Corrections from last Sunday's message on Josiah:

1. Josiah's lived 2600 years ago, not 3400 (600 + 2000 = 2600).

2. Josiah becomes king at age 8, he begins to seek the LORD at age 16 (8th year of his reign), and begins to rid the land of idolatry at age 20 (12th year of his reign).

What's a "Temple"?

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The 3 Old Testament Temples

1. "Solomon's" Temple: 960 - 586 BC (destroyed by Babylon)

2. "Zerubbabel's" Temple: 537 - 20 BC (replaced by Herod's temple)

3. "Herod's" Temple: 20 BC - 70 AD (destroyed by Romans)

Timeline

1. 537 BC - Zerubbabel leads the exiles back to build the temple.

   But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.
   Ezra 3:12

2. 458 BC - Ezra begins to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people.

3. 445 BC - Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem to rebuild the city.

Unlikely Hero: Nehemiah

1. His family was taken away into captivity in 586 BC.

2. Ascends all to position of cupbearer in the court of the King of Persia.
   (Artaxerxes I)

3. Nehemiah's world became bigger than himself: his comfortable living in the king's court was shattered by his brother.

   Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
   Nehemiah 1:24

4. The same talents that attracted the attention of Artaxerxes qualified Nehemiah for the massive building project in Jerusalem.

Where might God be calling you to become part of a story that is bigger than yourself?