Nehemiah 6:1-4 – Don’t compromise

Under the able leadership of Nehemiah, the Jews diligently rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem despite encountering opposition. Nehemiah 6:1-4 tell us that the walls were now up, and all gaps were bridged. What remained to be done were the doors at the gates that must be put up. Since it was now more difficult to reach the Jews, Sanballat and Geshem resorted to getting rid of Nehemiah instead. So they invited Nehemiah to meet them at Chepihirim in the plain of Ono. What they were doing reek of suspicion. Without a doubt, they were seeking to remove him so that the Jews would be left without a capable leader.

Nehemiah was of course not so foolish to allow himself to be caught in an untenable position. Wisely, he declined their invitation and refused to engage them personally. He sent words to them saying “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”  What to make of Nehemiah’s response? He was making known two things: firstly that he was signaling to the enemies where his primary focus was. The job he was doing was far more important to him than taking time away to meet with them. Secondly, he would not want to waste time by being away from the great job He was doing.  Four times the enemies sent the invitation to meet, and all four times he gave them the same answer. In so doing Nehemiah frustrated their plan.  

Sanballat and Geshem were seeking to lure Nehemiah away from the task and eliminate him. They knew that removing him would leave the Jews without a capable leader. But he was too smart to be outwitted by their deception. He stayed focused and refused to leave his task. Despite the repeated invitation, he stoutly refused to compromise. Why should he trade their national security to gain some needless approval?  

Compromise is nothing but trading your character for something lesser. People usually concede then they no longer have the will to fight. In a compromise, we may gain some acceptance, but we will always lose some personal standards. Psalm 15:4 said that an uncompromising person  is one who would swear to one’s own hurts, but will never change. This is the kind of man or woman God is looking for. What is worth living for must never be compromised.

 

 

Nehemiah 5:14-19 – Being an outstanding example for God

Here in Nehemiah 5:14-19 is a testimony of Nehemiah himself when he was a governor. He showed himself to be an astute leader of great integrity. In his twelve-year tenure as governor, he was careful not to lay any burden on the people. While the governors before him would tax the people for their luxurious living, Nehemiah never followed their example. In verse 14 he said, “…for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance.” In contrast to him previous governors before him “…would lay burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people.” The reason Nehemiah did not do as they were was that he had a great fear for the Lord. People who know the Lord should always live to testify to the glory of His name. Because he feared the Lord, Nehemiah refused to impose on the people.

Furthermore, Nehemiah was found busy working on rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. He and his servants were all actively engaged in the work. Neither did he use his own wealth to acquire more land around Jerusalem. Besides, Nehemiah never insisted on his entitlement to feed 150 or so of his subordinates plus others who would come to him from other nations, with food at his table daily. Verse 18 enumerates the amount of food these would consume daily. He said, “each day one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance.”

In walking with God, Nehemiah had always sought to live to the praise of God. He would live his life for the audience of one – God Himself. He did not live for the applause of man. His constant prayer was for God to remember all that he had done. God was his personal motivation to do his best each day.

Nehemiah has left a great example of how to be an effective witness of God. He made God the object and motivation of his life. He lived by the motto that while others might live as they like, he, God’s child, could not live like them. He sought to live a life of separation unto God. Like Nehemiah, we must desire to adopt such a mentality, to always strive to glorify God in words, deeds, and actions.

Nehemiah 5:6-13 – Help to alleviate each other’s burden

One of the worst situations in the life of any community is when brethren exploit each other. So when Nehemiah heard of their usury among the Jews and how the rich among them were exploiting the poor, he was angry. After thinking through the issue he  consulted with the nobles and leaders and confronted them on their selfishness and insensitivity to the poorer brethren. Among the community members, he expected compassion and not exploitation. What the poor needed at a time like this was a gift and not added burden.

Having confronted the nobles and the leaders, Nehemiah then proceeded to call an assembly of people. Primarily, the purpose was to deal with those who were practicing such uncharitable acts.  He took the time to explain to them that much effort had been taken to redeem the Jews from the bondage of the foreigners. But unfortunately, those nobles were putting them under their bondage due to a lack of compassion on their part. What he pointed out to the nobles left them with no excuse to make. They were blatantly committing usury. He told them in no uncertain terms that what they were doing was not good. Shouldn’t they be model people who walk in the fear of the Lord? They shouldn’t cause their nation to be a reproach to the surrounding nations. He was calling on them to release the debt owed to them.   

Nehemiah did not deny that he and his associates were also guilty of lending money and grains to the poor. As he made up his mind to free the people from the obligation to return, he also pled with his associates and the nobles to do the same. He told them to return the goods and property saying, “Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.” 

The nobles all agreed to return the properties to their rightful owners as well as cancel all debts owed to them. Wisely, Nehemiah quickly took action and turn their agreement into an oath. Verse 12 said that he then “called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.” Symbolically, Nehemiah “also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. What wonderful is o read that “the people did according to this promise.”

Brotherly kindness demands that we don’t exploit the needy. One thing we should seek to do is to support them as the Lord enables us. We should never take advantage of the poor and make their burden heavier. If we are leaders, even more so must we set the pace and be good models. Remember God is no man’s debtor, whatever we do to one of the least of the brethren, we have done it to the Lord.

Hear what 1 John 3:17 says, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” How can we say that we love God whom our eyes cannot see and yet not lift a finger to help meet the need of a brother whom our eyes can see?     

 

Nehemiah 5:1-5 - Do not exploit the needy

The challenges Nehemiah and the Jews faced in the rebuilding of the wall were both external and internal. They had to contend with the external threat, and they also had to cope with their demoralized workers.  Now in Nehemiah 5:1-5, we find another problem Nehemiah had to handle. The problem of dissension.  There was discord among the Jews.   

In verse 1 we learn that some of the poorer Jews, especially the farmers were being exploited by their fellow brothers. They were poor because they could not produce enough food to sustain their big families. Many of them had to mortgage their land, their fields, and even their houses to get grains for their families. This was aggravated by the famine. There were those that had to borrow to pay the king’s tax. In their desperation, they were forced to sell their children into slavery. Their daughters were forced into mindless marriages. They were totally helpless now that their properties were sold, and they were no longer owners.

Of all people, we expect the Jews who were well disposed to be sympathetic toward the poorer v brethren. This apparently was not the case. The poor were being exploited. They had to sell their children, mortgage their properties, and borrow money for their needs. As believers, we must not allow greed to overtake us till we have no compassion for the needy.  We must instead take to heart Paul’s exhortation in Galatians 6:2. Let us “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  

 

Nehemiah 4:15-23 – Wisdom + Courage = Success

When the enemies’ threats reached his ears, Nehemiah in chapter 4:15-23 took precautionary measures.  So the enemies then backed off while the Jews returned to their work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Wisely Nehemiah then had the people organized so that they could have protection for the workers, yet could continue in the work unimpeded.

Nehemiah’s wise plan included, firstly deploying half of his bodyguards and personal servants to assist in the work. The other half had access to weapons such as spears, shields, and bows, and breastplates to guard and protect the work. Secondly, the leaders were behind the workers supporting and encouraging them. Thirdly, the manual worker would carry heavy material with one hand, and with the other, they would hold  onto a weapon. Fourthly, the builders would sling a sword by their sides as they did the work of rebuilding. Fifthly, trumpeters stood nearby so that they could herald the people to the rally in point should there be an attack. Sixthly and most importantly, Nehemiah kept on redirecting their focus to God. He kept assuring them that they had God on their side, and nothing should intimidate them.  

Every one of them was prepared to do their part to protect and ensure the completion of the work. Like Nehemiah, none took off their armor as they work. Everyone was well equipped to see to the work.

It is undeniable that attacks on the church of Jesus Christ will increase in intensity. While we pray for wisdom to deal with them, there must also pray for the courage to act. There is no point in having wisdom but not the courage to deal with them. Neither would it help to have all the courage but no wisdom to deal with it decisively. While we put on the whole armor of God, we must also pray with all prayers for the saints. We must not act foolishly but we must also not be cowardly. 

Nehemiah 4:11-14 – Overcoming overwhelming fear

The opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem persisted. They tried derogatory insults, but that didn’t work. So they tried threats but that made the Jews work even harder after they had prayed. Then that came to a point where the Jews were discouraged. The depleted manpower because some of them deployed to guard the work, and the massive heap of debris to be removed, plus tired and overworked bodies moralized them. When discouraged, it is always wise to take time to seek the Lord. We saw how David did it in the Psalms. Whenever he felt low, he comforted his soul in the Lord. That’s what we can also do when we feel the overwhelming weight of life.

Now in Nehemiah 4:11-14, we read that the enemies were spreading rumors of impending massive sneak attacks. They depended on the purveyors of rumors to help that spread the false message. Even in today’s Christian circle, we have people who mindlessly act as propagandists. They don’t check the facts of a matter to ascertain the truth. They just assume that what they heard is true. Like the situation in Nehemiah’s day, the v church today also faced false messages from all directions. Entertaining them can cause one to be needlessly gripped by fear.

When Nehemiah realized that the people were being negatively impacted, verses 13-14 tell us what he did to counter the intimidation. He “stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” In other words, he stationed people, ready to deal with the threat. In case the attack truly happened. He pacified their fear by redirecting their eyes to God who had seen them through. He reminded them and assured them that God was well able to protect them.

We are living in a troublesome time. Every day we are beseeched with bad news. We keep hearing news of recession, inflation, food shortage, endless wars, etc. The key to staying confident in God is not to indulge in bad news, stay focused on the Lord, and keep our minds on Him. Remember God’s assurance in Isaiah 26:3-4:
“The steadfast of mind You (G0d) will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
“Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

    

Nehemiah 4:10 – Overcoming discouragement

Confidence and enthusiasm are two essential elements to cause one to stay on to complete a task. Without them, it is hard to be fully motivated to continue the task. On the other end, discouragement is what will cause one to lose enthusiasm and confidence. In Nehemiah 4:10, we get the feeling that the Jews engaged in rebuilding the walls were losing confidence. They were discouraged and demoralized. When they look at the task and the debris they had to remove, these plus their tired bodies made them lose perspective. They couldn’t see how the task could be completed. They were vulnerable at this point. Remember, they had stoutly fought off the demeaning remarks, withstood the threats, and vigilantly kept guard over what they were half completed. The workforce had been reduced because some had to be deployed to do guard duties and there was still a huge number of debris to be removed. This situation left those remaining tired workers susceptible to discouragement.

Undeniably, discouragement has a way to cause one to lose focus.  Instead of seeing the glass half full, their condition caused them to develop a perspective of the glass-half-empty syndrome.  So the common refrain all over Judah was “we are dead tired, the  rubbish is piling up, we are way over our heads, and it is impossible to build this wall.” Haven’t we been there before? When discouraged and demoralized any task look way too big for us to handle. In life where we place our focus is important. When we dwell on a problem, we tend to estimate a task way bigger than it really is. When we learn to look to God, the source of our strength we will have a more accurate estimate of the size of the task. Don’t only look at the thorns, learn to see and appreciate the roses.  Hebrews 11 were recorded to encourage us to learn from the heroes of faith.

 

Commenting on the heroes of faith he listed, hear what the author of the letter to the Hebrews said in chapter 12:1-3. ^“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your soul! (The Message)

   

 

Nehemiah 4:7-9 – After praying we still need to do what we can do

The Jews who were rebuilding the wall were first ridiculed, demeaned, and mocked. But they were not discouraged by them. Instead, they propelled them to continue with their task. It was clearly stated in Nehemiah 4:6 that every man had set his heart and mind to work. So the rebuilding of the wall progressed to half its height.

As the work progressed so did the number of opposers increased. Nehemiah tells us in chapter 4 and verses 7-8 that the list of opposers was not just confined to Sanballat and Tobiah. It now included the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites. When they realized that the initial derogatory remarks did not work. They became even angrier. But the Jews were not at all discouraged and continued repairing the wall. They had done so much that even the breaches were beginning to be closed. So verse 8 said that the enemies, “All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.” They came to Jerusalem to create some chaos and disturbances.

Now the Jews were enclosed by hostility. Their adversaries came up with a new strategy to thwart and stall their work.  They would attack the city and disrupt their work. Even that did not prevent them from working. Verse 9 reveals what they did to deal with this second wave of attack. They got into prayer again. But prayer was not the only thing they did, they also went on to organize guards to keep vigil over the work, day and night.

What we take away from here is this: after praying over a matter, we need also to take definitive steps to do what we humanly can do. Trusting God is one part but acting after prayer is also needed. We must do what we can do and leave God to do what we cannot. Remember our journey is a collaborative effort between God and us.  We have said so often that “Without God, we cannot, but without us, God will not.”  After prayer, we must act on God’s word and trust Him. 

 

 

Nehemiah 4:1-6 – What to do when facing opposition

Just as the Jews who were engaged in rebuilding the temple were opposed, those involved in rebuilding the wall now also had opposition. The chief of them was Sanballat.  Nehemiah 4:1 said that “when he heard that the Jews were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.” Here he was among the assembly of some wealthy Samaritans. Openly he ridiculed and demeaned the Jews for taking part in this work of rebuilding the wall. He asked a series of five derogatory  rhetorical questions. He was questioning the mental strength and resolve of the Jews. What he did influence Tobiah, the Ammonite who added to the ridicule by saying that their work would not pass master. He sarcastically said that even “if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”

Notice how Nehemiah responded in verses 4-5. He took the matter to the Lord in prayer. Because what they were doing was an assignment for God, hence the opposers were not resisting them but God. Nehemiah ask God to cause whatever insults they had hurled at them to boomerang and their opposers would themselves receive what they wished for the Jews. He asked God  to “Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.” It is a mean thing to demoralize people who are doing the work of God. No matter how much we disagree with what is being offered to God, we should never demoralize His workmen. The best way to counter any opposition to God’s work is to bring it to the Lord in prayer.

Nehemiah 4;6 shows us the attitude of the workers. They put their mind on the work and did not entertain the insults. We get the idea that they stayed focused on the task and built it to an acceptable height.  The attitude to adopt in the face of opposition is found in these words, “the people had a mind to work.”

Here we learn three action steps we can take when we face opposition. Firstly, refuse to succumb to ridicule. Know that when we are doing God’s work, anyone opposing it is not opposing us but God. Secondly, take the matter to God in prayer. For this is the tool God has given to us to enable us to rely on Him. Thirdly, set your heart and mind on the work God has assigned. This is the attitude to adopt and learn to rejoice at incremental progress. Learn to look at the positive sides of things.   

Nehemiah 3:1-32 – Are you taking part in God’s building program?

Like Hebrews 11, Nehemiah 3 is also another roll of honor. It contains a list of the name of people who participated in the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. In this chapter, we are given the names of the people involved in the rebuilding.  Besides telling us who they were, we are also told which part of the wall each of them rebuilt. Every participant attended to their work diligently. And like the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, the building of our community requires every one of us to participate in the ministry diligently and totally. Every believer must be ready to jump in to help in the task, no matter how insignificant the job may seem to him or her.

Gates are an important part of a city or a building. They were not only the first line of defense but also the centre of activities in Biblical times.  Hence it is interesting to note that the building of the wall of Jerusalem centred around the gates. Here in Nehemiah 3, we see the repair of ten gates. They are namely,  the Sheep Gate (verse 1), Fish Gate (verse 2), Old Gate (verse 6), Valley Gate (verse 13), Refuse Gate (verse 14),  Fountain Gates (verse 15), Water Gates (verse 26), Horse Gate (verse 28), East Gate (verse 29), and Inspection Gate (verse 32). Interestingly, in Jerusalem, there are twelve Gates, ten of which are mentioned in this chapter. The other two, the Gate of Ephraim and the Gate of the Guard are mentioned in Nehemiah 12:39. In Revelation 21:12 we are told that the New Jerusalem in the future will also have 12 gates.  

Here are some other observations of the people involved in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

1.     Eliashib the high priest and his associate priests were all involved in the repair of the Sheep Gate. This was the gate where sheep would be brought into the temple for worship and sacrifice. Hence it seems appropriate that they should be the people assigned to rebuild this gate. And they reconstructed it, hung up the gate, and consecrated it.

2.  One group of people who did not participate in the work that were singled out were the nobles from Tekoa. Verse 5 says “…these did not support the work of their masters.” In God's work, no task should be deemed too small for anyone to do. And none should consider any ministry beneath his or her dignity to do.

3.   In verse 11 we are told that “Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of Furnaces.” In other words, after they had done one part, they took on another assignment and finished building the Tower of Furnaces.

4.    Verse 12 tells us that even women folks were involved in the work.  Here the verse explicitly said that Shallum and his daughters were involved in the rebuilding.

5.      In verses 19-21, 24, 27, and 30 few other groups were identified to have taken extra duties and repaired other parts of the wall beside what was already assigned to them.

6.   Baruch in verse 20 was specially mentioned for the zealousness, he brought into his work. Oh, that  we will all bring to into the work of God such attitude as Baruch. Let's make it our aim to attend our ministry with such an orientation.  

God’s intention in the building and edifying of the church was never to only use the pastors and leaders. Every one of us, who is a member of the community must be responsible and be an active participant in the task of upbuilding our spiritual home. God is not building the church with stones but the lives of believers. We are all called to be a part of God’s building program. So let's get to it!    

 

Nehemiah 3:1 – Being involved in building our spiritual family

Nehemiah 3 describes the rebuilding of the walls, the people involved in the building, and which section of the wall they were assigned to build. For so extensive a work,  coordination was certainly needed. A wise use of manpower dictates this so that the work could be evenly distributed and no part of it left unattended.  This chapter begins by talking about the building of the Sheep Gate by the priests. Verse 1 talks about how Eliashib the high priest and fellow priests were involved. They repaired the Sheep Gate, consecrated it, and hung up the gate.

The life of the Jewish community revolved around the worship of God. A key part of worship was the offering of their sacrifices to the LORD. This was where the priests were expected to play a pivotal role. They were leaders and ministers in worship and were obliged to provide examples by setting the pace.

The priests could have adopted the attitude that they were priests and not builders, so they just relied on others to repair the wall of Jerusalem. But the text showed that they did not sit idly by and wait for the repair work to be done by others. They got involved themselves. It was befitting that they were assigned to repair the Sheep Gate. For this was probably the gate where sheep for sacrifices were brought through into the temple.  Hence it was right that they were given the task to repair that gate and hang up its door. When it was done, they consecrated hung the door and then also consecrated the wall leading to the Tower of the hundred and the Tower of Hananel.

The work of God should involve everyone especially the priests who were called to minister to God through ministering to His people leaders. A priest would better understand the people when they are also involved in the work that they do. They would be able to better appreciate the hard work required by the people to put up the wall. Besides they also need to be able to identify with the people and show themselves to be part o the whole community. In participating in the work they were providing a model of cooperation for the people.  The proverb “many hands make light work” is true even in the building of the Christian community. Everyone pastors, elders, and members must all chip in their part according to the calling, the gifts, and the talents they are endowed with. Let us collaborate in the work of God for His glory!   

Nehemiah 2:17-20 – Stay focused and find strength in God

Nehemiah did not run ahead of schedule. Being an astute leader, he made sure he had gathered all the facts and was well-apprised of the situation before he spoke to the people. Having had a good grasp of the situation, Nehemiah 2:17-20 described how he challenged the people. He first explained the situation as it was,  then encouraged the people to rise and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem with him. Nehemiah assured them that they no longer needed to bear the reproach if they restored the wall of Jerusalem. Without a wall, they would be oppressed. It would not be a secure place for them to seek refuge.

Notice how Nehemiah issued the challenge. He did not order them to do the job. He included himself in the challenge by saying, “let us arise and rebuild….” In other words, he himself was ready to be involved in the work. Though he would have the right to tell them to get to work done he didn’t. As a wise leader, he knew that to do it right and the work to succeed, he needed to get the people to buy into the mission. Nehemiah also wisely included God in his challenge to them. Besides, he assured them that they also had the approval and blessing of the king.  

The last part of verse 18 shows us how the people responded. It says that “they all put their hands to the good work.”  In verse 19, we are told that as they started work, they had to face opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. They were not only accused but also scorned and despised. These tactics are what our spiritual enemy would also do to us in our service to God. We will have to face scorns, accusations, and ridicule. But like Nehemiah, we must also refuse to be cowed. We must stay assured that God’s hand will be with us to grant us success. And like  Nehemiah had encouraged the people, we must also factor God into our work and refuse to be intimidated. When we buy into the mission and steadfastly continue in our God’s assigned endeavors, strength will be provided. Success in God is a foregone conclusion.

 

Nehemiah 2:12-16 – Journaling life

Nehemiah knew that to be effective in restoring Jerusalem he had to know the degree of the damage. The ruin of the city was not just in the walls but also in the gates. After three days of rest, he went on a secret reconnaissance. He did not tell anyone what God had put in his heart to do. Wise move! Many a time plans are spoilt because of different views. The common saying that too many cooks can spoil the broth is true. Ever come across people that can only see the hole and not the dough in a doughnut. They make all the negative excuses when they have made up their minds not to be involved. It is always wiser to have an exact knowledge of the situation oneself before involving others. Nehemiah knew that only with an accurate appraisal of the situation, then would he be able to have a more accurate plan to present to others. So he went on a secret night mission alone to survey the torn-down walls and burnt gates of Jerusalem.   He had no one with him except the animal probably a mule or a donkey that he rode on.        

Many of the places were damaged and or burnt down. Nehemiah 2:13-14 describe his itinerary. In his own words, he said, “I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.” We can tell how careful he was to inspect the different parts of the walls, gates, and even the well. When he came to the Fountain Gate and the King’s pool, where he could not ride through on his mule or donkey. So verse 15 said that he “went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. He also entered the Valley Gate again and returned.  Verse 16 reiterated that he did not let anyone know of his mission, “…the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.”

These verses point us to the need of making a careful appraisal of life. changes are not possible when there is no self-awareness. The first step to change is self-awareness. There can be no self-awareness when there is no honest appraisal. This is true for all aspects of life, especially in our spiritual journey. Every one of us wants to progress in our intimacy with God. We certainly can recall times when have had a fruitful devotion and we must have plenty of those times. But we must also identify times that we have not been so well connected with God. In self-examination, we identify where we have gone wrong so that we can make the needful correction and adjustments. We should not presume or pretend that everything is right.

One useful tool to identify areas in our life that need to change is a personal journal. You can do it in the morning before your activities for the day start or the night before you turn in to bed. If you do it in the morning, spend time to recall what happened the day before and record honestly, your feelings, your attitude, your rights, your wrongs, etc.  You can start with the record with, “Yesterday, …”   If you do it at night, recall what happened that day. One good way to start if you are recording your journal in the night would be, “this morning…” Know that the first step to change is self-awareness. A good tool for self-awareness is your journal. Try it and you will be amazed to discover your unconscious habits.  

Nehemiah 2:11 – Resting in the Lord

It is one thing to know the urgency of work but quite another to be careful to know where to begin. How to know where to begin if one does not know where to start. A wise move would be to survey and estimate the extent of the ruin before planning the strategy to cover the ground. This was what Nehemiah did in chapter 2 verses 11 onward.

He came to Jerusalem now and instead of rushing blindly into the work he had come to do, he first rested before he went out and survey the land. Verse 11 said, he rested for three days before he began his survey. The rest was needed after the journey. It is not about working hard but working smart. When a person is exhausted, his effort will not yield effective results. Rest is an essential part of preparing for effective service to the Lord. Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us to rest in Him. He said, “ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

A story was told of a lumberjack who went out to the forest with his saw to cut wood. After eight hours of doing so, he was exhausted. Besides, the saw that he was using to cut had lost its cutting edge. But he was still feverishly trying to cut more wood. A friend came by and realized how tired he was and the saw that had already lost its cutting edge. Realizing that he was wasting needless effort, so he told him to take a rest to sharpen his saw. But the former replies, “No, I can’t stop, there are a lot more woods to cut.”

The essence of the story is that we need to take time to rest and sharpen our jaded spirit. Besides like Nehemiah, we also need the time to consider and plan and know where to begin. The lesson from this one verse is that we need to pause and rest in the Lord. That’s the reason God included in the Ten Commandments the Sabbath rest. The rest allows us to sharpen our minds. It will also give us time to ponder and reflect and enable us to think more clearly and make better and more creative decisions. We will realize that we become more efficient and able to do more with less time. If you are exhausted, take time to rest in the Lord! Remember Matthew 11:28-20

Nehemiah 2:9-10 – Opposition to be expected in God’s work

Nehemiah now came to the governor of the provinces beyond the River, equipped with the letter he requested from Artaxerxes. Confidently, he must have presented the letters to the governors. Nehemiah 2:9 tells us that he did not travel alone. King Artaxerxes sent with him officers of the army and horsemen to travel with him. How many of them we are not told but the presence of the officers and horsemen must have brought him much security. So Nehemiah not only had the best protection of God, but he also had the king’s backing.  

Verse 10 hinted that the work of God Nehemiah was about to do would not be smooth sailing. Opposition to what he would soon be doing was surfacing. They were seen in the person of Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, an Ammonite. What made it more difficult was that these were officials of the government. When they heard that Nehemiah was seeking the welfare of the children of Israel, they were displeased. Verse 11 said that they were not just irritated but “very displeased.” This is by way of saying that he would be facing opposition. People are usually threatened when we mean business in advancing God’s agenda.   

 

From these two verses, we learn that it is foolhardy for us to think that we will not face opposition in our service to God. Everyone who takes the work of God seriously will have to face people who would come against it. The logic is simple, the values of God are very opposite to man’s values. The world wants us to be conformed to its values, but God wants us to be transformed by His values. When we set our heart to please God we will have to adopt a different attitude in order not to be influenced by the world.  Be prepared to face opposition when we make up our minds to take God and His work seriously. It is a fact that God will not remove the opposition from us. Why? Because they are what will keep us relying on Him. Expect opposition in walking with and serving God. But when we face them courageously, we will be strengthened in our resolve to live to please Him.      

 

 

 

 

Nehemiah 2:4-8 – Key to finding favor with others

After four months of prayer and fasting, it did not come as a surprise that he should find favor both with God and with his boss, king Artaxerxes. The sadness shown on his face regarding the desolation of Jerusalem did not go unnoticed by the king who then asked what was affecting him. That provided an opportunity for him to reveal to the king his concerns. Instead of punishment, he found favor from the king who asked, what would you request?” In other words, what do you want me to do? What a turn of events! Quickly, Nehemiah sent a quick prayer to the LORD, before he responded.  

Seizing the opportunity, he asked the king for three things. Firstly that he would be given permission to return to Judah to Jerusalem to rebuild that ruined city. To this request, the king asked two pertinent questions. With his queen sitting beside him, he asked him how long his journey would be and how long he would be away? We are not told specifically how Nehemiah answered the king, but he did give him a definite period.

Secondly, he requested a letter to the governor of the province to facilitate his movement back home. He was asking for ease in custom clearance. This was needful so that his travel back home would not be needlessly hindered. Time was of the essence, and he did not want to be delayed.     

Thirdly, he requested a letter to Asaph, the forest keeper of the king to let him have beams so that he could repair “the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.” Without any resistance from the king, he was quickly granted all three requests.

Nehemiah was quick to attribute it to the favor of God. It is true that when God favors a man, it is easier to also find favor with man. So here in Nehemiah 2:4-8  Nehemiah proved that to be true. Every one of us wants to be accepted, approved, and appreciated by men. We would often try all means to try to get them. Here in these verses, we are given a key, i.e. to stay connected with God and obtain His favor first of all. Proverbs 16:7 assures us that “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” When we have the favor of God, man’s approval or acceptance would flow easily. 

Nehemiah 2:1-3 – Waiting for God’s critical moment

It is one thing to pray and quite another to wait for God’s moment. In chapter 1, we learned that Nehemiah prayed from the moment he heard of the plight of Jerusalem from Hanani in the month of Kislev. Four precious months had passed between Kislev, the ninth month in the Hebrew calendar, and Nisan, the first month. Here once again, we establish that while it is important to pray with urgency, we must also learn to wait on the Lord patiently as we offer our prayers. In prayer, we need to delight in the Lord, so that He will grant us the desires of our hearts. And between the time we bring our prayers to Him and the time He answers, we need to depend on Him. And in the meanwhile, we also allow Him to develop and get us ready for the movement to act. The duration varied with different ones. For Nehemiah, the moment came after four months.

The opportunity came four months later when he brought wine to the king. It is likely that this took place at a feast. Remember he was Artaxerxes cupbearer. For the past months when he was serving, he put up his best before the king. He did not appear sad. He did not allow his concern for Jerusalem to affect his duty to the king. In much the same way, our concern for God’s Kingdom should not affect our secular duties. If there is anything, we must give our best to our work to reflect the character of the kingdom's people. Disciples of Christ must always seek to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. We must be seen to be people who are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.    

On that occasion, Nehemiah’s concern overwhelmed him. It was reflected on his face and the king noticed it.  It was a dangerous thing, that’s why he was afraid. It could be misread by the king as a plot or an impending coup. For that, he could have been taken to task. However, his usual disposition must have mitigated the situation. Instead of being suspicious, the king showed understanding. That presented an opportunity for him to explain his concern. His opening words, “Let the king live forever” were calculated to assure the king that there was no plot against him. Then having assured the king he then explain why he was sad. His reason was, “Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” He answered the king with a rhetorical question. As a concerned Jew, it was logical for him to be affected by what was happening to his homeland, especially the beloved Jerusalem.  

God has a schedule and plan for His people. He will make all things beautiful in His time. God’s delay should not be interpreted as His denial. Remember the delight, dependent and developmental factors. We must delight ourselves in the Lord and He will grant us the desires of our hearts. We must depend on Him more and more to build trust in Him. And we must allow Him to develop in us the character and be ready for the moment. In the interim, we must continue to do and be our best for His glory.      

 

 

 

Nehemiah 1:7-11 – The challenge to participate in Kingdom building

In his prayer, Nehemiah began by invoking God and acknowledging Him as the great, awesome, and faithful God. He was confident that He, the preserver of covenant and lovingkindness to those who  would love and keep His commandments would hear HIs prayer. Nehemiah further invoked that He be attentive to the prayer that he was bro9nging before Him day and night. Turing from invocation to petition, Nehemiah first identified with the sin of the nation. He did not only confess the sin of his forefathers but also those he could identify with himself.  

In Nehemiah 1:7-11, he confessed on the behalf of the nation for their corruption.  He confessed that they did not keep the commandment or the ordinances that God had commanded through His servant Moses. He recalled that in the commandments, God had specified that if they, his people would become unfaithful, He would banish and scatter them from the land. And when they returned to Him and keep and obey His commandments, even if they scattered into the remotest parts of the world, He would gather and bring them back to Jerusalem. For this was the place that God Himself had chosen to make HIs name to dwell.  

In verse 10, Nehemiah called God’s attention to His people, the Jews in Jerusalem. He reminded God that they were His servants and people He had redeemed by His great power and mighty hand. Turning to pray for himself in verse 11, he voiced his personal and the people of Israel’s desire for God. Their one delight was to revere His name. Nehemiah asked for God to grant him, and His people favor with Artaxerxes whom he was serving as a cupbearer. And in his  position as cupbearer, he needed the king’s understanding and compassion so that he could do something for God’s beloved city.   Remember Artaxerxes in Ezra 4 was the king whom the opposers of Israel had written a letter to complain about their rebuilding program in Jerusalem. It was therefore needful that Nehemiah and his people receive his approval to restore the ruin of Jerusalem.  

From the life of Nehemiah, we learn that sin and disobedience against God will always bring dire consequences. However, we have a great, awesome, and faithful God who would hear the petition of His repentant people. We learn also that no matter our position in life, like Nehemiah we can decide to help in kingdom building.  All it takes is a heart of passion for God and a willingness to be involved. We also learn that prayer must be offered to God if we want to be effective participants in the Kingdom’s work. The urgency we bring to pray for the work of God may require us to fast as well.  Are we serious about advancing God’s Kingdom? Let’s adopt Nehemiah’s attitude and concern for God’s name and Kingdom.   

 

Nehemiah 1:5-6 – God is great, awesome, and faithful

On hearing the reports of the plight of Jerusalem, Nehemiah was greatly affected. He could not remain uninterested in what was happening back home. Immediately, we are told that he was overtaken by a deep emotion. He sat down and mourned and wept for days. His response to what he heard reveals how earnest and passionate he was for Jerusalem. He could not let the city that God had chosen to bear His name remain in ruin. He could no longer sit idly by and not do a thing. So he went before the God of heaven in fasting and prayer for days. Nehemiah 1:5-11 describe his earnest prayer.

Verses 5-6 describe his invocation to God. He said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.”  

Firstly, Nehemiah describes the God of heaven as the great and awesome God. And truly He is. There is simply no one like Him. And there are simply not enough words to describe His greatness.  This God has no equal. He is the source of divine greatness and is simply awesome. Secondly, Nehemiah tells us that God is also faithful. He keeps His word and preserves the covenant He has made with His people. In other words, He never forgets His promise. Thirdly, He is also merciful, and He keeps His promises, especially to those who keep His word. From praise, Nehemiah then transited into a petition. He knew that God would hear his petition. So he asked the faithful God to be attentive to his prayer on the behalf of his people. Here Nehemiah also identified with the sin of the people and confessed them not only for the nation but also for himself.

God’s love must not be taken for granted. It must be reciprocated. His lovingkindness must elicit from us a willing response to the overtures of His love. No matter how trying the circumstances we face may be, we can always turn to God.  He is not only great and awesome but also faithful. He will hear the prayers we bring before Him in contrition. What Nehemiah did reminds us of what Paul tells us to do in Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” No matter what our struggles may be today, why don’t we turn to the great and awesome, and faithful God? He will hear the answer prayers of those who keep His Word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nehemiah 1:4 – Seeking to make a difference in a broken world

None of us will ever be immune to crisis. The fallen world specializes in bad news. Anyone living in this world will encounter them. But what makes the difference between people is how they respond to crises. Some will morn and go into a state of depression and distress to a point of resignation. Some will be saddened by the circumstances, but they are not passive, they turn to God for solutions. Why? Because they know God has the whole world in His hand. Nothing can ever happen to the community of God without His permission. And for that matter, nothing can happen to us without God’s approval. So instead of being fretful, a person who trusts God will turn and seek Him. This was precisely what Nehemiah did.

Hence, Nehemiah explicitly said in verse 4 that “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” He turned to God. He knew that the one that could make the change in the circumstances of his nation was the God of heaven, the God whom they as a nation had a covenant relationship with. He is the “God of heaven” because that's where His throne is and from there, He reigns over all the earth for time and eternity. Nehemiah said that he was before this Sovereign God. Who could better give a solution in times of crisis? Smart move!

Weighed down by the matter, all levity left Nehemiah. He could not live life flippantly nor sit idly by watching his beloved community languishing in desperation. Knowing that the answer was with God, Nehemiah turned to Him. He did not only seek Him for one day but for many days. We are not told exactly how many days he sought God, but we surmise that he persisted because he needed clear directions and steps to deal with the crisis. One critical lesson we need to take note of when seeking God is this: We must seek Him in urgency, but we must at the same time wait on Him patiently. It is His answer that we need and that requires time to discern. 

In this verse, we are told that he was fasting and praying. These are important spiritual disciplines. Notice they are put in the continuous tense. In other words, he did not just do it once and stop. He did it continuously and persistently. There was a sense of urgency. Jerusalem and her people were living far below what their covenant with God had promised. Nehemiah knew that unless God broke into their circumstance, they would continue in their desperation. His fasting shows us how important and urgent the matter was to him that he would sacrifice his meals to seek God. His Praying tells us that he knew that without God there would be no solution or positive outcome to the situation. Wisely, Nehemiah tarried before the Sovereign God.  

Are we facing a crisis? We live in times where divine intervention is more needed than ever. In the escalating crises in our world, without divine intervention, the church and the world will careen uncontrollably and helplessly down the nasty path. Like Nehemiah, we can no longer continue in our felicity and live in our wrongly perceive eutopia. It's time for us to rise and seriously seek the God of heaven in fasting and praying. We need a revival!                       

Nehemiah 1:1-3 – Are you concerned for Kingdom advancement?

Interestingly the meaning of Nehemiah is “the LORD comforts.”  How apt his name was for his time. For such a harrowing time, nothing was more needed than the LORD’s comfort for the Jews. It was at such a time that the spirit of the Jewish community that returned from exile needed reviving and focus. And the gracious God used Nehemiah in such a time to bring hope and comfort to a discouraged community. He was the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes and was serving him away from Jerusalem.

The first seven chapters as well as chapters 11 and 12 of this book are written in the first person, hence we can say that they are the memoirs of Nehemiah. Being personally involved in God’s renewing work for his community, he was suited to write this  historical account. He began the book by stating the time that he was informed of the condition of the Jews back home in Jerusalem. It was in the month of Kislev. According to the Hebrew calendar, Kislev was in the ninth month and would roughly be around November and December. The first month was Nissan. The place where Nehemiah was at that time was Susa. This was where the winter residence of the Persian King was located. While he was in Susa, some Jews came to him. Among them was Hanani. He was most likely a blood brother.

Nehemiah  was comfortable in his position and had prestige and power. It is easy for a person in his position to adopt a nonchalant attitude. Yet in such a position and far away from home, he showed concern for his people back home. He was keen and interested to know what was happening to the  Jewish community back home in Judah and Jerusalem. his people. In verse 3, we are told that “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Nehemiah was not an out-of-sight-out-of-mind person. In his position, it was easy to mind his own business. Yet he was genuinely interested in what was happening to God’s people and His community.  In other words, he had a heart for  God and His work.

Like him. we are also living in challenging times. What’s happening in the world signal that we are living in a difficult time.  The church is still recovering from the Covid pandemic. Sadly, many Christians have become both apathetic and lethargic. Being accustomed to the easy, passive lifestyle of staying home, even getting back to physical worship on Sunday has become a struggle. People who were once actively involved had chosen to take a backseat in ministry. It is times like this that we need more people like Nehemiah. Can God and the church count on us to be one? May God stir in us a spirit for His Kingdom and His kingdom. Let us arise from our spiritual slumber and return to kingdom business!     

 

 

Introduction to Nehemiah

We will continue our reflection in the Book of Nehemiah. This is a post-exilic book that complements the book of Ezra. While Ezra deals with the rebuilding of the temple and the initial reformation of Jerusalem after the Jews returned from captivity, Nehemiah deals with rebuilding the broken walls and gates of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was Artaxerxes’ cupbearer. To be chosen as the king’s cupbearer, he must be a trustworthy man. Why? Being so close to the most powerful man, he would obviously have the best opportunity to assassinate the king. He would be the one to taste the king’s wine and food before the latter drinks or eats them. This was to ensure that the king would not fall prey to any attempt to take his life by poisoning him.

But in his position, Nehemiah would also be the best to influence the king to be sympathetic and show favor toward his people. This book was a challenge for God’s people to restore the broken walls of Jerusalem. For us, it’s a call for us to strengthen the walls and gates of our spiritual life. As we explore this book as will be gleaning strategic principles that will help us to build them. We are living in days where the call to strengthen our spiritual life is more needed than ever. So let’s brace up for an exciting journey!

Lessons we will be discovering from this book includes the attitude we need to adopt in servicing God, the resilience we need to overcome opposition, the diligence we need to complete our God’s entrusted assignments, and the necessity to rely on God totally through prayer in all undertakings.

Ezra 10:19-44 – Living responsibly

In these closing verses of Ezra 10, we find a list of offenders. In every segment of the returnees, from leaders to followers, from priests to Levites, singers to ordinary Israelites there were found among them those who had busted the warning not to marry foreign wives. These were said to have married foreign wives and some even had children from their marriages. Instead of making it to the hall of fame, these had made it to the hall of shame. The one positive thing we walk away from these verses is that they were all willing put away their foreign wives and offered sacrifices for their sins. It is here that they left us a lesson. Sin will surely be found in our walk with God, the important thing is that when the Holy Spirit reveals to us, we must deal with it immediately and swiftly.

Here are a few critical questions we need to ask so that we will be challenged to walk thoughtfully. Which hall would we rather be in, the hall of fame or the hall of shame? Would we rather be a hero of faith or a zero of faith? So many people committing the same offense could be a case of “monkey see monkey do” These verses underscore for us the necessity to be vigilant in our faith journey. We are each personally accountable to God. It’s important who we take as a model in our journey with God. It is good to make this a maxim in life, “others may but I cannot.” We must all make time to evaluate and appraise our spirituality frequently. Just because others are doing it, it does not mean that we must do it. Let’s be wise, seek to understand what the will of God is, and live to honor God!

 

Ezra 10:9-17 – A uncompromising love for God

Ezra 10:9 tells us that within three days all the men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. They all sat in the open square before the temple. The rainy season plus the serious matter at hand made them shiver to hear the judgment of Ezra. Speaking candidly, Ezra told them in verses 10-11 saying, “You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel. Now, therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” 

By and large, the people assembled agreed with him. Loudly in unison, they replied, “that’s right.” And they concurred that it was their responsibility to set the matter right by getting rid of their foreign wives. However, in verse 15 we are told that a few, four to be precise, objected. Since the serious matter was widespread, plus the rainy season, it was impossible to settle the matter within one or two days. So a suggestion was made that leaders and the people who had committed the offense come with their appointed officials according to appointment to see to the settlement of the issue. Ezra took up the suggestion and in verse 16 he appointed “men who were heads of fathers’ households for each of their father’s households, all of them by name.” They convened the meeting to investigate and settle the matter, which took them three months to complete.

The issue at hand was their marriage to foreign women. Humanly speaking, to put away their wives would seem brutal and unsympathetic. But more than the seemingly unkind act this passage is giving us a critical principle concerning our devotion to God. We must not allow anything to come in the way of our total commitment and devotion to God. Any disobedience must be dealt with ruthlessly so that we will not be hindered in our relationship with Him.  Think of what Jesus said in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is not asking us to hate the list of people mentioned in this verse. He is asking us to put him first in our love and must not even allow the people listed to become the hindrance to our devotion to Him.  We must offer to Jesus a radical and uncompromising love. 

Ezra 10:1-8 – Needing a spiritual renewal

Deeply distressed by the people’s compromising marriage because he knew that it was on account of this that they were sent to exile. Despite the severe judgment, the people still had not learned and indulged in marrying the foreigners.  So in deep contrition, the bewildered Ezra was fasting and praying. As he was mourning and prostrating before the Lord in deep prayer in the temple, men and women from Israel assembled to him there. Ezra 10:1 said that they were weeping bitterly. There before Ezra, Shecaniah confessed their unfaithfulness and promised on oath to correct their wrong.  They would put away their foreign wives and children as Ezra had counseled and do as the law had stipulated. There they encouraged Ezra to  arise, saying that they would be with him as he courageously helped them to right their wrongs. 

Ezra then arose and made the leading priests, Levites, and all of Israel take an oath to do what was proposed. Meanwhile, Ezra went into the quiet room in the house of Jehohanan (a friend) and spent time fasting and mourning over the people’s unfaithfulness.  Then a proclamation was made for all exiles in Judah and Jerusalem to gather in Jerusalem. And within three days, if any of them would not come, his property would be seized and forfeited, and he would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.

For change to take place, the realization of one’s wrong is not enough. It must also be accompanied by repentance and contrition and a determination to correct the wrong. This was what the Jews who returned to Jerusalem inspired by Ezra did. Do we need a reformation in our personal lives? Are that areas of wrong in our lives that need to be identified, repented, and changed? Let’s seek the Lord earnestly so that there can be a movement to get us moving in the right direction and in line with God’s plan and purpose and us. 

 

 

Ezra 9:10-15 – Don’t test the patience of God

To get to the root of a problem, an honest appraisal is required. As it was for the people of Israel, it will be for us. Ezra confessed that as His people, Israel did not take heed to the instruction of God, who had warned them of the impurity of the people and the land which they were entering to possess. They were warned not to have any alliance with the natives of Canaan, whether in marriage, business, or lifestyle. God’s objective was to prevent an unholy model for the subsequent generations. Their failure to take God’s instruction had them into needless judgments. Yet even in His Judgment, His mercy toward them was clear. Israel had received less than what their sin deserved.  

Graciously, God had allowed a remnant to return to rebuild Jerusalem. In the light of God’s great mercy, Ezra shuddered to observe how the remnant could fall into the same disobedience that had previously led the nation into God’s judgment. So he asked two rhetorical questions. The first question is “shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? This question should be answered with a “no.”  God’s people must not test the patience of God. The second question is “Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction until there is no remnant nor any who escape?  The answer to this second question is yes, God’s anger could be kindled when we return to commit the same sin again. This time there may be no way out of His judgment.

In verse 15, Ezra then rounded up praying, “O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” He humbly threw himself into the mercy of God and pled with Him not to destroy His people.

In verse 15, Ezra then rounded up praying, “O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” He humbly threw himself into the mercy of God and pled with Him not to destroy His people.

Lesson 1 - God is patient, but that does not mean that we can test it. While God is patient, it does not give us the right to wear it thin.

Lesson 2 - do not spurn the grace of God. Don’t repeat the sin that He has so graciously forgiven. To do so would be like returning to our vomit.

Lesson 3 - seek to know God’s Word but more importantly seek to obey it to avoid needly discipline.  Remember Hebrews 3:7, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart as in rebellion…!”