“But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.” (Ezra 4:3)

Among the very last words written by the great Apostle Paul were these: "The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments" (II Timothy 4:13). When he wrote, Paul was in a cold, damp, dark Roman dungeon, awaiting his imminent execution by Nero and knowing that "the time of my departure is at hand" (verse 6).

“Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” (Hosea 4:17).

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (I Peter 2:21).

Some have tried to pattern their lives after that of Jesus, simply by asking in every situation, “What would Jesus do?” But in the context of our text, the primary “example” which He left us was nothing less than His own sacrificial death!

“For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” (I Chronicles 16:25,26).