Nehemiah / chapter 13 (read the chapter)
For Nehemiah, this must have been a shocking end to his story. He had devoted his life to overseeing the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls and ushering in a new era of spiritual revival for the Israelites. The dramatic rebuilding of the wall—which had survived numerous attacks and intended detours by political enemies—had been topped off by a spiritual celebration in the temple, culminating in a signed covenant made by the people. Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 12 (read the chapter)
When all the people came together to dedicate the temple, it was a day of great pomp and celebration. There was feasting and music, with dozens of instruments and two huge choirs. Nehemiah says the “sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.” (vs 43) When these Israelites threw a party, they apparently made sure everyone knew about it! Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 11 (read the chapter)
Once the temple and the walls had been rebuilt, Jerusalem was in need of a population. But it seems like there weren’t too many people eager to live there. The beginning of chapter 11 tells us how the city was settled: “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” (vs 1-2) Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 10 (read the chapter)
So, the people had returned from exile. They had rebuilt the temple and the Jerusalem wall. They had heard the law proclaimed from the temple steps and been appalled that they had fallen so far from God’s ideal. They resolved to do better. And so they entered into a covenant, a signed contract with God. They promised to obey everything God had asked them to do: Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 9 (read the chapter)
Yes, before you get too worked up, observe the spelling of the word “but” in the title. It’s a part of speech, not a part of the body! And it illustrates something wonderful about God—that He is always eager to give us another chance and that He is always willing to forgive, forget, and move on. Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 8 (read the chapter)
Ah, the law. The one topic that is the time-honored whipping boy of Christianity. Is the law still in effect? Was it nailed to the cross? Done away with? Is there a difference between law and grace? And what does “law” mean? Are we talking about the Ten Commandments? The Mosaic Law? The Law of Love as defined by Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40? Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 7 (read the chapter)
So, I began reading this chapter of Nehemiah, and it didn’t take very long for a wave of deja vu to wash over me. Haven’t I heard this somewhere before? I thought. Sure enough. Fifteen days ago, when we studied Ezra chapter 2. The information contained in both chapters is nearly verbatim. Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 6 (read the chapter)
I was recently engaged in a conversation about whether God really answers our prayers. A question had come up regarding the passage where Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mk 11:23-24) and we were discussing the merits of “name it and claim it” theology. Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 5 (read the chapter)
It is an interesting trend in our culture that we value rights over responsibilities. Just ask yourself how often you hear language such as “It’s my right!” as opposed to “That’s my responsibility.” In fact, we even like to use the smokescreen of “rights” to shirk responsibility. But this is the opposite of what God is like. He values responsibilities over rights. Continue Reading »
Nehemiah / chapter 4 (read the chapter)
Well, some people just didn’t want that Jerusalem wall rebuilt! “When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.” (vs 7) First, they had tried to intimidate the people with insults and threats. When that didn’t stop the work, they plotted to attack the people who were rebuilding the wall. Continue Reading »
