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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

February 18, 2026January 19, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 10:1-29

The people who sealed the agreement with God are listed. The rest of the people then join their fellow Israelites in the agreement, too, promising to obey all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

9a) They signed to establish personal accountability and lead by example. By physically sealing the document, they transformed temporary emotion into binding commitment. This public act of ownership was crucial for unifying the nation, encouraging the rest of the community to join the oath and take their obedience seriously.

b) I verbally affirm it in prayer and to others.

10) They would be cursed (judgment and God turning His back on them). The Israelites need the Lord in order to survive and thrive in life. They needed to be His.

11) Instead of signing a physical scroll, believers today are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13), marking them as God’s eternal property and guaranteeing their inheritance. Their names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 21:27), ensuring citizenship in heaven is based on Christ’s work, not human willpower.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day43: Nehemiah 10:1-29

I love when names are recorded. It emphasizes their importance and how God cares for all of us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 4: Nehemiah 10:1-29

The people enter into a covenant with God and seal the document.

There were 84 leaders who signed here.

The people would be cursed if they did not obey.

Since this was public, it held them accountable.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

After the confession of Chapter 9, the people moved from talk to action by creating a sealed document.

The Leaders Go First (vv. 1–27): Nehemiah (the governor) and Zedekiah led the way, followed by 21 priests, 17 Levites, and 44 chiefs of the people. This list of names signifies that leadership requires visibility. They did not ask the people to sign something they weren’t willing to put their own seal on first.
Corporate Unity (v. 28): The movement wasn’t limited to the elite. The “rest of the people”—priests, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and their families (wives and children who could understand)—joined in. It was a total community commitment.
The Serious Oath (v. 29): This was not a casual agreement. They entered into a “curse and an oath” to walk in God’s Law. This legal language meant they were inviting God’s judgment upon themselves if they broke the promise. They fully accepted that obedience was the only path to survival.

Conclusion

This section demonstrates that revival must be ratified. Spiritual emotion fades, but a covenant stands. By recording their names, these leaders and families took personal ownership of their spiritual walk, transitioning from a “crowd” of listeners to a “community” of covenanted believers.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 3: Nehemiah 9:22-38

February 17, 2026January 19, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 9:22-38

The priests are still recounting the goodness of God here, saying how God gave His people kingdoms and nations, blessed them with children, and gave them the Promised Land. God allowed them to conquer the people there and gave them abundance.

Then the people were disobedient and rebelled. They turned their backs on God, so He gave them into the hands of their enemies. God rescued them. This cycle of sin, repentance, and restoration happened again and again.

They prayed for God to help them once again despite their rebellion.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 3: Nehemiah 9:22-38

6a) God lavished them with kingdoms, rich land, and constant deliverance. In contrast, the people responded with “great blasphemies.” They grew fat on His blessings but cast His law behind their backs and killed His prophets, meeting His relentless mercy with stubborn, repeated rebellion.

b) God’s faithfulness. His promises to His people. God demonstrates relentless mercy, patient endurance, and generous provision. He remains faithful to His covenant and compassionate to their cries, even amidst their repeated rebellion.

7a) They lamented the tragic irony of being slaves in their own Promised Land. Instead of enjoying God’s bounty, their harvest enriched foreign kings. They realized they had lost their freedom and ownership of their labor because of their sin, acknowledging their suffering was a just result of their rebellion.

b) Today, many experience spiritual slavery amidst abundance—captive to sin, addiction, and materialism—working tirelessly for “masters” that do not satisfy, having lost true freedom.

8 ) It means a great deal because it shows that no matter what I may do, God will offer me His grace and His forgiveness. It means God’s love is unconditional and not performance-based. His commitment to save is rooted in His character, not human merit. Consequently, no amount of sin can exhaust His mercy; even when people are faithless, He remains faithful, ensuring His redemptive purpose ultimately triumphs over our failure.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 3: Nehemiah 9:22-38

Such is the story of the Bible: sin, grace, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. Due to man’s fallen nature, this is inevitable, but God loves us anyway!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 3: Nehemiah 9:22-38

God shows His kindness, the people turn from Him when they are comfortable, God issues a correction, the people turn back to God, and this repeats.

God never turns away from us, no matter how many times we ask for forgiveness. He never changes.

Writing it down commits oneself to God.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

The prayer moves from the wilderness into the Promised Land, tracing the tragic cycle of Israel’s history.

Abundance and Apostasy (vv. 22–26): God gave them kingdoms, vineyards, and rich land. They “ate and were satisfied and became fat,” delighting in God’s goodness. However, comfort bred complacency. They “cast your law behind their back” and killed the prophets who tried to turn them back.
The Cycle of Discipline (vv. 27–31): The pattern repeated for centuries:
1. Sin: The people rebelled.
2. Oppression: God handed them over to enemies.
3. Cry for Help: They suffered and begged for help.
4. Rescue: God sent deliverers (judges) to save them.
- Key Insight: Even when they returned to evil immediately after being rescued, God did not destroy them because of His “great mercies.”
Present Distress (vv. 32–37): The prayer lands in the present. They acknowledge that God has been just, but they have been wicked. Consequently, they are now “slaves” in the very land God gave them, with their abundant harvest going to foreign kings (Persia).
The Commitment (v. 38): “Because of all this,” they didn’t just pray; they made a firm covenant in writing to bind themselves back to God.

Conclusion

This passage warns that prosperity is often spiritually more dangerous than poverty. When the people “grew fat,” they forgot the Giver. The prayer demonstrates that true confession accepts responsibility: it acknowledges that current suffering is the fruit of past disobedience, and the only path forward is a documented, binding recommitment to God.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 2: Nehemiah 9:1-21

February 16, 2026January 19, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 9:1-21

The Israelites gathered together and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They read from the Book of the Law, confessed, and worshiped. The people recited God’s deeds, praising Him for bringing them out of Ur, raising up Abraham, bringing them out of Egypt, giving them the Law, feeding them, and not abandoning them in the desert when they disobeyed.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 2: Nehemiah 9:1-21

3a) Sackcloth and ashes outwardly demonstrated their internal brokenness and humility before God. Separating from foreigners was essential to cut ties with idolatry and compromise. Together, these actions proved their repentance was genuine—they were not just sorry for the consequences, but were actively purging sin to restore their covenant relationship.

b) Materialism and vindictiveness

4a) The people recited God’s deeds, praising Him for bringing them out of Ur, raising up Abraham, bringing them out of Egypt, giving them the Law, feeding them, and not abandoning them in the desert when they disobeyed.

b) To learn from the past and not repeat it. And, to remember what God has done for His people, so we have faith, hope, and encouragement that He will do it again. Romans tells us: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

5a) Lots. Selfishness. Disobedience. Mean-spirited. Anger. Revengeful. Unforgiveness. Etc.

b) By humbly confessing specific sins, trusting in God’s merciful character through Christ, and turning away from evil to walk in His new life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 2: Nehemiah 9:1-21

I love it when the people remember what God has done. We need to remember what God has done in our lives so that we have faith that He will continue to be there for us no matter what.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 26, Day 2: Nehemiah 9:1-21

After the work had been done and the Holy Spirit had done its work, it was time for repentance.

Fasting, wearing sackcloth, and covering their heads in dust is a sign of humility. It showed that the Israelites were so troubled by their sin that they couldn’t eat.

All sin is of equal weight. Sin is when we miss God’s mark by disobeying what is in His Word.

Once we repent, we aim to do better.

Fun Fact: This is the longest prayer in the Bible, and it only takes 6 1/2 minutes to recite.

What God has made (the world) gives us reason to praise Him.

God does not forsake His people even when they forsake Him. His patience is infinite.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

After the joyful Feast of Booths, the people transitioned to solemn fasting and sackcloth. The Levites led a prayer recounting their history, contrasting God’s sovereignty with human rebellion.

Creation & Covenant (vv. 5–8): The prayer anchors the people in the fact that God is the sole Creator (“You are the LORD, you alone”) and recalls the election of Abraham. It affirms that God kept His promise to give the land because He is righteous.
Deliverance & Guidance (vv. 9–15): It recounts the Exodus miracles—the Red Sea, the pillar of fire, and the giving of the Law at Sinai. It highlights God’s supernatural provision of bread (manna) and water.
Rebellion met with Mercy (vv. 16–21): Despite these miracles, the ancestors became arrogant and even made a golden calf. Yet, God was “ready to forgive, gracious and merciful” (v. 17). He did not abandon them in the wilderness but continued to instruct, lead, and feed them for forty years so that they “lacked nothing.”

Conclusion

This section teaches that God’s faithfulness is not held hostage by human failure. The Israelites repeatedly responded to grace with rebellion (arrogance, idolatry), yet God repeatedly responded to rebellion with mercy. The people’s confidence to confess their sins came from knowing God’s character, not their own track record.

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Friday’s Digest BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25

February 13, 2026January 7, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF EXILE & RETURN: A TIME TO BUILD LESSON 25

We must remain committed to the work God has ordained us to do
Trusting God requires discernment and wise decisions
God puts things on our hearts
God’s word is important to our spiritual life
Only God can satisfy our hearts
Our daily lives should fulfill the purpose for which God created us
God is faithful even when we are not

TAKE AWAY: Our life’s purpose is to know and walk with God.

photo of Nehemiah 6:15-8:18 from bsf exile and return study www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 5: Nehemiah 8:13-18

February 12, 2026January 7, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 8:13-18

The people came again to hear the words of the Law. The Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month. The people had not been doing this, so they immediately went out and did it. Ezra continued to read the Word of the Lord to the people.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 5: Nehemiah 8:13-18

12a) The people discovered that the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month. The people had not been doing this, so they immediately went out and did it.

b) The Festival of Tabernacles, which celebrated God bringing His people out of Egypt and how God had provided for them on this journey. The people had just finished building the wall and could see His blessing upon them, too.

13) The people were eager to hear God’s word and to hear from God continually.

14) I celebrate by giving God all the glory and trying to do His work through me.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 5: Nehemiah 8:13-18

I love the thirst for God’s Word. Lord, give me that same thirst!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 5: Nehemiah 8:13-18

The leaders gathered to hear God’s Words again.

They did what the Bible told them to do. So great!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Rediscovery and Obedience

After the initial reading of the Law, the leaders returned the next day to study deeper, leading to immediate action.

Deepening the Study (v. 13): The heads of households, priests, and Levites gathered around Ezra again. This wasn’t a passive listening session; they came specifically to “study the words of the Law.”
Recovering Lost Truth (vv. 14–16): They discovered the command to live in booths (temporary shelters) during the feast of the seventh month (Feast of Tabernacles). Although the feast had been observed in some form, the full, joyful community participation—dwelling in booths to remember their wilderness journey—had been neglected since the days of Joshua (v. 17).
Joyful Application (vv. 17–18): They didn’t debate the inconvenience. They went out, gathered branches, and built booths on their roofs and in their courtyards. This wasn’t a burden; there was “very great rejoicing.” The revival continued with daily reading of the Law for seven days.

Conclusion

This passage confirms that genuine spiritual growth moves from conviction (weeping) to curiosity (study) and finally to compliance (obedience). When God’s people eagerly seek His will, they often rediscover forgotten blessings. Obedience to God’s Word, even in the details, results in a unique joy that religious routine cannot produce.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 4: Nehemiah 8:1-12

February 11, 2026January 7, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 8:1-12

Ezra brought the Law before the people and read it to them. Ezra praised the Lord, and all bowed down and worshipped Him. The Levites explained the Law so that the people understood it. The people then left to eat, drink, and celebrate because they understood God’s Law.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 4: Nehemiah 8:1-12

9a) All of the people came together to listen to the reading of the Law. They listened attentively. All the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” to the Law. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. But Nehemiah told them to go eat, drink, and celebrate and not to weep, for this is a holy day. They were not to grieve but instead have joy. All of the people did this because they understood the Law.

b) That the people were so moved by the words of God that they were weeping and worshipping Him. That they listened for hours, eager to understand.

10a) Leadership wanted to ensure that the people understood the Law and not just heard it. They said it was a holy day and a joyous day and told the people to celebrate! They were also there supporting Ezra. They respected and heard God’s words, so this sets a great example for others to hear and listen, too.

b) It prevented the people from being paralyzed by guilt. By redirecting them from their failures to God’s mercy, the leaders transformed grief into “the joy of the LORD.” This renewed strength was essential for the community to move forward in sustained obedience, proving that God’s Word brings life, not just condemnation.

11a) God’s word has given me so much. I understand His ways. I grow closer to Him. I’m a better person because of it. The world makes more sense to me and does not seem so chaotic. It has enriched my life immeasurably.

b) I try to explain it the best I can to those who ask, and we investigate together what God is trying to do/say.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 4: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Seeing God’s people thirst for His Word and thirst to understand it is nothing short of inspiring.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 4: Nehemiah 8:1-12

The Law of Moses is the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

Ezra was a priest and a scribe who had the temple rebuilt and brought the people back to worship.

The people came willing to hear God. Such a difference this makes!

Everyone there respected the Word.

The people thanked God, prayed, and worshipped. This is what we need to do to grow with God, too!

You have to understand God’s law in order to make changes in your life.

The teachers of the law/preachers are there to help us understand God’s word better. They are often gifted to do so.

We often need things explained to us so our hearts can grasp them.

The best teachers help us understand God’s word, not their opinions.

We should be glad that God is doing work in us, which is why the people were told to not cry.

The people realized they had been ignoring God’s commands and were full of sorrow. Yet, through repentance comes joy, which is what the leaders were telling the people.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Revival at the Water Gate

With the physical walls secured, the people gathered voluntarily to rebuild their spiritual foundation.

Hunger for the Word (vv. 1–4): The assembly did not wait for a sermon; they asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law. This was a unified, desperate desire to hear from God, lasting from daybreak until noon.
Exposition, Not Just Reading (vv. 7–8): The Levites didn’t just recite the text; they “gave the sense” and explained it. This ensured the people didn’t just hear the sound of the words but grasped their meaning and application.
Conviction into Celebration (vv. 9–12): The immediate reaction was weeping, as the people realized how far they had fallen from God’s standard. However, Nehemiah and Ezra corrected them. They declared that this was a holy day, not a funeral. They famously commanded, “The joy of the LORD is your strength,” turning their repentance into a feast of gratitude.

Conclusion

This passage outlines the pattern for true revival: It begins with a hunger for Scripture, requires clear teaching to ensure understanding, and results in a balance of repentance (for sin) and joy (in God’s mercy). Understanding God’s Word should ultimately lead to strength, not despair.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 3: Nehemiah 7:4-73

February 10, 2026January 7, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 7:4-73

Nehemiah lists the names of the exiles who returned.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 3: Nehemiah 7:4-73

6a) There were not many people living in the city. So, Nehemiah verified the families, ensuring spiritual purity for worship and identifying loyal defenders for the newly built walls.

b) God put the census into his heart.

7a) The groupings represent the restoration of covenant order. They distinguish between civil identity (clans and towns for inheritance), religious leadership (priests and Levites for worship), and service roles (gatekeepers and servants). This ensured everyone had a verified lineage and a specific duty in rebuilding the Jewish nation.

b) These verses demonstrate that holiness is non-negotiable. Potential priests were excluded from sacred duties because their lineage was unverified.

8a) Not much. I was raised a Christian, but my background is not one of strong faith.

b) Currently, I don’t serve. I volunteer where there are events online I can help with here and there. Unsure on this one. I feel like I serve here in this forum as part of my service to Him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 3: Nehemiah 7:4-73

I love that God is orderly and He has a desire to ensure His people flourish. He also wanted to make sure they were His by verifying their heritage.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 3: Nehemiah 7:4-73

Nehemiah needed to know who was in Jerusalem, so he could help build it back up.

These were the courageous ones who left the comfort of Babylon to return to God’s land and His promises.

Only about 2% of those taken returned, so God mentions them twice in the Bible (here and in Ezra 2).

God cares about each of us individually and about what we can do for His kingdom.

We’ll see people begin to return to Jerusalem in Nehemiah 11.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

With the walls built, Nehemiah realized the city was large, but the population was sparse, and houses were few (v. 4). He needed to transform a fortress into a community.

Establishing Identity (vv. 5–60): God inspired Nehemiah to register the people by genealogy, using the records of those who first returned with Zerubbabel. This confirmed that the current residents were the legitimate heirs of God’s covenant, connecting them to their history before the exile.
Protecting Holiness (vv. 61–65): Some priests could not find their genealogical records. Nehemiah excluded them from sacred service until their lineage could be verified. This prioritized the purity of worship over simply filling positions; convenience did not override God’s standards.
Generous Investment (vv. 70–73): The chapter concludes with a tally of the whole assembly (approx. 50,000 people) and their gifts to the treasury. The registration fostered a sense of ownership, leading heads of families to give extravagantly to the work.

Conclusion

This chapter demonstrates that structure requires substance. A city is defined not by its walls, but by its citizens. By vetting the people, Nehemiah ensured that Jerusalem would be inhabited by a faithful remnant who knew who they were, valued their spiritual heritage, and were ready to invest in the future.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 2: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

February 9, 2026January 7, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

The wall of Jerusalem was completed in 52 days. The enemies of Israel were afraid because they knew God had helped.

Nehemiah then appointed the gatekeepers, musicians, and Levites. He put his brother in charge of Jerusalem. The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is up.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 2: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

3a) “All the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”

b) The enemies of God’s people never give up. They are always looking for a way to sabotage God’s work. We must ever be vigilant from attacks from all sides in order to stay on course with God’s work.

c) I wish I could say with grace, but mostly anger. However, I pray about it and let God lead me, too!

4) Nehemiah then appointed the gatekeepers, musicians, and Levites. He put his brother in charge of Jerusalem. This was important because he had to return to Susa. The danger was not over, both from the enemies of God and the Jews, too (Tobiah).

5a) Integrity was vital because strong walls cannot stop internal betrayal. With many nobles secretly allied to enemies like Tobiah, Nehemiah required leaders who feared God more than men. Their incorruptible character ensured they would not compromise the city’s safety for bribes, family connections, or political expediency.

b) I always try to do what’s right and follow what God would want of me. Being a person of integrity can help in many ways in life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 2: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Finally, the wall is finished! It’s always so amazing what God can do through you!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 25, Day 2: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

God can use any of us in mighty ways.

Nehemiah prayed for 4 months and got the work done in 2 months. Spiritual battles are often worse than the physical battles.

Tobiah was the man who opposed the walls being rebuilt from the beginning (Nehemiah 2:10, Nehemiah 2:19 and 4:3, Nehemiah 6:1-2).

We need to praise God with every victory we have.

Remember, Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, was the one who told him about the work that needed to be done (Nehemiah 1:2). He was faithful and feared God — that’s all you need to serve the Lord.

Now, the wall needed to be guarded. We need to guard our victories, too.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Once the wall was physically built, Nehemiah shifted focus from construction to conservation.

Supernatural Success (6:15–16): The wall was completed in just 52 days. This feat was so undeniable that even Nehemiah’s enemies lost their confidence, realizing that God was behind the work.
Internal Espionage (6:17–19): Despite the victory, the danger wasn’t over. Many Jewish nobles were loyal to Tobiah (the enemy) through marriage alliances, acting as spies and sending him letters. Nehemiah had to lead a people who were still politically compromised.
Securing the City (7:1–3): Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers, singers, and Levites, re-establishing order. Crucially, he handed command to his brother Hanani and Hananiah, choosing them not for their skill, but because they were “faithful and feared God more than many.” He established strict protocols: gates were only to be opened when the guards were active, and citizens were to guard their own neighborhoods.

Conclusion

This passage teaches that success does not mean the struggle is over. While the “hardware” (the wall) was finished, the “software” (leadership and loyalty) still needed work. True stability requires constant vigilance against internal compromise and appointing leaders based on character and fear of God rather than just talent or status.

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