In Zechariah’s fourth vision, the prophet sees the high priest, Joshua, standing in the heavenly courtroom clothed with filthy garments. This shows his own uncleanness and the uncleanness of all the people of God. Just as Satan stands ready to accuse and condemn Joshua, the messenger of the LORD steps forward to rebuke Satan and give Joshua new garments. This is a picture of the LORD’s cleansing forgiveness of His people. Newly forgiven, the LORD promises Joshua that He will have the right of ac...
Jul 12, 2024•56 min
In Zechariah’s third vision, he sees a man with a measuring line. This man intends to measure Jerusalem in order to construct its walls, but the LORD sends Zechariah to stop this man. Walls will not be needed, because the LORD is the fiery protection of His people as He dwells in their midst. For that reason, God’s people need to return home to Him in Zion. There, He will protect them from their enemies, for they are the apple of His eye. In this reality, the people can sing and rejoice as the L...
Jul 11, 2024•58 min
On February 15, 519 BC, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah and showed him a first vision: a man riding a red horse. The messenger who leads Zechariah in this vision is the messenger of the LORD, the pre-incarnate Christ. When He reveals to Zechariah that His patrolling riders have found the earth at rest, the cry goes up before the LORD to ask how long before He has mercy on HIs people. The LORD of hosts promises that He is returning to His people with mercy. In the second vision, Zechariah ...
Jul 10, 2024•56 min
The prophet Zechariah preached to the people of Judah beginning who had returned from exile beginning in October or November in 520 BC. He was a contemporary of Haggai, but his ministry and writing were both longer. The first part of his book features eight visions that point especially toward the new temple, and the second part of his book features two burdens that point especially toward the new king, particularly the suffering and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ during Holy Week. In this first...
Jul 09, 2024•56 min
On December 18, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet twice. The first time, the LORD instructed Haggai to question the priests concerning the transmission of holiness and uncleanness. While uncleanness is passed from one person to the next, holiness cannot come from any other source than the LORD in His Word. Therefore, the people must return again to the LORD. By His grace alone He will bless them. The second time, the LORD gives His Word to Haggai specifically for Zerubbabel...
Jul 08, 2024•57 min
On October 17, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people in Judah. The LORD calls them to remember the previous temple in its glory and contrast it to the temple that they are currently rebuilding. Although the rebuilt temple seems like nothing to them, the LORD gives strength to His people through His promise that His Spirit will remain in their midst. A time is coming when He will shake creat...
Jul 05, 2024•56 min
On August 29, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet to the two primary leaders of the Judean exiles who had returned home to Jerusalem. Although the people had started to rebuild the temple about twenty years before, the work had stalled, and the people had become complacent. They cared more about their own houses than the LORD’s house. Because they were neglecting the LORD and His gifts, the people’s lives were in various kinds of disarray. The people listened to the Word of t...
Jul 04, 2024•57 min
"The Post-Exilic Prophets” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Through the preaching of these faithful men, the LORD sent His Word to His people who returned home after their exile in Babylon. Not only did the LORD encourage His people in the work of rebuilding the temple, but even more than that, He pointed them forward to the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises in the coming kingdom of our true King and great High Priest, Jesus C...
Jul 04, 2024•3 min
In order to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance of His people, Mordecai calls for the yearly celebration of the feast of Purim. The feast’s name is a reminder of the lots that Haman had cast to find the right day to destroy God’s people, which God reversed to bring about the day He delivered His people. As the hectic events settle down, King Ahasuerus institutes a new tax as an indication that order is being restored. In that context, Mordecai is promoted to second in command in the Persian...
Jul 03, 2024•57 min
When the thirteenth day of the twelfth month arrives, two contradictory Persian decrees are both legal. On the one hand, the enemies of God’s people are allowed to slaughter them; on the other hand, God’s people are allowed to defend themselves. Through a divine reversal, the people of God ably defend themselves from those who are trying to kill them. Haman’s sons particularly are executed, and the people of God in Susa are given an extra day to defend themselves, but they do not take any plunde...
Jul 02, 2024•56 min
After Haman’s execution, Ahasuerus gives Haman’s house to Esther, and he gives his signet ring to Mordecai. Esther risks going before the king a second time, and he extends his scepter to her again. She asks for a second decree to be made to counteract the first, since the first could not be repealed under Persian law. With the king’s authority, Mordecai writes a decree that allows the people of God to defend themselves from those who would attack them. This causes some residents of the Persian ...
Jul 01, 2024•56 min
Immediately after Haman’s shame at being forced to honor Mordecai, he is taken to Queen Esther’s second feast. There Esther reveals her request to Ahasuerus: she asks that he spare her and her people from destruction. When the king asks who is behind such wickedness, Esther names Haman as the foe. As Haman realizes his imminent demise, he pleads for his life from Queen Esther, but the king sees it as an assault on his wife and orders that Haman be executed on the very tree Haman had intended for...
Jun 28, 2024•52 min
The king attempts to secure his sleeplessness by having the book of memorable deeds read to him. When Ahasuerus learns that Mordecai has received no honor for the way he had saved the king from a homicidal conspiracy, the king asks Haman for his counsel. Confident that the king means to honor him, Haman recommends the highest accolades. To Haman’s shame, he is forced to honor the man he hates, Mordecai. This reversal sets the stage for Haman’s downfall, which the LORD is about to accomplish for ...
Jun 27, 2024•56 min
After three days and nights of fasting, Esther goes before the king without an invitation. He spares her life by extending his scepter to her, and he tells Esther to present her request. Using her God-given wisdom, Esther simply invites both the king and Haman to her feast that night. There, she promises that she will present her request when they come to her second feast the following evening. Haman’s joy at the honor of being invited by the Queen in this manner is dashed when he sees Mordecai ...
Jun 26, 2024•57 min
In response to Haman’s wicked plot, Mordecai and the people of God throughout Persia mourn and repent, as seen in their outward appearance and actions. Esther, unaware of the plot, attempts to clothe Mordecai properly, but he refuses. As they converse via messengers, Mordecai makes Esther aware of what Haman has decreed against the people of God and warns her that she will not escape in the palace. Instead, he suggests to her that her position in the palace may have come about for the very purpo...
Jun 25, 2024•55 min
When King Ahasuerus elevates Haman above all other Persian officials, Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman, likely due to religious realities. In fury, Haman begins to plot to destroy not only Mordecai but the entire people of God to which Mordecai belongs. At this point, however, Haman’s fury does not overwhelm him. He patiently casts lots to find just the right date for his evil plan. When the lot lands favorably, he goes before King Ahasuerus and deceptively convinces the King. With the King’...
Jun 24, 2024•55 min
After a delay due to military campaigns, King Ahasuerus remembers what had happened with Vashti and decides to find a new prized queen. Among those taken into the king’s palace was a young Judean woman, Esther, an orphan who had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai. Mordecai helps Esther navigate a terribly difficult situation. Eventually, Esther is chosen as queen. As Mordecai continues to stay in touch with his cousin, he uncovers a plot against the king and saves the king from assassination. A...
Jun 21, 2024•55 min
The book of Esther starts with the opulent and extravagant party given by King Ahasuerus of Persia. As the king and his officials feast and drink to excess, Ahasuerus’ beautiful and prized queen, Vashti, refuses her husband’s attempt to objectify her. When the king does not know what to do, his advisors tell him to issue a proclamation putting Vashti in her place, lest other Persian wives behave similarly. Although this introduction to the book of Esther seems to be entirely secular, its role wi...
Jun 20, 2024•56 min
"For Such a Time As This” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Esther. Although God is never explicitly named in the book of Esther, He remains the One who directs all the events of the book. Happenings that seem coincidence, chance, or luck are truly God at work. He puts Mordecai and Esther in the right places and moments to work through them to deliver His people. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and ...
Jun 20, 2024•3 min
After Nehemiah had gone back to the court of King Artaxerxes for a time, he returned to Jerusalem to find God’s people in need of continued instruction and correction. Although they had promised to remain faithful to the LORD by caring for His house, observing the Sabbath, and avoiding intermarriage with idolaters, God’s people had fallen into sin in each of those areas. As a faithful leader, Nehemiah calls the people back to faithfulness to the LORD and prays that the LORD would bring success t...
Jun 19, 2024•56 min
Another list of people who had returned Jerusalem includes information about the roles they fulfilled, especially within the worship life of God’s people. Because the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was more than a secular construction project, the people of God dedicate the completed work with singing and great joy. Multiple choirs lead the people in worshipping God, and their joyful singing was heard far away. Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Anton...
Jun 18, 2024•56 min
Although Jerusalem’s walls had been rebuilt, few people were living in the city itself. The leaders first moved into Jerusalem, and the rest of the people willingly participated in the casting of lots to allow the LORD to determine the rest of the city’s residents. The list of the people who moved into Jerusalem, as well as those who remained in the villages surrounding the city, provided physical opportunities for God’s people to support each other’s needs within the Body of Christ. Rev. Brian ...
Jun 17, 2024•54 min
As the people prepare to renew the covenant with the LORD, they seal their names before Him. The clergy and the laity, the leaders and the people, all join to enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law given to Moses. In view of their history that led to their exile in the first place, the people particularly make promises concerning intermarriage with idolaters, keeping the Sabbath day, and supporting the work of the temple. As they promise not to neglect the LORD’s house, the focus is...
Jun 14, 2024•57 min
Having heard the Word of God, the people gathered in Jerusalem join in prayer to the LORD. They bless the LORD’s name for His acts of mercy throughout their history. He showed mercy in making a covenant with Abraham. He showed mercy in delivering Israel from Egypt. He showed mercy by providing for their well-being in the wilderness. Even when Israel rebelled against the LORD by worshiping a golden calf, the LORD remained faithful and merciful. He brought them to the Promised Land and sustained t...
Jun 13, 2024•56 min
With the walls of Jerusalem complete, the people of God now gather to hear the Word of God. Ezra the scribe and many helpers provided that the Word of God be read and proclaimed to the people from early morning until midday. As the people gave their attention to all that God said, Nehemiah and the Levites encouraged the people to rejoice. Not only did the people listen to the Word of God, they also sought to do what God had given them. They celebrated the Feast of Booths for seven days and held ...
Jun 12, 2024•49 min
As Nehemiah prepares to take a census of the people of Judah in preparation for people to move into Jerusalem, he finds the record of those who had returned at the edict of Cyrus almost 100 years ago. Although the list had been recorded previously in Ezra 2, the list is recorded again in this place as a reminder of the faithfulness of previous generations. Now that the wall of Jerusalem is complete, the list of those who initially returned is a reminder that God has been at work in His people by...
Jun 11, 2024•56 min
As the construction of the wall of Jerusalem nears completion, opposition against Nehemiah and the people of God grows. Nehemiah wisely recognizes the plots of his enemies and refuses to yield to their threats and intimidation. Even though the enemies of God’s people find allies within Judah, Nehemiah refuses to fall into sin and prays that the LORD would remember his enemies. By the LORD’s grace, the people finish the work on the wall of Jerusalem in only fifty-two days, even as the need for pe...
Jun 10, 2024•57 min
Trouble for the people of God never comes only from without; trouble also arises from within. In Nehemiah’s time, even as the wall of Jerusalem was under construction, members of God’s people were oppressing the poor in Israel through the exaction of usury. Nehemiah takes time away from the important building project to deal with this even-more-important matter of spiritual care. He calls the nobles and officials of the people to repent and show proper care and generosity, and the people respond...
Jun 07, 2024•57 min
The work on Jerusalem’s walls brings anger and mockery from the opponents of the people of God. Nehemiah and the people of Judah draw strength from God through prayer, and they refuse to stop. Such a faithful response brings about plans for a secret attack by the opposition, and morale in Israel begins to waver. Nehemiah responds with both prayer and action, trusting that God will fight for the people. Nehemiah makes the people ready for attack by providing for self-defense, and the sneak attack...
Jun 06, 2024•55 min
After Nehemiah’s inspection of the wall, the people begin to work. The list of workers shows the willingness of God’s people to do the labor needed. Although the areas of expertise of the workers varied, together they recognized the need and participated in the construction of the walls of Jerusalem. Although the various locations of gates and sections of the wall may not be known to us exactly, their names serve as a reminder of the reality of the city of Jerusalem. As the LORD gave His people ...
Jun 05, 2024•55 min
