Scripture: Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16; 13:10-22

Symbol: Broken Wall

Nehemiah was chosen by God to continue the rebuilding of His city, of Jerusalem.  This was an important part of God's plan to bring the Messiah in the fullness of time (Daniel 9:25 is the prophecy regarding this.  If you are interested in learning more about this prophecy visit http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/weeks.htm)

It was during the captivity of Israel under the Babylonian empire that Nehemiah asked the king for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  Because of God's favor upon Nehemiah, the king granted the permission.  A small group of people returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the wall.  In this condition the Jews were to remain until the coming of Christ: in their own land, but under the yoke of foreigners, without His presence in their midst (His presence as manifested in the temple and the ark of the covenant).  Yet, God preserved and cared for His people even while they lived under the judgment of their sin.  Because of their adultery there was a necessary separation between the Jews and God, but God promises that someday He will bring them back to Himself - but that time would be long in coming.  After the rebuilding of the wall, the Israelites continued to liv in their own land but UNDER the rule of pagan kings (Babylon/Assyria), the Greeks, and eventually, the Romans.  During this time we do not know of any prophets that God sent to them!  It was 400 years of silence, of waiting . . . they may have wondered if God had rejected them once and for all. 

Discussion Questions

• Compare Nehemiah 1:1 and 2:1.  How long did Nehemiah fast and pray before approaching the king?   (Note, Chivez = Kislev)  See the Jewish months here: http://www.akhlah.com/aleph_bet/hebrew_worksheets/hebrew_months.php
• Why does Nehemiah say the king granted him favor?
• In how many days was the wall completed? (6:15)  What did this do to those who opposed Nehemiah and the Jews?
• Nehemiah was not finished with his task when the wall was completed.  What other steps to "repair the city" did he take in chapter 13? 

Scripture: Esther 3-5

Symbol: Star of David 

Why is Esther a significant part of our "Jesse Tree" story?  Was she also in the "family tree" of the Messiah?  Did she prophesy of his coming?  Was she a "figure" of Christ?

You may have answered no to all of these, and you would be right.  But what then?  Think of this . . . if the Jewish people were to be annihilated there would be no stump of Jesse, no line of Judah, no son of David, no Messiah.

In the time of Esther, Israel's former days of glory had come to an end.  The days of the victorious King David; the great, wise and wealthy King Solomon had long been past.  Israel had turned against God, and now God had removed His hand of protection.  Babylon came in and seized their land and their people - they were captives in a foreign land.  A few years after Queen Esther courageously preserved her people, would begin the 4 centuries of waiting, between the Old Testament (Malachi) and the New Testament (the Advent of Christ).

Discussion Questions

1. What was Mordecai confident of regarding the salvation of the Jews when he exhorts Esther to go to the King? (4:14a)
2. What was the second thing Mordecai was confident of regarding Esther?  (4:14b)
3. What was Esther's response? (4:16)
4. Who else took part of God's plan to deliver the Jews?  How? (4:16,17)

Scripture: Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19

Symbol: Stone Watchtower

Once again we see God raising up a prophet to warn His people of the impending disaster they bring upon themselves by their sin.  God is holy, says Habakkuk, and He is too pure to look upon evil.  He prophesied sometime before the fall of Judah to Babylon, somewhere between 640-598 BC.  In this book he struggles with the fact that there is great wickedness and sin that so often seems like God ignores.  But here, God assures him that righteousness and judgment will come in due time.  The last chapter of Habakkuk is a glorious prayer of one who anticipates the coming of His Savior in full glory, splendor, power, victory, righteousness.  This Savior would judge the earth, crushing the head of the wicked. He would go out for the salvation of His people!  Let us, with Habakkuk, await the coming of our Savior, Redeemer, and King with fear and trembling, but yet with great anticipation and peace, knowing our God comes yes, in great wrath, and with judgment, but He also comes for the salvation of us, His anointed!

Discussion Questions

1. How does Paul, in Acts 13:38-41, apply Habakkuk 1:5 to the Jews of his day?
2. Read Hebrews 10:35-39 and compare to Habakkuk 2:3,4.  What (who) is the "it" that Habakkuk refers to?  The Messiah came once, in the "fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4).  As Habakkuk awaited the first coming of the Messiah, we await the second coming.  What does the passage you read in Hebrews encourage us to do while we wait?
3. Do you ever feel discouraged when you see the wicked "get away" with their actions and prosper while the righteous struggle and suffer?  What does God reassure us of in Habakkuk 2:3 and 1:5?

Scripture: Jeremiah 1, 8, 9, 20:7-18

Symbol: Tears

More than a hundred years after the time of prophets Isaiah and Micah, God appointed Jeremiah to confront Judah and Jerusalem for the worship of idols and for defiling their covenant with Him.  After a reluctant beginning to his ministry, Jeremiah endured beating, imprisonment, opposition from family and strangers alike, was even thrown into a well!  But God was faithful to His servant - how ironic that it was the pagan Babylonians who gave him kindness and his freedom.  Jeremiah died without seeing the people who loved, prayed for, wept over turn back to God.

Discussion Questions

1. Describe Jeremiah's attitude towards God's call in his life (Jeremiah 1:4-9).  What does God warn him about in 1:19?
2. Read Jeremiah 9:1 - Describe Jeremiah's attitude towards his people.
3. Jeremiah experienced times where he may have questioned his call, even his life.  Comment on Jeremiah 20:7-18.  Summarize what he was going through (circumstantially, emotionally). Have you gone through similar circumstances?
4. Jeremiah 23:5-6 - What prophecy is written here and how is it (being) fulfilled?

Scripture: Micah 4- 5:4

Symbol: Silhouette of City with a Star

Micah lived around the same time as Isaiah, and was called by God to exhort Judah to holiness and justice in her covenant relationship with God.  Micah 6:8 says this - "He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."    He also warned the Israelites of their coming exile to Babylon (as a result of their sin) and the coming Ruler who would deliver them.  The book comes to a close with these beautiful words, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy . . . You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago . . ."  In spite of the unfaithfulness of His children, God will be merciful.  Just, yes, but merciful - He is the God who remembers His covenant.  His faithfulness continues to all generations!

Discussion Questions

1. Where does Micah 5:2 say the promised ruler would be born?
2. Read Micah 4:2 - Who does Micah prophesy will come to the house of God?
3. Read Micah 4:12 and 5:4- Micah is prophesying about the captivity the Israelites will endure at the hand of the Babylonians.  For a brief moment it will seem that the world (Satan) has won - but how does God respond?  When we face times of discouragement, destruction and captivity as we await the coming of our King, what truths must we hold onto?

Scripture: Isaiah 11, 12

Symbol: Lion & Lamb

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of 3 kings of Judah, and for a total of more than 40 years.  God gave to Isaiah many specific prophecies regarding the Messiah, but we want to look today at chapters 11 and 12, which speak, not only of the first coming of the Messiah but also His second coming.  These prophecies were not just for this who lived B.C. but much more for us.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Read Isaiah 65:17-25 and compare with Revelation 7:17 and 21:1,2
2. 2 Peter 3:13,14 - What should our attitude be as we await the coming of Christ?  What should we be striving to do?
3. Who is the "signal" in Isaiah 11:10 and who will come to Him?

Day 12

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7

Symbol: Crown

"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?" 

Discussion Questions

1. What does verse 8 say about where David came from?  Do you think anything in his background, experience, mental or physical state recommended him to the position God placed him? Why do you think God chose David? (See Acts 13:22)
2. What did David want to do for God?  What did God want to do for him?
3. Read Luke 1:30-33.Who was David's Son whose kingdom would endure forever?
4. What was David's response to God's big plan for him? (See verses 18-29)