Nehemiah, the Leader

Nehemiah is recognized by most commentators as an example of extraordinary leadership. And the biblical book that bears his name is often mined for principles of leadership. And it might be tempting to suppose that Nehemiah was blessed with unique circumstances that made it easy to lead — he held a high and privileged position […]

Seeking happiness through sorrow

John Piper frequently quotes the French philosopher Pascal, who wrote in Pensees, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. the cause of some going to war and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attending with different views. The will […]

Reading Nehemiah

Nehemiah is closely related to the book of Ezra. In fact, the Hebrew Bible has them as one single book. Nehemiah follows the story of Ezra by nearly 100 years. When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the third wave of the return from exile in 445 B.C., the initial returnees had been in the land […]