Restoration continues

[23] In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: [24] And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. [25] And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. [26] Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. [27] Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? [28] And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. [29] Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. [30] Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; [31] And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:23-31

The book of Nehemiah ends. We can see the progression of sin, repentance, obedience, restoration and then the  cycle starts again.

Wow, is this just in Nehemiah’s time. I dare say no. The Christian life is like any other life. We make mistakes, we learn from our mistakes, we make more mistakes, we learn from those. Life is a circle. Hopefully we learn and grow and do not make the same mistakes again, but sometimes we do. We are imperfect people but we have a perfect Savior. He is always waiting to teach us His way.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16 

We may not have the same problems as the people in Nehemiah’s time, but we still have problems.

In this portion Nehemiah is saying, what you are doing is the same thing that King Solomon did. Do you not remember that he was drawn away from God because of sin?

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1Kings 11:4 

I think of all the things/events/people/places that can draw me away from God. I have to make a conscience decision to stay away from those things. It is not easy to do right.

·        The first step is to know yourself and know your weaknesses. Stay away from those temptations.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Corinthians 10:13 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 

·        Learn from the mistakes of others. There are many examples in the Bible as well in history and even in our own circle of family and friends.

·        Ask the Lord to restore you. No matter what one has done He is waiting with outstretched arms to receive us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:12 

·        We can break the cycle of sin if we are willing to wholly follow Him.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:11 

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 1Peter  2:21 

Please join me on my next post. I will sum up what I learned about Nehemiah.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Respecting the Sabbath

[15] In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. [16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. [17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? [18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. [19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. [20] So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. [21] Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. [22] And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. Nehemiah 13:15-22

The people had returned to their “old ways” Nehemiah 10:31. Nehemiah reestablishes the rules of the Sabbath. He stops the buying and selling on the Sabbath. He went so far as to lock the gates of the city to guarantee those merchants and their wares would not enter in. He told the merchants not to come to the gates on the Sabbath as this was forbidden. He threatened harsh results if they did not heed his words.

We no longer fall under the rules and restrictions of the law, but the law was our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24). Learning and applying from the schoolmaster is a great way to live our life. We should live the principles of the Bible. Once Christ came the disciples started to worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, instead of the Sabbath, Saturday.

I thought it was so fitting that this blog topic fell on a Sunday. As we keep today as a day of worship and rest dwell on the wonderful attributes of our Lord.

Dwell on His:

Awesomeness

Blessings

Creation

Direction

Excellentness

Fairness

Goodness

Holiness

Immutableness

Justice

Kindness

Longsuffering

Magnificence

Nobleness

Omnipresence

Perfectness

Quiet still voice

Righteousness

Sovereignty

Truth

Unity

Victory

Wisdom

eXciting future

unYielding love

Zeal

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Exodus 20:8 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Restoring order

[9] Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. [10] And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. [11] Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. [12] Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. [13] And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. [14] Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.  Nehemiah 13:9-14

This last chapter in Nehemiah is all about restoration. In this portion, the chambers, it appears that Tobiah had more than one to live in, are cleansed and restored to the original use. The vessels and offerings were placed back in the chamber.

Nehemiah continues his investigation and finds that the Levites had not been paid and went “back to the field” to earn their living. He gathers the rulers to ask “why God’s house is forsaken”, bringing back the words they said to him when the covenant was made (Nehemiah 10:39).

Gathering the Levites, Nehemiah brings them back to the temple to perform their duties. Ever the organizer Nehemiah appoints treasurers to oversee and distribute the tithes brought into the treasury.

Through all this Nehemiah does not lose sight of why he is doing this. He prays and calls out to God. Commentaries call these prayers, ejaculatory prayers. In this brief but powerful prayer, Nehemiah asks God to remember him and not wipe out his good deeds for the temple.

God is with us, just as He was with Nehemiah. Our prayers do not need to be elaborate, but sincere from the heart.

Three things I learned from this portion of scripture:

Let God lead:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23  

Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Psalm 119:133 

Be organized:

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1Corinthians 14:40 

Be prayerful:

Pray without ceasing. 1Thessalonians 5:17  

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Chambers

[4] And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: [5] And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. [6] But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: [7] And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. [8] And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Nehemiah 13:4-8

As we continue through the last chapter of Nehemiah, you have to wonder, what was the priest thinking? Or was he thinking? Tobiah was an enemy not only to Nehemiah but to the things of God. The chamber in the house of God had been cleaned out to store the sacrifices and other items used in sacrifices. (Nehemiah 12:44) The priest went into the chamber and had it cleaned up and makes an apartment for Tobiah.  We are not told what the alliance was but historians believe Tobiah was married to a Jewess. 

Just picture the whole scene, Nehemiah has been away for awhile. He comes back to check and see how everything is running where he once was governor. He remembers how everything was left,  redistricting and everyone working together. I am sure the dedication and celebration are in his memory as he starts to go to the house of God.

Imagine his surprise and shock when he finds Tobiah in the house of God, living in a “great chamber.” In Nehemiah fashion, he does the right thing. He takes all of Tobias’s “household stuff” and throws it out of the chamber.

Are we filling the “chambers of our heart” with stuff that doesn’t belong there? Is it full of the “things of this world”? Where are your daily thoughts? Are they focused on the day’s activities or focused on what Jesus would have you do?

Review the following verses and make changes where needed.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Straddling the fence

[1] On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; [2] Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. [3] Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Nehemiah 13:1-3

We are coming to the home stretch in the book of Nehemiah. This is the last chapter. While reading this I came to the conclusion that chapter 13 is not the same time frame as chapter 12 . Nehemiah was not in Jerusalem at the start of this chapter. He had gone back to his previous job after being the governor for twelve years. When reading this portion of scripture, one can see the people returned to their “old ways.” Nehemiah arrives and starts to restore the people back towards God.

The book of Moses is read. The people listen and obey God’s word.  The Israelites had been told not to let the Ammonite or Moabites come into the congregation of God (Deut 23:3). The Ammonites and Moabites are a type of the world. When the law was re-established they followed it and separated themselves from the world.

As I was thinking on this I thought of how stubborn the Israelites were, always being reminded to do the right thing. Oh that reminds me of myself. How many times to do I need to be reminded of things in the word of God? It seems that I have a selective memory.

God’s word is here to teach us, not for us to put on the “back burner” of our mind but for us to learn. We need God’s word to grow. We need to have it implanted into our lives each and every day.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 

We don’t have Nehemiah prodding us but we do have the Word of God. We need to beware of the lure of the world. Satan is standing in the shadows waiting.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1Peter 5:8 

God knows we have to physically  live in this world but we are not to participate in all of the world’s detrimental activities. It is a tall order but when He gives us something to do He also give us the power to do it.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 

As you start this week, reflect on God’s word. Is there something He wants you to change? Is there something He wants you to do? Only you can answer. Start today by reading and studying His word for the answers you need.

Have a blessed day,
Donna