Esther 5-6

 Scripture – Esther 5-6

Observation – 

• Esther 5:1-8 - The first banquet
• Esther 5:1-5 - Esther invites the king and Haman to the banquet 
• Esther 5:6-8 - Esther's request 
• Esther 5:9-14 - Haman's plot against Mordecai
• Esther 5:9-13 - Haman's frustration against Mordecai
• Esther 5:14 - Haman plans to ask for Mordecai’s execution 
• Esther 6:1-9 - The king's question
• Esther 6:1-3 - A sleepless night
• Esther 6:4-5 - Haman in the courts of the king
• Esther 6:6 - The king asks a question of Haman
• Esther 6:7-9 - Haman’s answer on how the king should honor the man who pleases the king.
• Esther 6:10-14 - The kings' command
• Esther 6:10-11 - Haman must lead the ceremony for Mordecai.
• Esther 6:12-14 - Haman mourns and goes to the banquet

Timeless Outline –

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Esther 3-4

Scripture – Esther 3-4 

Observation – 

• Esther 3:1-7 - Haman is determined to destroy the Jews.
• Esther 3:1 - Haman's promotion
• Esther 3:2-3 - Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman
• Esther 3:4-6 - Haman seeks revenge against Mordecai and the jews
• Esther 3:7 - Haman plans to destroy the jews on a specific day
• Esther 3:8-15 - Haman determines to destroy the Jews.
• Esther 3:8-9 - Haman's proposal
• Esther 3:10-11 - The king agrees to the plan
• Esther 3:12-15 - The decree is published
• Esther 4:1-7 - Mordecai’s mourning.
• Esther 4:1-3 - The jews lament
• Esther 4:4-7 - Mordecai explains the problem to Esther
• Esther 4:8-17 - Mordecai's request
• Esther 4:8-12 - His first request and Esther’s appeal to him
• Esther 4:13-14 - Mordecai's second request
• Esther 4:15-17 - Esthers decision.

Timeless Outline –

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Esther 1-2

Scripture – Esther 1-2 

Observation – 

• Esther 1:1-9 - King Ahasuerus holds a great feast
• Esther 1:1-2 - King Ahasuerus and his domain
• Esther 1:3-9- Three royal feasts
• Esther 1:10-22 - Queen Vashti is depressed
• Esther 1:10-11 - King Ahasuerus demands that Vashti display her beauty before the guests 
• Esther 1:12 - Queen Vashti refuses
• Esther 1:13-22 - The banishment of Queen Vashti
• Esther 2:1-8 - The gathering together of a harem for King Ahasuerus.
• Esther 2:1-4 - A search is made
• Esther 2:5-7 - Esther and her family
• Esther 2:8 - Esther is taken into the king's harem
• Esther 2:9-18 - Esther in the courts of the King
• Esther 2:9 - Esther's favored treatment in the palace.
• Esther 2:10-11 - Esther conceals her Jewish identity
• Esther 2:12-14 - Esther and the other women are prepared
• Esther 2:15-18 - Esther is selected as queen
• Esther 2:19-23 - Mordecai saves the King's life
• Esther 2:19-20 - Mordecai raises in rank and Esther conceals her identity
• Esther 2:21-23 - Mordecai hears an assassination plot and reveals to the king.

Timeless Outline –

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Nehemiah 13

Scripture – Nehemiah 13

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 13:1-3 - True worship leads the nation to obedience
• Nehemiah 13:1-2 - Hearing the law leads to obedience
• Nehemiah 13:3 - Israel obeys and separates from the foreigners.
• Nehemiah 13:4-31 - Nehemiah's reforms
• Nehemiah 13:4-9 - Temple reforms
• Nehemiah 13:10-14 - Financial reforms
• Nehemiah 13:15-22 - Priority reforms
• Nehemiah 13:23-31a - Relationship reforms
• Nehemiah 13:31b - Nehemiah has a clear conscience.

Timeless Outline –

• Reforms that everyone should make
• v4-9 - 

Examples to follow – 

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Nehemiah 12

Scripture – Nehemiah 12  

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 12:1-26 - Priest and Levite families
• Nehemiah 12:1-11 - Priests in the days of Zerubbabel, the high priest.
• Nehemiah 12:12-21 - Priests in the days of Joiakim.
• Nehemiah 12:22-26 - Levites during the reign of Darius the Persian.
• Nehemiah 12:27-47 - The Dedication ceremony
• Nehemiah 12:27-29 - The gathering of the Levites
• Nehemiah 12:30 - The purification
• Nehemiah 12:31-43 - The singing of the choirs
• Nehemiah 12:44-47 - Other aspects of joy.

Timeless Outline –

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Nehemiah 10-11

Scripture – Nehemiah 10-11 

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 10:1-27 - Roster of those who signed the Covenant
• Nehemiah 10:1-8 - Nehemiah and the priests
• Nehemiah 10:9-13 - The Levites
• Nehemiah 10:14-27 - The civic leaders.
• Nehemiah 10:28-39 - The terms of the Covenant
• Nehemiah 10:28-29 - The making of the Covenant with God.
  
• Nehemiah 10:30 - Their first area of decision: we will be faithful to God when it comes to our romantic relationships.
• Nehemiah 10:31 - Second area of decision: we will be faithful to God when it comes to doing business.
• Nehemiah 10:32-39 - The third area of decision: we will be faithful to God when it comes to supporting God’s work.
• Nehemiah 11:1-2 - Recruiting citizens of Jerusalem.
• Nehemiah 11:1 - Those who will live in Jerusalem
• Nehemiah 11:2 - Blessing the citizens
• Nehemiah 11:3-36 - Roster of those living in Jerusalem and in Judea.
• Nehemiah 11:3-24 - Leaders who lived in Jerusalem
• Nehemiah 11:25-36 - Jewish villages and towns throughout Judea

Timeless Outline –

• Nehemiah 10:30-39 - 3 areas in life we can make a covenant with God
• v30 - Be faithful to God with our romantic life
• v31 - Be faithful to God with our business life
• v32-39 - Be faithful to God with church life.

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Nehemiah 9

Scripture – Nehemiah 9

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 9:1-3 - A repentant nation comes together
• Nehemiah 9:1 - An assembly to come in humility
• Nehemiah 9:2 - An assembly to separate themselves.
• Nehemiah 9:3- An assembly to worship and serve God
• Nehemiah 9:4-38 - The prayer of repentance.
• Nehemiah 9:4-5a - Those leading the congregation
• Nehemiah 9:5b-6 - Praise to God for creation
• Nehemiah 9:7-8 - Praise to the God who chose Abraham and made a covenant with him and his descendants.
• Nehemiah 9:9-15 - Praise to the God who delivered Israel from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness.
• Nehemiah 9:16-17a - The sinful response of man to God's goodness
• Nehemiah 9:17b-21 - God's gracious reply
• Nehemiah 9:22-31 - The cycle if Israel's relationship with God
• Nehemiah 9:32-37 - A plea to God for intervention
• Nehemiah 9:38 - Conclusion and agreement.

Timeless Outline –

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Nehemiah 7-8

Scripture – Nehemiah 7-8 

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 7:1-3 - Watchmen provided for the wall
• Nehemiah 7:1-2 - The appointment of Hanani and Hananiah.
• Nehemiah 7:3 - A watch set on the walls.
• Nehemiah 7:4-73 - The list of families
• Nehemiah 7:4-5 - The need to develop Jerusalem
• Nehemiah 7:6-73 - The citizens of Jerusalem who returned from the Babylonian captivity.
• Nehemiah 8:1-8 - Hearing God’s Word sparks revival.
• Nehemiah 8:1-3 - The people gather and ask Ezra to read God’s Word.
• Nehemiah 8:4-6 - How God's word was received
• Nehemiah 8:7-8 - God's word is presented so the people could understand
• Nehemiah 8:9-18 - Response to God’s Word prompts revival.
• Nehemiah 8:9-11 - The people respond with weeping
• Nehemiah 8:12 - The people rejoice
• Nehemiah 8:13 - The people gather for more
• Nehemiah 8:14-18 - The people keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Timeless Outline –

• Nehemiah 8:9-18 - How to respond to God's word
• v9-10 - Have a heartbrokenness at what God's word calls for
• v11-12 - Rejoice for God is merciful
• v13 - Gather for more of his word
• v14-18 - Live out what his word says.

Examples to follow – 

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Nehemiah 5-6

Scripture – Nehemiah 5-6

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 5:1-13 - Financial problems threaten the work
• Nehemiah 5:1 - A great outcry stops the work of the wall
• Nehemiah 5:2-5 - The reason for the outcry: Financial Problems.
• Nehemiah 5:6 - Nehemiah's anger
• Nehemiah 5:7-11 - Nehemiah confronts those who were wrong
• Nehemiah 5:12-13 - The response of the rulers and nobles who had done wrong.
• Nehemiah 5:14-19 - Nehemiah's Godly example
• Nehemiah 5:14-16 - Nehemiah did not tax the people
• Nehemiah 5:17-18 - Nehemiah's example of Generosity
• Nehemiah 5:19 - Nehemiah asks God to remember his good deeds
• Nehemiah 6:1-14 - Nehemiah is attacked in three phases.
• Nehemiah 6:1-4 - The snare of the enemies' friendship
• Nehemiah 6:5-9 - The subtleness of the enemies' slander
• Nehemiah 6:10-14 - The scandal of the enemies' religion
• Nehemiah 6:15-19 - Completion of the wall
• Nehemiah 6:15-16 - The wall is completed
• Nehemiah 6:17-19 - The works is finished despite enemies.

Timeless Outline –

• Nehemiah 6:1-14 - Different ways Enemies will try to attack you
• v1-4 - They will lie and try to ambush you
• v5-9 - They will intimidate you.
• v10-14 - They will try to cause you to sin and discredit you.

Examples to follow – 

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Nehemiah 3-4

Scripture – Nehemiah 3-4 

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 3:1-32 - The record of builders.
• Nehemiah 3:1-2 - The Sheep Gate
• Nehemiah 3:3-5 - The Fish gate
• Nehemiah 3:6-12 - The Old Gate
• Nehemiah 3:13 - The Valley Gate
• Nehemiah 3:14 - The Refuse Gate
• Nehemiah 3:15-25 - The Fountain Gate
• Nehemiah 3:26-27 - The Water Gate
• Nehemiah 3:28-30 - The Horse Gate
• Nehemiah 3:31-32 - The Miphkad Gate
• Nehemiah 4:1-6 - Sanballat and Tobiah ridicule the work of God.
• Nehemiah 4:1-3 - The attempt to discourage workers
• Nehemiah 4:4-5 - Nehemiah comes against the discouraging attack with prayer.
• Nehemiah 4:6 - The result: The work continues with greater strength.
• Nehemiah 4:7-9 - Sanballat and Tobiah plan an attack
• Nehemiah 4:7-8 - The plan to attack
• Nehemiah 4:9 - The attack is defended by prayer and watching.
• Nehemiah 4:10-23 - Challenges from the inside and the outside.
• Nehemiah 4:10 - Discouragement from the people
• Nehemiah 4:11 - Enemies plan a Suprise attack
• Nehemiah 4:12 - God allows the Jews to be warned
• Nehemiah 4:13-14 - Nehemiah organized the defense
• Nehemiah 4:15 - The enemies retreat
• Nehemiah 4:16-18 - The sword and trowel
• Nehemiah 4:19-23 - Plans are made

Timeless Outline –

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Nehemiah 1-2

Scripture – Nehemiah 1-2

Observation – 

• Nehemiah 1:1-4 - Nehemiah hears of Jerusalem’s crisis condition.
• Nehemiah 1:1-3 - Nehemiah hearts of the condition of Jerusalem
• Nehemiah 1:4 - Nehemiah's reaction
• Nehemiah 1:5-11 - Nehemiah's prayer
• Nehemiah 1:5-7 - Nehemiah prays to God in humility
• Nehemiah 1:8-10 - Nehemiah looks to God's promises
• Nehemiah 1:11 - Nehemiah prays with a heart ready to do something
• Nehemiah 2:1-8 - Nehemiah the cupbearer
• Nehemiah 2:1-2 - Nehemiah stands before the king
• Nehemiah 2:3 - Nehemiah's response
• Nehemiah 2:4-8 - Nehemiah's request
• Nehemiah 2:9-20 - Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem.
• Nehemiah 2:9-10 - Nehemiah's arrival and opposition
• Nehemiah 2:11-16 - Nehemiah makes a secret tour of Jerusalem and her walls.
• Nehemiah 2:17-18 - Nehemiah meets with the leaders of Jerusalem
• Nehemiah 2:19 - The opposition of the work of God
• Nehemiah 2:20 - Nehemiah's answer to the opponents

Timeless Outline –

• Nehemiah 1:5-11 - Steps to approaching God when you are in need
• v5-7 - Pray to God in humility
• v8-10 - Look to His promises in the word
• v11 - Be ready to do something and take action.

Examples to follow – Don't be discouraged if opposition is in your way. If God says he will do it, he will do it.

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Ezra 9-10

Scripture – Ezra 9-10

Observation – 

• Ezra 9:1-4 - A problem is exposed
• Ezra 9:1-2 - The leaders report to Ezra
• Ezra 9:3 - Ezra's astonishment 
• Ezra 9:4 - Ezra and others are grieved by the sin of Israel
• Ezra 9:5-15 - The prayer of Ezra
• Ezra 9:5-6 - Ezra's sense of shame
• Ezra 9:7-9 - Ezra remembers God’s past kindness to Israel in spite of their sins.
• Ezra 9:10-14 - Ezra fears that God’s people are testing His mercy.
• Ezra 9:15 - Ezra calls upon the mercy of God.
• Ezra 10:1-8 - The people decide to forsake their sin.
• Ezra 10:1 - The example of Ezra's confession
• Ezra 10:2-4 - Shechinah exhorts the people to action.
• Ezra 10:5-8 - Ezra issues a proclamation.
• Ezra 10:9-44 - The spirit of repentance at the assembly of the people.
• Ezra 10:9-11 - Ezra's appeal to the people
• Ezra 10:12-15 - The response of the assembly.
• Ezra 10:16-17 - Each case is examined individually over a 3-month period.
• Ezra 10:18-44 - The list of those found guilty.

Timeless Outline –

• Ezra 9:5-15 - Steps of confession to sin
• v5-6 - There should be a sense of shame
• v7-9 - Remember God's kindness to those who repent 
• v10-14 - Do not test God's mercy
• v15 - Call upon God's mercy. 

Examples to follow – 

Examples to not follow – Don't marry unbelievers. Don't date unbelievers.

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Ezra 7-8

Scripture – Ezra 7-8 

Observation – 

• Ezra 7:1-10 - An overview of Ezra's return
• Ezra 7:1-5 - The genealogy of Ezra
• Ezra 7:6 - Ezra, a skilled scribe
• Ezra 7:7-10 - Ezra's arrival and mission.
• Ezra 7:11-28 - The letter to Artaxerxes.
• Ezra 7:11-16 - The king provides helpers, a copy of the Law, and gifts for the temple to go with Ezra upon his return to Jerusalem.
• Ezra 7:17-22 - Providing for the temple and sacrificial expenses.
• Ezra 7:23 - The motive of Artaxerxes
• Ezra 7:24-26 - Ezra is given legal power to enforce God’s Law.
• Ezra 7:27-28 - Ezra gives thanks
• Ezra 8:1-20 - The people who came with Ezra
• Ezra 8:1-14 - A list of the families
• Ezra 8:15 - The lack of Levites
• Ezra 8:16-20 - Ezra addresses the problem of a lack of Levites.
• Ezra 8:21-32 - The journey
• Ezra 8:21-23 - A prayer of protection
• Ezra 8:24-30 - Distribution of articles to be offered among the tribal representatives.
• Ezra 8:31-32 - Summary of their departure, and arrival in Jerusalem.
• Ezra 8:33-36 - The arrival.
• Ezra 8:33-34 - Precious articles 
• Ezra 8:35 - Sacrificial offerings
• Ezra 8:36 - The king's orders

Timeless Outline –

Examples to follow – Pray before a journey. When godly men are scarce, ask God to provide them. Be one of those Godly men.

Examples to not follow –

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Prayer – 

Ezra 5-6

Scripture – Ezra 5-6 

Observation – 

• Ezra 5:1-5 - God helps His people
• Ezra 5:1-2 - God sends prophets to help get the work started again
• Ezra 5:3-5 - God helps by protecting the work and allowing it to continue.
• Ezra 5:6-17 - The letter to King Darius
• Ezra 5:6 - The address of the letter
• Ezra 5:7-17 - The message of the letter.
• Ezra 6:1-12 - Darius finds Cyrus' Decree
• Ezra 6:1-2 - A search for the decree
• Ezra 6:3-5 - The text is found
• Ezra 6:6-12 - The reply of Darius.
• Ezra 6:13-22 - The temple is finished and dedicated
• Ezra 6:13-15 - The temple is finished
• Ezra 6:16-18 - The dedication ceremony of the second temple.
• Ezra 6:19-22 - The first Passover celebrated in the second temple.

Timeless Outline –

Examples to follow – God is watching over you and will make a way.

Examples to not follow – 

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Application – 

Prayer –