’s Bible reading* the people returning from Babylon run into opposition to their charge to rebuild the Temple. The people who had remained in the land offered to help with the construction and those returning responded, “No thanks. We have no common interests with you in rebuilding the temple.” (Ezra 4:3) Why would the…
Today’s Bible reading* raises an interesting question: “How free is our free will?” Many people hold very strongly to the view that everyone has free will. There are even Free Will Baptists. Second Chronicles 36:22 and Ezra 1:1 are obviously parallel passages; they say the same thing about Cyrus of Persia. In the first year…
Today’s Bible reading* gives us a peek into the issue of Spiritual Warfare. Daniel prayed and waited for an answer, trusting that God was hearing his prayers and would answer. He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for…
In today’s Bible reading* Daniel has some spectacular visions that terrify him. Chapters Seven through Nine coincide with the stories in Daniel Chapters Five and Six. In other words, Chapters Seven through Nine are flashbacks. Daniel investigates Jeremiah’s prophecy and timetable and learns that God’s punishment on His people would last for seventy years. This…
