The arrangement of the Aramaic section of Daniel, chapters 2-7 (parts of Daniel were written in Hebrew and other parts in Aramaic), reveals the following structure, which helps reinforce a central message of that section, and of the book: A. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of four kingdoms (Daniel chapter 2) B. God delivers … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; and 2 Corinthians 1:19-20. In what ways is Christ the center of the Scriptures? There is no question that Jesus is central to the Scriptures, and this includes Daniel as well. For example: Chapter 1 shows, although in a limited and imperfect way, that Daniel’s experience is analogous to that of Christ, who … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 24:25-27; 2 Peter 3:11-13; Jonah 3:3-10; Num. 14:34; Dan. 9:23; Dan. 10:11-12. Memory Text: “So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ” (Acts 8:30, NKJV). Our church was born from within the pages of the book of Daniel, our study for this … Continue reading –>
Introduction: As the nineteenth century disappeared into the twentieth, a sense of optimism pervaded the West. Through science and technology, humanity was advancing toward a golden age, a future of wonderful possibilities when war, pestilence, poverty, and hunger would finally be ended. That was the hope, anyway. Of course, the twentieth century proved this hope … Continue reading –>
It’s funny – the memories that stay lodged in my mind. The impromptu summer afternoon trip to the ice cream shop with grandma ranks right up there with Thanksgiving dinner. The meaningful 30-minute conversation with my friend on the west coast who accidentally pocket dialed me at 2 AM my time was more fun than … Continue reading –>
Seeing the Big Picture By Andrew McChesney, adventistmission.org A family of five came nearly every day to the Seventh-day Adventist compound in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to ask for food. Peter Fenoy, a missionary physician running the small Munuki Seventh-day Adventist Clinic on the compound, found the family’s actions puzzling. “What is going on with … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Privilege of Prayer”, pages 93–104, in Steps to Christ. “The work of restoration and reform carried on by the returned exiles, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, presents a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be wrought in the closing days of this earth’s history. … Continue reading –>
Read Ezra 8:21-23, Ezra 8:31-32. Would you consider Ezra’s decision not to speak to the king as foolish or brave? How did Ezra and the people show humility? Sometime later, Nehemiah accepted the king’s entourage for protection. But in Ezra’s instance, he believed that God could show Himself best if they did not ask anything of the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Central to the stories of leaders in Israel is the word of God. It transformed their lives and thinking and resulted in the whole program of revival and reformation. December 28, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 4:7-23. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in … Continue reading –>
What do the following texts teach us about the driving force in the lives of both Ezra and Nehemiah? (Neh. 2:1-10, Ezra 7:8-10). In all that they did, Ezra and Nehemiah were seeking to see God’s will done in the lives of His people. Yes, the people had messed up; yes, they were punished for it. But God, … Continue reading –>
Read Nehemiah 4:7-23. In what ways did Nehemiah show courage? What gave him this courage? Nehemiah stood up against their enemies, who tried to intimidate the Jews. Nehemiah responded by taking the initiative to get the people ready to fight. Nehemiah did not just say “All right, God, You do it all”. Instead, he had the … Continue reading –>
We open our singing this Sabbath with the greatest of leaders being in Hymn 619, “Lead On O King Eternal”. We then look to Ezra and Nehemiah and find that they were very faithful to God: Hymn 602, “O Brother, Be Faithful”. Their leadership is reflected in Hymn 653, “Lead Them, My God, to Thee”. … Continue reading –>
