The first return is a trip into the fog. They do not know exactly what will greet them. They do not fully know the condition of the land. The journey of hundreds of miles will take them weeks to complete. Yet they go because they have a higher purpose in mind. They go to rebuild God’s holy temple and to reestablish the true worship of God in God’s chosen city of Jerusalem. They go also to replant the land given to their father Abraham.
The Jews had been taken captive because of their disobedience. Here, they return to the Promised Land and begin to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. They begin with the Temple—the place of worship. Later, Ezra restores spiritual purity to their obedience. Finally, Nehemiah rebuilds the walls for protection.
This chapter is one of the greatest chapters on Christ in the Bible. Of this chapter, the Baptist preacher J. Frank Norris said: “The greatest chapter, the highest mountain peak of the whole Bible. This chapter should be memorized by all.”
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It contains 176 verses. The central theme of this psalm is the word of God. At least 173 of the 176 verses mention the Bible by some title or another.
2 Samuel 17:14 stated that the Lord intended to bring evil upon Absalom and it comes to pass in this chapter. The proud one is caught by his head in an oak tree and is killed by Joab’s young armor bearers.
