Jeremiah 1:4-6 – Called to be God’s messengers

The call of Jeremiah was very straightforward. Nothing dramatic like that of the call of Isaiah. The word of the LORD came simply summoning him for service. God began the call by telling Jeremiah that long before that moment, God already knew him. God saw his yet unformed substance even before he was formed in his mother’s womb. Even before he was born, he was already consecrated for him to serve. He was to be a prophet to the nation. In other words, he was going to be God’s spokesman.

Though Jeremiah’s call was not attended by anything dramatic, it was a serious one, and he knew it. Anyone who knows God and the magnitude of His work would undoubtedly face the call with trepidation. Isaiah felt unworthy to serve because he saw his sinfulness before the Holy God. As to Jeremiah, he felt inadequate because he was too young and immature and hence would not be adequately equipped for the work. He honestly told God saying, “Alas, Lord God! Behold I do not know how to speak because I am a youth.” Frankly speaking, how can anyone ever be adequate for the task of God? One would be deceiving himself or herself to think that he or she is adequate for God’s work, without God’s help. Jesus, Himself explicitly said, “Apart from Him, we can do nothing.”

Here are three truths gleaned from these three verses:

Firstly, we learn that life comes from God. He was the one who had formed us in our mother’s womb. The formation of human life is a divine miracle. Know it or not every one of us is put together by God. The process of a foetus becoming a baby to be born attests to God’s marvel. Our anatomy and physiology are God's design.

Secondly, we know that we can only choose God because He first chose us. Ever wonder why we responded to God, while others hearing that same message would not respond to Him. It’s because God has placed His hand on us. Hence it behooves us to know how privileged we are to be called sons and daughters of God.

Thirdly, every one of us needs to know that God has a calling on our lives. He did not call us just to save us from hell, He calls us so that He can shape, form, and return us to the original image He had for us before the fall. We each must become more and more like Christ, the image of God. It is said that “Who we are is God’s gift to us but what we become will be our gift to God.” One last word: our effectiveness as His spokesmen in the world will vary depending on the degree we become like Christ.

 

 

 

Jeremiah 1:1-3 – Serving God in times of turbulence

Jeremiah was the son of a priest. His father Hilkiah was a priest in Anathoth, a little village in the territory belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. A Reading of 2 Kings 22 tells us that Hilkiah was instrumental in the reform of Judah in the reign of Josiah. He was the priest who found the book of the law that triggered the godly Josiah to intensify his reform.  Therefore, it would not come as a surprise to read that Jeremiah, his son was called to the prophetic ministry in the 13^th year of the reign of Josiah.

Prophets were people whom God would send to speak to the kings and help to point the way of God for the nation. Second King 22:1 tells us that Josiah became king when he was only eight years old, and he reigned over Judah for 31 years. Unlike his wicked father Amon, Josiah was a good king. Second Chronicles 34:3a, tells us that “…in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David….” A brief calculation will tell us that Josiah would be 21 years old when Jeremiah was called into the prophetic ministry.  

Not only did Jeremiah serve God in the time of Josiah, but he also served God in the time of Jehoiakim’s reign. Unlike his godly father, Jehoiakim was wicked. It is not difficult to imagine how tough it was to be God's servant when a wicked king was on the throne. Jeremiah Had to denounce Jehoiakim’s wickedness before predicting his terrible death in Jeremiah 22:13-17. He prophesied in Jeremiah 22:19 concerning Jehoiakim’s death saying that “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” Jeremiah had to contend with Jehoiakim’s waywardness. His 40 years long years of service also took his ministry from the reign of Jehoiakim to the eleven years of Zedekiah's reign and even to the exile of Jerusalem in the 5^th month. However, he himself was exiled to Egypt and died there.

In summary, Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry saw him serve three administrations – Kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. He served in times when Israel was pummelled by three great superpowers. They had to face the Assyrians from the north, the Egyptians from down south, and the Babylonians from the east. Jeremiah responded to God’s call and had suffered much in ministry, but he unflinchingly went forward. God still needs people today to speak for Him. Our days may not be as turbulent as Jeremiah’s but are we willing to respond to the needs of our time? God is still in need of people who would boldly speak for him in our time. Would be stand out and be counted?     

Introduction to Jeremiah

The Prophet Jeremiah had written two books in the Bible namely, the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations. And the book of Jeremiah is one of the five major prophetic writings. His name means “Yahweh will exalt.” His contemporaries were prophets such as  Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel, and Ezekiel. Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah had a turbulent ministry. He had to go through many sufferings just to get the truths of God across. He served God through a very critical period in the history of the Jews. He warned of the fall of Jerusalem, but his warning went unheeded by God’s people.  Though he went through a torrid time, he courageously spoke for God pointing to the direction that would lead to their redemption and restoration.   

Jeremiah hailed from Anathoth located in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, about two miles south of Jerusalem. He was the son of a priest named Hilkiah and according to Jeremiah 1:6 was called to serve God while he was still a youth. Aware that being called by God was a serious matter, he responded in trepidation, saying that he could not speak for he was still a youth. But when God calls, He also empowers. So God’s gracious assurance to his excuse in Jeremiah 1:6-7 was: “…Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.”

In Jeremiah 1:2-3 we are told that his ministry began in the reign of “Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” He also served “…Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.” Jeremiah had a lengthy ministry of approximately 40 years.

In total the book of Jeremiah has 52 chapters. And this prophet communicated God’s words to the people in different forms. He communicated with parables, sermons, and even object lessons.  There is plenty we can glean from this lengthy book. We shall take our time to slowly chew and digest the many tough but profitable messages of this long book and consider its implication for our lives. Let’s be ready for God’s personal word to us through this book. As we do, we must accept God’s invitation in Jeremiah 33:3. We will call on Him and see Him answer us and tell us great and mighty things, which we do not yet know. Our constant prayer will be for Him to enable us to see what He wants to do in us and through us.

 

 

 

 

 

Nehemiah 13:30-31 – Being a God-pleaser

In these last two verses of the book of Nehemiah, we are given a summary of what he had done to put everything in the city of Jerusalem in order. Nehemiah 13:30-31 tell us firstly that he got rid of everything that was foreign thus purifying the people of God. Secondly, he appointed the priests and Levites to their respective tasks i.e. he set the priesthood and the temple servants in order. Thirdly, he make sure there was an ample supply of wood for the services in the temple. And fourthly, he arranged for the first fruit to be collected and distributed. Then he asked to be remembered by God in a short prayerful wish.

It is appropriate for us to consider the man Nehemiah and draw some lessons on serving God as we close our reflection on this book. Here was a man full of zeal for the Lord God. His one passion was to please and obey Him. Thus, he manifested extraordinary boldness and constantly encouraged and ensured that the people returned to obey God. He was a man who was not dissuaded by the opposition, but would instead put his trust in God to see Him through what he had set out to do i.e. to restore the city of Jerusalem. He fulfilled the work God had entrusted him at great expands to his personal inconvenience. In other words, he was willing to make personal sacrifices. Nehemiah was also a man who possessed great wisdom and would not come to the task assigned to him haphazardly. He paused and planned, fasted and prayed. He organized but he also agonized in prayer. There are many great organizers but not many great agonisers. But Nehemiah was both. What's more, was that he was also a man of the Word. Throughout the book, he shows himself to be a man of the Word. He stood as an excellent example for us of how we should serve and seek to please God. Like Nehemiah, we must live and work to please God. What a great way to be known!

  

 

Nehemiah 13:23-29 – Set apart for God

Nehemiah 13:23-29 tell us that one other issue that became widespread during Nehemiah’s absence from Jerusalem was the intermarriage between God’s people and foreigners. The three groups of foreigners particularly mentioned were the people from  Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of the children that were born out of these marriages grew up accustomed to the language of Ashdod and unable to speak the language of Judah. Slowly but surely their identity as God’s people was eroding. These marriages affected the spiritual condition of the nation.  What was happening was unacceptable to Nehemiah. Desperate from what was happening, he “contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God. In no uncertain words, he said to them, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.” 

Using the example of Solomon, he pointed out to them that the king’s waywardness was caused by his many foreign wives. Though God loved him and endowed him with unparalleled wisdom, he was led astray by his foreign wives. Hence Nehemiah was outraged and appalled that these men should marry non-Jewish women. As God’s covenant people, they were being unfaithful to God.

What was more disappointing to Nehemiah was his discovery of the marriage of one of the grandsons of the high priest Eliashib to the daughter of Sanballat. Though Sanballat had a bitter opponent, a son of Joiada, the son of Eliashib had indiscriminately married his daughter. So Nehemiah excommunicated him and had nothing to do with him. He prayed to God to remember those who had defiled the sanctity of the priesthood and by marrying foreign women had violated the covenant as priests and Levites.

This problem was not peculiar to Nehemiah. Ezra was said to encounter this same problem in the two concluding chapters of his book. It would not be overstretching p our imagination to see how angry Nehemiah would be. This unholy alliance posed a danger to the holy purpose of God. They were God’s people to marry foreign women was to commit downright disobedience to the instruction of God. Being unequally yoked would open them to compromise. Besides, they would be opening the door to moral corruption. Non-covenant people of God would have their own set of values that would be opposite to the spiritual values that God had set for His people. What was at stake was the purity of faith and morality as God’s people.

In our calling to reach the world, we will be exposed to the value of the world. We need to be careful as we try to gain acceptance, approval, and appreciation from the world. For if we are not careful we may be tempted to assimilate their value into our system. Let us hear afresh what James 4:4 has to say, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Remember also to tuck in your heart these words of Paul, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Nehemiah 13:19-22- Helping others to honor God

In Nehemiah 13:15-18 we learned how the people of God who had returned from exile violated the Sabbath.  The farmers not only worked to produce wine, but some of them also hauled their grapes and figs to the market and sell them. They also allowed the foreigners from Tyre to conduct their business in Jerusalem. Nehemiah was said to have admonished and reprimanded them. Verses 19-22 then went on to describe the decisive action he took to stop trading activity in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.

Then in verses 19-22. He took some decisive actions to ensure to prevent trading on the Sabbath. He ordered that the gate of the city of Jerusalem be closed before dark before the start of the Sabbath. It would remain shut and be opened only after the Sabbath. In this way, foreign traders could not come in and out of Jerusalem with to sell their goods. He even stationed his own servants  to guard the gate to ensure that no goods could not be brought into Jerusalem. Verse 20 said that  “Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.” So he warned them not to do so or he would be compelled to use force to stop them. Since then they did not do it again during Sabbath. Nehemiah also appointed Levites to be gatekeepers so that the holy day would be properly observed and sanctified. He then prayed that God would see what had been done and have compassion on them.  

More than just about ensuring the observation of the Sabbath, the passage shows us the kind of person Nehemiah was. He was one who took decisive action to ensure that the  instruction of God was not violated. He would take action to close any gap that would allow the people to dishonor God. At every step of the way, he would say a short prayer indicating his deeply he respects God and wants and want only to please Him.   This is the kind of person we each must be, not only must we seek to live for God but also encourage others to live for Him.  

 

Nehemiah 13:15-18 – The call to observe the Sabbath

The third issue Nehemiah noticed when he returned to Jerusalem after a stint in Persia, was how the returned exile had violated the Sabbath.  Nehemiah 13:15-18 tell us that they treated the Sabbath like every other ordinary day. They did not attach any significance to it. The farmers were still treading the grapes they had harvested in their winepresses. Then there were those that would haul the harvested grapes and figs into the market on the Sabbath to sell them. Greatly astonished by their reluctance to observe the Sabbath rest, Nehemiah admonished them.

Then verse 16 tells us that they even allowed the men from Tyre who “were living there  who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem.” So Nehemiah reprimanded the nobles of Jerusalem and reasoned with them. In verses 17-18, Nehemiah was said to reprimand the nobles of Judah. He said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.” He was essentially telling them that it was because of breaking the Sabbath that their forefathers had found themselves incurring the wrath of God. He was appalled to find them emulating their disobedience.  So he set about to rectify it.

Keeping the Sabbath was God’s plan at the onset of creation. It was meant to give men a holistic approach to life. Genesis tells us that God brought about creation in six days and on the seventh day he rested. In instituting the seventh-day rest, God had introduced a work-life balance right at the very beginning.  And when he made Israel His covenant people, He again emphasized the need for the Sabbath rest in the Ten Commandments. Like them, we are not machines and cannot go on working endlessly without pausing to rest. We all need a day of rest after every six-day of work. God knew that right from the start so he instituted the rest day. It should be a day that we pull away from work to worship God and allow our bodies to be rejuvenated. Let us be sure to keep a day of rest wholly to connect with God and to be refreshed in Him.  

Nehemiah 13:10-14 – Don’t neglect to pay tithe

The priests and Levites came from the tribe of Levi. They were assigned to provide spiritual leadership to Israel and to take care of the Tabernacle of God. Unlike all the other tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi was not allotted any land. Since God did not assign them any land, He instituted tithing for their support. The other tribes were instructed to bring in a tenth of their produce to provide and support the priests and Levites and the works of the temple. Nehemiah 13:10-14 describe the neglect of the post-exilic Israel in honoring God with their tithe. We know that God in Malachi 3:8 chided them for failing to bring in their tithe. In failing to honor their tithe, they were robbing God.

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem from Persia, he discovered that during his absence the people failed to bring tithe in support of the Levites and singers. This resulted in many temple servants having to leave their assignments to work in the field. In a real sense, they had left the house of God forsaken. The commitment to God before Nehemiah chapter 10 became hogwash. The temple servants could not survive without the tithe from the people.  they left to seek other means of support. So on his return, Nehemiah reprimanded the people and went about restoring the means of support for the Levites and temple workers. He not only restored the Levites to their position, but he also restored the tithing system. Nehemiah even appointed four priests and Levites to a committee to supervise the distribution of the tithe and offering among them. As he restored the system, Nehemiah prayed asking God to remember his work.

Tithing is an act of worship. The main reason we tithe is not so much to receive the blessing of God as it is to honor Him as the source and provider of all that we have. We are to bring our tithe, the first substance of our earnings to the church where we gather in worship. In so doing, we are essentially acknowledging that God owns all that we have. We are also indicating that He is the source of all our resources. When we tithe, we set aright the course in handling our God-given resources. In Proverbs 3:9, God exhorts us to honor Him with our wealth and the first fruit of all our produce. In today's non-agricultural context it will be our earnings. Malachi 3;10 tells us that God is no man’s debtor. When we tithe, God will give us many more folds in return, and in many more ways than we can expect. To tithe is to set our course for an overflowing life. This is God’s promise, don’t neglect it!  

Nehemiah 13:4-9 – Don’t abuse the temple of God

Nehemiah was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah for 12 years (Nehemiah 5:14). He completed his duty in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes’ reign and had to return to Persia. But before he left for Persia, he had restored some semblance of propriety in Jerusalem. The people repented and returned to their devotion to God. The temple was put in order and the priests and Levites were duly assigned. But while he was away, the situation back home in Jerusalem deteriorated. How long he was in Persia was not indicated. But on his return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah was appalled to see widespread deterioration there. Sanballat and Tobiah the enemies introduced to us in Nehemiah 2 had infiltrated and influenced the community of the returned exile. In Nehemiah 13:28 we learned that one of the sons of Johaida, the son of Eliashib, became Sanballat’s son-in-law.

The first thing Nehemiah did on his return was to reform the temple (Nehemiah 13:4-9). He had to deal with the abuse of the usage in the temple. Eliashib the high priest was to be blamed. Verse 7 said that he housed Tobiah in the room in the temple that was used to store “the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.” In doing so, Eliashib accommodated an enemy in the house of God. Verses 8-9 tell us that what happened was displeasing to Nehemiah. So he threw out all of Tobiah’s belonging in the room and ordered the room cleansed. Then he put back “the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense” in the room.

As far as Nehemiah was concerned, holiness to the Lord could not be compromised. When he saw the temple abused, it greatly displeased him. He was displeased by the laxity of the priesthood, especially the family of Eliashib. He has grieved that an area that was meant for the things of God was occupied by the things of the enemy. However, being displeased alone was not enough, it stirred him into action. Like the Lord Jesus, when he saw the abuse of the temple, he cleansed it that day. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let’s take action to care and make sure that the temple of God is rightly handled for the glory of God.

  

Nehemiah 13:1-3 – Being God’s consecrate people

On that day when the Jews dedicated the wall of Jerusalem, they also had the Book of Moses read. They then were made aware that God had disallowed the Ammonites and Moabites from being part of their assembly with Him. The enmity Israel had with the Ammonites and Moabites went back into their history. Ammon and Moab as we know were the incestuous children of Lots, who was the nephew of Abraham. They were born to Lots by his two daughters, who got him drunk and then had him sleep with each of them by turn over two nights. Each of them became pregnant by him and bore Ammon and Moab.

When Israel was on their wandering journey during the time of Moses, they sought the descendants of Ammon and Moab for bread and water for their sustenance.  Though they were distantly related to the Israelites, they flatly refused to help. Besides, at one time, the Moabites even engaged a prophet by the name of Balaam to pronounce a curse on the Israelites. But God made the prophet speak blessings instead of curses. Balaam, however, was able to teach Balak, the Moabite king, how to get the Israelites to fall out of favor with God. Read Numbers 22-25 for more details.

Having heard and became aware that God had banned the Ammonites and Moabites from their assembly, the Jews then sought to obey and separate from these people. They put all of them out of their assembly.   The Israelites were expected to be separated and consecrated to the Lord. Over the course of time, they had allowed themselves to be influenced by foreigners. On reading the law, they again realized that they were called to be a people holy unto the LORD. However, we need to know that the reason was not so much about ethnicity as it was about spirituality. God did not want them to be contaminated with wrong worship. This can be seen in the example of Ruth. Though she was a Moabitess, when she wholeheartedly accepted and acknowledged Jehovah, she was even given the privilege to become an ancestor of Jesus our Lord.

God still wants us to be wholly consecrated unto Him. These verses bring us back to Romans 12:2 where we are told not to be conformed to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. God still wants us to live according to His acceptable and perfect will.

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Nehemiah 12:44-47 – Stewardship of giving

Nehemiah 12:44-47 describes how the collection of offerings and tithes was handled by the leadership of the returned exiles. Men were appointed to supervise the collection and distribution of the money that was brought to the temple. Apparently, every Jew gave a tenth of their income toward a central pool. Then this was divided among the Levites, who assisted the priest, in the administration of the musicians and singers in their service to God in the temple.  The Levites were expected to give one-tenth of what they were  apportioned to support the priests.

Verse 44 said that the people rejoiced in the work of the priests and Levites. For these were responsible to perform “…the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. Since the day of David leaders of the singers, songs of praise, and hymns of thanksgiving to God were appointed."  So verse 47 said the people carried out this responsibility. The verse says, “So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.”

The lesson: finance is required and needed for every aspect of God’s work. Hence handling finance is an important aspect of ministry. Admit it or not, this aspect has been widely abused. Information on how to finance had been abused makes it important to know God’s instruction on handling this needful resource. Money is amoral. While we need it for ministry, it has become a temptation and a stumbling block for many. It can be a blessing or a curse depending on how one steward what God has entrusted to us. We all need to know that all that we have and possess come from God. He is the owner of all the resources we have in life. All of us are merely stewards. It is required that stewards of God be found faithful. In handling finance, we must remember to factor God in and be faithful in our tithe and offering so that ministry will not suffer want and God will not be dishonored.  

 

Nehemiah 12:27-43 – Worship God enthusiastically

Nehemiah 8 and 9 described an array of activities that those who returned from exile engaged in to right their relationship with God. They read the law, fasted, repented, confessed, celebrated the Feast of the Tabernacle, and pledged to live with accountability to God. Nehemiah 11 veered off to discuss the dwellers in Jerusalem and other villages in the different parts of Judea. Then in chapter 12, they enumerated the priests and the Levites. Nehemiah 12:27 onwards seems to be a continuation of Nehemiah 10:39.

Nehemiah 12 verses 27-43 turns to discuss the dedication of the wall and gates of Jerusalem. Joining the dedication ceremony were priests, Levites, singers, musicians, and leading citizens. It was a truly grand affair. Verses 27-29 said that “they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres.”  Singers from different places were also  brought in for the ceremony. Apparently, purification rites were carried out. The priests and the Levites purified themselves and they then purified the gates and the wall.  

The feature of the dedication ceremony was the procession. The leaders and the musicians were divided into two groups of great choirs. Ezra led one group while Nehemiah did not lead any but just follow in the other group. The choirs then started in opposite directions around the circumference of the wall. The two choirs then met together in the temple and there they sang their praises to Him. This was followed by  sacrifices. And there was great joy in the city.  

The importance of the dedication ceremony of the wall and gates was not in the pomp of it but in the attitude of the people who came to it. They celebrated with joyful praises and glad hearts. They did not just offer their praise loudly but also gladly. They brought in all kinds of instruments for the celebration. It was a time to offer enthusiastic praise and worship and not a muted response to a great God. What’s our attitude when we come to worship God? This jubilant worship describes in the dedication of the walls and gates of Jerusalem shows us how we ought to come before God each time we come to worship Him.   

Nehemiah 12:1-26 – Leaving a legacy

In Nehemiah 11, we have the names of the residents of Jerusalem as well as the people who lived in villages in Judea. As we come to Nehemiah 12:1-26 we see a list of the record of priests and Levites. The list in verses 1-9 contains the names of priests and Levites who came back to with Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest. Verses 10-11 identify and enumerate six generations of the descendants of Jeshua the high priest. Their names were Joiakim, Eliashib, Joaida, Jonathan, and Jaddua. 

In verses 12-21, the author zoomed in on the 21 heads of the priestly family in the days of Joiakim. In other words, these were the second-generation heads of priestly families following the generation of Jeshua. Then in verses 22-26 methodically, we are given the names of Levites serving in the days of Joiakim, Ezra, and Nehemiah.  

One lesson to take away from these verses on the names of priests and Levites would be on the significance of continuity. How many of us can recall our ancestors beyond our great-grandfathers. There are not many of us who can. Just think of how these people of God kept the record of their forefathers. It helps to remember the people who affected our journey with God. Remembering people who had impacted us will help us to better understand who and whose we are. Many of us are here because of the lives of faithful men who weather tough circumstances. They had left a legacy for us to emulate. Let us be sure to leave a legacy worthy of our children to emulate. 

Nehemiah 11:25-36 – Sharing Christ everywhere

Nehemiah 11:3-24 tell us that some of those who returned from exile were chosen by lots to live in Jerusalem. There were also those who had  volunteered to dwell. They were mainly leaders. Whether chosen by lots or  by volunteering, they made sacrifices to live there. Now in the last 11 verses, we see a list of villages in Judea  occupied by the  returnees.  

Many of the sons of Judah were said to dwell in seventeen villages in the south of the valley of Hinnom. Fifteen other villages there were occupied by the sons of Benjamin.  Although some of the villages such as Kiriath-arbe and Beersheba were not within the purview of the Persian authority in the province of Judea, some Jews were permitted to stay there. They probably had in mind to reclaim these territories as well for they were once their possession.  

Like the early church which started in Jerusalem but mushroomed and spread throughout Judea, Samaria, and other parts of the earth to witness to Christ, the church must also be a witness everywhere. How will Christians be effective witnesses if they don’t spread out and go everywhere to share Christ? How will remote cities all over the world be evangelized if we are not missionary minded? Remember the Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached everywhere and then shall the end come. Let’s be willing to go wherever we are sent.         

 

 

 

Nehemiah 11:3-24 – Living in the center of God’s will

Nehemiah 11:3-24 enumerates a list of the people, mainly leaders, who came to dwell in Jerusalem. This same list was also given in 1 Chronicles 9:1-34 with some variation. Verses 3-9 listed the names of those from Judah and Benjamin while those listed in verses 10-21 were mainly priests, Levites, and gatekeepers. In the register of the returnees from exile 468 were the sons of Judah, 928 were the sons of Benjamin, 822 were priests, 284 were Levites and 172 were gatekeepers and others.

Terms like “able men (6) and valiant warriors (14)” were used to describe some of these people who came to dwell in Jerusalem. These could well be the wealthy or military people. Jerusalem was twice described as the holy city, once in verse 1 and the other in verse 18. Verses 22-24 tell us that the king of Persia played a role in keeping this post-exilic community organized. He assigned his representatives to supervise and oversee the work of the Levites.

Admit it or not, a list of names like this can be boring and uninteresting to read. The question that comes to mind is what can we learn from a list bearing the names of the people who went to dwell in Jerusalem? While some who chose to dwell there were volunteers, many were there because lots were cast and they were chosen. The volunteers of course deserved to be mentioned for the choice they made. But it must not be forgotten that those who were appointed by lots had something to sacrifice to move to dwell there. All these remind us that in the service of God, it is better to willingly give ourselves to serve Him. Whatever the case, sacrifices must always be made to ensure the progress of God’s community. A list like this is heartening because while men may not see the sacrifices one makes, God takes note of everyone who cares to give up all to stay in the center of His will and purpose. Are we one of them?    

Nehemiah 11:1-2 – We must populate the Kingdom of God

In Nehemiah 7:4, we were already told that the city of Jerusalem was sparely populated. But in between this verse and Nehemiah 11, the author departed from talking about the population to deal with the more important subject of being faithful to the law given by their God. In those chapters in between, the people were reminded to be faithful to the covenant law God gave through Moses. God’s faithful dealing with their ancestor was compared to their ancestor's unfaithfulness. Their waywardness was bought up to tell those who had returned from exile not to emulate their forefathers. So between Nehemiah 7:4, the law of Moses was brought into focus. Having dealt with that, Nehemiah 11 returned to deal with the sparsely populated Jerusalem.   

This city according to Nehemiah 11:1 was mainly inhabited by the leaders. The rest of the population was scattered all over the country other than Jerusalem. Something had to be done to populate it to ensure its stability. So lots were cast to bring one out of every ten families to settle in this holy city. Verse 2 tells us that there was a group of men though not cast by lots volunteered to come and dwell in  Jerusalem. So the people blessed these volunteers.

Why was it important to populate Jerusalem? To help Jerusalem be restored to its former glory she had to be populated. How could a place depleted of people be great? It was good that the leaders had set the example to stay there. But more people were needed to make it a thriving city. The temple and the wall had been rebuilt, but the people still avoided Jerusalem as their dwelling.  It would be pointless to spend so much time rebuilding it but have inadequate people to protect it. It would be an open invitation for the enemies to wreak havoc there. Lacking people there would always be a resource problem.  

Like Jerusalem, the church of our Lord must be populated. The church however is not about a building but a people. We are called to go out into the world to make disciples so that the church could be enlarged. We must populate the church with more disciples of Christ.  Let us collaborate and fulfill the Great Commission!   

 

Nehemiah 10:32-39 – Give our best to God

In determining to right the nation’s past wrongs and unfaithfulness to God’s law given by Moses, the people in Nehemiah 10:30-21 pledged to do three things. Firstly they pledged not to intermarry with the people of the land. Secondly, they pledged to refrain from buying any items from foreigners on the Sabbath and any holy day. And thirdly, they would do what had been stipulated for the Sabbath year by not planting crops nor exacting debt owed to them on that year.

In Nehemiah 10:32-39, they added four more obligations. Firstly, they were determined to contribute one-third of a shekel annually to enable services in the temple. This would fund “the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.” Like them giving to the work of the church is essential for us, believers. Being part of God’s family meant that it is our obligation to contribute towards sustaining the work of God through the church. Let’s not neglect our financial obligation to the church.

Secondly, each family was scheduled by lot to be responsible for a duration to supply wood for the altar service.  They did this to ensure that every family by rotation would be involved for a period. It is true that without taking steps to ensure everyone is involved in God’s work, some will be overworked, and others may adopt the attitude that the work is someone else’s business. Without proper scheduling and being left to everyone’s initiative, everybody’s concern will soon become no one’s concern.    

Thirdly, verses, 35-39 describe the first fruit offering to the Lord that they were expected to give to the Lord. Verse 35 said they were expected to bring the first fruits of their ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the Lord annually. Besides, they would “bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks according to the law. These were given to maintain the priests ministering in the temple. Here we learned that they earmarked tithe for Levites serving in rural areas. Under priestly supervision, those Levites were also required to bring a tenth of the tithes they received from the people to the temple. All the gifts were stored in the storerooms of the temple for its upkeep.

 

Finally, in verse 39, they pledged not to neglect the house of God. This is an important part of life in God.  For a long time, the temple was maintained by the Persian kings. Now the people of God pledged to assume the responsibility of maintaining the temple. Their faith in God was now seen in concrete action. Know this: the faith that is worth embracing is worthy of our everything.       

 

 

 

   

Nehemiah 10:28-31 – Living a life separated unto God

The leaders, priests, and Levites signaled their intention to take God seriously. They not only made their intention known verbally but also had their names recorded in a sealed document. Now joined by the rest of the people which included priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants Nehemiah 10:28-29 said they renewed their oath to God. Notice that the pledge is referred to as “a curse and an oath.” Walking in obedience to God’s law was the intention but a curse would be triggered if they chose to disobey it. In other words, the best way to avoid the curse was to walk in obedience to God's stipulation. 

The whole community unitedly made their commitment. Verses 28-29 said at all of them including “…their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law….” Making the allegiance earnestly, they pledged to keep and observe all the law, and commandments of God their Lord, all His ordinances and His statutes, which He had given through Moses, His servant. They had made up their mind to live as a separate community from the people of the land.  

In verses 30-31, firstly, they pledged not to intermarry with the people of the land, saying, “… we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.” Secondly, they pledged to refrain from buying any items from foreigners on the Sabbath and any holy day. Thirdly, they would do what had been stipulated for the Sabbath year. They would not plant crops and nor exact debt owed to them.   

The crux of the text is about living a life that is separated unto God. As Christians, we are people called out of the world to be God’s own possession. We are called to live wholly for God and not to be conformed to the system of this world. We must choose to renew our minds by tearing down the value system of the world and building a new value system based on the Word of God. Friendship with the world, according to James, would make us enemies of God. We must no longer seek to follow the pattern of this world but to live lives based on the principles derived from God’s Word. As we do so we will practically experience the perfect will of God.      

Nehemiah 9:38-10:27 – Make living for God intentional

The Jerusalem after the exile was a far cry from the one before. Though the temple and walls and gates were rebuilt and restored, the sense of loss was still felt. We can imagine that they would invoke a sense of sadness among those who had returned from exile. Their ancestor’s departure from the law of God and waywardness were the main cause of why they had landed in this state of affairs. All these made a time of mourning, confession, and prayer necessary to hasten restoration. And all these the returnees did were needed to plead with God to initiate the move. However, they did one more thing to show their desire and intention to right the nation’s wrongs. Nehemiah 9:38-10:27 provides a list of the names of the leaders, priests, and Levites who agreed to what was right. They did not just agree verbally but put in a written sealed agreement their intention to follow the law of God from that day onward.  

As the leader and governor, Nehemiah set the example by having his name placed first. And in this list were many priestly names.  Not all the priests were mentioned individually. Fifteen of those names were named by families. That was probably why Ezra was not mentioned because he belonged to the Seriah family. Like the names of the priest, both the Levites and the leaders were also listed individually as well as by families.  

 

It helps to put an agreement in writing. They show their sincerity and willingness to abide by what they had unitedly and corporately agreed to do. A written agreement tells us that a decision has been neither hastily nor emotionally made. It is one that is rationally entered. A written agreement can also give an added motivation for one to keep what one has agreed upon. It is true that a recorded pledge is more likely to be observed than one given verbally. That’s why most contracts are put in writing and aptly sealed.  In our journey with God, it helps to put in a record what we have gleaned from the Word of God and are determined to act upon. It helps us to live a life that we can account for.          

 

Nehemiah 9:32-37 – Living with accountability

Having acknowledged and confessed their unfaithfulness, the Jews who had returned from exile made their petition to God in verses 32-37. They asked God to take notice of all the difficulties they as a nation had to endure. Their kings, princes, priests, prophets, ancestors, and all of God’s people, everyone went through much from the time the Assyrians had taken control till this present moment.

However, despite the intense hardship, they knew that God had been faithful. It had nothing to do with God’s faithfulness but everything to do with their waywardness.  God on His part had been just in His dealings. They deserved what they were getting as a nation for their disobedience in not keeping God’s law.  But now they resolve to turn away from their evil. They recognized that while they were in the land God had given them as He had promised, they were living as slaves to foreign powers. Having to pay huge taxes, they were now in great distress.    

 

Israel’s national sin is the sum of the individual sins of every generation. Bear in mind that sin is pervasive. It always affects the whole The prayer they prayed pointed no finger at any individual but at the entire nation. We learn from here that regardless of who had done wrong, the whole community has to own up to the wrong if corrective action has to be taken. Everyone needs to bear the wrong for the whole. There is no time for blaming. If revival is to come to the church, every believer needs to do his or her part. We are a body when one part suffers, the whole will suffer. Let’s live responsibly and be accountable.   

 

Nehemiah 9:16-31 – God is faithful

The Creator God has been faithful to His people since the day He called Abraham and made him and his descendants His very own. He has shown Himself not only as righteous but also merciful. Despite the multiple times they had failed Him, His loving-kindness toward them would remain. He would still pursue them relentlessly. The difficult times, He allowed them to go through, were never intended to destroy them but to bring them to the realization of His love and how much they needed Him.

Being a forgetful people the Israelites had failed Him ever so often. How often they would return to their old ways after God’s dealing. They would very quickly forget the gracious work of God’s redemption. These verses in Nehemiah 9:16-31 recall all the things the faithful God had done for them since the day He delivered them from their bondage in Egypt. But while God had proven Himself to be a gracious God repeatedly, they on their part had shown themselves to be ungrateful people just as often.

While they had left Egypt, the mentality they adopted and developed while there had never left them. They would often pine to return to the land of bondage though they were badly oppressed while they were there. They had stubbornly resisted God’s grace in so many ways even when they were unprovoked. Here we see a description of a compilation of them. They built the golden calves though told not to make God into an idol. They would provoke God and demonstrate their waywardness through the wilderness even though God unfailingly provided food and drinks for them for forty years. And for that duration, he did not allow the clothes and shoes to wear out. Through Him, they conquered great cities and possessed lands, but still, they would rebel and turn away from His law. They even killed the prophets whom God had sent to warn them. Yet in the times of their distress, they would cry to Him, and He would still graciously answer and deliver them without considering how they had spurned his gracious overtures repeatedly. God’s patience with them had been worn thin by their unfaithfulness, even then in His compassion, he never gave them up.

The loving-kindness of God is hard to comprehend. He would go to great lengths to demonstrate that. Ephesians 2:7 Paul tells us that he is so compassionately faithful “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” And Titus 3:4-6 remind us that “…when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior….” Let us seek not to spurn His love toward us. Like the Psalmist, let us respond to Him in obedience and seek always to emulate His faithfulness!

Nehemiah 9:5-15 – Our great God is a promise keeper

After the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacle where they lived in booths made of leafy branches, the people now proclaim a day of fasting and mourning. They wore sackcloths, put dirt in themselves, and separated themselves from the foreigners. They confessed their sins and that of their ancestors and read the law of God and worshipped. Eight Levites on a platform then loudly cried a prepared prayer, most likely to be written by Ezra. This was perhaps one of the longest prayers in the Word of God.

 

The prayer began with a confession of the greatness of God in Nehemiah 9:5-15 where they started with a proclamation of the glorious name of God. Then they recalled his work of creation and praised his wonderful works for making the heavens and earth and everything in them. They also acknowledged His calling on the life of Abraham, and the covenant He made with him to make him and his descendants His own people. They also gratefully acknowledged the gift of the promised land.

 

Influenced greatly by the recent reading of the Word of God. They rehearsed how God had delivered them out of their bondage in Egypt with great signs and wonders and brought them into Canaan, in fulfillment of His promise. They remembered how God opened the sea and led them by the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud. And how He also gave them the law at Mount Sinai and instructed them on the Sabbath rest. He not only delivered them but provided manna from heaven and water from the rock for them in their journey through the wilderness. This righteous God had indeed been faithful to His people.  

 

In reflecting on these verses, we cannot get away from our wonderful God who alone deserves to be acknowledged and praised. He is the creator God who faithfully sustains His people. He is also a covenant maker and a promise keeper. This God is not only righteous but also merciful. How not to honor and love Him in return? Let us like them give our best to only worship and revere Him through life.            

           

Nehemiah 9:1-4 – True repentance

After celebrating the Feast of Tabernacle there came the day of corporate mourning and fasting on the 24^th day of the month. The people wore sackcloths, put dirt on themselves, and separated themselves  from the foreigners.

Nehemiah 9:2 said that together they confessed the sins and iniquities of their ancestors. Then they followed a format on that day. For a quarter of the day, approximately 3 hours, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God. Then for another quarter of the day, they confessed and worshipped the LORD their God. Verse 4 tells us that eight Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, stood on a platform and cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. They were probably reciting the prayer that had been written by Ezra beforehand.

When God’s people encountered him, the outcome would always be the realization of sin. This in turn would produce a willingness to repent. This was what happened to the people. When the law was read, they saw how far they had fallen and departed from the LORD. Then they were convicted and became deeply contrite. All that resulted in the people turning to God in worship.

Here is something we learn about true repentance. It’s a process that invariably involves the total man. Firstly, a person’s mind activates when the word is read. Then what has been heard would begin to make spiritual sense to the person. The Spirit of God would then work in his or her heart to bring about contrition. It would be here that the person's will would respond to God allowing change and worship to take place.  True repentance always begins with conviction leading to contrition and conversion.   

 

Nehemiah 8:13-18 – Living life for God joyfully and faithfully

The Feast of Booth also known as the Feast of Tabernacle was one of the seven feasts God instructed the people to celebrate. In Deuteronomy 16:13-15, the people of God were specifically instructed to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacle. They were told: “You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands so that you will be altogether joyful. Its purpose was to commemorate the time God saw them through the wilderness wandering.”

This feast was to be a thanksgiving commemoration of the time God sustained his people through the wilderness. During the Feast of Tabernacle, the Jews would build temporary tents or tabernacles with palm leaves on their rooftops to celebrate this occasion for seven days. In Exodus 23:16, this feast was also referred to as the Feast of the Ingathering.

As Ezra read the Law to the heads of the household on the second day, they were taken by surprise in learning about this feast. They found out that “the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.” And this feast had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua the son of Nun. They had totally forgotten about this feast and had disregarded it for the longest time. Hence a proclamation was made asking the people to go to the nearby hills to cut and “…bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written” to commemorate this occasion.  

So enthusiastically, the entire assembly who had returned from the exile complied. So Nehemiah 8:16 said that “the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim.” Each day for the week-long celebration Ezra read the law before the solemn day of assembly on the eighth day.  

In this Feast of Booth or Tabernacle, we cannot escape the call to live a joyful life of faith and obedience. It is a call to celebrate the goodness of God. This feast reminds us that we are on a journey. We need to know that earth is our temporary dwelling. Our destination is to be with God. While we journey toward our destination, our goal is to cultivate a life of faith and obedience leading to Christlikeness. As we journey, we must also take care of the needy and not leave them out. We must learn to live joyfully, obediently, and faithfully for God!   

Nehemiah 8:9-12 – Rejoice in the Lord!

The day when the people gathered at the front of Water Gate to hear the Law read was significant and special. The Word of the LORD was read for the first time after a long time.  The eyes of everyone were fixed and every ear attentive to Ezra who read the word from a wooden platform. They were focused on the word from the scroll.

As the word was heard, the people were moved to tears.  Though it was a day to celebrate many became emotional. The leaders, namely Nehemiah who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe and the Levites who were there to explain the word stressed to the people that it was not a day of mourning. It was to be a day of celebration, a day where everyone was urged to share a feast with the less fortunate. The people were urged not to grieve but to find joy in LORD.  For the joy of the LORD would be the source of their strength. So the people celebrated the day with festivity. They celebrated not because the wall was built but because the Word was heard and understood.   

As God’s people, we must learn to joyfully hear the Word and rejoice in Him. He is the reason for our joy. Though we have been saved, we are not immune from the trials of life. Hence, we must not only exult in peace, but we must also learn to exult in trials. Here is what James 1:2-4 urge us to do and tells us what that can do to us. He said,  ^“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  So hear the word of Paul to the Philippians afresh. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).      

Nehemiah 8:1-8 – Be Word-centred

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. On the first day of the seventh month, the sacred month in the Jewish calendar, the people gathered as one in front of the Water Gate. Ezra who was not mentioned during the building of the walls of Jerusalem was now being asked to bring the book of the Law of Moses. He was not just a priest but also a scribe skilled in the Law.  The good thing here was that the people wanted to hear the Law. So obviously they asked Ezra the godly scribe to read it for them.

Ezra read the Law of Moses to a great assembly of people who could understand. Instead of gathering at the temple ground, the gathering was at the Water Gate. This was because they needed a place to accommodate the bigger group. It was also because the Water Gate was one of the places of the center of life in the community.   

 

Those who gathered to listen to the reading of the Law comprised of men, women, and “all who could listen with understanding.” Verse 4 said that Ezra stood and read from  a wooden podium made for the purpose. Standing beside him on his left hand stood “…Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.” These were most likely the leaders of the community. It was important that the leaders band together for such a momentous occasion such as this.  How much of the Law was read was not specified, but we are told that Ezra read it from morning to midday.

 

This was the first time after a long time that the Word of God was read. So the people responded with enthusiasm and much respect. Everyone stood up for the reading of the Word. When Ezra blessed the LORD, the people  responded with Amen with lifted hands. Then they prostrated and with their faces on the ground, they worshipped the great Yahweh. Nehemiah 8:5-8 said that thirteen Levites namely Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah were at hand to explain the Law to the people. They were there to help explain the Word to the people to enable them to apply the law.  Reading alone was not sufficient, in order for people to aptly apply what they had heard, they must first understand it. That accounted for the presence of the Levites.  

 

The Word of God is a key component in our faith life. They are God’s revelation of Himself to us as well as His instruction for us. The Word of God must be read, studied, memorized, and applied if we are to know how to live a God-pleasing life. There is a need for us to accurately interpret the Word because our application of the truth can only be as accurate as our interpretation of it. So let’s take the admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15 seriously, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”       

Nehemiah 7:5-73 - Start well, stay strong and finish with distinction

The list of names listed here were the people who made it a point to return to Jerusalem after their exile. But for a little difference, the list is almost the same as the one given in Ezra 2. In the latter’s case, Ezra had the list prepared while in Babylon. Whereas Nehemiah’s list was actual returnees who had returned. One was an anticipated list whereas one was the actual one. That accounted for the slight difference.

Having the list was important for two reasons. Firstly, it provided continuity for the community and facilitated their link with the past. Secondly, to be able to properly organize for the future, it was needful to know the number of people one has.  

 

One important lesson to glean from here is that of follow-through. It is important to start a project well but far more critical is to ensure its continuity and ultimate completion. It would be terrible to start with a lion’s roar and end with a mouse’s squeal. Not so with the able leadership of Nehemiah.  This can only be accomplished with good leadership, supportive workers, and careful maintenance of records. All these are lessons for or learning concerning Christian service. Be sure to start well, stay strong, and finish with distinction.  

 

 

  

Nehemiah 7:1-4 – Be an active builder of the kingdom

Nehemiah made it his first task to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Though he had to face opposition, he managed to complete the rebuilding in 52 days. That was quite an achievement. However, as important as having the wall built, his job was far from over. Now he had to consider building the community. And this would be a far more difficult and formidable responsibility.   

The wall, according to Nehemiah 7:1, had been rebuilt with all the doors put up in place. Nehemiah then wisely appointed the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites.  Appointment of the Levites was important because Israel was a worshipping community and worshipping God was their first priority. The same is true of the church today. Like Jerusalem, our first agenda for our being should be to worship God. We are made to worship God and that must always be our primary reason in life.  

Next Nehemiah appointed Hanani his brother and Hananiah, a commander to oversee the fortress bordering the temple.  They were given charge of Jerusalem. The latter was said to be a faithful man and one who fear God more than many others. For safety reasons, the gates of the city were opened late and closed early. This was a precaution taken to prevent needless infiltration by the enemies either early in the morning or late in the night.  Guards were also assigned strategically around the city. Every resident was to be ready to guard their own home. The key was for all to be watchful.   

It is one thing to have the wall built but quite another to have the community established. Like Jerusalem, the church is not the building. it is the community of people whom God had brought together. Remember we are the people of God called out of the world of darkness, to bear His name and to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us.  We are called to worship Him and as we do, we must also seek to build up this community. In the task of building, we must be watchful. We need to be alert and not allow the enemies to sow discord and destroy our unity. Let’s be on guard all the time.