Author: Norm

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” They also asked for the names of all the men working…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When they arrived at the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site, and each leader gave as much as he could. [Ezra 2:68-69] Have you ever wanted to contribute…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ezra 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And all their neighbours assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. [Ecclesiastes 12:6] I have met…

There are two passages assigned for today! SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. [Ecclesiastes 11:5] The Teacher makes some very basic observations, yet shares them…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said. [Ecclesiastes 10:20] What goes on inside of us will come out, one way or another. Our wisdom…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favour. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same…

SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. I have seen wicked people buried with honour. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their…