May 24, 2023

Here is the Stand on the Word reading for today:

Zechariah 8; Ezra 5 ESV | NKJV | AUDIO

Reflection Questions:

1) In the future, what will people from various nations ask of the Jews (see Zech. 8:20-23)?

2) With the work on the Temple stopped by royal Persian decree, Zerubbabel (aka Sheshbazzar) and Joshua the High Priest, encouraged by both prophets Haggai and Zechariah, decided to restart the work, but were confronted by Persian officials who questioned them. What was the reply of the Jewish leaders in Ezra 5:11-17?

1. We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth
2. We are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished
3. It was destroyed because our fathers had angered the God of heaven
4. However, King Cyrus authorized the Temple to be rebuilt, so search the archives for the decree
5. All of the above