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Day 206 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue in Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 10 – After the history just rehearsed, the people’s covenant with God seems encouraging but doubtful. Ezra has already uncovered disobedience to laws about marriage (Ezra 9–10; see Deuteronomy 7:1–5). The people’s oaths echo those of an earlier generation on the brink of the Promised Land: to their confident promises to serve the Lord, Joshua retorted that they were not able (Joshua 24:16–19).
The scene in this chapter is beautiful, with God’s people restored, united, and acknowledging His law in the most crucial areas of life and worship. But of course we must read on, looking and longing for the joy of final restoration, the full obedience to God’s law that comes only with the Son of God—the One made sin even though He “knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Jesus, believers are assured that one day they will be swept up into the perfect and final restoration of all things (Revelation 21:1–22:5).
Nehemiah 11 – The returning exiles resettled the land as an ordered and unified people, according to the tribes God had established through Abraham’s descendants. The lines of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi continued, lines that contain priests and kings—including David’s line leading to the promised King. The “holy city” of Jerusalem with its temple is a central focus—holy only because of the presence and promises of their merciful God.
This city was built and rebuilt on God’s promises, which pointed toward Jesus and toward the city Abraham looked for: “the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The apostle John saw this city: “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2), where God will dwell with His people forever. There the final temple is found, though not built with wood and stone but rather existing as Jesus Himself (Revelation 21:22).
How does this promise of a great future give you encouragement for today?
What other thoughts or questions does today’s reading bring up?
Some of these notes are from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible study notes. We highly recommend this study Bible.
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