I've been (slowly) working through Ezra and Nehemiah. I get distracted by other things to read and books sometimes. Both books have been very cool to see how the work of the Lord (rebuilding of temple and walls) progressed through the people of Israel.
In the beginning of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is greatly burdened because the temple and city of Jerusalem is unprotected. There are no walls. They had been destroyed and were never rebuilt. Nehemiah was grieved which led him to pray and fast for 4 months about this burden. He was the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes and the king noticed that he was downcast. So he was bold enough to take the opportunity to ask the King to go to Judah to rebuild the walls. He even asked for letters from the king so he would be protected when he went through the foreign lands. In verse 2:8 it says, "And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." He was freed to go and rebuild the walls.
Nehemiah 3 is about how the Israelites of all positions in the community joined together and helped to rebuild different sections of the walls. Just as in Ezra, the Israelites were not without opposition as they were doing the work of the Lord. The opposition picks up in Nehemiah 4. There are some interesting things you can pick out of this chapter about ministry, the work of the Lord.
NEHEMIAH & THE ISRAELITES
THE WORK: Building the wall around Jerusalem
THE OPPOSITION: Vs 4:8 "And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it."
THE RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD: Vs 4:9 "And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night."
Nehemiah encouraged them to "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome" and not long after - the enemies realized their plan was frustrated. So the Israelites got back to building the wall. However, the opposition they faced changed their strategy of working. No longer were they unarmed. No longer were they working without protection. It made them realize their vulnerability and it changed them. (vs.14-15)
THE CHANGED BEHAVIOR:
- Opposition led them to prayer (vs9)
- Remembered and dwelled on the Lord - who is great and awesome. They were willing and ready to fight for their people! (vs14)
- The different people continued working and were always prepared to fight - on guard. (vs16-19)
- Construction workers: Half worked and half held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail
- Builders: Built with a sword strapped at his side
- Carriers of burdens: Loaded in such a way to labor with one hand and hold weapon with the other
- Believed 'our God will fight for us' (vs 20)
- Always prepared - as it closes "So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon with his right hand."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE PEOPLE OF GOD TODAY:
How Nehemiah relates to us now
Check out: Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil...
OUR WORK:
The work of the Lord is explained in vs 6:19-20 - "boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."
OUR OPPOSITION:
We are in a battle and our enemies are not flesh and blood but "the rules, the authorites, and the cosmic powers over this present darkness; and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (vs12)"
OUR RESPONSE: Do we pray and set up guards? Do we truly arm ourselves with the armor of Ephesians 6? I know that I do not as much as I should.
OUR CHANGED BEHAVIOR?!? This is another account when God fights the battle for the people of God. When we read about the victories in the OT, victories in the NT, and experience them in our lives - do they truly change our behavior? Do they change the way that we believe God is who He says He is? Do we live ready to work and ready to fight the opposition that comes at us? Or are we living unprotected and completely thrown off by the opposition before us?
Don't be surprised - we're in a battle! Be encouraged - Remember our Lord God who is great and awesome and remember 'OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US'!!
The country roads are taking me back to Morgantown for some time with friends and family. And to shower the soon-to-be parents Amy & G.T. Prante (my cousin) with gifts for the baby on the way!!
Have a blessed weekend, friends :)
No comments:
Post a Comment