Study Desk

So the Lord was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of fear and wonder and shame, as you see with your own eyes.

See, our fathers have fallen by the sword. And our sons, our daughters and our wives have been taken away to a strange land because of this.

And we have made all the objects holy which King Ahaz had thrown away during his rule when he was not faithful. See, they are before the altar of the Lord."

Do not be like your fathers and your brothers. They were not faithful to the Lord God of their fathers, so He gave them a reason to fear, as you see.

In those days Hezekiah became very sick. He prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him something special to see.

what I say. See, I am bringing much trouble to this place and to its people. I am allowing all the curses to come which are written in the book they have read in front of the king of Judah.

‘Your eyes will not see all the much trouble that I will bring on this place and its people. It will come after you die. You will be taken to your grave in peace.'"'" The men brought back this word to the king.

We are under the care of the king, and it is not right for us to see the king not being honored. So we have sent to let the king know.

So now, if it pleases the king, have men look through the books kept there in Babylon to see if King Cyrus had told them to build again this house of God at Jerusalem. Let the king send us word on what is decided about this."

For you are sent by the king and his seven men of wisdom to see if the Law of your God which is in your hand is being obeyed in Judah and Jerusalem.

O Lord God of Israel, You are right and good. For some of us have been left alive to return, as it is this day. See, we are guilty before You. No one can stand before You because of this."

Then I said to them, "You see the problem we have. Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are destroyed by fire. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem again, that we may no longer be put to shame."

Those who hated us said, "They will not know it or see us until we are among them, kill them, and stop the work."

Then You made special things to see and did powerful works against Pharaoh, against all his servants and all the people of his land. For You knew that they were proud and made it hard for our fathers. And You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day.

See, we are servants today. We are servants in the land You gave to our fathers. You gave it to them so they could eat the fruit and have other good things.

They spoke to him each day, but he would not listen to them. So they told Haman to see if Mordecai's reason was good enough. For he had told them that he was a Jew.

Yet all of this is not enough to please me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

The king's servants said to him, "See, Haman is standing in the garden." And the king said, "Let him come in."

Then Harbonah, one of the king's servants helping the king, said, "See, there is a tower made for hanging people at Haman's house, thirteen times taller than a man. Haman had it made for hanging Mordecai who spoke good and helped the king!" And the king said, "Hang Haman on it."

For how can I stand to see all the trouble that will come to my people? How can I keep on if I see them destroyed?"