God loves to use the everyday work of humans to complete His own incredible work. In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, this included singers, builders, and even something called a dung gate. How is He wanting to partner with your everyday work?

Temple, Laws, Walls, and... hair pulling?!?

The story of God's people returning from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem didn't go exactly as planned. What happens when there is a zeal for God without the wisdom and love of God?

The words of Jeremiah were given by God to prepare His people for exile. You're about to be taken into captivity, forced to live in a foreign land, ruled by an oppressive nation. What should you do? How should you live? God's words delivered through Jeremiah were shocking. Make it a home. Plant and tend to gardens. Enter into relationships and build families. In essence, continue the call given to humanity at the very beginning... whether you're in a garden of paradise or exiled in Babylon.

Have you ever been so happy you couldn’t help but to sing?

Sing! Rejoice! Because even though this world is broken, life is hard, and you have rebelled, God will come and sing over you with rejoicing — if you have humbled yourself and recognize your need for Him. He will rescue you like a mighty warrior. How amazing is it that God sings over His people?

God’s people were worshipping the gods of other nations along with the God of Israel. As Elijah said, they were hobbling between two crutches. God uses Elijah, his prophet, to show who the true God is during an epic showdown between Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal. It would seem Elijah would be outmatched, but really it was a battle between God and Baal - and Baal would prove to be no match at all for the true God.

God's people wanted a king, just like the other nations had. They wanted one who would represent them well. One who was tall, handsome, strong - a natural leader.

But God was their true King, and if He was going to give them a human representative it would be one who represented what He is like - not what the other nations were like. This is the context where we find the power struggle between Saul and David.

Israel had been rescued by God and finally entered into the promised land of rest. But it didn’t take long for them to rebel against Him and worship other gods. So, God would hand them over to their rebellion and let the gods they worshipped and the nations they longed for take them over. They would cry out for rescue so God would send someone as a judge over sin and the other nations. The people would rejoice, but again, it didn’t take long to repeat their rebellion.

They found themselves in an exhausting cycle: rescue, rest, rebellion, reaping the consequences, rescue… repeat. Who could come and break the cycle?

God’s people had been freed from slavery but had been wandering around the wilderness now for decades. To make matters worse, their leader Moses had passed away. Would this new leader, Joshua, be able to cut it? Would the people finally enter into the land promised to them long ago? Would they finally learn that it was not Moses or Joshua who would rescue them, but Yahweh himself who is their salvation?

Once God set His people free from slavery to Egypt, He showed His power to them and gave them a new way to live. In His ways. As His representatives.

These commandments were not just rules to follow. They were a liberating new way of life that would display God’s glory and goodness to the rest of the nations.

God has gone head to head with Pharaoh, perhaps the most powerful man in the world. Pharaoh brought all of his gods to the battle as well. God, the Lord of Israel, the Creator of all the universe, has been victorious every step of the way. Nine times, he defeats the gods of Egypt. Then He had one last blow to deal. Yet, even in the brutal discipline and judgment of God, He provides a way out. He gives an opportunity for not just Israel, but all who would trust in Him, to have death pass over them and lead them on to life.