Tag: Nehemiah

Slinging Trash

Nehemiah 4-7

Devotion by Telva Elwell (South Carolina)

Have you ever been ridiculed, called embarrassing names, laughed at, or pretty much just made to feel like you just wanted to crawl in a hole?  Suppose you were doing something important and putting your whole heart into it. Did you want to throw your arms up in the air and give up? If this has happened to you, you are in good company. The weapon of ridicule has been around for a long time. Remember the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were called “drunks” (Acts 2:13), and later when Paul the Apostle was called a “babbler” (Acts 17:18).   Those doing good and important things may feel ashamed or discouraged and thus abandon their work.  Sadly, many times ridicule does work, but not in the case of the Apostles, Paul, or even Nehemiah.

You might ask, why do people resort to such hurtful behavior?  The answer is simple: They have no other weapons.  They may “sling trash” simply to be mean or hurtful, or they may be trying to discourage you from your good work. Such was the case of Nehemiah. Let’s look at how he responded to the ridicule he experienced.

Nehemiah had given up a lot to go to Jerusalem, but he was on a sacred mission.  He was going to do the impossible and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and rebuild the gates.  If he had submitted a resume for this job, he probably would not have gotten the job.  After all, he was a cupbearer. A cupbearer, for goodness sake!  He was not someone who was handy with building tools and blueprints.  He was the perfect candidate to receive ridicule and fail.  If Paul was a “babbler” and the other apostles were “drunks”, then Nehemiah was a “babbling drunk” — except for the fact that he was getting the job done.

Sometimes seeing someone accomplish a task, especially a huge task, makes people angry, fearful, and jealous.  Enter Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem.  (Neh. 2)  These three musketeers had a mission also, and it was in direct conflict with the mission of Nehemiah.  If this was a play, they were the discouragers and naysayers.  They heard about the mission to restore Jerusalem and were determined to oppose the work.  And they began immediately.  Nehemiah had just given the peptalk to his workers when these three discouragers showed up.  Nehemiah reports, “they jeered at us and despised us”, then they asked, “What are you doing?  Are you rebelling against the King?” (2:19) Their tactic was ridicule and then tossing in seeds of doubt and false accusation for good measure.  How would Nehemiah respond? How should he respond?

Nehemiah’s choices were: One: ignore the ridicule or, Two: Debate with the men and try to convince them that they were wrong.  Nehemiah chose neither.  He simply told them like it was. He told them (1) The God of Heaven will make us prosper. (2) His servants will arise and build. (3) You have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. (2:20).  For a while Nehemiah’s words to them seemed to work.  The Jews were able to accomplish much and build back the gates of Jerusalem. (chpt 3).  But do you really think that the three musketeers were done?  If so, think again.

Sanballat and his foolish friends found it necessary to somehow end the work of the Jews in Jerusalem because they feared them and what they might do to them.  If Jerusalem was made strong, they would be weak (and less wealthy). Seeing the gates of Jerusalem being rebuilt caused them fear and anxiety.

So, once again, Sanballat and his sidekicks took out their childish games playbook and began calling the Jerusalem builders names.  They attempted to taunt them by calling the workers “feeble” implying they were miserably weak old people.   They continued their name calling by implying they were also stupid people because they were building a weak and worthless city wall. Tobiah undoubtedly thought he was funny and clever when he suggested that the wall was so weak that if a fox walked on it, the wall would tumble to the ground.  (4:1-3) Truthfully, many of the builders were discouraged, but they persevered. 

 Nevertheless, Nehemiah prayed, “Turn back their taunt on their own heads.” (4:4) Eventually, their taunts will come back to haunt them, just as Nehemiah prayed.

 “So, they built the wall…” (4:6)

Sanballat and his buddies continued to attempt to hinder Nehemiah’s work on the wall by various means, but at each turn their attempts were met with defeat.  Nehemiah continued to lead the work, and he ignored the childish mischief.  The insults, the rude name calling, the ridicule—the trash slinging failed to work! 

“So, the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, in fifty-two days!” (6:15)

The next time you feel you are being pursued by troublemakers as you do the work that God has given you to do, remember Nehemiah.

 And remember 52 days.

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you ever been the victim of someone’s unkind words?  How did those words make you feel?
  2. How did you respond?  Did you throw unkind words right back at them?  What is the best way to respond?
  3. Do you think Nehemiah responded properly?  If he had responded by returning insult for insult, arguing, debating, or giving up the work, how would the builders have felt and responded?  How would the trash slingers feel?
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Ask Me if I Care

Nehemiah 1-3

Devotion by Telva Elwell (South Carolina)

When someone says, “Ask me if I care”, it is generally said in a sarcastic manner, leading us to believe that this individual does not care.  “Why would I care about that?”  (That situation does not affect me.)  “What’s the point?” (Nothing is going to change.) “I have better things to be concerned about.”  (My life is more important.)  “My life is good, so why should I worry about someone else’s troubles?” (Let everyone take care of their own business.) I bet every one of us has said or thought these things at least once in our lives.  I know I have, and sadly, I felt justified in feeling that way.

It was probably an ordinary day in the life of Nehemiah, if there was such a thing for Nehemiah.  After all, he was the cupbearer for a powerful king.  He stood in his presence every day, making sure his needs were all taken care of. It was a cushy job with a lot of perks and great benefits. Lucky Nehemiah, right?   But along comes his dear brother, Hanani, to visit Nehemiah.  It was good to see him, I am sure, but Nehemiah’s life was about to be upended in an unexpected way!  Perhaps foolishly Nehemiah inquired about the Jews (his people) who had survived the exile and the condition of the city of Jerusalem, expecting good news or maybe a simple answer like, “Oh, things could be better” with a shrug of the shoulders.  End of discussion.  Instead, what he heard was, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.  The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” (1:3).  Was this Nehemiah’s problem?  After all, it had happened a while ago and now Nehemiah had a great position with the King and lived 800 or more miles away from all of that. Kind of like, out of sight, out of mind. How easily, and perhaps justifiably, Nehemiah could have wished them the best and continued living his happy life.  Who would have blamed him? We would have done the same. Right? Deep inside, Nehemiah might be thinking, “Why would I care about that?”

Instead, however, as soon as Nehemiah heard their words, he “sat down and wept and mourned for days and continued fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.” (vs 4) It is hard to deny the fact that Nehemiah was filled with sorrow and empathy.  But does he really care?  How far will this caring take him?  What can he really do anyway, being that he is working for a powerful king in Persia many miles away from Jerusalem?

Nehemiah could not let it go.  He had to do something. This is where it got tricky for Nehemiah.  He could not just say, “I can’t do anything to help.”  He could not just say, “My work in the palace is more important.”  He had to do something.  So, he went to the King to get his permission to take a leave of absence and to go to Jerusalem. That was the tricky part because the King had every right to refuse his request. Through the work of the Lord, however, the King granted him permission.  Then, because he was ill-prepared to rebuild the wall of the city, he would have to figure out how to accomplish that, and how to lead the band of survivors in that task.  Nehemiah was willing to leave the safety and comfort of the palace for living in a ruined city.  He did so, without excuses as to why he could not build the wall and gates of Jerusalem, and he did it in 52 days because of his faith in the God of Heaven! He did it because he cared.

It is safe to say that we will never be faced with such a monumental task.  Such a task comes seldom, and only to a man like Nehemiah.  But we are faced with important tasks, nonetheless.  People are hurting, they have needs, they need a gentle hand, a listening ear, they need someone to pray for them and with them, or maybe your church has a Sunday School class without a teacher.

We are not Nehemiah, but we can be like him.

We can care.

Reflection Questions

1. Are there times when it is okay to genuinely not care?  Are caring and doing inseparable?  Are there times when it is okay not to help?  Does that mean you don’t care?

    2. What are your first thoughts when you are asked to help with something important?  Do you first think about all the reasons that would make you unable to help? Are all those reasons real or just excuses?  Or do you first consider the ways/solutions that would make you able to help? Is prayer part of your process?

    3. How would have things turned out if Nehemiah had decided he really didn’t care or simply did not want to help?

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    From Dry Bones to Streets of Gold

    Ezekiel 37-39

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    Friday, March 31

    What a powerful passage.  If you would like a visual of the valley of dry bones, I recommend checking out this minute and a half Youtube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dafYxu8cQQ).

     

    While we can pull out hundreds of things to say about this passage, I am going to stick to two simple ideas.  Ezekiel 37 acts as a double prophecy.  In other words, we can expect two different things to happen:

    1. God will restore Israel and make a nation again from the scattered people. He will bring his chosen people back to the promised land.
    2. God will establish His kingdom on Earth. We know that Jesus is coming back to Earth again to reign until God Himself reigns above all men.

     

    We see in Ezra and Nehemiah that prophecy number one is fulfilled as the temple is rebuilt.  In the New Testament we also get a glimpse at prophecy number two.  When Jesus died on the cross we know that the curtain was torn and we have hope in the future Kingdom! After all, Jesus did preach most about the kingdom of God during his time on earth.

     

    As my dad says, he has two major goals in life: 1. To be sure he maintains a strong relationship with God, and 2. To get as many people into the Kingdom as possible.  I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to live forever on the streets of gold glorifying God and Jesus all day long! How are you furthering the Kingdom cause through your everyday actions?

     

    Revelation 21:1-4: Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!” God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

    -Amber McClain 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Hallelujah – Praise God – Amen

    Nehemiah 11-13

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    Sunday, December 11, 2016              

    Today’s Bible reading wraps up some of the bleakest days in Israel’s Old Testament history due to the exile of God’s chosen people. Nehemiah’s courageous leadership prompted walls being restored and repaired to fortify Jerusalem. The precious contents of the temple could now be protected and temple service could begin again. A re-population of the Holy City was beginning to take place and the ancient promises of Yahweh were again being demonstrated to His people when they worshiped Him only.

    The bulk of chapters 11 & 12 basically read as a holy “roll call.” While the inclusion of the long list of names do not make for much intriguing reading, (comparable to phone book reading for pleasure perhaps), it should prompt the reader to understand how a God of detail fondly remembers those who have been faithful to the cause, working to restore and revive His name.  These were brave families returning to a city in ruins, desperate to see God’s glory shine again in their land.

    The end of chapter 12 sets the scene for one of the greatest days in the history of this holy community – a party of all parties! Imagine the pageantry of a redeemed people taking back their rightful place as they occupied the strategic places of Jerusalem and dedicated the walls. The atmosphere must have been electric and how the people must have rejoiced.

    In chapter 13 it is apparent that Nehemiah returned to the king of Babylon for an undisclosed amount of time. Upon return to Jerusalem he finds that some of Israel’s enemies are residing and thriving within the city once again. He is outraged and leads a purging once again of foreign worship and mixed marriages. He institutes financial support of the temple and demands observance of the Sabbath.

    He concludes the chapter and book by asking God to fondly remember him with favor for the work he has done there.

    Reflecting over today’s reading this entire account reminds me of an upcoming event where new residents will move in, dedication and reforms will begin to unfold, and great service will be remembered in celebration. A “changing of the guard” of our own Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith headquarters will soon be taking place. Slated for the second week of January 2017, a new CEO, Chief Executive Officer, will begin to learn and assume duties as the leader of our General Conference and Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia. I am diligently praying for Seth Ross as he takes the baton from Dr. Joe Martin to lead our organization. I hope you are too.

    The Book of Nehemiah provides a great illustration of how prayer and hard work can accomplish seemingly impossible things when a person determines to trust and obey God. Nehemiah was a man of responsibility, vision, prayer, action, cooperation, and compassion. Thank you, Dr. Joe, for displaying those same qualities over the years. We are excited about the future as Seth Ross, another dedicated leader, takes the reins to rightly divide the Word of Truth and the work of God in our conference. May it be our prayer that just as in Nehemiah’s day, many will hear and answer the call to follow as well. May you remember us all with favor, O God, as we long for your Son’s return and work for Your renown!

    Julie Driskill

     

    Julie Driskill is an encourager who celebrates the process of Divine pilgrimage wide open.  She’s never met a stranger and her distinguishable laugh is a dead give away in a crowded room.   

    Receiving a B.A. in Education from the Clayton State University, Morrow, GA, she jointly attended Atlanta Bible College where she studied and worked for several years.  Julie’s philosophy of life revolves around service.  One of her favorite life quotes is “Service is the rent we pay to be living.  It is the very purpose of life….and not something you do in your spare time.” – Edelman

    With the steadfast support of friends and family over the past twenty years she has pursued this goal of service by developing and implementing the work of Higher Ground Camp, an Ohio based 501 (c) (3).    

    For the past two years Julie has expanded her duties to collaborate with Family & Youth Initiatives, of New Carlisle, Ohio, as an in-school educator for the Real Life Teen Choices Program. She teaches sexual risk avoidance curriculum to students in grades 6-12 in public and private schools in eight counties. Developing after-school leadership programs and peer to peer mentoring networks for at-risk youth has become her specialty.

     

    Maybe I Should Apologize

    Nehemiah 8-10

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    Saturday, December 10

    After the wall was completed the people gathered at the square which was in front of the Water Gate and they had Ezra read the books of the law to them and had them explained to them.  The people were so moved that they bowed down low and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.  Nehemiah and Ezra told the people not to mourn but to keep the day as holy to the LORD, to go and feast and be filled with joy because the LORD is their strength.  They were encouraged to make shelters of branches to help celebrate.  This was the custom that was known as the feast of booths or tabernacles that is celebrated to this day by the Jews.  Ezra read the law daily for the entire celebration lasting 7 days, and then there was a solemn service held on the eighth day.

    After the reading of the scriptures something very interesting and dramatic happens.  The Jews separate themselves from any foreign people in their city and they fasted and smeared ashes and dirt upon themselves, wore itchy sackcloth, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.  Then in the hearing of the people the leaders told of the goodness of the LORD to the people throughout generations past.   Telling of all His mighty deeds.  Then the people all sign an agreement to follow the commands as God laid them out in His law, and to live holy and pleasing lives to the LORD from that time onward.  This national repentance and reconciliation was done in order to please the LORD.  Whenever God’s people do what pleases Him, His blessings are soon to follow.

    What catches my eye about this is that the people hold a national time of repentance.  Could you imagine what would happen if we tried to do this today?  I’m sure the news stations would be all over it in an instant.  Watch out CNN!  The interviews could be quite interesting , and could lead to some very juicy gossip to be sure.    The point is that people today rarely apologize for anything.  They  find it even more hard to change their ways .  You may have some examples of  people you know who don’t apologize when it would be appropriate to do so.  You might also know people who say they are going to change their ways but find it difficult to set any new pattern in their behavior.  Personally, if I had a dime for every time I’ve heard a person struggling with addiction say they are going to quit – I would be very rich indeed!  I’m not saying that it is impossible for a person to change but it is in reality quite difficult for people to change their attitudes which are then reflected in their actions.

    The Jews had this same difficulty.  They had a national time of repentance and even signed the document but as history unfolds we can see that they were not very good at keeping their promise to God.  It’s important to keep your promises to God.  Repentance is all about changing your ways.  It’s good to apologize to God when appropriate but even better is to change your behavior so that you don’t have to be in the situation where you need to apologize!  God wants us to be sincere in our words and our deeds.  Are there any of your actions that you need to apologize to God for, and change?  What do you think is the first step you can take to help change your ways so that they are pleasing to God?  God’s blessing follows true repentance.  What blessings do you think God might have in store for you when you are in right standing with Him?

    -Merry Peterson

    No Way! That’s Impossible! 

    Nehemiah 5-7

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    Friday, December 9

    God really knows how to get things done.  As work progressed on the wall around Jerusalem Nehemiah was appointed governor over the land of Judah.  He was made aware that many of the Jews were oppressing one another.  There were famine like conditions and many people were being exploited in their plight to supply food to their families by fellow Jews.  This was appalling to Nehemiah and he ordered the people to stop exploiting one another.  He also was very generous in making sure that the workers on the wall were receiving food portions.

    Then another encounter with Sanballat and Tobiah comes along.  Sanballat plots to meet with Nehemiah  outside the city so that the work on the wall will be stalled or ceased.  But Nehemiah refuses to leave the city.  Then Sanballat further entices Nehemiah to come and meet with him by telling him that lies are being told about him that people  – especially other rulers will believe and come against Jerusalem.  Nehemiah tells Sanballat that his words are just that – a bunch of lies, no one believes because they are lies, and he refuses to leave work on the city wall.   Then in desperation Sanballat and Tobiah hire a false prophet to entice Nehemiah to come and hide in the temple, but Nehemiah sees through the false prophet and work on the wall continues.

    The wall is miraculously completed in 52 days!  News of this spreads to the surrounding nations and they know without a doubt that God helped the Jews to accomplish this task.

    Can you imagine how awesome it would be to complete a project that big?  In our day and age it would take much longer than that to build a wall around even one of our smallest cities.  Contractors would be arguing, funding would constantly be an issue – in short we could not do that same task today even with modern technology and machinery.  The reason that Jerusalem’s walls went up so quickly and efficiently is because God was in the work.  He was also in the heart of the worker.  Nehemiah was faced with what seemed like an impossible task, but we know that God loves to help do the impossible.  With God all things are possible.   Are you facing a huge test, or a difficult situation, or a relationship that is troubling you?  Have you given that impossible situation, test, or relationship to God for him to handle?  With God all things are possible.  He always provides the answers to our impossible situations in His timing, and His perfect way.  It may not always be the solution that we are expecting but He is able to make impossible situations possible.  God is still able to work miracles and loves to help his children who put their trust in His ability.   Key Thought:  Give your impossible situations to God and let Him handle them – He loves to do the impossible.

    -Merry Peterson

     

    Hand Me A Hammer, And Maybe A Sword Too

    Nehemiah 1-4

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    Thursday, December 8

    If you have a toolbox, then Nehemiah is the book you should read.  Nehemiah is the story of Nehemiah who was the cupbearer to King Artexerxes.  He had been wondering how the city of Jerusalem was progressing since the captivity of himself and others.   When he heard that the city wall was in ruins and the gates were burned he was greatly distressed.  He was so distressed, and so favored by King Artaxerxes that Artaxerxes  allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem.  With letters of the King’s blessing with Nehemiah he travels to Jerusalem where he does a midnight tour of the damaged gates and places of the city.  Then in the day he proposes to the people of Jerusalem that they rebuild the city gates and walls.  This suggestion is opposed by two men who prove to be enemies of the work named Sanballat and Tobiah.

    Work is begun on the wall and each branch of the Jewish families takes on a portion of the wall to rebuild or gate to be hung.  Some families even take on more parts of the wall or structures to repair and rebuild.  The work is going well and is being blessed by God in that all are working toward a common goal – to rebuild the protective wall around Jerusalem.

    Sanballat was extremely displeased with the progress of the city wall and plotted against the people of Jerusalem.  He gathered an army of men to come and attack the people who were restoring the wall but the plot was uncovered and Nehemiah devised a plan of his own.  He stationed families with swords, spears, and bows by the wall so that they would be able to defend the city should they be attacked.  He also had all the workers who were working on the wall carry a spear with them from dawn until dark and set night guards around the city as well.  The enemies were discouraged by Nehemiah’s quick  protective thinking, and work on the wall continued uninterrupted by any enemies.

    The people were able to accomplish a lot because they worked together.  Nehemiah comments that the people had a mind to work.  Isn’t it a great feeling when people are working together in harmony?  It makes the work seem easier and makes it go faster.  Even when the people had to hold a spear in their hand and continue working they still kept a common goal and interest in mind – the completion of the wall.  How often do we find ourselves working with a group of people with the same goal.  The people in Nehemiah all came from different family backgrounds and professions yet they were able to collectively focus to work on a huge task.  How important do you think it is to be able to work with others ?  Are you able to work towards a common goal with people who have different backgrounds or ideas of what is best than you do?  God wants us to be able to work together with people who are different than ourselves.  When we work together for God’s purposes in life He is pleased with us and will bless our work, just as he blessed the people of Jerusalem who worked together.  Key Thought :  How can I work with others to accomplish God’s purposes.

    -Merry Peterson