Lessons from Ezra and Nehemiah
January 2014 Issue
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
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Called Back and Restored
Reginald Smith
Ezra 1:1-4
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: &lsquoThe LORD, the God of heaven … has appointed me to build a temple...Read →
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Keepsakes
Reginald Smith
Ezra 1:5-11
King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem …—Ezra 1:...Read →
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Names Matter
Reginald Smith
Ezra 2:1, 64-70
These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had...Read →
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Building a Community of Worship
Reginald Smith
Ezra 3
All the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, be-cause the foundation of the house of the LORD was...Read →
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Enemies
Reginald Smith
Ezra 4:1-5, 24
The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.—Ezra 4:4Read →
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Help
Reginald Smith
Ezra 5:1-2
The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.—Ezra 5:2Read →
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By Whose Authority?
Reginald Smith
Ezra 5:3-17
“Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”—Ezra 5:3, 9Read →
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A Little Message
Reginald Smith
Ezra 6:1-12
A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it…—Ezra 6:...Read →
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Get It Done
Reginald Smith
Ezra 6:13-22
The people of Israel … celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.—Ezra 6:16Read →
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The Family Business
Reginald Smith
Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra, son of Seraiah … the son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra came up from Babylon.—Ezra 7:1, 5-6Read →
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Unhindered
Reginald Smith
Ezra 7:11-28
Praise be to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to...Read →
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Help Wanted
Reginald Smith
Ezra 8:1, 15-35
When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there.—Ezra 8:15Read →
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A Prayer of Confession
Reginald Smith
Ezra 9
I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to...Read →
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Coming Clean
Reginald Smith
Ezra 10:1-17
“In spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.”—Ezra 10:2Read →
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A Prayer for Renewal
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 1
For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven… I was cupbearer to the king.—Nehemiah 1:4, 1...Read →
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Let's Rebuild
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 2
“Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.”—Nehemiah 2:17Read →
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Serving Together
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 3
Next to him … and next to him …—Nehemiah 3:4Read →
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The Gift of Tension
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 4
“Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…”—Nehemiah 4:14Read →
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Making It Right
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 5
“What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God … ?”—Nehemiah 5:...Read →
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Be Alert
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 6:1-14
He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give...Read →
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Are We Done Yet?
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 6:15-19
The wall was completed … in fifty-two days.—Nehemiah 6:15Read →
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Integrity
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 7:1-3
Hananiah … was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.—Nehemiah 7:2Read →
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The List
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 7:4-7
God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.—Nehemiah 7:5Read →
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Tell the Story
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 9:1-21
[Israel] stood … and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.—Nehemiah 9:2Read →
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The Choice
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 9:22-37
“They … were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs...Read →
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Renewing Vows
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 9:38; 10:28-39
“We are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals...Read →
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Location, Location, Location
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 11:1-4
The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusa-lem.—Nehemiah 11:2Read →
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Call and Response
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 12:24-26
The leaders of the Levites … and their associates … stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to...Read →
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Join the Parade of Praise
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 12:27-47
They offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy… The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far...Read →
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The Old Friend of Sin
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 13:1-9
I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.—Nehemiah 13:8Read →
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Remember
Reginald Smith
Nehemiah 13:10-22
Remember me … my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.—Nehemiah 13:22Read →
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