Haggai 2 - Praying God's Word

Please read Haggai 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/hag/2/1/s_911001

Meditate on verses 4 and 5b.

“But now take courage, Zerubbabel,” declares the LORD,

 “take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest,

and all you people of the land take courage,” declares the LORD,

 “and work; for I am with you,” declares the LORD of hosts.

“My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!”

Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, Joshua, the high priest, and the people helping rebuild the LORD’s house needed an encouraging word from the LORD because there were people in the land discouraging and frightening them from building (Ezra 4:4-5). The LORD sent His prophet Haggai to tell the people to take courage; take courage; take courage and get to work because God was with them. His Spirit abided in their midst; they were not to fear! The message concluded with a prophecy; the LORD of hosts will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, the land, and all the nations, and the LORD will fill His house with His glory (vs. 4-7).

What a timely message for Christians, today! The LORD wants you to take courage; take courage and get to work because He is with you. His Spirit abides in you, and you are not to be afraid because as His church, you are His house (Hebrews 3:6), and the LORD is going to shake all created things and fill His house with His glory. Despite what is happening in the world around you, take courage and be encouraged by God’s Word.

Pray Haggai 2:4-5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD of hosts, help ________ and me to

take courage, take courage and do Your work because You are with us.

Thank You that Your Spirit is abiding in our midst.

Help us not to fear!

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Haggai 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read Haggai 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/hag/1/1/s_910001

Meditate on verses 5 and 7.

Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!”

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!”

Haggai was one of the prophets God sent to rally the Jews to finish rebuilding His temple in spite of executive orders, threats, and negativity from others (Ezra 5:1-2). The book of Haggai records the sermon he preached.

Twice the LORD commanded the people to consider their ways. God wanted them to think about what they were doing and how He was responding to their choices. The LORD was not pleased the people neglected rebuilding His temple, and He was punishing them for disobeying Him (vs. 5-11).

God wants you to consider your ways. Think about what you are doing. Do you obey the LORD and His Word? Are you pleasing Him, or are you more concerned about pleasing the world? Is the LORD punishing you for disobedience?

Consider your ways! And pray Haggai 1:12-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, may _________ and I

obey Your voice and Your Words.

May we show reverence for You.

LORD, thank You that You are with us.

Stir up our spirits to work on Your house,

LORD of hosts, our God, Jesus Christ~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezra 10 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezra 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ezr/10/1/s_413001

Meditate on verse 4.

Arise!  For this matter is your responsibility,

 but we will be with you; be courageous and act.

The returning exiles committed the heinous sin of marrying pagan women who occupied Israeli land. The command to divorce these foreigners appears contrary to God’s Word; however, it is important to know the rest of the story. Malachi 2:10-16 gives the additional insight that these Jewish men divorced their Jewish wives in order to marry the daughters of foreign gods. God described such actions as “profaning the covenant” and “committing abominations” (Malachi 2:10-11). The people had to separate themselves “from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives” in order to do God’s will (v. 11).

The main point of Ezra 10 is that true confession of sin results in action taken to stop sinning and to start obeying the LORD. Repentance requires a change in behavior.

How would God describe your times of confession? Does unfaithfulness grieve you? Do you have the courage to take action and live faithfully according the Word of God? Satan wants you to marry yourself to sin and the ways of this world. What does God want you to separate from in order to be wholly His and holy to Him?

Pray Ezra 10:4, 6, and 11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, this matter is _________ and my responsibility.

Help us to be courageous and act.

May we mourn over unfaithfulness.

We make confession to You, LORD God. 

Help us to do Your will and separate ourselves

 from the foreign things in our land that are contrary to Your will.

For Your name’s sake, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezra 9 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezra 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ezr/9/1/s_412001

Meditate on verse 8.

But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God,

 to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place,

that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.

God extended mercy to the exiled Israelites, allowing them to leave Babylon and return to their homeland. Many of them showed their gratitude by being unfaithful to the LORD and engaging in the abominations of the pagans in the land. Ezra was appalled by their behavior! He sat in shock and disgust until evening, then he fell to his knees and poured out his heart to the LORD.

You live in a world of shocking and disgusting news. It fills your news apps and your social media. You get it in your texts and phone calls from family and friends. What is your first course of action when you hear appalling news? Learn from Ezra, a man of God, who loved the LORD and His Word. Fall on your knees and confess everything to God, asking Him to intervene. Ezra’s prayer is recorded in verses 6-15. Use his words to start your conversation with God.

Pray Ezra 9:4-5 and 8-9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I tremble at Your Words

on account of the unfaithfulness of our nation. 

We fall on our knees and stretch out our hands to You, LORD our God.

 For a brief moment, let Your grace be shown,

and give us a peg in Your holy place.

 Enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.

 Extend lovingkindness to us and give us reviving

to raise up Your house, God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezra 8 - Praying God' Word

Please read Ezra 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ezr/8/1/s_411001

Meditate on verse 31b.

The hand of our God was over us,

and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy

 and the ambushes by the way.

Ezra led a group of Israelite exiles out of Babylon and back to Jerusalem. As they journeyed, Ezra discovered there were no ministers and teachers among the group to serve in the temple and to instruct the people in the things of the LORD. Thankfully the good hand of God was upon them, and He brought men of insight to minister to the people.

Before they journeyed another step, Ezra proclaimed a fast, so the people could humble themselves before God and ask Him for a safe journey. The LORD heard their prayers and put His hand over them, delivering them safely to Jerusalem.

This is another treasure chapter for prayerful watchmen. It continues the theme of God’s hand being upon those who seek Him. It affirms that God really does hear and answer prayers, and one should not take a step without seeking the LORD’s guidance and protection.

With these truths in mind, pray Ezra 8:18, 21-23, 28, and 31 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, according to Your good hand being upon us,

make _________ and me people of insight. 

We humbly come before You, God, to seek safety from You.

 As we seek You, let Your hand be favorably disposed to us.

 As we fast and seek You, please listen to our entreaties. 

Keep Your hand over us, and deliver us from the hand of the enemy

and any ambushes along the way.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezra 7 - Praying God's Word

`Please read Ezra 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ezr/7/1/s_410001

Meditate on verses 9b – 10.

The good hand of his God was upon him.

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it,

 and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Approximately 60 years passed between chapters six and seven of Ezra, and for the first time, Ezra’s name is mentioned. Observe him carefully, for he is a man to be emulated. Ezra was a priest and a scribe skilled in God’s Word, with the good hand of his God upon him (vs. 6, 9-12). Hand is a repeated word in this chapter. Three times, Ezra is described as having the hand of God on him, and twice he is described as having God’s Word in his hand (vs. 6, 9, 14, 25, 28). It is no coincidence that the hand of God touches this man of God, who holds onto His Word.

The last of the seven executive orders in the book of Ezra was decreed in this chapter, giving Ezra, the priest, permission to do everything according to the will of God, even allowing him to teach anyone who was ignorant of the laws of God (vs. 18, 25). Boldly ask the LORD to move the leadership of your country to grant the same favor to Christians (vs. 11-26).

This chapter is a treasure chest of verses to pray.  Here is a prayer to get you started using Ezra 7:6, 9-11, and 28.

“LORD, may _______ and I be skilled in the Word You have given.

Let Your good hand be upon us. 

Let us set our hearts to study Your Law and to practice it,

and to teach Your statutes and ordinances. 

Make us learned in the Words of Your commandments and statutes.

Strengthen us according to Your hand being upon us.

In Your name, LORD our God, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Ezra 6 - Praying God's Word

Please read Ezra 6.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ezr/6/1/s_409001

Meditate on verse 7.

Leave this work on the house of God alone;

 let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews

rebuild this house of God on its site.

King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2-4). King Artaxerxes issued a decree to stop rebuilding the temple (Ezra 4:21- 24). King Darius issued a decree for a search to be made for King Cyrus’ decree (v. 1). After finding it, Darius issued another decree for the builders of the temple to be left alone (vs. 6-10). King Darius then issued a third decree that any man hindering work on the temple, thus violating Darius’ second decree, be impaled on a timber taken from his own house, and his house “made a refuse heap” (v. 11).

Darius’ decrees changed Tattenai, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues from tattle-telling bullies into submissive pawns in the hand of Almighty God (Ezra 5:3, 6-17; 6:13). The Jewish people finished rebuilding the temple according to God’s command (v. 14).

Are you and your nation under executive decrees that hurt Christ’s church? Appeal to the King of kings and LORD of lords, Jesus Christ, who is in charge of kings and kingdoms. His enduring Kingdom will crush and put an end to all other kingdoms (Daniel 2:44).

Use the words from Ezra 6:7, 12, and 22 to appeal to the LORD of lords, as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).   

“LORD, issue the decree for work in Your church to be left alone.

God, You cause Your name to dwell in Your church.

Overthrow any king or people who attempts to destroy Your church.

LORD, cause us to rejoice.  Turn the hearts of leaders toward Christians

to encourage us in the work of Your house, God.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 2 ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell