Archive for the ‘Nehemiah--BibleTrekToday’ Category
Scripture reading for May 12th: Nehemiah 8:2-10:39
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
After rebuilding the walls, Ezra and Nehemiah had a great church service. They brought out the book of the Law of Moses and began reading it to all who had gathered inside the walls near a high wooden platform built for this sacred occasion. Ezra the priest mounted the platform and those who would help with translation stood with him. When he opened the Book, all the people stood in reverence. (Nehemiah 8:4-5) Ezra praised the Lord and the people responded with “Amen! Amen!” and bowed in worship. As the word was read, the teachers instructed the people and made the meaning clear to them. The people began to understand what God had said and how they had failed to follow God’s word. This triggered emotions and conviction in the people and many began to weep and mourn.
Why did Nehemiah tell the people not to grieve and weep before the Lord? I thought that repentance was needed and that God would be pleased to see them with broken hearts for their sins. Godly sorrow that leads to true change is commended in Scripture. (2nd Corinthians 7:8-11) Nehemiah actually sent the people away to enjoy choice food and sweet drinks and share with those who didn’t have any. He told them that the joy of the Lord would be their strength! (Nehemiah 8:9-10)
Joy always follows true understanding of the grace and mercy of God. Joy is the result of God’s mercy being revealed to us as a gift to be received by faith. As the people understood God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness for them, they could celebrate as people who were forgiven. The Book of the Law revealed this mercy and love of God. They could celebrate it’s restoration to their lives and to the lives of their children.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God. (Galatians 5:22) New Testament believers can enjoy the Lord’s promise of joy as a fruit of abiding in Him and His word abiding in us. When we understand God’s word and promises, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength! The Holy Spirit comes into us upon our conversion and marks us internally. We have God’s law written on our hearts and the Spirit gives us understanding of God’s word. We can have this same joy for our strength, too! “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Scripture reading for May 11th: Nehemiah 5-8:1
Wise and godly leaders stand firmly against injustice! Our sinful tendencies lead us relentlessly towards selfishness and taking advantage of those who are in need or in crisis or weak. They lead us to gaining an advantage for ourselves at the expense of another. Slavery in America is an example of these selfish and sinful tendencies. Slaves were bought and sold to build wealth for those they served. Slaves did jobs that their owners did not want to do themselves. Slaves were treated well by some and harshly and cruelly by others. Injustice in this system led some leaders to take action and a civil war resulted over this issue that cost the lives of many Americans and many who named the name of Christ on both sides of this issue.
Nehemiah faced injustice in his day among his own people. Taxes were high in Jerusalem and the Jews had to pay them to the Persian king. Their brothers who had money were loaning to these Jews who had no money. Mortgages were taken on the fields and vineyards and even their homes. Even sons and daughters were being sold into slavery because of the usury that was going on among the Israelites. An outcry because of this injustice reached Nehemiah and he pondered this problem of usury and the resulting enslavement. (Nehemiah 5:6-7) Calling a meeting of all those involved, he accused those with money of their sin, commanded them to stop these practices, and called them to walk in the fear of God! (Nehemiah 5:9-11) They publicly agreed to do so. He charged the priests and nobles to take an oath to do what they had promised in response to his accusation. He even shook out his own robe and prayed, “In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!” Nehemiah 5:13
God’s people must beware of injustice, even in their own house! Sin and selfishness can cause us to take advantage of others. We can abuse or neglect the poor and the weak. We must not manipulate or enslave others by our selfishness. Spiritual leaders and pastors must guard their hearts in how they encourage giving. Sometimes, manipulation and injustice takes place among God’s people through selfish leaders. Slavery today comes when our sons and daughters go into captivity because of injustice in God’s house among God’s people! Righteous leaders are watchful and take direct action when they know about it! Pray today for those in authority and let them know of any injustice among God’s people!
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our coming king and eternal savior! “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) It is a choice to rejoice in the Lord each and every day! Each day is a new day with new understanding of how great our God is! As we begin another week, set aside time to reflect on God Himself. Take time to commune with Him! Take time to be with others of like-precious faith who gather to worship, study, and thank Him in community! We especially need this as we see the day of the Lord approaching! (Hebrews 10:25)
We have been reading this past week about Ezra and Nehemiah, two great men in the history of Israel who relied on God and lived lives of prayer and obedience. Ezra offered praise and thanks to the Lord for granting him favor to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 7:27-28) Ezra prayed for traveling mercies for his party with all the gold and silver articles for the temple. (Ezra 8:21-23) After God brought them safely to Jerusalem, they met with others and offered sacrifices and thanked the Lord. Ezra heard about the unfaithfulness of those who had married outside of the faith and he again humbled himself to pray and fast and confess the sins of his countrymen. (Ezra 9:5l-15) Others gathered with him and they sought the Lord. God brought repentance and cleansing as they prayed together.
Nehemiah carried a burden for Jerusalem and it’s broken walls. He began to pray to the Lord about his burden. (Nehemiah 1:5-11) He had opportunity to speak with the Persian king, Artaxeres, and prayed again. (Nehemiah 2:4) God granted him favor and he was sent by this pagan king to rebuild the walls. He was given materials and money as well as willing workers. As he arrived, God gave him a vision and plan to put the people to work by families, assigning them personal responsibility near their own homes. He shared his vision and God granted favor! Prayer was offered to combat discouragement and stop opposing forces. (Nehemiah 4:4-5) Nehemiah armed the workers and encouraged them to work and fight for their own children, homes and families! (Nehemiah 4:14) He had a trumpeter near him at all times to sound a call to fight (or pray) when an attack might come. (Nehemiah 4:20) Prayer was important for Nehemiah and those who worked together to rebuild the walls. It brought a focus on God as the source of all help and a vision of God’s plan and purpose!
Take time today to praise the Lord, thank him for who He is, and enjoy sweet communion with Him. Do this for yourself and for your family! Meet with God’s people and pray and praise Him in community! He is coming soon!
Scripture reading for May 9th: Nehemiah 3-4
God’s people are wired for work! When a vision is present, focus of energy and teamwork can result in a miraculous amount of work being done and great accomplishments. It takes leadership and discipline to get people to work together. There are many hindrances that try to hold up progress and destroy the vision. The leader must assess the situation, cast the vision, organize the team of workers, and deal with the hindrances in a timely and effective manner. He can’t run a popularity contest or seek to appease those who would hinder or hold up the work.
Nehemiah was an effective leader. He was chosen by God as he prayed for the city of Jerusalem, burdened for it’s broken-down walls. Nehemiah was given favor, authority, and materials from the king to go and rebuild the broken walls of his beloved city. His vision was the rebuilding of the walls. His plan of action was formulated as he assessed the situation for himself after arriving there. (Nehemiah 2:11-16) He decided on putting families in charge of rebuilding the section of wall nearest their own homes. (Nehemiah 3) This brought personal responsibility to bear on how the job would be done and how fast they would work. You work harder and smarter if your own family’s lives depend on it.
Nehemiah had to deal with opposition, both external and internal. This is spiritual warfare that is ever-present in the life of a believer seeking to do God’s will. He prayed first (Nehemiah 4:4-5) and then posted a guard. He armed half the men while the others worked. He kept a trumpeter by his side to sound the alarm if any family was attacked and needed help. (Nehemiah 4:17-20) Everyone worked together and kept ready to meet any opposition or force that might attack them.
This is a good plan for each person in God’s family. We are each assigned work to do by the Lord according to our gifts and talents. There will be opposition and it must be dealt with and watched closely to avoid setback and defeat. The Holy Spirit is the trumpeter in our lives who lets us know when trouble is coming. He helps us prepare for attack and leads the resistance. As we work and fight together the work gets done quickly. We remember that we are fighting for our own protection and that of our family. Personal responsibility and God’s grace insure the victory!
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14
Scripture reading for May 8th: Nehemiah 1-2
Sometimes prayer is used as an excuse for doing nothing. “I’ll pray about it” is an easy answer when asked to serve in a ministry or do a project. I have used it myself! Often times, as we pray, God moves on our heart and turns it to do His will and want what He wants! (Psalm 37:4) We have the choice of following His leading, or just continuing to pray and hope the prayer will be answered. One choice leads to amazing journeys and seeing the desires of our heart (and God’s) fulfilled while the other produces little in the way of results.
Nehemiah was an Israelite who was cup bearer to the king of Persia. He held a position of trust and would have been a close adviser and bodyguard for this king. He heard a report from those who had returned to Jerusalem earlier to rebuild the temple. They told how the work was at a standstill and the walls were broken down and gates were burned with fire. This report disturbed him greatly. He began to weep, fast, and pray before his God, the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4-11) Nehemiah, in faith, prayed and confessed the sins of his own people. He reminded God of His covenant with Moses to bring the people back if they would call on Him. He asked for favor to approach the king. (Psalm 5:11-12)
As he was doing his job before the king, God opened the king’s heart to ask him about his sad countenance. Nehemiah again prayed quietly and answered the king. He asked for help in rebuilding Jerusalem and it’s walls. God granted him favor and his prayers were answered. He, himself, had been used by the Lord because he fasted and prayed and allowed God to move him into place to do something to bring the answer! (Nehemiah 2:7-9) Prayer often activates faith that brings action. Note that Nehemiah continues to pray about everything along the way. There are 10 recorded prayers of his in this book.
Is there something that really moves your heart with pity? Is there a need that you see that is not being met or an injustice that is calling to you for help? Why not begin praying and fasting and opening your heart to the Lord about that situation? As you do, be open for action that you may be able to take to bring about change, healing, or a godly answer. The Lord wants to move our hearts through prayer to godly work. The result will be a joyous celebration when we realize what the Lord has accomplished as we prayed and worked! In the end of this story, Nehemiah has rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days!