Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel

As we read in Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel this week, note that these people and events are post-exile.  God’s people have endured the hardships of exile, and some have returned to Jerusalem while others have not yet returned and others are still being taken away.  Nehemiah was called by God to work with those who had returned to Jerusalem, focused on rebuilding the wall.  Esther was taken away from her people to the palace of the king; little did she know that it would be “for such as time as this,” as God called her, along with her cousin, Mordecai, to preserve God’s people from total annihilation.  Daniel, along with his friends, were taken away as exiles because of their education and their potential as leaders.  It’s through Daniel and his friends that King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges Daniel’s God as the true God.

 While we focus on the people (Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel), notice who is the main actor in your readings.  It might be someone who isn’t specifically named (see Esther).  God remains faithful to his people; he remains faithful to his covenant; he remains faithful to his plan to rescue his people through the Messiah.  How do these texts and stories point us to Christ?

Enjoy your reading!  Please share your reflections and questions.  Be sure to use the guiding questions as you read.


Our guiding questions are these: 
  • What stood out to you in the reading?
  • Was there anything confusing or troubling?
  • Did anything make you think differently about God?
  • How might what you read change the way you live?

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