26 Pentecost

26 Pentecost – Sunday

first posted 11/12/05

Ezra 10:1-17, The covenant to divorce foreign wives
Nehemiah 1:1-11, Nehemiah’s prayer for Jerusalem
Acts 24:10-21, Paul’s testimony to Felix
Luke 14:12-24, The great banquet

Ezra, the scribe, a teacher of the Law of Moses, was upset to discover that many of the remnant of Israel had married foreign wives, both the exiles in Babylon and the ones who had avoided exile but mingled with pagan colonists who settled in Israel during the exile. He proclaimed the Law to the returned exiles and they realized and acknowledged that they had disobeyed God’s command (see Deuteronomy 7:3). Ezra led the people to publicly confess their sin and repent.

Shecaniah told Ezra that Israel had broken faith with the Lord by violating the commandment not to take foreign wives, but he said that it was not too late to be forgiven. He suggested that Ezra mediate a covenant with God on their behalf to divorce foreign wives and children. Ezra made the religious leaders and the people take an oath to divorce wives and families of foreign marriages.

Ezra spent the night in the temple fasting and mourning Israel’s unfaithfulness, and then he called all the returned exiles to assemble in the open square in front of the temple, or be expelled from the congregation of Israel and forfeit their inheritance in Israel. Three days later they were all assembled as instructed, despite heavy rain.

Ezra addressed them saying that they had sinned, and called them to repent and separate themselves from the pagans of the land and from foreign wives. The entire assembly answered that what Ezra said was true and they would do as he said. But because of the heavy rain, the people asked to fulfill the covenant in each city with local officials, rather than a national assembly, praying that God’s wrath could be averted. There were only four individuals who opposed the plan. The former exiles returned to their cities. Ezra appointed the heads of each family to act as judges, and in two months all the foreign marriages had been dissolved.

Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, a Jew, was serving as cupbearer of King Artaxerxes I of Persia, at his winter palace in Susa (in present-day southwestern Iran). In November-December, in 445-444 B.C.* Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani came to him at Susa, and Nehemiah asked how the returned exiles were doing in Jerusalem. His brother told him that the walls of Jerusalem had been knocked down and the city gates had been destroyed by fire.

Nehemiah was upset by the news, and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying to the Lord God. Nehemiah prayed, acknowledging that God is faithful in keeping his word and steadfast in his love to those who love and obey God. Nehemiah interceded for the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people and of himself. He acknowledged their disobedience of God’s word. He asked the Lord to remember his promise that if his people were scattered to the farthest corners of earth because of disobedience of God’s word, God would restore them to the Promised Land, if they returned to worship, trust and obey the Lord (Nehemiah 1:9; compare Deuteronomy 30:1-5). Nehemiah acknowledged that the people of Israel were redeemed (from slavery and exile, previously in Egypt, and later in Babylon), by God’s almighty power. Nehemiah asked the Lord to heed the prayer of Nehemiah and those who “delight to fear” God’s name (Nehemiah 1:11 RSV).

Paul had been falsely accused of sedition and arrested in Jerusalem, had been tried by the Jewish Court. Because of a Jewish plot to assassinate Paul, he had been transferred to Governor Felix in Caesarea. The high priest and a Jewish spokesman, presented their case to Felix, and then Paul had an opportunity to present his testimony.

Paul declared that he had gone to Jerusalem to worship, bringing alms and offerings. He had been in the temple, not inciting a riot, but instead fulfilling the requirements of the Jewish purification ritual. Paul was not inciting crowds anywhere in Jerusalem. Paul told Felix that his accusers couldn’t substantiate any of their charges. Paul said that the real reason they were prosecuting him was his worship of the God of Israel according to the “Way” (an early name for Christianity; from John 14:6), which his Jewish accusers considered a sect.

Paul said that his Christian beliefs were not in conflict with the Jewish (Old Testament) Scriptures, and that Paul shared with them a common belief in the resurrection of the just (righteous) and unjust (wicked). Because of his belief in resurrection to divine judgment, Paul was careful always to live according to the laws of God and man. The people who had stirred up the riot were Jews from Asia who had persecuted him there and followed him to Jerusalem, and they were the ones who should be giving testimony. Paul challenged his accusers to prove their allegations and the findings of the Jewish Court. Paul declared that the only charge they could prove was that Paul believed in the resurrection of the dead, as did they.

Jesus had been invited to dinner, and he told his host that, instead of inviting his friends and relatives, he could invite the poor, and physically handicapped, if he truly wanted to do good. Invitations to one’s friends and relatives will be reciprocated, and will not gain any favor with the Lord, but if one invites those who cannot reciprocate, God will be pleased and reward him.

At this, one of the guests said that those who eat bread in the kingdom of God will be blessed. In reply, Jesus told a parable of a man who gave a banquet and invited many. At the appointed time he sent his servants to bring the invited guests. But each began to make some excuse. One had bought a field and wanted to see his property. Another had bought some yokes of oxen and wanted to examine them. One had recently been married and was busy “consummating” the union.

The servant reported to his master that the guests had declined his invitation. The Host was angry, and told his servant to go out into the streets and highways, and invite the poor, handicapped, and homeless. The servant did so, but there was still room at the table, so the servant was sent out again to compel people to come. The host vowed that none of the people who had declined his invitation would have even a taste of his banquet.

During the exile, God’s people had become lax in knowledge of and obedience to God’s word. They had violated God’s command not to intermarry with unbelievers. It wasn’t until they heard God’s word that they realized that they had sinned and were in danger of God’s condemnation. Shecaniah is an example of faith in God’s love and mercy. He acknowledged and confessed Israel’s sin, and trusted that, if Israel took action to change their ways, to forsake their sin and obey God’s word, there was still time for forgiveness and restoration. Shecaniah suggested that the people should renew their covenant to obey God’s word, and Ezra acted as the mediator of the covenant with God.

Nehemiah is also an example of faith in God’s love and mercy. Nehemiah cared about the people of God and the condition of Jerusalem, the “City of God.” He mourned that the walls and gates of the city were broken down and in need of repair, and he interceded with God on behalf of Israel and Jerusalem, acknowledging their need for confession, repenting and forsaking their sin.

God’s word contains both wonderful promises and ominous warnings (“carrot” and “stick”). God warned that if his people persisted in disobedience of his word and in idolatry, they would be scattered to the farthest corners of the world; but God promised to restore and bless them if they returned to worship and obediently trust in God. Nehemiah knew and claimed God’s promise of restoration (Nehemiah 1:8-9), and then he acted in faith to accomplish it. He was the Persian king’s cupbearer, and he asked permission to take leave and go to Jerusalem to rebuilt its walls and gates, and as Nehemiah acted in faith, God blessed and prospered his work (Nehemiah 1:11e-2:8).

The Apostle Paul had been well-educated in the Scriptures before his conversion. He knew that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was consistent with, and the fulfillment of, the Old Testament. Paul was committed to obedient trust in God’s word. In contrast, the Jewish religious authorities who were prosecuting him professed obedience to God’s word, but were violating it; they had brought false witness against Paul, and they attempted to have Paul assassinated (for example: Acts 23:12-15).

Jesus taught that there would be a resurrection to divine judgment (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46); Jesus demonstrated the truth of the resurrection by his own, which was witnessed by over five hundred people (1 Corinthians 15:1-10), including Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8; see Acts 9:1-6; then known as Saul), who believed and taught the resurrection to judgment. Paul was the first modern, post-resurrection, “born-again” Christian disciple, and is the model for all of us today. Every truly born-again disciple also has experienced and personally testifies to the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead.

Jesus taught his disciples a higher standard of righteousness than what the world, including the Jewish religious leaders (Matthew 5:20) considers “good deeds." Even the unrighteous in this world love their own family and friends, so why should disciples expect God to reward those “good deeds” (Matthew 5:43-48). That was the point Jesus was teaching his host at the banquet.

Jesus' parable of the banquet describes the kingdom of heaven. The Lord is the host of a great eternal banquet in heaven. He has invited his people (both the people of the “Church” and in a broader sense all people, because he is their creator). Some even within the “Church” will be preoccupied with worldly things, and will miss the banquet (consider: Matthew 7:21-27). Those who attend that banquet will be unworthy of the invitation; we will all be spiritually poor and needy but will be there because God’s faithful servant, Jesus Christ, sought us and brought us and made us worthy though his fulfillment of his Master, God’s, will, to become the sacrifice that makes us worthy.

America and the Church are in much the same situation as Israel in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and also as in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In a sense, America and the Church are each the “New Promised Land” on earth, and the “New Israel,” the nation and people of God on earth. God’s people have not fully heard or read God’s word. The walls and gates of both the Nation and the Church are neglected and broken down. The Church itself is in the same condition, and it is the brokenness of the Church which has contributed to the brokenness of the Nation.

Both the Nation and Church have mingled with, and become corrupted by pagans and unbelievers. It’s not too late to be forgiven and restored, provided that we are willing to pay attention to God’s word, confess, repent, and forsake our sins, our spiritual adultery, and return to worship and obedient trust of God in Jesus Christ.

We’ve been invited to the banquet. Are we too busy with worldly things to accept and participate? Are we willing to hear and obey God’s word? Are we willing to admit that we are spiritually destitute, homeless and crippled? Are we willing to confess, repent and forsake disobedience of God’s word and our idolatry? Do we care enough about the spiritual brokenness of our Country and our Church to pray and intercede for rebuilding and restoration and then commit ourselves and our resources to act and begin the work of rebuilding?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Nehemiah 2:1-20n, p. 586, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

26 Pentecost – Monday

posted 11/13/05

Nehemiah 2:1-20, Inspecting the walls
Nehemiah 9:1-15 (16-25), Confession
Revelation 18:1-8, The fall of Babylon
Matthew 15:1-20, Tradition of the elders

In the first month of the Jewish year of 445-444 B.C.* Nehemiah was the cupbearer (“wine steward”) of King Artaxerxes I of Persia at Susa (in present-day southwestern Iran), the king’s winter residence. Nehemiah had been visited by his brother who told him that the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down and the city gates burned. When Nehemiah went to serve the king, the king noticed that Nehemiah was sad and asked him what had caused his sadness. Nehemiah was quite afraid, but told the king that the walls and gates of city where his ancestors were entombed had been destroyed.

The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted to do. Nehemiah prayed for the Lord’s guidance, before asking the king for leave to go and rebuild the walls and gates. The king asked how long Nehemiah would be gone and when he would return, and then gave him permission. Nehemiah asked for letters from the king to the Persian provincial officials to allow Nehemiah pass through the Persian province of “Beyond the River” (which included Syria and Israel) to Judah, and also for the keeper of the king’s forest, so that Nehemiah could obtain the lumber he needed to build a house to live in and to repair the gates. The king gave Nehemiah what he asked for because the Lord’s favor was upon Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was accompanied by officers and cavalry of the Persian army. Sanballat, the Persian governor of Samaria and other Persian provincial officials were very displeased that Nehemiah had come to help the people of Israel. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, and after three days, he and a few men went out secretly at night to inspect the walls and gates, so that no one would know what he intended to do. Then he asked the Jewish leaders and people to help him rebuild the walls and gates, so that they would no longer have reason to be disgraced among their neighbors. Nehemiah told them how the Lord had been with him to have favor with the Persian king and to bring Nehemiah to Jerusalem and the people were encouraged and inspired to join Nehemiah in the rebuilding.

When Sanballat and the other Persian officials saw the rebuilding they accused the Jews of rebellion against the Persian king. Nehemiah replied that God was with the Jews to rebuild and would prosper their work, but Gentiles (non-Jews; the Persians) had no right to property in Judah and no legal authority over the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

The people who returned from the exile had been cut off from worship. The people who had avoided exile had also become lax in obedience to God’s Law. When the law had been read to them, they realized the need for repentance and return to obedience to the Law. They realized that the month, September-October, was the time of the feast of booths, so the Israelites assembled in sackcloth and with dirt on their heads (as a sign of ritual mourning) and confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers. They spent a fourth of a day publicly reading the Law of God from Scripture, then for another fourth of a day, they made public confession and worship of the Lord God. (All those named are Levites who supported Ezra and Nehemiah.)

Ezra acknowledged that God alone is the Lord of heaven, the creator of heaven and earth. The Lord alone preserves them. The Lord chose Abram and changed his name to Abraham; he brought Abram out of Chaldea. The Lord found him faithful, and made a covenant with him to give the land of Canaan, occupied by several heathen nations, to the Israelites, and God had fulfilled his promise.

The Lord saw the plight and suffering of his people in Egypt. God performed many great miracles against Pharaoh and Egypt, and saved Israel from them at the Red Sea. The Lord’s reputation was established. The Lord divided the Red Sea to allow his people to pass through the midst on dry land; and their pursuers were drowned in the depths as though tied to a stone. The Lord led his people through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead the way they should go. The Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai to give them God’s Law; “right ordinances... true laws, good statutes and commandments” (Nehemiah 9:13). The Lord gave them bread from heaven and water from the rock, and commanded them to take possession of the land God had promised to give them.

John (probably the Apostle) who, while exiled on the Island of Patmos, received the revelation from Jesus Christ, saw a vision of an Angel announcing the fall of Babylon. The Angel declared that Babylon has become a dwelling place of demons and evil spirits. “All nations have drunk (and fallen by) the wine of her impure passions” (Revelation 18:3a); the earth’s leaders “have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the earth have grown rich with the wealth of her wantonness” Revelation 18:3b-c RSV).

John heard another voice from heaven, calling God’s people to come out of Babylon, lest they participate in her sins and share in her punishment, because God remembers her iniquities. Babylon will be repaid double according to what she has done. “As she glorified herself and played the wanton, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning” (Revelation 18:7 RSV). Babylon considers herself a Queen rather than a widow; she thinks she will never see sorrow and mourning. “So shall her plagues come in a single day; pestilence, mourning, and famine, and she shall be burned with fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her” (Revelation 18:8).

Jewish Law had evolved from the Ten Commandments into an elaborate system of laws and ordinances that covered minute details including the washing of hands before meals. The religious leaders and teachers of the Law criticized Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before eating, a violation of Jewish Law according to this tradition. Jesus replied by asking why the Jewish authorities broke God’s Law in order to keep their tradition. As examples Jesus cited the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:12), pointing out that the tradition of the elders (Matthew 15:2) allowed a person to avoid the commandment by declaring that what the parent would have gained from the person had been an offering to God. Jesus thus declared that they had fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that they honored God with their lips but not with their hearts; their worship was in vain, because they taught as doctrines the precepts of men (Isaiah 29:13).

Jesus then taught the crowd that it is not what a person eats, but what comes out of his mouth, which makes him unfit to worship. The disciples reported that the religious leaders were offended by Jesus’ statement, but Jesus replied that God would uproot that which God had not planted. Jesus also told his disciples to ignore the religious authorities, describing them as blind guides, and saying that if anyone followed them, both guide and follower would fall into a pit. Peter asked for an explanation of the parable, so Jesus said that what a person eats doesn’t affect him spiritually, but what a person says reveals his spiritual condition.

Nehemiah is an example of the kind of people we need as leaders, workers and members in the Church, and also in the American civil government; people who care about the spiritual deterioration of the Church and our society. Nehemiah prayed for his nation and his congregation, and for God’s guidance and empowerment, and then he acted to accomplish God’s will despite personal risk and political and social opposition. He risked his good job as the Persian king’s wine steward, but he also risked the king’s wrath and absolute power over Nehemiah's life or death. The king was amazingly generous to not only allowing Nehemiah to go and rebuild, but to also provide funds and materials needed.

Nehemiah found from personal experience that the Lord has power even over the greatest worldly kings, and the Lord is abundantly able and willing to bless and prosper those who obediently trust in him. Nehemiah is an example of discipleship and spiritual growth. As he trusted and obeyed, his faith was strengthened as he saw the results of God’s favor

The local Persian provincial officials were not happy that Nehemiah was helping the people of Israel. Nehemiah inspected the walls and gates secretly, and then asked the Jewish leaders and people to help with the rebuilding. His testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness and ability to bless and prosper Nehemiah with the king of Persia encouraged the people of God to join in the rebuilding. Nehemiah had organized the rebuilding and got started before the provincial officers knew what he intended.

When they found out, the Persian officials accused the Jews of rebellion against the Persian government. Nehemiah was not intimidated. He told them that the Lord would enable them to succeed in the rebuilding by God’s sovereign power and authority, and that the secular officials had no right or authority over the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

During the exile, the people had been cut off from worship and instruction in God’s word, and the Jews who had avoided deportation had been mingled with a pagan culture and had become lax in their observance of God’s word. Until Ezra, a priest and teacher of scripture (the Old Testament), had proclaimed God’s word to the people of Judah, they hadn’t realized how far they’d drifted from obedience to God’s word during the Exile.

Once they heard God’s word, they realized their need to confess, repent, and forsake their sin. The people humbled themselves before God, by dressing in sackcloth and pouring dirt on their heads as signs of repentance. They assembled for worship and made public confession of their sin. Ezra led the confession and interceded with God on behalf of the people. He reminded the people of the history of God’s faithfulness, and his willingness and power to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt, and to lead, protect and provide for them in the wilderness.

John’s vision of the fall of “Babylon” is a warning to the world, and to the Church, of the impending Day of Judgment. Babylon is the symbol for the worldly kingdom presently ruled by Satan. We are living in “Babylon” today in this world. It has become the dwelling place of demons and evil spirits. God’s call to his people to come out of Babylon doesn’t mean that we must leave the world, or establish a Christian commune somewhere in the wilderness. It’s a warning to the Church and to Christians not to adopt values of the society which surrounds us. In too many instances the Church has become a reflection of secular society instead of an example and moral standard to influence it. Instead of coming out of Babylon, we’ve invited Babylon in.

In the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jews had drifted away from obedient trust in God’s word, but in a different way than the exiles had. The Jews of Jesus’ day were hearing, reading and teaching the scripture, but they weren’t living in obedience to it. Human tradition and the “doctrines and precepts of men” had become more important to them than obedience to God’s word. They had also forgotten the lessons of the Exodus from Egypt, and the Captivity in Babylon.

The Church and America are each in situations similar to Israel at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, and also at the time of Jesus earthly ministry (his “first advent;” first coming). America and the Church are each the “New Israel,” and the “New Promised Land” on earth. In one sense all the people of the world are “God’s people,” because he is our creator, but both the Church and many Americans claim to be God’s people.

God’s people have neglected and forgotten God’s word; we’ve forgotten the history of God’s dealings with Israel which are recorded in the Bible as a warning to us for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:11). As a result, we don’t realize how far we’ve drifted from God’s will and our Christian faith. In too many instances the Church today professes God’s word but doesn’t obey it and doesn’t teach others to obey it. In many instances the Church today is “teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” instead of making disciples and teaching them to trust and obey God’s word in Jesus Christ. Many today honor God with their lips but not with their hearts. In the lives of too many Christians, and in too many “Churches,” “tradition” has become as important as or more important than obedient trust in the full word of God.

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment. Everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this life (John 5:28-29). All of us have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin (disobedience of God’s word fulfilled and embodied in Jesus Christ) is eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins, salvation from eternal death, and restoration to eternal life and fellowship with God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; See God’s Plan of Salvation; sidebar, top right).

God’s word promises that God will remember the sins of “Babylon,” and repay her double for all her wickedness. At the moment of God’s judgment, she will be oblivious, considering herself a queen, and then suddenly her condemnation will come upon her. The only way for us to avoid her fate is to be in Jesus through faith (obedient trust) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, instead of being in “Babylon” by living like worldly people. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty whether or not one has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14.

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Nehemiah 2:1-20n, p. 586, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

26 Pentecost – Tuesday

posted 11/14/05

Nehemiah 4:1-23, Opposition to rebuilding
Nehemiah 9:26-38, Public confession of sin
Revelation 18:9-20, The fall of Babylon
Matthew 15:21-28 The Canaanite woman

Sanballat, the Persian provincial governor at Samaria, was enraged that the Jews were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He ridiculed and taunted the efforts of the Jews among his associates and the army of Samaria. Nehemiah prayed that the Lord would turn the enemies’ taunts back upon themselves, and that they might be captured and plundered as they had done to Israel.

The rebuilding progressed and the breaches in the wall had been filled to about half the final height. When Sanballat heard of their progress, he plotted with his allies among the neighboring rivals of Israel to attack Jerusalem and stop the work. The Jews prayed to the Lord, and set a guard to warn them day and night. The workers were getting discouraged and exhausted, and there were reports about the alliance and plots of the opposition.

Nehemiah stationed armed men at each low spot in the walls, and he encouraged them by reminding them that the Lord would fight for them. When Sanballat and his allies heard that the Jews knew of their plot and that God had frustrated the plans of the opposition, the Jews went back to work, but the people were divided in two groups. Half continued working on the walls but with weapons at hand and the other half were fully armed to defend the work. Because the workers were widely separated along the wall, Nehemiah told them he would have a trumpeter signal from the point of an attack so that the rest could rally to that position. The work continued from dawn to dusk, and the laborers and guards slept at their positions at the wall, to protect the city at night as well as by day.

Ezra, a priest and teacher of the Law, led the fourth group of exiles to return from Babylon to Israel. Ezra taught the returned exiles in Israel the scriptures and led the people to confess their sins and to recommit themselves to obedience of God’s word. In his prayer of confession, Ezra reviewed the history of God’s dealing with Israel. Although Israel had experienced God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises and to bless and prosper obedience, Israel kept rebelling and disobeying. They repeatedly ignored God’s word, and killed the prophets, who had warned them so that the people could repent and avoid God’s punishment. As a result, God had allowed their enemies to prevail over them.

When they were suffering they prayed to the Lord and he had mercy on them and raised up “saviors” (“judges;” leaders; for example, Gideon) among them to deliver them from their enemies. Israel kept repeating the cycle of disobedience, warning, suffering, repentance, restoration followed by disobedience. One must obey God’s word in order to have true, good life, and yet God’s people kept rebelling and disobeying. The Lord suffered their disobedience over and over and warned them repeatedly “by thy Spirit through thy prophets” (Nehemiah 9:30), but they wouldn’t listen. That was the reason they were deported to exile in Babylon. But through the many times Israel disobeyed, the Lord, in great mercy and graciousness, did not destroy them or abandon them.

John (probably the Apostle), in exile on the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, had a revelation in a series of visions from God through Jesus Christ to be transmitted by letter to the Church. In this vision he saw the fall of “Babylon” which represents the worldly kingdom on earth, presently ruled by Satan. The worldly kings and leaders of that kingdom are committing spiritual fornication with “Babylon,” the harlot. All those who have cooperated with the secular culture of this world, which Babylon represents, will mourn at her destruction. Her destruction will come suddenly. Those who have cooperated with her will be afraid and will try to distance themselves from her destruction.

All the merchants, kings and mariners who have been enriched by participation in the secular economy will mourn her destruction. There will no longer be a market for her material goods or for human slavery (enslavement of human souls). All the material things and pleasures that worldly people have lusted for and strived for will no longer be available. The Saints (“born-again Christians) can rejoice that the Lord will give judgment for us against the worldly kingdom.

Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon (in the province of Syria). A Canaanite (Gentile) woman of the region came to him addressing him as Lord and Son of David (i.e. Messiah) and told him her daughter was severely possessed by a demon. Jesus did not respond. The woman followed along crying out, and annoyed the disciples, so they asked Jesus to tell her to go away. Jesus answered that he was sent only to the people of Israel. The woman came up to him and knelt down and begged Jesus to help her. Jesus told her that it would not be right to take one’s children’s bread and feed it to dogs. She agreed, but pointed out that dogs are allowed to eat scraps that fall from the master’s table. Jesus commended her faith and agreed to heal the woman's daughter.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare in this world. Those who are obedient to God’s will and are engaged in building and strengthening his kingdom will be opposed by those who are cooperating with and serving the worldly kingdom, which is ruled by Satan, although those who serve him may be unaware.

Sanballat and his associates are an example of worldly people and leaders who serve the worldly kingdom and oppose God’s people. They hate God’s people because they hate God and refuse to submit to him. They may taunt and disparage God’s people and kingdom, but ultimately God will turn their taunts and disparagements back upon them. God will frustrate the plans of the wicked.

Nehemiah and the workers are an illustration of what the Church should be. We should be working together to accomplish Christ’s mission of offering forgiveness, salvation, restoration and new life to the world. Christians should not become discouraged. We must remember that it is the Lord God Almighty who fights for us. If we trust and obey him he will arm us with the sword of God’s word, the helmet of salvation and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:10-18). These weapons are supplied only through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is our commander. We cannot go into battle without him.

The history of God’s dealing with Israel shows that God blesses and rewards obedient trust and punishes rebellion and disobedience. Israel kept repeating the cycle of rebellion, disobedience, warning, suffering, repentance, and restoration. God’s word contains great promises but also ominous warnings. We must claim his promises by obedient trust in Jesus Christ; rebellion will result in suffering which the warnings are given to help us avoid. Each of us should honestly evaluate where we are in that cycle. Ignoring God’s warnings is spiritually deadly.

God is totally faithful, merciful and gracious. He doesn’t strike us dead the moment we rebel and disobey, and he is always willing to forgive and restore us if we truly repent and turn to him in obedient trust, but we must remember that this life is our only opportunity to receive forgiveness and salvation (from eternal destruction), and our time is limited. None of us can be certain we will live until tomorrow. Today is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). God wants us to learn that his way is the good way and that we can trust in him and learn by experience the blessings of obedience to him (this is the process of “discipleship” and “spiritual growth”).

John’s revelation is a preview of the Day of Judgment. It is a fulfillment of Nehemiah’s prayer that the taunts and disparagement of the enemy of God’s people will be turned back upon themselves. In that day, all those who have cooperated with the worldly system and opposed the kingdom of God will be mourning and terrified, and will try to distance themselves from God’s condemnation and destruction of “Babylon” but it will be too late. They will be eternally locked out of God’s kingdom and cut off from all the blessings and favor of God; everything they need, desire, enjoy, and depend on will no longer exist.

Jesus demonstrates the love and mercy of God. He teaches by word and example that God’s forgiveness and salvation are available to all who believe (trust and obey) steadfastly in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top right). The Canaanite woman is an example of faith (obedient trust; faith is not “getting whatever you believe if you believe ‘hard’ enough”). The woman, although a Gentile, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior.

Jesus didn’t immediately answer her plea; then, his response seemed harsh. Instead of being offended she humbled herself before him; she came to him and knelt before him, called him “Lord” and asked him to help her (Matthew 15:25). She agreed with Jesus’ judgment of her unworthiness, but appealed to his mercy, and her humble persistent faith was rewarded. Jesus is the Savior whom God has raised up to give us forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God’s word), salvation (from eternal condemnation and eternal death), and restoration to fellowship with God, through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit.

Are we working for the kingdom of God, or are we pursuing worldly goals? Are we cooperating with God’s people or are we attacking them? Have we equipped ourselves for the work of God’s kingdom by studying God’s word, seeking the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, learning to recognize the Lord’s voice and to trust and obey him, day by day (the process of “discipleship” and “spiritual growth”)? Are we willing to hear God’s word when it is critical of us? Are we willing to acknowledge our unworthiness of our forgiveness and salvation, and to appeal through Jesus for God’s mercy and grace (unmerited favor)? Are we willing to wait for the Lord’s answer, or will we seek our answer elsewhere if there’s no immediate response?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

26 Pentecost – Wednesday

first posted 11/15/05

Nehemiah 5:1-19, Usury

Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18, Reading God’s word

Revelation 18:21-24, The millstone

Matthew 15:29-39, Healing and feeding

Some of the Jews were hoarding grain, while others were forced to mortgage their houses and fields to obtain food, and to pay the tax the Persian king levied. As a result their sons and daughters were becoming slaves of wealthy Jews, and the poor Jews could not prevent it because they had lost control of their fields.

Nehemiah was angry when he heard this and he brought charges against the Jewish nobles and officials. (It wasn’t legal for Jews to charge interest to other Jews; Deuteronomy 23:20). Nehemiah rebuked these profiteers, pointing out that Nehemiah was working with others as far as possible to redeem Jews from the slavery of exile in Babylon, but these profiteers were enslaving their brothers in Israel. Nehemiah told them they should be living in fear (awe and respect) of God’s power, in order to be recognized as righteous among the Gentiles and enemies of Israel. Nehemiah ordered the profiteers to restore the lands and money they had taken from their fellow Jews and the creditors promised to do so. Nehemiah called the priests and made a formal oath to God that they would do as they had said. Nehemiah shook out the lap of his robe as if removing crumbs, and prayed that the Lord would do likewise to any who failed to keep that promise. The assembled people said “Amen” (so be it) and praised the Lord! The people kept their promise.

From the time that Nehemiah had been appointed governor by the Persian king (445-444 B.C.*), Nehemiah had not used his right to a food allowance (a tax to be paid him by the people). Previous governors had required large contributions of food, wine and money for that purpose. Even the servants of former governors lorded themselves over the people. Nehemiah hadn’t done the same, because he respected, trusted and obeyed the Lord, and concentrated on the work of rebuilding the walls. Nehemiah had acquired no land, and was feeding a hundred and fifty Jewish officials and men. One day’s food required an ox and six sheep in addition to numerous birds and quantities of wine. But Nehemiah had not demanded the food allowance, because he didn’t want to further burden the people, and he trusted that the Lord would reward him.

The returned exiles came back to their towns (445-444 B.C.*). In the seventh month (September-October), all the people of Israel gathered in the square in front of the Water Gate (at the southeastern corner of the wall of Jerusalem). They called Ezra, a priest and authority on the Law of Moses, to read the book of the Law. Ezra read the scripture from early morning to noon, to men, women, and children old enough to understand, and they all listened attentively. Ezra stood on a wooden pulpit (or tower) which they made for the purpose. (The names of the people who stood by him were probably priests).

When Ezra opened the scroll, everyone stood, and Ezra blessed the great Lord God, and the people shouted “Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands” (a posture of praise). Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord. The Levites (named here) helped the people understand the Law clearly, and provided a commentary so the people understood the meaning. The people were weeping and mourning at hearing the words of Law, but the governor, Nehemiah, and Ezra, and the Levites, told the people that the day was holy to the Lord, and they were not to weep or mourn. Instead the leaders told the people to celebrate with feasting and rejoicing, because they had understood God’s word.

On the second day they again came to study the scriptures with Ezra, and they learned that this was the time of the year (fifteenth day of the seventh month) for the Feast of Booths. So they proclaimed throughout Jerusalem and Judah that everyone should gather green leafy boughs and palm branches and make booths (outdoor shelters, like tents). All the people made booths on their rooftops or courtyards, or the courtyard of the temple, the Water Gate or the Gate of Ephraim (in the northern wall). This was the first time the Feast of Booths had been celebrated by the people of Israel since the days of Jeshua, son of Nun (possibly the person who worked with Zerubbabel; 520 B.C**.)

John (probably the Apostle), exiled on the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, had a revelation in a series of visions from God through Jesus Christ, and was told to write it down and send it to the Churches. In this vision he saw a mighty angel throw a great millstone into the sea. This symbolized the total destruction of “Babylon,” the secular culture of this world, behind whose rulers is Satan. So will Babylon be destroyed; no trace of it shall remain, nor shall there be any music, or craftsmen in her. No more light, no more marriage or celebration. The merchants and the great men and nations of the worldly system were deceived by her, and she was guilty of killing the prophets and saints, and those who have been murdered for worldly gain.

Jesus returned from the region of Tyre and Sidon to the hills (on the northern shore) near the Sea of Galilee. Great crowds came to him bringing the lame, maimed, blind, mute, and many others and Jesus healed them. The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute “speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing” (Matthew 15:31) and they glorified God.

The crowd had been there for three days, and Jesus told his disciples that he wanted to feed the crowd because they had nothing to eat and Jesus didn’t want them sent away hungry, or they might faint on the way home. His disciples asked Jesus where they could get enough bread in the wilderness to feed such a large crowd. Jesus asked what bread the disciples had, and they told them they had seven loaves and several small fish. Jesus had the crowd sit down, and he took the bread and fish and after he gave thanks to God, he broke the bread and fish into pieces and had the disciples distribute them to the crowd. All ate and were satisfied, and the disciples collected seven baskets of food left over. There had been about four thousand men, not counting women and children. Jesus dismissed the crowd and then got in a boat and went to Magadan (on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee).

The mission of the Church is to continue the mission of Christ to offer forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s word), salvation (from eternal destruction and eternal death) and restoration of fellowship with God (through Jesus Christ, by his indwelling Holy Spirit). Nehemiah is an example of the Church’s mission, and of the leaders the Church needs. He was leading people from the slavery of exile in Babylon back to the Promised Land and the City of God. Nehemiah respected, trusted and obeyed God and was concerned for the welfare of God’s people and the work of building and strengthening God’s kingdom. Nehemiah wasn’t taking his full right to earn his living as a leader of God’s people, so that they would not be burdened beyond what the secular government demanded of them

But some exiles who had been freed from Babylon by the Lord and had been restored to the Promised Land then began to hoard God’s providence for themselves, and to economically prey upon and enslave their brethren. Instead of cooperating with the Lord’s mission to redeem and restore, they were working against him. This is the way worldly people treat their fellow beings. These Jews were following worldly ways although they were members of the congregation of Israel and called themselves God’s people. Nehemiah rebuked them, and told them to stop taking advantage of their brethren. These people accepted correction, repented, forsook their sin, and returned to obedient trust in God.

Ezra was another example of the leaders the Church needs. He had studied God’s word during his exile, and thus he was able to perceive that the people had neglected and forgotten God’s word during the exile. He was committed to proclaiming the full word of God to the returned exiles, so that they could recognize how far they had strayed, could confess and repent, and be restored to obedient trust in God’s word.

The people sought instruction in God’s word and listened to it attentively. They recognized where they had sinned, they confessed, repented, forsook their sinfulness and were restored to obedient trust in God. God’s word caused them to mourn their disobedience, which is the useful and necessary response which leads to restoration. Because they mourned and repented, their leaders could comfort and reassure them, and the people could rejoice that they had heard and understood God’s word. Notice that hearing God’s word caused his people to mourn their disobedience, but that mourning allowed them to be restored to the joy of obedience and fellowship with God. In contrast, those who are unwilling to hear God’s word or be confronted with their sin may rejoice now, but will ultimately mourn eternally, separated from everything they enjoyed in this life (Revelation 18:22-23b).

As the people continued to study God’s word, they began to apply it and to grow spiritually. When they learned that it was the season of the Feast of Booths, they were able to reinstate that feast, and they experienced the joy and celebration of being within God’s will and obedient to God’s word. If they had refused to accept the correction of God’s word they wouldn’t have experienced the rewards of obedience, and would have ultimately received the consequences of disobedience.

John had a series of visions of God’s judgment and condemnation of the worldly kingdom, symbolized by “Babylon,” which is ultimately ruled by Satan. People who live according to the worldly system hate the prophets of the Lord, and hate his people, because they hate the Lord. They want to be their own lord. They don’t want to hear God’s word, because they don’t want to be convicted of their disobedience.

Jesus is the ultimate illustration of the mission of the Church and the example of Church leadership. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who cares for his sheep (John 10:1-15). Jesus cared for people. He fed them when they were hungry, and healed them of physical illnesses and disabilities. But his real mission wasn’t just to satisfy physical hunger and heal physically; the physical miracles were intended to reveal that he is the only one who can heal and nourish us spiritually, and give eternal life to those who were spiritually dead because of sin, through obedient trust in Jesus (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus taught his disciples to care about the physical needs of people, and showed them how to be good stewards of God's providence. As they used the resources God gave them for Christ's mission, their resources were sufficient to satisfy the need.

In a sense, we are all God’s people because he is our creator, whether we acknowledge him or not. God will hold each of us accountable for what we have done with his providence which he intended us all to share. Hoarding God’s resources by the rich and powerful deprives others of their fair share and enslaves the poor. There will be a Day of Judgment when each of us will be accountable to the Lord for our stewardship of his providence.

Sadly, in too many instances worldly behavior and values are tolerated within the Church without reproach. The Church has too often recruited “members” instead of making disciples. Often Church leaders fail to rebuke unchristian attitudes and behavior. For some, Christian ministry is a career decision. Sometimes Church leaders take advantage of their members to make them the leaders’ “slaves,” and to profit from them economically without real concern for their members’ spiritual well-being.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Nehemiah, Nehemiah 2:1-20n, p. 586, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

**ibid, Ezra 3:1-13n, p. 576.

26 Pentecost – Thursday

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Nehemiah 6:1-19, Plots against Nehemiah
Revelation 19:1-10, Praises in heaven
Matthew 16:1-12 True security

Sanballat was apparently governor of Samaria when Israel was part of a province of Persia. He and his allies, including Geshem, the Arab, heard that the wall around Jerusalem had been rebuilt, although the gates hadn’t yet been installed. Sanballat and Geshem sent word inviting Nehemiah to meet with them in one of the villages of the plain of Ono, about thirty miles northwest of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah realized that they intended to harm him, so he declined their invitation, saying that he was doing important work which could not be delayed so that he could meet with them. Sanballat repeated the invitation five times; on the fifth time he sent his servant with an open letter accusing Nehemiah and the Jews of plotting to rebel, and of Nehemiah plotting to be king of Judah. Nehemiah was also accused of setting up prophets to proclaim that Nehemiah was king. Sanballat declared that this would all be reported to the Persian king, and it would be wise for Nehemiah to meet with Sanballat to work out an agreement.

Nehemiah responded, denying Sanballat’s accusations as the creation of Sanballat’s imagination. Nehemiah realized that Sanballat’s strategy was to frighten the Jews into suspending the work on the walls, and vowed that wouldn’t happen. Nehemiah prayed that the Lord would strengthen him.

Nehemiah went to the house of Shemaiah (a false prophet who opposed Nehemiah), and Shemaiah suggested that he and Nehemiah meet and lock themselves within the Temple, to avoid Nehemiah’s assassination by Sanballat’s men. But Nehemiah refused to hide or to seek refuge within the temple. God revealed to Nehemiah that God had not sent Shemaiah, but that Shemaiah had falsely prophesied against Nehemiah because Sanballat and his allies had hired Shemaiah’s prophecy against Nehemiah. They were hoping that Nehemiah could be frightened into committing sin and thus be discredited.

The wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month (August-September), after fifty-two days of labor. The neighboring nations were afraid and lost confidence, because “they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of [Israel’s] God” (Nehemiah 6:16). Many in Judah were bound by oath to Tobiah, an Ammonite married to the high priest’s daughter. Tobiah opposed the rebuilding, and tried to use that influence to intimidate Nehemiah.

John, in exile on the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea for preaching the Gospel of Jesus, had a revelation from God through Jesus Christ. In this vision he heard the sound of a great multitude in heaven rejoicing for the salvation, power and glory of God. God’s judgments are true and just. God has judged “Babylon” (the symbol of the sinful worldly kingdom behind whose rulers is Satan). Babylon is the harlot who has corrupted earth with spiritual fornication, and has persecuted God’s servants. Babylon has been destroyed by God’s wrath (as were Sodom and Gomorrah; Genesis 19:28), but Babylon’s destruction is eternal.

Surrounding God's throne in heaven were twenty-four elders (representing the twelve patriarchs of Israel and the twelve apostles [the original disciples of Jesus, minus Judas, the betrayer, plus Paul, the first, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple and apostle]. They fell down and worshiped God, saying “Amen, Hallelujah!” From the throne, God commanded all God’s servants, great and small, who fear (honor and respect him) to praise him.

John heard the voice of a great multitude saying “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus; the sacrificial lamb of Passover) has come, and his bride (the Church) has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” Revelation 19:6b-8a). The fine linen of the Bride is the righteous deeds (Ephesians 2:10) of the saints (“born-again” Christians).

The angel who had given this vision to John told him to record, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The angel assured John that these are God’s true words. John fell at the angel’s feet to worship the angel, but the angel told John not to worship him, because the angel was a fellow servant of God with John and all who hold onto the Gospel of Jesus. We are to worship only God. Jesus’ testimony is the spirit of prophecy.

The religious leaders wanted Jesus to do some “deed” to prove to them that he was the Messiah. Jesus’ works were all around them (Matthew 15:30-31), but the Pharisees and Sadducees did not perceive them with faith. Jesus died on the cross, was in the tomb, and rose again on the third day (as Jonah had been in the belly of the whale three days) and many still would not believe. The Pharisees and Sadducees relied on their keeping of the Law to judge themselves righteous, thus missing the free gift which is only through faith in Jesus Christ. The sin of the Pharisees and Sadducees was unbelief in Jesus (John 3:18). They valued the world’s false wisdom, and rejected Jesus, who is the wisdom of God. The disciples’ worry over material necessities like bread interfered with their ability to understand Jesus’ message, because they were focused on their own provisions for their security, rather than depending on Jesus.

Nehemiah was following God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, but his rebuilding was opposed by the Persian provincial government, although Nehemiah had permission from the king of Persia. The local officials tried to intimidate Nehemiah by threatening to tell the Persian king that the Jews were preparing a rebellion against the Persian government. They tried to meet with Nehemiah away from Jerusalem, intending to assassinate him. Two of Nehemiah’s enemies were within Judah. one was a false prophet, Shemaiah, who had been paid by Sanballat to give Nehemiah false prophecy, and the other was Tobias, a son-in-law of Eliashib, the high priest who later desecrated the temple by allowing Tobias to live in an apartment in a converted storage room in the temple while Nehemiah had been serving the king of Persia in Susa, the Persian winter capital (Nehemiah 1:1; 13:7-8 RSV).

Nehemiah didn’t fall for the false prophecy of Shemaiah or the intimidation or threat of assassination by Sanballat. He kept focused on the work God had called him to do, and trusted in the Lord’s help to accomplish it. The rival pagan nations surrounding Judah saw and realized that the rebuilding had been accomplished by God’s help.

Nehemiah is an example of the mission of the Church, and of the leaders the Church needs to carry out its mission. Nehemiah overcame the enemies of God’s people within the congregation as well as in the surrounding secular culture. Tobiah is an example of corruption and opposition to the mission of the Church from within it.

John’s vision is of the fulfillment of God’s judgment against the secular kingdom of this world, presently ruled by Satan behind the worldly leaders. It is also a vision of the vindication and justice awarded to God’s people. There will be great rejoicing in heaven for the salvation of God’s people and the defeat of their enemy.

There will be a great “wedding” celebration in heaven, the consummation of the “Lord’s Supper” which Jesus instituted on the night of his betrayal and arrest (see Matthew 26:29). Jesus is the “bridegroom,” and his Church is his “bride,” and they will be united for all eternity. The Lord’s Supper was instituted in the context of the Passover Feast, and Jesus is the “Lamb” sacrificed so that we might be “passed over” by the “destroyer” (Exodus 12:1-13, 23). Jesus’ blood spiritually cleanses us of sin (Hebrews 9:19-22; Matthew 26:28). Our “wedding garments” are cleansed by Jesus’ blood and given to us as a free gift, which we receive through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. No one can come to the “wedding feast” without the “wedding garment” of salvation (from eternal condemnation and death) which only Jesus provides, by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right)

The Jewish religious leaders wanted Jesus to prove that he was the Messiah (Christ; the Savior). The evidence was all around them but they couldn’t see it, because they didn’t look with faith. They thought they knew God’s word, but they weren’t interested in doing God’s will; they were using God’s word to accomplish their own interests. They were attempting to earn their salvation and security their own way instead of accepting salvation as a free gift by obedient trust in Jesus Christ, who is God’s only way to Salvation. Jesus’ own disciples were unable to understand what Jesus was teaching them about the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:5-7), because they were focused on their physical needs.

There are many in the Church and in secular society today who call themselves “Christians” and “God’s people” who are pursuing their own will and security, instead of following God’s will and God’s way to true security. Some think that church membership is the way to get God to do what we want, instead of seeking God’s will and doing what God wants. Some are allowing their worldly interests to interfere with or override their understanding of God’s word. Are we working with God to build and strengthen his kingdom, or are we working for the opposition? Is our Church an example and testimony of God’s power to the secular world around us, or just a reflection of that secular culture?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

26 Pentecost – Friday

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Nehemiah 12:27-31a, 42b-47, Dedication of the wall

Revelation 19:11-16, Victory of Christ

Matthew 16:13-20, Peter’s confession

When the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt there was a great celebration at their dedication. All the Levites were gathered to Jerusalem. There was thanksgiving with singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. The singers came from the villages around Jerusalem. The priests and Levites purified themselves and then purified the people, the gates, and the walls.

Nehemiah brought all the princes of Judah (members of the royal court) up onto the wall (the ramparts). Half went one way the rest went the other in procession and met at the temple. Many sacrifices were offered that day. There was great rejoicing and the celebration could be heard far away.

People were appointed to the various duties of storing the contributions and tithes. Judah rejoiced for the ministry of the priests and Levites, who served the Lord and served the people in the ritual purification. The priests and Levites performed their duties, as did the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commandments of David. In David’s reign Asaph was the choir director and worship included songs of praise and thanksgiving. In the time of Nehemiah, every Jew contributed to the support of the singers, gatekeepers and Levites, and the Levites contributed a portion to the priests.

John was exiled on the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He received a revelation as a series of visions from God through Jesus Christ. In this vision John saw the heavens opened and a white horse. Its rider is faithful and true; he judges and makes war. His eyes burn like fire; he is crowned with many crowns; he has a name that no one knows but himself. His robe is dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God (Jesus Christ; John 1:1-3, 14). All the armies of heaven follow him, arrayed in fine, pure, white linen and mounted on white horses. “From his mouth issues a sharp sword (God’s word) with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Revelation 19:15). His name, permanently inscribed, is the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who people were saying that Jesus was. They answered that some said Jesus was John the Baptist, some said he was Elijah, others said Jesus was Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Jesus asked his disciples who they believed Jesus to be, and Simon replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus blessed Simon (“son of John”), and told him that Simon had not come to that insight by human ability (or worldly knowledge), but that it had been revealed to him by God the Father (compare 1 Corinthians 1:20-25; 2:6).

Then Jesus changed Simon’s name to “Peter” [in Greek, ‘Petros;’ in Aramaic, ‘Kepha’ (thus 'Cephas'; compare 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 2:9)], and declared that on this “Rock” (Greek: ‘petra;’ Aramaic: ‘kepha’) Christ would build his church, and the powers of death would not prevail against it. Jesus also told them that he would give them the “keys of the kingdom of heaven,” and declared that whatever they unlocked on earth would be unlocked in heaven, and whatever they locked on earth would be locked in heaven. He also told his disciples to tell no one that Jesus was the Christ (Jesus wants each of us to come to our own conclusion about who he is).

The dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem is an image of the Church, the “City of God” on earth, when it is working as the Lord intends. The walls and gates are made strong by the word of God, in order to keep out the enemies of God and his people. The Church needs to be cleansed of false teachings and false prophets, and of unrepentant sinners and evildoers. Nehemiah prefigures Christ as our spiritual leader and head of the Church. Worship, celebration and praise are a joy for the people who participate, which overflows and spills into the secular culture around it. Every member of the church contributes to the mission of the Church in both money and time. John’s vision is also a preview of the Church in heaven.

John (probably the Apostle) had a vision of the triumphant Lord Jesus Christ, leading the armies of heaven which are the saints (“born-again” Christians), clothed in fine, pure, white linen, the “garment of salvation” which only Jesus provides, only through faith (obedient trust) in him (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

This is also the vision of Christ’s return on the Day of Judgment. Jesus will return in victory and power to judge the nations and all people who have ever lived on earth. The standard of judgment will be God’s word, fulfilled and embodied in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus will lead his people to his heavenly kingdom, and he will execute God’s wrath upon the wicked (John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians1:5-10).

Jesus warned his disciples that they had the responsibility to guard their lives and the Church from evil influences, and that this responsibility would have eternal consequences.

Each of us must decide for ourselves who Jesus is, and our decision will have eternal, personal consequences for each of us. Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 3:20); we have no assurance that we will have a tomorrow. If we think we’ll decide later we’ll never make the decision.

Jesus is the rock on which we must build our lives, in order not to come to eternal destruction. If we claim Jesus as our Lord, we must be his disciples who trust and obey him (see Matthew 7:21-27). If we trust and obey Jesus, he will give us the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17) which only he can give (John 1:32-34). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible to know with certainty for oneself whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2)

26 Pentecost – Saturday

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Nehemiah 13:4-22, Neglect of the temple

Revelation 20:1-6, Binding of Satan; reign of the martyrs

Matthew 16:21-28, On discipleship

Eliashib was a priest appointed to supervise the chambers of the temple, where they stored the various materials and utensils for the offerings and sacrifices, and the food for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers. Nehemiah had returned to the Persian king Artaxerxes in 433 B. C.* (Nehemiah had been the Persian king’s cupbearer, his “wine steward,” on leave to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem; Nehemiah 1:11b-2:8.)

Later Nehemiah asked permission to return to Jerusalem, and when he arrived he discovered some evil things done by Eliashib, during Nehemiah’s absence. Eliashib had given Tobiah, an Ammonite, living quarters in one of the chambers of the temple, in violation of the Law of Moses forbidding Ammonites from entering the temple (Nehemiah 13:1-2). Nehemiah had Tobiah’s furniture thrown out of the chamber, and had the chamber (ritually) cleansed of the defilement. Then the vessels and offering materials were returned to the chamber.

Nehemiah also discovered that the portions of the offerings that belonged to the Levites had not been given to them, so the Levites and singers who worked in the temple had gone to their fields (so they could provide their own food). Nehemiah rebuked the temple officials for allowing the house of God to be neglected. Nehemiah assembled the temple staff, and the collection of tithes and offerings was resumed. Nehemiah appointed faithful men from the priests and Levites to supervise the distribution of the tithes to their fellow temple workers.

Nehemiah also discovered that people of Judah were pressing wine and harvesting on the Sabbath, and bringing food to market in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. There were also Gentiles (Phoenician men from Tyre) selling fish in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Nehemiah confronted and warned all these merchants and officials of Judah that they were violating the Sabbath Law. He warned them that their ancestors had disobeyed God’s Law and had incurred God’s wrath (resulting in Judah’s exile in Babylon).

Nehemiah ordered that the gates of the city locked at sundown on the eve of the Sabbath, and not opened until after the Sabbath. So the merchants had camped outside the gates several times, attempting to get around the Sabbath restriction, but Nehemiah told them if they continued to violate the Sabbath he would have them arrested. Nehemiah had the Levites purify themselves and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath holy.

John was exiled on the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, for preaching the Gospel of Jesus. He received a revelation as a series of visions from God through Jesus Christ. In this vision, John saw an angel with keys to the “bottomless pit” coming from heaven. The ancient serpent (Genesis 3:1), Satan, was bound and imprisoned in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. He was no longer allowed to deceive the nations of earth. At the end of the thousand years (symbolic for the completion of the martyrs’ reign with Christ), he would be loosed for a short time.

John also saw thrones of judgment (the apostles were to judge the twelve tribes of Israel; Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). John saw the martyrs who had been martyred during the “Great Tribulation,” [Matthew 24:21-29, which precedes the Second Coming (Matthew 25:31-46) of the Lord and the Day of Judgment] rather than receiving the mark of the beast. They were resurrected and reigned with Christ for a thousand years (the millennium).

The saved were raised to eternal life at the first resurrection and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The lost were not resurrected until the second resurrection at the end of the millennium of Christ’s reign. Those who are resurrected to eternal life at the first resurrection will be so blessed! They will not suffer the second death (which is spiritual and eternal). Those who are resurrected to eternal life will be priests of God and Christ, and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Once Jesus was satisfied that his disciples understood that he was the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20), he began to teach them that it was necessary for him to be crucified and that on the third day he would be raised from the dead. Peter objected, vowing not to let that happen to Jesus, but Jesus rebuked Peter, telling him that he was taking Satan’s side in opposition to God’s will, and hindering Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that each of his followers must be willing to follow Jesus’ example of giving up his own will and becoming obedient to God’s will to the point of physical death. Those who love their lives in this world and are unwilling to give them up to follow Jesus will eventually die eternally, having lost the opportunity for eternal life. But those who are willing to give up their lives in this world in order to follow Jesus will live eternally with him in Heaven.

Would one be willing to trade eternal life in Heaven even for everything in this world? Would one be willing to give everything he possesses to obtain eternal life in Heaven? Jesus is going to return to judge and repay everyone who has ever lived according to what they have done in life. Jesus declared that some will still be living when Jesus returns on the Day of Judgment.

Nehemiah is an example of the godly spiritual leaders and reformers the Church needs, and he prefigures Jesus Christ, the head of the Church. Nehemiah was a Jewish exile who was a wine steward of the King of Persia. He had been on leave to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He returned to Persia, leaving Eliashib, the High Priest, to run the temple.

When Nehemiah returned, he found that Eliashib had misused his position. He hadn’t collected or hadn’t distributed the offerings God’s word intended for the support of the temple staff. As a result they had to work in their own fields to provide their living, and were unable to carry out their temple duties. Eliashib had also allowed his relative by marriage, Tobiah, to convert a temple storeroom into an apartment for himself. The storeroom of the temple was where the offerings for the temple staff were supposed to be kept.

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem he found the evil Eliashib had done in the temple during Nehemiah’s absence. Tobiah was an Ammonite, forbidden by God to enter the temple, much less live there. Nehemiah threw Tobiah and his furnishings out of the temple. The temple was ritually defiled by Tobiah’s presence and had to be purified. Then Nehemiah restored the collection of tithes and offerings, and restored the storeroom to its intended use. He also reassembled the temple staff and appointed faithful people from the priests and Levites to oversee the collection and distribution of the tithes and offerings.

In Nehemiah’s absence the people of Judah become lax in obeying the Sabbath laws. People were pressing grapes, harvesting and marketing produce in Jerusalem on the Sabbath, and there were Gentile (Phoenician) merchants selling fish in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Nehemiah ordered the Sabbath law to be enforced. (Some of the merchants attempted to get around the Sabbath law by setting up outside the gates of the city, so Nehemiah threatened to arrest them if they continued, and he appointed Levites to lock the gates of the city at the beginning of the Sabbath, to enforce the Sabbath law.

John’s vision is of this creation cleansed and restored to the goodness God created it to be, where sin is completely restrained and no longer has power or influence over creation. It is the vision of the Lord’s Judgment of those who are the living and the dead, in the physical and spiritual senses. It is vindication of the martyrs who chose death rather than accepting the mark of the beast (Revelation 14:9-11) during the Great Tribulation. The saved will reign with Christ and be the priests of God and Christ for eternity. That reign begins now as one is “born-again” (John 3:3-5-8).

Jesus taught his disciples by word and example, but he referred to himself as the “Son of man,” which is true and allowed his hearers to decide for themselves who he is, with a hint from scripture (Daniel 7:13). He taught his disciples to also allow others to reach their own conclusions. Once his disciples truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus began to tell them and show them by his example, that his disciples must be willing to lay aside their own will and lives and become obedient to God’s will, even unto death (but please note that God’s word will never lead us to harm ourselves or others). Jesus’ disciples must love the Lord and God’s will, more than they love their own will and their lives in this world.

Jesus’ resurrection to eternal life (witnessed by over five hundred eyewitnesses, including Paul; 1 Corinthians 15:1-10) is the first, and illustrates the reality of the resurrection. Paul is the first “post-resurrection, “born-again” disciple and Apostle of Jesus Christ, and the illustration of the reality of spiritual “rebirth.” Paul is the disciple and Apostle God intended by God to replace Judas, Christ’s betrayer, and he is the first disciple and Apostle who, like us, didn’t know Jesus, during Jesus’ earthly, physical ministry. All “born-again” Christians have the same experience of the risen ascended Jesus, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and testify to the truth that Jesus is risen and lives eternally.

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment. What spiritual condition will he find in our Churches, nations, households, and lives? Have we been faithful stewards of God’s word and the mission of the Church? Have we become lax in our obedience of God’s word? Have we allowed the secular world to take up residence in the Church, or conduct worldly business there? Are we seeking the gift of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God’s will, or are we pursuing our own worldly success and material possessions? Have secular things interfered with our observance of the Lord’s Day and our worship of him?

Are you ready for Christ’s return? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Nehemiah 13:6n, p. 601, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.