Read Psalm 126

My wife and I have been blessed with five children. Five times, I watched her endure excruciating labor pains. Why? For the joy of new life. Admiring her strength and hearing our babies’ first cries are five of the most remarkable miracles I have ever witnessed. Those moments reminded me of Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”

Psalm 126 is written in what might feel like reverse order. First, the psalmist rejoices at the harvest or reward. The exiles in Babylon praise God as if their anticipated return to the promised land has already been accomplished (vv. 1–3). Taken away in captivity, they’d returned home. Once sick, they’d regained health. The tears that watered the ground had reaped joy. These are powerful and surprising images. No one expects streams in the desert, but that’s what they were given. It felt like a dream! “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (v. 3).

In the second half of the psalm, we return to the “sowing.” The people pray for God to “restore our fortunes” and bring them back to the promised land (vv. 4–6). They understand that this hope is not achievable in their own strength. “Those who go out weeping” do not typically “return with songs of joy.” Only God can make that happen. Their faith is strong—they’re not hedging their bets. They’d praised Him in advance for answering their prayer! We too can harvest joy from sorrow (see John 16:12–22). How? Because God. There is nothing we can do to make it happen. But in God’s grace and mercy, He can turn things around.

Go Deeper

Aren’t you thankful that, because of Jesus, we will not receive the deserved results of the sins we have sown? Find out how you too can have an assurance of salvation!

Pray with Us

As the God of the unexpected reversal, You deserve our praise. You bring beauty from ashes, joy from sorrow, and growth from pain. There is no One like You.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.Psalm 126:5

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Read Isaiah 30:23–26

In the Bible, God sometimes sent droughts to get Israel’s attention. In one prophecy of Jeremiah, for example, the ground is cracked and dry. There is no rain. Farmers despair. Even rich people can’t get water because the wells have run dry. Wild animals were suffering too. What’s the message? God was using drought to call His people to repent of their sins (Jer. 14, especially vv. 1–10). If they chose to repent, God would bless them.

Yesterday, we considered ruined fields in Joel 1, and today we turn our focus to restoration. The ruined fields were both literal and figurative; they represented hunger, hardship, and judgment. Similarly, the restored fields stand for abundance, blessing, and God’s favor. When the rain arrived it would cause seeds to grow and lead to a rich harvest (v. 23). The cattle would graze freely in broad, green pastures, and other farm animals would also eat well (v. 24). There would be plenty of water (v. 25; cf. Jer. 17:8). “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days” (v. 26). Light here symbolizes God’s blessing.

All of this is a picture of what will happen “when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted” (v. 26). He inflicted them as a judgment on their sin. In other words, they’d deserved it. But also: He’d been in control the entire time, which was a comforting truth. He wasn’t throwing lightning bolts from on high. His judgment was mercifully intended to summon them back to Himself. The Great Physician hadn’t given up on His people (see Exod. 15:26; Mark 2:17)! This image of God as a doctor or healer has clear messianic implications (Isa. 61:1–3; Luke 4:16–21).

Go Deeper

Have you gone through times of drought and/or times of restoration? How did those times in your life impact your relationship with the Lord?

Pray with Us

Whether we are in a season of drought or restoration, we worship You. Thank You that You use hardships to draw us to Yourself. We depend on You for all things.

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentifulIsaiah 30:23

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Read Joel 1:8–12

The notorious desert locust lives in about 30 countries, but migration and wind help it travel much farther. One-tenth of the world’s population is at risk of locust plagues. In Africa today, a swarm can pack 40–80 million desert locusts into less than half a square mile. Each one is able to eat its weight in plants each day!

The prophet Joel drew a horrifying picture of what such devastation looks like. Today’s passage opens by calling the nation to mourning (v. 8). How severe is the grief? The “virgin in sackcloth” image means it’s like an engagement that didn’t lead to marriage. What’s the reason for such sorrow? The prophet gives two pictures. The first is of the dead spiritual life of Israel (v. 9). No offerings were being made at the temple. There was no work for the priests, who were lamenting (and hungry). The second picture is of the dead physical life of Israel (v. 10). The fields were ruined, the harvests destroyed. Even the ground was in mourning. There was no new wine or olive oil. The locusts—pictured as a “mighty army”—followed by drought, had left nothing (see vv. 4–7).

“Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers” continued Joel (v. 11). The desolation was complete. Grape vines, fig trees, pomegranate trees, palm trees, apple trees—nothing remained. The people’s joy had “withered away” as well (v. 12). None of this was an accident. What had happened was a judgment from the Lord. The prophet’s descriptions were intended to call the people to repentance (see Joel 1:14 and 2:12–17). If they would turn from their sin, He would bless them again with grain, new wine, and olive oil (Joel 2:19). What a sobering reminder of our own need for confession and repentance before God.

Go Deeper

How often do you practice the spiritual disciple of confession? Is God drawing your attention to a sin of which you or your family need to repent?

Pray with Us

King Jesus, we grieve for the sins we have committed. In humility, we confess them to You. Please forgive us and bring restoration to our hearts and souls.

The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed.Joel 1:10

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Read Ruth 2:1–12

In ancient Israel, God ordained gleaning so that poor people would have a way to obtain food (Lev. 23:22). In our society, we provide for the poor through community food pantries or government food programs. A “Caring Committee” at my church gives out staple items and grocery gift cards to those in need.

Naomi and Ruth were on the receiving side of such charity. Naomi was an older widow without income. Her daughter-in-law Ruth, also widowed, went to nearby fields to glean grain for herself and her mother-in-law (vv. 2, 6–7). Whatever she brought back they could grind into flour and make bread to stay alive. It seems that gleaning was somewhat risky at that time. Boaz’s instructions for her safety imply that otherwise Ruth might have been vulnerable to sexual violence (v. 9).

Boaz owned the field where she was gleaning. His greeting to the harvesters showed that he was a godly man (v. 4). Attentively, he noticed Ruth, asked about her, and invited her to stay and get rest and water with his workers (vv. 5, 8–9). He’d heard about her choosing the Lord (Ruth 1:16–17) and coming from Moab with her widowed mother-in-law (v. 11). His response: “May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (v. 12).

Ruth turned out to be hard-working and humble (vv. 7, 10). Boaz was generous, even telling his laborers to leave extra grain for her to glean, as opposed to our American values of maximizing efficiency and productivity. And we know that the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz would one day reappear in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5)!

Go Deeper

What is our biblical responsibility to give to those in need? What opportunities have you found to give in this way?

Pray with Us

We know that You put people in our path to help, Lord. Make our hearts sensitive to Your leading, that we may be a clear testimony as we serve others. You are the author of generosity.

The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.Psalm 67:6

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Read Psalm 67

Revelation 5 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It consists mainly of waves of praise directed at “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (v. 6)—in other words, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The four living creatures and 24 elders begin. They are joined by hosts of angels and finally by “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” (Rev. 5:13).

Revelation 5 answers the prayer of Psalm 67: “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you” (vv. 3, 5). In this psalm, “harvest” is a picture of the Lord’s blessings. The parallelism in verse 6 treats the two as equivalent. This is often true in the psalms, for example: “The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest” (Ps. 85:12). “Harvest” is a powerful image of abundance in an agricultural society.

This entire psalm is structured like a sandwich: Prayers for God to bless (vv. 1–2 and 6–7) are placed on either side of a call for the people to praise Him (vv. 3–5). Verse 1 echoes the Aaronic blessing (Num. 6:24–26), with the petition for God’s face to “shine on us” indicating a prayer for His favor and a close relationship. The purpose is not simply blessings for them, but more importantly, “so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” It’s all about His glory!

The middle section (vv. 3–5) calls for the nations, not only Israel, to praise the Lord for His justice and wise sovereignty. Then the psalm returns to its original theme, combining gratitude for present blessing with a prayer for future blessing and God’s glory. The “fear” in verse 7 is not human fear but the “fear of the Lord,” or worship.

Go Deeper

Given that most of us aren’t farmers, what does “harvest” or God’s blessings look like in your life? Do the people in your life know that all the credit belongs to the Lord?

Pray with Us

God, You provide for us with lavish abundance. Please make us the kind of people who are quick to thank You for all You have done. May Your praise be ever on our lips.

The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.Psalm 67:6

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Read Deuteronomy 26:1–11

A popular health website recommends eight “miracle foods”: avocados, blueberries, green tea, kale, lentils, quinoa, walnuts, and red wine. Blueberries, for example, are full of antioxidants and can help prevent cataracts, varicose veins, heart disease, and cancer. Walnuts improve cognitive (brain) function and memory, aid in gut health, and support heart health by reducing cholesterol and blood pressure.

We could also say that worship through giving is good for our spiritual health. Yesterday we read about the principle of “firstfruits,” that is, offering the first or best of what we have to the Lord. In Deuteronomy 26 we see that same principle put into practice during Israel’s entry into the promised land (vv. 1–4). The presentation of the firstfruits was accompanied by an affirmation of God’s faithful promise-keeping. It also admitted the people’s hopelessness without that. This was done through a vivid testimony about their liberation from Egypt (vv. 5–10).

This national origin story is rather unusual: Their forefather Jacob went to Egypt to survive. His descendants became enslaved. But the Lord heard their cries for help and freed them “with a mighty hand.” Then He brought them to a “land flowing with milk and honey,” a metaphorical picture of abundance. All the glory is given to God, not human heroes, for this amazing history.

The basket of firstfruits would then lead to rejoicing and gratitude for all of God’s various blessings (v. 11). It’s important to note that “foreigners” (or sojourners) are included. This means that the Exodus and God’s awesome “signs and wonders” had inspired faith even in some non-Israelites (for example, Rahab and her family). This testimony became a kind of recitation of God’s covenant faithfulness.

Go Deeper

What’s your testimony or salvation narrative? Does it glorify the Lord and rejoice in His blessings to you? How might you incorporate it into holiday celebrations?

Pray with Us

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your plan of redemption! Let us, together with the psalmist, proclaim, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD” (Ps. 78:4).

Now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.Deuteronomy 26:10

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Read Leviticus 23:9–14

What was actually eaten at the first Thanksgiving? The colonists and Native Americans feasted on fresh venison; ducks, geese, and other fowl; and a kind of corn that they made into cornbread and porridge. Their “stuffing” was onions and nuts. They also ate cod, eel, lobster, and vegetables such as peas, beans, and squash. Sorry, no turkey, no mashed potatoes with gravy, no pumpkin pie.

Like Thanksgiving, Israel’s Feast of Firstfruits was a harvest festival. It took place during what would be March or April on our calendar. “Firstfruits” is just what it sounds like: The earliest part of the harvest was to be offered to the Lord. Specifically, the priest would wave before God “a sheaf of the first grain” harvested (vv. 10–11). The act of waving signified honor and worship to the Lord, acknowledging Him as the source and provider of all blessings, including food.

This wave offering was to be accompanied by a burnt offering of a lamb without defect (v. 12). Why? Again the main purpose was worship, but in this case it also signified substitutionary blood atonement for sin. Ideally, these were outward actions revealing the inward state of the worshipers’ hearts. The burnt offering was likewise accompanied by a grain offering and a drink offering (v. 13). These were not mere formalities but serious business. Not so much as a loaf of bread was to be eaten until these offerings had been made (v. 14)! God declared this and other feasts before Israel had even entered the promised land. Receiving the Law was therefore an act of faith by the people in God’s promises. “Firstfruits” is used in the New Testament to talk about resurrection. Christ is the “firstfruits” from among the dead, meaning that since He rose, we will in due time also rise (1 Cor. 15:20–23).

Go Deeper

What might be considered “firstfruits” that you can offer the Lord as an act of worship?

Watch Video: an introduction to our study with Dr. Bradley Baurain.

Pray with Us

Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for my salvation. Please show me clearly what my “firstfruits” are, and how I can use them for Your glory. I want to give You my best.

A food offering presented to the LORD, a pleasing aroma.Leviticus 23:13

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Read Galatians 6:7–10

“Sow a thought, reap an action,” observes a classic adage. “Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a life.” The principle behind these words is one we all know: We reap what we sow (v. 7; Hos. 10:12–13). God put this principle in place as a general representation of justice or fairness. To act otherwise is to mock Him. This works in both positive and negative directions (v. 8). If we live to please the flesh (our sin nature), the result will be destruction or hell. If we live to please the Spirit, on the other hand, the result will be eternal life or heaven. We cannot do both, and there are no cases in which one way of life leads to the other outcome.

Paul explains that is why we should keep doing the latter (good deeds to please the Holy Spirit) in order to reap the right kind of harvest (v. 9). Even if we’re not seeing immediate results, we can stick with this path in confidence that it will lead to the desired destination. Therefore—Paul stated—we should take every opportunity to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (v. 10).

We need to be careful to see sowing and reaping as a general principle, not as an ironclad law by which God is bound. That’s how Job’s “comforters” erroneously saw it: If Job was suffering, he must have done something sinful to deserve it (Job 4:8). Nor does Paul in today’s reading promise that righteous choices will automatically lead to prosperity or comfort in this world. As he wrote elsewhere: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Go Deeper

Have you experienced times of reaping what you sowed (either good or bad)? How can we avoid growing “weary in doing good”? (v. 9)

Pray with Us

It is not always easy to persevere in doing right, Lord. When we grow tired, please give us strength to endure. When we have doubts, please remind us of Your faithfulness.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.Galatians 6:7

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Read Genesis 47:13–26

Master gardener Gregory Bratton has helped start nearly 100 urban farms across Chicago. For decades, he has worked to bring fresh vegetables to urban neighborhoods. Local volunteers are very willing to invest time in these gardens, especially when they and their communities benefit directly.

We might not think of Joseph as an agricultural planner, but he was! In Genesis 41, Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams about seven years of plenty and seven of famine, and as a reward was made second-in-command over the entire land of Egypt. What did he do with that power? Followed his own recommendation to collect grain during the good years in preparation for the lean years.

Joseph’s wise plans of setting aside a fifth of the harvest per year enabled him to collect all the money in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 15); to collect all the livestock in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 18); and to buy all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, except for that belonging to the priests (vv. 20–22). Talk about successful investing! There was no injustice or exploitation involved. His actions kept people alive not only in Egypt but throughout the ancient Near East (Gen. 50:20). The “servitude” (v. 21) was more than fair in that time and culture. In fact, Joseph seems to have been rather gracious, asking for only a fifth of the harvest-to-come when he distributed seeds, when he could have, since he had a monopoly, demanded it all (vv. 23–26).

Joseph combined wise agricultural planning with wise rulership. If he had actually attempted harsher measures, he would likely have sparked bitterness and rebellion (see Prov. 18:23). Although Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery (Gen. 37), God’s plan for saving their lives ironically involved Joseph buying the entire Egyptian population as “debt-slaves.”

Go Deeper

We learn in this story that God has larger purposes for suffering. What are His purposes in suffering or bad times in general? How about in your life specifically?

Pray with Us

Holy God, it is easy to look at Joseph’s story and see Your hand at work. Remind us to trust Your plan when our own lives become hard. We know that You are always good.

“You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord.”Genesis 47:25

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Read Genesis 4:1–12

Our family enjoys going to the Art Institute of Chicago to appreciate great paintings and sculptures. In one gallery hangs Grant Wood’s American Gothic (1930), an iconic representation of a farming couple. A dour-looking man grips his pitchfork, while a similarly unsmiling woman looks into the distance.

The first farmer in the Bible, as you may know, was Cain. Technically, it was probably Adam and Eve, laboring obediently in the Garden of Eden before the Fall, but Cain is the first person specifically identified as a farmer. He “worked the soil” while his brother Abel cared for livestock (v. 2). When Cain brought an offering of the “fruits of the soil,” however, God “did not look with favor on it” (v. 5). Abel gave from the “firstborn” of his flocks (v. 4), which honored the Lord (Heb. 11:4). There’s no indication in the text that there was anything wrong with the content of Cain’s offering, which points to his attitude and lack of faith as the problem. This is confirmed by his angry response to Abel’s acceptance and his own rejection. He was so angry, in fact, that he was considering premeditated murder. No wonder the apostle John later wrote that Cain “belonged to the evil one” (1 John 3:12).

God hadn’t punished Cain at that point, only rejected his offering. He also mercifully gave him a direct warning to resist the temptation he was contemplating (vv. 6–7). Cain murdered his brother anyway (v. 8). Part of God’s judgment evokes the curse on Adam: “When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you” (v. 12). When Cain and his descendants thus became wandering nomads, they, ironically, probably had to become shepherds to survive.

Go Deeper

What might we learn from the Cain and Abel narrative? What strategies do we use to fight against or resist temptation?

Pray with Us

Each of us struggles with temptation in many ways. We are grateful, Lord, that You do not abandon us, and faithfully “provide a way out” (1 Cor. 10:13). Help us always seek You in our time of need.

When you work the ground, it will no longer yield crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.Genesis 4:12

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Read Genesis 3:17–24

John Milton first published the Christian epic poem Paradise Lost in 1667. But while previous epic poems featured heroes and battles, this one focused on the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The battle was spiritual not physical—and our first parents lost it by sinning against God.

Adam and Eve suffered the costs of their disobedient choice. Sin and death entered the world (Rom. 5:12), and they and the serpent (Satan) were cursed. Part of the curse, focusing on Adam, concerned work (vv. 17–19). The relationship with nature would no longer be harmonious. Even just to grow food to eat would require “painful toil.” Ironically, Adam would “work the ground from which he had been taken” (v. 23). He would struggle against thorns, thistles, and the ground itself. And at the end of the struggle waited death (see Gen. 2:16–17): “to dust you will return” (3:19).

All hope was not lost, however. God remained graciously involved (vv. 21–24). He made Adam and Eve clothing from animal skins, much better than the fig leaf coverings they had made for themselves (Gen. 3:7). Then He exiled them from the Garden of Eden so that they would not eat from the tree of life and live forever in their sinful condition. Later, He ordained the birth of Noah, a “comfort” against the curse (Gen. 5:29) and the reason humanity survived the Flood. Even so, there were consequences. Adam and Eve lost a well-ordered and fulfilling relationship with nature and would from then on experience it mainly as conflict and struggle. Adam would spend most of his time in the fields working by the sweat of his brow in order to survive. All creation has in fact been groaning for redemption from then until now (Rom. 8:19–22).

Go Deeper

How do we see both God’s love and His justice in the events of Genesis 3? What did it mean that the ground was cursed?

Pray with Us

Lord, we know our sins have consequences. We are sorry for the times we have not obeyed Your commands, and it has damaged our relationship with You. Please forgive us.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.Genesis 3:19

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Read Genesis 1:24–31

A seventeenth-century German prince created a garden in which he collected all the shrubs and flowering plants known at that time from throughout the world. Then he commissioned a lavish illustrated book of them, titled Hortus Eystettensis (Garden of Eichstätt), using elaborate copper engravings. Published in 1613, it “was and is the greatest botanical picture book ever created.” The prince may not have known it, but his garden and picture book were merely tributes to God who had created all those plants and so much more. In this month’s study, we will consider literal and figurative images of agriculture in the Bible, including farming, seeds, cultivation, crops, and harvests.

Human beings, created in the image of God, were given authoritative stewardship by and under Him over the created world, including the plant and animal kingdoms (vv. 26–27). As David wrote: “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” (Ps. 8:6). This is called the “creation mandate,” which is summarized as a command: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (v. 28). Many commentators see this mandate as including the work and responsibility of cultivating creation until the whole earth became like the Garden of Eden—a mandate that we’re to finish during the Millennial Kingdom. The idea is that God created Eden as a model, and to “subdue” or “rule” meant to work on making the rest of the earth like this paradise. In imitation of God Himself, human beings were to care for that over which they ruled. God indicated that seed-bearing plants and trees would be sources of food for both humans and animals (vv. 29–30). Finally, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (v. 31).

Go Deeper

How does the Christian concept of “creation care” contrast with modern secular environmentalism? What is our part to play in the biblical “creation mandate”?

Pray with Us

Father, as we begin our study of farming and seeds, give us open hearts to understand Your truth. Help us be good stewards of all that You give us.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.Genesis 1:31

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Read Ezra 10:9–44

Mob justice often becomes injustice. There is no judge, no jury, no presentation of evidence or a trial—just the accusation, the mob’s confidence in their own righteousness, and the punishment of perceived evil. At the close of the book of Ezra, we see a situation that could very easily have veered toward vigilantism. Instead, Ezra shows godly wisdom in laying out a plan to ensure just judgment.

Responding to the decree in verses 7–8, “within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem” (v. 9). “All the people were sitting in the square before the house of God,” and all of them were “greatly distressed” (v. 9). Ezra stood to confront the crowd. He pulled no punches: “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt” (v. 10). Ezra then tells them what they must do: “Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives” (v. 11).

This was a tall order that required radical obedience. But the people responded well: “You are right! We must do as you say” (v. 12). They asked for time to obey because of the poor weather and the extent of their sin. Ezra agreed and “selected men who were family heads” to investigate each case (v. 16). The book of Ezra ends with a list of people who had sinned. Imagine having your name and your sin memorialized in this way!

It may feel like the book of Ezra ends unsatisfactorily. While we have witnessed God’s great acts on behalf of His people, the book closes with a list of sinners. Be reassured, however, that these are sinners who repent, so “there is still hope for Israel” (Ezra 10:2).

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Pray with Us

Thank You for the lessons You have given us in the book of Ezra, Father. Give us the courage to follow You with radical obedience no matter what. In You alone is our hope!

Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will.Ezra 10:11

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Read Ezra 10:1–8

Have you ever heard the saying that God has no grandchildren? It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that we cannot depend on our Christian heritage for our salvation. We must personally trust in Jesus and turn from our sins.

Ezra had confessed Israel’s sin to God. But that was not enough—the people responsible also needed to confess in order to be made right with God. In Ezra 10, we are told that the prophet had led the people faithfully. In verse 1 we see him “praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God.” During this time, a large crowd gathered around him including “men, women and children” (v. 1). The inclusion of women and children is significant and countercultural for the ancient world. Women and children would not typically be included in such a group, yet the Scripture makes clear that God’s salvation is open and available to all.

A leader arose from the group, confessing their sin to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us” (v. 2). The people of Israel recognized their sin and confessed it in clear, plain language. There were no excuses, only a clear statement of the facts.

As we’ve seen throughout the Bible, “there is still hope for Israel” (v. 2). Upon their confession, Ezra withdrew to seek the Lord and issued an order for all the people of Israel to “assemble in Jerusalem”; whoever failed to appear would “forfeit all his property” (vv. 7–8). This was a reminder that sin is serious, and the people must deal with it seriously.

Go Deeper

Is God convicting you of sin? Do not delay in confessing to Him. And if you have never put your trust in Christ, don’t delay! Go to moodybible.org/knowing-christ to learn more.

Pray with Us

Jesus, whether we come from generations of believers or are the first in our family to know You as Lord, we thank You that Your salvation is for ALL. What a beautiful gift to anticipate eternity with You.

We have been unfaithful to our God.Ezra 10:2

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Read Ezra 9:6–15

There’s a vast difference between being sorry that you got caught doing something and being sorry that you did something. In the book of Ezra, after God’s people acted wickedly, Ezra approached God in repentance. He reflected genuine sorrow—even though he personally had not participated in the sin.

Ezra’s prayer of confession for the people highlights the concept of corporate solidarity. The apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the body to discuss corporate solidarity in the church: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor 12:26). Ezra’s suffering shines clearly through these verses—and Ezra is deeply concerned that even greater suffering is on the horizon. “Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor?” Ezra asks the Lord (v. 14).

Ezra begins by confessing his shame “because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens” (v. 6). He then briefly recounts Israel’s history of sin that led to the captivity in Babylon. They’ve only returned, Ezra says, because “the Lord our God has been gracious” (v. 8). God “has shown us kindness,” “granted us new life,” and “given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem” (v. 9). Yet the returnees “have forsaken the commands” God gave regarding intermarriage with the surrounding peoples (vv. 10–12). Ezra confesses that the exile happened as “a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt,” and yet their punishment was “less than our sins deserved” (v. 13).

Ezra does the only thing he can do—the only thing any of us can do. He confesses the people’s sin and throws himself on the mercy of the God who has been faithful over and over and over again.

Go Deeper

How has God been faithful to you despite your sin? How do you respond to sin in your life and in your community—even when you’re not personally guilty?

Pray with Us

Merciful Father, thank You that You do “not treat us as our sins deserve” (Ps. 103:10), but instead You show compassion, love, and graciousness to us. What a good Father You are!

I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you.Ezra 9:6

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Read Ezra 9:1–5

From time to time my wife and I leave our three young sons with a babysitter. On the way home I always feel the same anxiety—did our children torment this sweet girl who watched them for a few hours? I’ve never gotten a bad report, but I still worry. Ezra, unfortunately, received a bad report about the behavior of the people living in Israel.

Chapter 9 begins, “After these things had been done.” This was after the delivery of valuables and the sacrifices mentioned in yesterday’s passage—the leaders delivered their report to Ezra. “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices” (v. 1). In fact, they’ve gone so far as to take “some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons” (v. 2). What’s even worse, “the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness” (v. 2).

Remember—God had long ago commanded the Israelites not to intermarry with the surrounding peoples. Why? Because “they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you” (Deut. 7:4). This is how God’s people ended up in exile in the first place! Now they had disobeyed again, returning to the practices that had caused God to judge them nearly a century ago.

When he heard this report, Ezra was “appalled.” He says, “I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard” (v. 3). Then Ezra did what we’ve come to expect: “I…fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God” (v. 5). God’s people had sinned, but Ezra remained faithful and turned to the Lord in his devastation.

Go Deeper

Why do we so quickly turn away from the Lord, even after He shows us mercy? Is there anything in your life you need to repent of today?

Pray with Us

We repent of our forgetfulness and stubbornness, Lord. We grieve that we are so quick to turn from You, even when You show Your faithfulness again and again. Please forgive us.

We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.Psalm 106:6

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Read Ezra 8:31–36

Reaching the end of a long journey is a beautiful thing—you step out of the car, stretch your legs, and look forward to some rest and relaxation. In our study of the book of Ezra, we’ve seen this godly leader and his co-travelers reach the end of their long trip to Jerusalem—all without the benefit of planes, trains, or automobiles!

Earlier in chapter 8 Ezra refused to ask the king for protection on the journey, even though the returnees were bringing with them an enormous amount of silver and gold. In today’s market, the value of the materials listed in 8:26–27 reaches $604,081,991.20. Ezra was wise to proclaim a fast and ask for the Lord’s protection on their trip home!

In verse 31 we read that the Lord indeed answered their prayers: “The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.” As we’ve seen many times already since meeting Ezra in chapter 7, he is quick to credit the Lord for his success. He never took credit for himself but rather consistently acknowledged God’s grace and kindness toward him. Ezra and the returnees rested for three days (v. 32). Then they “weighed out the silver and gold and the sacred articles into the hands of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest” (v. 33). The men proved faithful: “Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the entire weight was recorded at that time” (v. 34). The exiles then worshiped the Lord. They sacrificed “twelve bulls for all Israel” (v. 35), again reminding us that the people returning from exile represent all Israel and not just the ten tribes of Judah (see discussion on September 19). Now in Jerusalem, Ezra and his group of Levites and temple servants “gave assistance to the people and to the house of God” (v. 36).

Go Deeper

What are some ways you can cultivate gratitude and trust for the Lord as Ezra demonstrated?

Pray with Us

Because of Your great love for us, You hear our prayers, God. Help us recall the ways You have answered in the past, and today we offer our thanks for Your faithfulness.

The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies.Ezra 8:31

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Read Ezra 8:21–30

You’ve mapped out your journey. The car is packed. The children are buckled in. But before you embark on a cross-country road trip, what else do you do? If you were Ezra, you would stop and plead yet again for the Lord to give you a safe and successful journey. In 8:21, Ezra said: “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”

We’ve already seen Ezra trust the Lord time and again during his preparations to return to Jerusalem. Today’s reading gives us insight into Ezra’s thought process. He was “ashamed to ask the king” for protection on the journey. Why? He had already assured the king that “the gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him” (v. 22). Ezra didn’t want to appear to dishonor the Lord by asking for human help when he’d already been clear in saying that God would care for him. So, Ezra says, “we fasted and petitioned our God about this” (v. 23). Just as we’ve seen God do many times throughout the book of Ezra, God answered their prayer (v. 23).

The rest of today’s passage lists the many valuable items that Ezra and the returnees brought with them to Jerusalem. Here we see Ezra’s practical wisdom again. He entrusts “twelve of the leading priests” with care of the valuables and charges them to deliver the items safely to their destination (v. 24). For all the details involved in this journey, Ezra trusts the Lord, fasting and praying. He also takes appropriate steps to ensure success. Both were needed.

Go Deeper

Are there areas in your life that you have entrusted to the Lord through fasting and prayer but haven’t taken the practical steps you need to take to ensure success? Or the other way around?

Pray with Us

Lord, echoing Ezra in today’s reading, we thank You that Your hand is on everyone who looks to You! Please give us the courage to always stand up and give You glory.

We fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.Ezra 8:23

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Read Ezra 8:1–20

I’m not very handy, but from time to time I’ll attempt a DIY home project. These typically require about a hundred trips to Home Depot, lots of hand-wringing, and then a call to a buddy or two for help. In today’s passage Ezra wasn’t wringing his hands or running to the home improvement store, but he did realize he needed more help. He called for reinforcements.

The passage opens with Ezra and the list of people in 8:1–14 “assembled … at the canal that flows toward Ahava” (v. 15). They camped “there three days,” during which Ezra “checked among the people and the priests,” searching for Levites (v. 15). He did not find any, so he gathered several leaders, whom he refers to as “men of learning,” and sends them to “Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia” (vv. 16–17). We don’t know exactly what Kasiphia refers to, but we do know there were Levites there, and the “men of learning” returned to Ezra with 20 more Levites, in addition to 220 “temple servants” (vv. 19–20). Ezra would need these temple servants, who ensure smooth and proper functioning at the Jerusalem temple, reestablishing and then maintaining proper worship.

As has been Ezra’s pattern, he credits the Lord with the success of this mission. It succeeded “because the gracious hand of our God was on us” (Ezra 8:18). A few things stand out about this passage. First, Ezra was humble. He recognized when he needed help and was willing to ask for it. Second, Ezra was wise. He took all necessary precautions to ensure his work would be successful. Third, Ezra relied fully on the Lord. Here and throughout the book, we see Ezra credit the Lord with any and all of his success.

Go Deeper

How do you measure up to those three qualifications: humility, wisdom, and reliance on God? How do these qualifications help you prepare wisely for the work God calls you to?

Pray with Us

Father, sometimes humility and wisdom feel like a burden. Remind us that they are gifts that help us serve You, and when we use them well, You are glorified.

The gracious hand of our God was on us.Ezra 8:18

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Read Ezra 7:27–28

What do you do when God provides an unexpected gift in your life? In the time of Ezra, the reigning king, Artaxerxes, had a huge change of heart. He went from shutting down work on the temple to giving full support and sending Ezra to teach God’s people God’s law. Today, we see how Ezra responds to this kindness from the Lord. His reaction is a model for us as we reflect on the many ways God continues to work in our world today.

After Artaxerxes listed all the financial resources he was supplying for the temple, he issued an order that Ezra was eager to obey: “And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them” (Ezra 7:25).

Ezra gave credit for all of this to the Lord. He says, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way” (v. 27). And for the third time since we met Ezra in Ezra 7:1, he says that “the hand of the LORD my God was on me” (v. 28). And so Ezra obeyed the king’s order, which in this case was consistent with what God had called him to do: “I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me” (v. 28).

As we read of God’s work in ancient Persia and His faithfulness to Ezra individually and His people as a whole, we cannot help but to marvel at both. Ezra’s response of worship and courage is a model to follow as the Lord works in our own lives.

Go Deeper

How do you respond when the Lord works in your life? How does His faithfulness inspire obedience, courage, and worship in you?

Pray with Us

King Jesus, there is great reward in keeping Your commands. When we live for You, our lives are blessed and others take notice. Make our lives a testimony for You.

Praise be to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD.Ezra 7:27

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