NEHEMIAH DISCOVERED what God already knew — His people were a stubborn lot.

After returning from a visit to the Persian king Artaxerxes to report on the work that had been done in Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered that the reforms he and Ezra the priest had instituted, a return to the Law given to Moses, had already been forgotten. Jerusalem was open for business on the Sabbath, with people buying, selling, and working through their day of rest.

Worse, Tobiah the Ammonite had exploited a family connection to the priest in charge of the temple storerooms to get a chamber for his own use in the Temple—a room that had previously been used to store temple vessels, frankincense, and tithes of grain, wine, and oil.

We discuss Nehemiah’s response to this, move on to a passionate Psalm about the return to Zion, and then begin our study of the final book of the Bible, Malachi, which may include a veiled prophecy of Islam.

Josh and Christina Peck need your help. Pray for their son, Nathan, who was recently diagnosed with T-cell leukemia. The whole family is with Nathan while he’s being treated. If you are led to help financially, you can do so at www.JoshPeckDisclosure.com/donate.

Update: The 2019 SkyWatchTV Wars of the Gods Tour of Israel has added a special visit to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered, where Jim Barfield of the Copper Scroll Project will show us some of the sites where he believes some of the most important religious artifacts in history may be buried.

The tour flies from New York City to Tel Aviv Sunday, May 12, 2019, and returns Thursday, May 23. If you want to extend your trip a few days to join us in Jordan, you’d return Monday, May 27, 2019. For more information, log on to www.LipkinTours.com. But don’t wait!

Hey, we can send these studies directly to your phone, tablet, or iPod! Download our free mobile app for iOS and Android. Links to the iTunes App Store and Google Play are on the main page at www.GilbertHouse.org.

Sharon’s new novel Realms of Fire is available for Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader! The print edition should be available this week. For more information, see Sharon’s website, www.sharonkgilbert.com, or www.TheRedwingSaga.com.

Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, and click here for the Old Testament studies to date. Or go to www.spreaker.com/show/gilbert-house-fellowship for all of the audio.