Esther 4:1-6:14; Esther takes a risk to gain an audience with the king; God ‘s work behind the scenes

Esther 1:1-3:15; the Megillah; picture of the Jews during the Babylonian captivity; distinguishing between personal affairs and affairs of state

Ezra 6:1-22; verifying Cyrus decree Darius validates and ensures its fulfillment; Temple restoration finished in 515BC; sacrifices restored at dedication ceremony

Ezra 4:1-5:17; the Samarians disrupt the rebuilding of the Temple; a parenthesis in the narrative; Hag 1−2; Jews encouraged by the Word of God from Haggai

Deut 17:14-20; majority of the Framers of the Constitution had a biblical worldview cont.; US Constitution, the fruit of the Framers’ biblical worldview.

1 Sam 8:1-22; majority of the Framers of the Constitution had a biblical worldview.

Ezra 2:1-3:13; lists of personal names and families of Jewish captives returning to Jerusalem from Babylon indicates their importance to God; every person is significant to God and each of us have a place in human history; Jews restore the ceremonial feasts in Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple

Ezra 1: 1-11; Introduction to Ezra; Cyrus consolidates his reign and returns captive Jews to Jerusalem with the articles of gold and silver taken from the Temple to rebuild the Temple ; the remnant of Israel preserved by God returns to Jerusalem with a hope given by God to help them rebuild the nation

Communion Service; founders based the Declaration of Independence on biblical principles and God who executes righteousness and justice.

Ps 103:1-22; Declaration of Independence; inalienable rights from God