Notice the key role of prayer in Nehemiah’s life, and evaluate its importance in your own life today.

Song of Songs demonstrates that contentment and fulfillment are found in the exclusivity (2:16) of the marriage relationship.

22The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.x

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character 102A wife of noble characterk who can find?l She is worth far more than rubies. 11Her husbandm has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.n 12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.o 14She is like the merchant ships, bringing he

9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.i

Note the writer’s statements about Jewish customs and the explanation that Jesus brought a new covenant (of grace through faith) that is infinitely better than the old one (of obedience to the law). Pay attention to the repeated use of the words “better” and “superior.”

Love is both pleasurable and painful. Joy is the dominant note of the Song, but the reader also is warned that love is a powerful emotion that may bring disappointments (5:2–6:3). The Song’s young woman repeatedly warned her female friends not to hurry love (2:7; 3:5; 8:4). Love has a dangerous side (8:6), and it deserves to be treated with caution

13Whoever conceals their sinsm does not prosper, but the one who confessesn and renounces them finds mercy.o

Themes The book of Ezra includes the following themes: 1. God’s sovereignty. God is sovereign over all peoples and rulers, even pagan kings (1:1; 6:22; 7:6,27). He controls history and orchestrates events for his own purposes. Despite opposition, God will fulfill his promises and protect his people. 2. Restoration. Ezra describes not only the resto