Author Archives: Joseph Malekani

Nehemiah 6 Commentary Sanballat. Again. Some enemies never just give up. It’s another day, and yet again another battle with its own shape and color! Sanballat has a couple of gears in his opposition. How you wish saints had the same tenacity in their pursuit of righteousness!First, scorn and discouragement. Second, threats to physically harmContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 6 Commentary”

Nehemiah 5 Commentary 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year, across the world, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. That’s one-third of all food produced for human consumption. No one would go hungry in the world! Nehemiah’s daily food allocation as the governor of Judah wasn’t going to be wasted. HeContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 5 Commentary”

Nehemiah 4 Commentary Two themes run through this chapter: the opposition mounted by Sanballat and Nehemiah’s reaction to the opposition. The enemy is never tactless. First, we have a vicious verbal attack packaged in ridicule and discouragement. Sanballat diminishes the work and scorns Israel’s effort. BUT, who has despised days of small beginnings? The wordsContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 4 Commentary”

Nehemiah 3 Commentary The primary purpose of the scriptures is to reveal the LORD Jesus Christ to mortal man. But the saint can find a lot of other guidelines for daily living. Chapter 3 is yet another chapter full of leadership and management lessons. It is a real beauty! Of course, to the careless reader,ContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 3 Commentary”

Nehemiah 2 Commentary Many have commented on Nehemiah’s methodical approach to crises. Since every adult saint is likely to face a crisis at some point in their lives, it makes sense to have a quick review of Nehemiah’s formula.We are always receiving the news. At times, this news is very bad news. A man canContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 2 Commentary”

Nehemiah 1 Commentary Susa: Nehemiah is an important official at the imperial complex. He is the cupbearer to the king.Jerusalem: The remnants are in bad shape. Conditions are appalling. The walls of Jerusalem, together with the gates, are in disrepair.Susa: Hanani arrives at the imperial palace complex. He is the guest of Nehemiah. But heContinueContinue reading “Nehemiah 1 Commentary”

Ezra 10 Commentary No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29. NLT.ContinueContinue reading “Ezra 10 Commentary”

Ezra 9 Commentary There is more at play when the saint decides to marry the Canaanite. One must first delete the dividing lines. One must first conclude that there is no difference between me and the potential Canaanite spouse. Israel is exactly in this position once again. God’s people have not kept themselves separate fromContinueContinue reading “Ezra 9 Commentary”

Ezra 8 Commentary The Bible has an obsession with lists and genealogies. It’s for good reasons! The people in exile needed to remain separate. Blood relations provided physical barriers between the community of God’s people and others.We can see Ezra singling out Levites for selection to serve at the temple of the LORD. It wasContinueContinue reading “Ezra 8 Commentary”

Ezra 7 Commentary “Third Kings” won’t be a bad title for the Book of Ezra. This book is as much about the goodwill of foreign kings as it is about the heroism of Israel’s nation-builders. While many kings of Israel promoted evil and persecuted the servants of the LORD, here we see the LORD atContinueContinue reading “Ezra 7 Commentary”