Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Israel's exile to Babylon might seem far away and disconnected to the life of the Christian,... until we read the book of 1Peter. There we find that Christians have always been exiles in this world. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Israel's Exile helps us respond to the challenges of our time.
Rooted in the historical events of the Persian Empire, the book of Esther chronicles the courageous journey of a young Jewish woman. As she becomes queen, Esther conceals her true identity and ultimately risks her life to save her people from annihilation. Through divine providence and strategic planning, God's invisible hand guides every twist and turn.
Rooted in the historical events of the Persian Empire, the book of Esther chronicles the courageous journey of a young Jewish woman. As she becomes queen, Esther conceals her true identity and ultimately risks her life to save her people from annihilation. Through divine providence and strategic planning, God's invisible hand guides every twist and turn.
Rooted in the historical events of the Persian Empire, the book of Esther chronicles the courageous journey of a young Jewish woman. As she becomes queen, Esther conceals her true identity and ultimately risks her life to save her people from annihilation. Through divine providence and strategic planning, God's invisible hand guides every twist and turn.
Rooted in the historical events of the Persian Empire, the book of Esther chronicles the courageous journey of a young Jewish woman. As she becomes queen, Esther conceals her true identity and ultimately risks her life to save her people from annihilation. Through divine providence and strategic planning, God's invisible hand guides every twist and turn.
Rooted in the historical events of the Persian Empire, the book of Esther chronicles the courageous journey of a young Jewish woman. As she becomes queen, Esther conceals her true identity and ultimately risks her life to save her people from annihilation. Through divine providence and strategic planning, God's invisible hand guides every twist and turn.
when God’s people are at their lowest ebb, persecuted, oppressed and apparently abandoned in exile, Daniel’s vision promises that God, the Ancient of Days, will overthrow all opposition to his rule and install his Son, the Messiah, who is also representative of mankind— a son of man— to rule at his right hand. Forever.
God rules. God saves. And so kings and rulers ought to submit to him and use their power with humility. Nebuchadnezzar learns this truth through painful experience.
Daniel 3 and Daniel 6 show us the same thing: God is the God who saves. He is present, active and living, attentive to his people’s call. But they are his people, who serve him— unlike Nebuchadnezzar’s image-god whom serves Nebuchadnezzar’s purposes.
In the face of an impossible task, Daniel’s God shows himself as the living God, the one who reveals secrets, wisdom and knowledge. Although human kingdoms rise and fall, God will establish his Kingdom throughout the entire earth.
The book of Daniel is set in the Exile in Babylon. It’s theme is that God’s rule over all the nations, even in Israel’s apparent defeat, is assured. God is establishing his kingdom, even in weakness, even when it looks like everything has gone wrong, even when it seems that the world is winning.
God had been very patient with Jerusalem but the time came when he just had to bring judgement to bear and, that judgement brought great lamenting. Lament, pouring one’s heart out to God in grief and in prayer, is not popular today but it expresses profound trust in God who is our only hope for restoration.
God had been very patient with Jerusalem but the time came when he just had to bring judgement to bear and, that judgement brought great lamenting. Lament, pouring one’s heart out to God in grief and in prayer, is not popular today but it expresses profound trust in God who is our only hope for restoration.
Jeremiah's life and ministry were not easy. He faced opposition, persecution, and rejection. He was often misunderstood and rejected by his own people. Through him, we appreciate what it means to be ‘yoked’, either in slavery or in freedom.
God leaves the Jerusalem temple and instead appears to Ezekiel in Babylon. Ezekiel’s message explains the exile as justice and retribution for Israel’s persistent sins. But there is also hope in the latter stages of this book. God himself will shepherd his people and return them to himself, in his land. He will appoint a Shepherd-King to rule his people always.
The final two chapters of 2 Kings record the tragic end of life in Jerusalem under a Jewish King. The Babylonians break through the walls, destroy the temple and carry the best of the people, including the royal family, into exile in Babylon. But a small glimmer of hope remains.
Set in the 'fading light' of Jerusalem before the Fall, the book of Ecclesiastes captures the wisdom of Solomon for an audience struggling to find meaning in challenging times. Ness Hughes leads this series of devotionals through Ecclesiastes, which feels as relevant today in our culture as when it was first written.
Set in the 'fading light' of Jerusalem before the Fall, the book of Ecclesiastes captures the wisdom of Solomon for an audience struggling to find meaning in challenging times. Ness Hughes leads this series of devotionals through Ecclesiastes, which feels as relevant today in our culture as when it was first written.
