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Preface
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3
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Table of Contents
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5
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References and Abbreviations
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12
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Reprint Guidelines
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14
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Introduction to the Post-Exilic Period
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15
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Overview of Post-Exilic Books
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15
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A Quick Guide to the Exiles of Israel and Judah
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17
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Rise of the Medo-Persian Empire
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18
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The Fall of Babylon
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19
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The Province of Judah (Yehud)
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21
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Rebuilding the Walls under Nehemiah
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21
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Revival
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21
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1. Returning to Rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1-6)
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23
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The Jewish Community in Babylon
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23
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Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return (Ezra 1)
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24
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Cyrus's Proclamation (Ezra 1:2-4)
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25
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Religious Policy of the Persian Empire
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25
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God's Preparations (Ezra 1:5-6)
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26
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Restoration of the Temple Treasure (Ezra 1:7-11)
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27
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List of the Exiles Who Returned (Ezra 2)
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28
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Rebuilding the Altar (Ezra 3:1-6)
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29
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Beginning the Restoration of the Temple (Ezra
3:6-13)
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31
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Celebration and Mourning (Ezra 3:10-13)
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32
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Opposition to the Rebuilding (Ezra 4:1-5, 24)
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33
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Later Opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes (Ezra
4:6-24)
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35
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Tattenai's Letter to Darius (Ezra 5)
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35
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The Decree of Darius (Ezra 6:1-12)
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36
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Completion and Dedication of the Temple (Ezra
6:13-18)
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36
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The Passover (Ezra 6:19, 22)
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37
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Purification and Separation (Ezra 6:20-21)
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38
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Lessons for Disciples
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39
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2. Realigning Priorities (Haggai 1-2)
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41
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Haggai the Prophet (Haggai 1:1a)
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41
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Zerubbabel and Joshua (Haggai 1:1b)
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42
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The Word of the Lord -- Prophecy
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43
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Dating the Prophecies
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43
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Prophecy 1. A Call to Build the House of the Lord
(Haggai 1)
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44
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The Result of God Withholding Blessing (Haggai
1:5-11)
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45
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Prophecy 2. Belief and Obedience (Haggai 1:12-15)
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47
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Prophecy 3. The Promised Glory of the New House
(Haggai 2:1-9)
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49
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The Danger of Discouragement
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49
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Be Strong and Work (Haggai 2:4-5)
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50
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Shaking and Glory (Haggai 2:6-9)
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51
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Prophecy 4. You Are Defiled. Repent. (Haggai
2:10-19)
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53
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A Defiled People (Haggai 2:10-14)
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53
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Conveying Holiness and Defilement (Haggai
2:12-13)
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54
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You Are Defiled (Haggai 2:14)
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54
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With Repentance Comes God's Blessing (Haggai
2:15-19)
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55
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Prophecy 5. Zerubbabel: the Lord's Signet Ring
(Haggai 2:20-23)
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56
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Lessons for Disciples
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58
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3. Encouragement for the Builders (Zechariah
1-6)
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60
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Zechariah the Prophet (Zechariah 1:1)
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60
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A Call to Return to the Lord (Zechariah 1:2-6)
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60
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The Night Visions (Zechariah 1:7-6:15)
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62
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Apocalyptic
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62
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Vision 1. Man Among the Myrtle Trees (Zechariah
1:8-17)
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63
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Vision 2. Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (Zechariah
1:18-21)
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66
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Vision 3. Man with a Measuring Line (Zechariah 2)
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67
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Be Still before the Lord (Zechariah 2:13a)
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69
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Vision 4. Clean Garments for the High Priest
(Zechariah 3)
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70
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A Brand Plucked from the Fire (Zechariah 3:2b)
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71
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My Servant, the Branch (Zechariah 3:8-10)
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72
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The 7-Faceted Stone (Zechariah 3:9a)
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74
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Removing Sin in a Single Day (Zechariah 3:9d)
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75
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Vision 5. The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive
Trees (Zechariah 4)
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75
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Zerubbabel to Complete the Temple (Zechariah
4:7b-9)
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76
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Despising the Day of Small Things (Zechariah
4:10a)
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76
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Two Olive Trees and Golden Pipes (Zechariah
4:10b-13)
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78
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Visions 6 The Flying Scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4)
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79
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Vision 7. The Woman in the Basket (Zechariah
5:5-11)
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82
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Vision 8. Four Chariots (Zechariah 6:1-8)
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84
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The Coronation of Joshua (Zechariah 6:9-15)
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84
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Lessons for Disciples
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86
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4. Prophecies of the Messiah (Zechariah 7-14)
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89
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Prophecy 1. Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting
(Zechariah 7)
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89
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Worship that Pleases Us -- not God (Zechariah
7:4-7)
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90
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Ethical Righteousness (Zechariah 7:8-10)
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92
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Positive Attributes: Justice, Mercy, and
Compassion (Zechariah 7:9)
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92
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Negative Commands: Don't Oppress the Powerless
(Zechariah 7:10a)
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94
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The Fruit of Rebellious Hearts (Zechariah
7:11-14)
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97
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Prophecy 2. The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem
(Zechariah 8-11)
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97
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Ethical Commands (Zechariah 8:16-17)
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99
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Happy Feasts (Zechariah 8:18-19)
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100
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The Gentiles Come to Jerusalem (Zechariah
8:20-23)
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101
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Judgment on Israel's Enemies (Zechariah 9:1-8)
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102
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The Coming of Zion's King (Zechariah 9:9-10)
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103
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Jubilation and Prosperity for God's Flock
(Zechariah 9:11-17)
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104
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The Lord Will Care for Judah (Zechariah 10-11)
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105
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Prophecy 3. The Two Shepherds (Zechariah 11:4-17)
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106
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The Detested Shepherd (Zechariah 11:7-9)
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107
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Breaking the Staff Called Favor and 30 Pieces of
Silver (Zechariah 11:10-14)
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108
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Breaking the Staff of Union (Zechariah 11:14)
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109
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The Foolish, Worthless Shepherd (Zechariah 11:15-17)
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110
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Prophecy 4. The Great Battle and New Jerusalem
(Zechariah 12-14)
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110
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Mourning for the One they Have Pierced (Zechariah
12:10)
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111
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A Fountain to Cleanse from Sin (Zechariah 13:1)
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111
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Strike the Shepherd (Zechariah 13:7)
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112
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The Lord Comes and Reigns (Zechariah 14)
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113
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Lessons for Disciples
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114
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5. Confession and Repentance (Ezra 7-10)
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118
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Turbulence in the Persian Empire and Artaxerxes I
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118
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Ezra the Priest, Scribe, and Administrator (Ezra
7:1-10)
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119
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Ezra Comes to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7)
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120
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King Artaxerxes' Letter to Ezra (Ezra 7:11-28)
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120
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Recruiting Emigrants for the Journey (Ezra
7:28b-8:20)
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121
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Fasting and Prayer at the Ahava Canal (Ezra
8:21-23)
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122
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Measures to Protect from Embezzlement (Ezra 8:24-30,
33-34)
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122
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Safe Journey (Ezra 8:15-36)
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123
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Intermarriage between Faiths (Ezra 9)
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124
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Spiritual Purity
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124
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Ezra's Reaction (Ezra 9:3-4)
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125
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Ezra's Prayer Posture (Ezra 9:5-6a)
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127
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Ezra's Corporate Confession (Ezra 9:6b-7)
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128
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The People's Response (Ezra 10:1-6)
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130
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Implementing the Oath (Ezra 10:7-44)
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132
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The Morality of Putting Away Non-Jewish Wives and
Children
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133
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Application Today
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133
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Lessons for Disciples
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134
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6. Nehemiah's Prayer (Nehemiah 1:1-2:8)
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137
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Nehemiah, the King's Cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:1)
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138
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Petitions to Xerxes and Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7-23)
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139
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Deeply Moved (Nehemiah 1:4)
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140
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Great and Awesome God (Nehemiah 1:5-6a)
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141
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Confession of Sins (Nehemiah 1:6b-7)
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143
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Reciting God's Promise to Moses (Nehemiah 1:8-9)
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143
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The Promise of Gathering (Nehemiah 1:9b)
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144
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The Dwelling Place of Your Name (Nehemiah 1:9b)
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145
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The Prayer of Your Servants (Nehemiah 1:10-11)
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145
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Nehemiah's Two Petitions (Nehemiah 1:11)
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145
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The Danger of Nehemiah's Request
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146
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Parallels with Esther (Esther 4:13-16)
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146
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In the Presence of the King (Nehemiah 2:1-4)
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148
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An Arrow Prayer (Nehemiah 2:4)
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148
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Request to Rebuild the City (Nehemiah 2:5-6)
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149
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Request for Protection, Letters of Introduction,
and Resources (Nehemiah 2:7-8)
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149
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Lessons for Disciples
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150
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7. Restoring the Wall (Nehemiah 2:9-7:73)
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152
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Consternation among Judah's Enemies (Nehemiah
2:9-10)
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152
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Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls (Nehemiah
2:11-16)
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153
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Nehemiah Reveals His Plan (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
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154
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Enemy Reactions (Nehemiah 2:19-20)
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155
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Which Walls Were Rebuilt in Nehemiah's Time?
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155
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Builders of the Wall (Nehemiah 3)
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156
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Rebuilding the Gates
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157
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Project Management
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158
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Opposition to Rebuilding (Nehemiah 4)
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160
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Taunts from the Enemies (Nehemiah 4:1-6)
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161
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Threat of Attack (Nehemiah 4:7-9)
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162
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Discouragement and Fear (Nehemiah 4:10-13)
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163
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Reinforcing the Low Points, Encouraging Faith
(Nehemiah 4:13-14)
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164
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Citizen Soldiers (Nehemiah 4:16-23)
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165
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Rebuilding the Walls of Our Lives
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166
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Dealing with Greed and Disregard for the Poor
(Nehemiah 5:1-18)
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167
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Loans and Usury in Mosaic Law
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168
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Foregoing the Governor's Rights (Nehemiah 5:14-19)
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169
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A Plan to Assassinate Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:1-9)
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169
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A Plot to Lead Nehemiah into Sin (Nehemiah
6:10-14)
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171
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Corrupt Prophets
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171
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Attempt to Compromise Nehemiah's Integrity
(Nehemiah 6:13)
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172
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Completion of the Wall (Nehemiah 6:15-16)
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172
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Tobiah's Ongoing Influence among the Nobility
(Nehemiah 6:17-19)
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173
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A Summary of Opposition Tactics
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173
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Securing Jerusalem (Nehemiah 7:1-3)
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174
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List of the Exiles Who Returned (Nehemiah 7:4-73)
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174
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Lessons for Disciples
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175
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8. Repentance and Revival (Nehemiah 8-13)
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178
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Ezra Reads the Law (Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18)
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178
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Communicating Understanding (Nehemiah 8:7-8)
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180
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Understanding, Sorrow, and Repentance (Nehemiah
8:9-11)
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182
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Repentance and Joy (Nehemiah 8:9-11)
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183
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The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength (Nehemiah
8:10b)
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184
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Celebrate with Great Joy (Nehemiah 8:12)
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185
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Celebrating the Feast of Booths (Nehemiah
8:13-18)
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186
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The Israelites Confess Their Sins (Nehemiah
9:1-37)
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188
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A Summary of Israel's History (Nehemiah 9:7-35)
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190
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Yahweh, the Gracious and Compassionate God
(Nehemiah 9:17)
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190
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The Agreement of the People (Nehemiah 9:38-10:39)
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192
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The New Residents of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1-24)
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193
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Jewish Towns and Lists of Priests (Nehemiah
11:25-12:26)
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194
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Preparing and Purifying the Singers,
Instrumentalists, and Priests (Nehemiah 12:27-30)
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194
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Grand Processions on the Wall (Nehemiah 12:31-43)
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195
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Rejoicing in the Temple (Nehemiah 12:40-43)
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196
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Appointing Storeroom Superintendents (Nehemiah
12:44-47)
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197
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The Collapse of a Genuine Revival (Nehemiah 13)
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197
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The High Priest's Unfaithfulness (Nehemiah
13:1-5, 7b-9)
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197
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Allowing the Enemy into the Center of our Lives
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199
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Failure to Support God's House and Its Services
(Nehemiah 13:10-14)
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200
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Desecrating the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:15)
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201
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Intermarriage with Non-Jews (Nehemiah 13:23-29)
|
202
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The Covenant of the Priesthood (Nehemiah 13:29)
|
203
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Nehemiah's Disappointment (Nehemiah 13:30-31)
|
204
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Ministry not Monuments
|
205
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Discipleship Lessons
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206
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9. Love, Worship, and Marriage (Malachi 1-2)
|
209
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Oracle 1. Jacob Loved, Esau Hated (Malachi 1:1-5)
|
210
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Oracle 2. Sincere Worship (Malachi 1:6-14)
|
211
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Showing Contempt for God (Malachi 1:6-10)
|
212
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Attacking God's Reputation (Malachi 1:12-13)
|
213
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A Curse on Those Who Cheat God (Malachi 1:14)
|
214
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Admonition for the Priests (Malachi 2:1-9)
|
216
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The Covenant with Levi (Malachi 2:4-8)
|
217
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In Defense of Fearing God
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218
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Teaching Priests (Malachi 2:6)
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219
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The Ideal Priest (Malachi 2:6-8)
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220
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Oracle 3. Judah Unfaithful in Marriage Vows
(Malachi 2:10-16)
|
225
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Breaking God's Covenant (Malachi 2:10)
|
225
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Marriage with Non-Jewish Women (Malachi 2:11-12)
|
226
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Breaking the Marriage Covenant by Divorce
(Malachi 2:13-16)
|
227
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Lessons for Disciples
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232
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10. Justice, Tithing, Purifying, and Judgment
(Malachi 3-4)
|
235
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Oracle 4. Refining, Purifying, and Judgment
(Malachi 2:17-3:6)
|
235
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Day of Judgment (Malachi 2:17-3:6)
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235
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The Two Messengers (Malachi 3:1)
|
236
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A Witness against Injustice (Malachi 3:5b)
|
241
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The Immutable, Unchanging God (Malachi 3:6)
|
243
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God's Faithfulness to His Promises
|
244
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Oracle 5. Repent of Robbing God in Tithes and
Offerings (Malachi 3:7-12)
|
245
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Repent of Your Laxity and Drifting! (Malachi 3:7)
|
245
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Robbing God in Tithes and Offerings (Malachi
3:7b-9)
|
246
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A Brief History of the Tithe
|
247
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|
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An Invitation to Test Yahweh by Tithing (Malachi
3:10b)
|
249
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Principles of Stewardship
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251
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How Should We Apply the Principle of Tithing
Today?
|
252
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Oracle 6. Judgment of the Righteous and the Wicked
(Malachi 3:13-4:6)
|
254
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Cynicism of Unbelievers towards God (Malachi
3:13-15)
|
254
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Those Who Fear the Lord (Malachi 3:16-18)
|
256
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|
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The Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16b)
|
257
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|
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Yahweh's Precious People (Malachi 3:17)
|
257
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The Distinction Will Be Clear (Malachi 3:18)
|
259
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The Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:1)
|
259
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The Day of the Lord as a Major Theme of the Bible
|
260
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|
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The Son of Righteousness with Healing in His
Wings (Malachi 4:2-3)
|
261
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The Prophet Elijah -- a Brief Reprieve (Malachi
4:5-6)
|
263
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|
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Turning the Hearts (Malachi 4:6)
|
263
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Lessons for Disciples
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264
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Appendix 1. Participant Handouts
|
268
|
|
Appendix 2. Chronology of the Post-Exilic
Period
|
269
|
|
Appendix 3. Main Characters of Ezra and
Nehemiah
|
270
|
|
Appendix 4. The Medo-Persian Empire
|
272
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Rebuild and Renew: The Post Exilic Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi