Self-Seeking or God-Seeking - Day 211 Through the Bible

The Parkway Playhouse, North Carolina's oldest continuously operating summer theater, has performances this weekend and throughout the summer - near Mt. Celo Church

This Layperson's Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

Wrath and Rage / Solipsism and Showboating - Esther 1 and 2 - The pagan King Ahasuerus/Xerxes has thrown a 6-month celebration during the 3rd year of his reign before the nobles and princes of his 127 provinces throughout Persia and Media - stretching from India to Ethiopia - "to show the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty." When this celebration ends, he gives a 7-day feast for all the people of Shushan, the citadel, in the opulent garden of the palace.  Queen Vashti is giving a feast for the women in the palace at the same time.  The king, "merry with wine", orders the eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, before him, "in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold."  She refuses; the king becomes "furious, his anger burns within him"; his counselors advise him to allow Vashti to no longer come before the king, to allow another to be chosen in her place, and that a proclamation be sent throughout the kingdom, "that each man should be master in his own house...lest the queen's behavior causes all women to despise their husbands in their eyes."  The king's temper subsides; he remembers Vashti. The most beautiful virgins of the provinces are chosen - including Esther, the orphaned child cousin of the Jew, Mordecai, who has brought her up as his daughter.  Esther is favored by the head eunuch, given the best place in the house of the women, keeps her Jewish identity secret per Mordecai's instructions, and after 12 months of the required beauty treatments, she is sent in to the king for her one evening.  She finds favor with him above the other young virgins, is crowned queen, and another great feast and holiday is proclaimed. Meanwhile, Mordecai sits within the king's gate and overhears two eunuchs who have become "furious and seek to lay hands on King Ahasuerus".  Mordecai tells Esther of the plot, and she informs the king in the name of Mordecai.  An inquiry is made and confirmed, and the eunuchs are hung on the gallows.  This is written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

My Lessons and Applications - 1) conspicuous consumption and the dangerous personalities behind it, 2) self adulation of many who hold sway over others and the wrath and rage against those who refuse to kowtow to it.  "Reasons for Vashti's disobedience are not given in the Hebrew text though early Jewish interpreters explained that she was commanded to appear naked, wearing only her crown, or that she had some disfigurement." Geneva Study Bible - pg. 689  There are other historical claims that speak of the Villany of Vashti - especially toward the Jewish women, 3) a caution against drinking alcohol to excess and long-term consequences of what is done while under its influence, 4) importance of careful choice of counselors, which we have seen throughout our Biblical study, 5) the disregard for thrown-away lives (the worth of a soul) to serve the pleasure of one person, 6) the Sovereignty and Providence of God - Esther finding favor in the eyes of the head eunuch, of all those around her, of the king, of Mordecai overhearing the murder plot against the king - of all of this working for the good of God's people, to save a remnant from which the promised Messiah will come 7) the effects of obedience and disobedience and to whom we submit according to God's Word, 8) the danger of a person given to rage, wrath and fury - both with the king in this reading and with the eunuchs plotting his murder (Proverbs 22:24), 9) the importance of keeping a written record or journal of events - even in my life.  We will see how this plays into this saga at the end of the book of Esther.  Am I following God's Word in dating, in marriage, in friendships?  Do I recognize and stay away from the person who has anger and rage as a pattern of behavior?  Do I deal appropriately with these emotions in my own life?  Is my obedience and submission to another God-ordained or unhealthy? Is the counsel I am receiving based on God's Word?

Self-seeking vs God-seeking - Romans 2 -  SELF-SEEKERS: "Hardness...an impenitent heart...treasuring up for yourself wrath...judge others for the things you yourself practice... despise God's goodness, forbearance and long-suffering...self-seeking...obey unrighteousness...do not obey the truth...have the outward circumcision but no inward reality of faith...boast in the law but break the law...teach others but do not teach yourselves...who will receive the righteous judgment of God in the day of wrath and revelation...who are inexcusable"..."for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written."
GOD-SEEKERS: "those gaining eternal life by patient continuance in doing good...doers - not just hearers of the law...the law is written on their hearts, their "circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit - not in the letter...whose praise is not from men but from God..to them will be glory, honor and peace...to everyone who works what is good."

My Lessons and Applications - 1) an illustration in the OT of the two groups of people spoken of in Romans: one is a man (King Xerxes) who considered himself and expected others to consider him a god; the other, Mordecai - and Esther later, who are both humbled and then "lifted up" in this story as they seek to do good on behalf of the Jewish people.  Mordecai, through his role as a type of Kinsman-Redeemer for Esther, teaches her  - through obedience - how to be used by God to redeem His/their people from genocide by this narcissistic king who is so influenced by unwise / untruthful counselors.  While God is never mentioned in this book, His Sovereignty and Providence, behind the scenes, is always there, ever faithful to His covenant. 2) the change in a soul, in a life through the applied Word of God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit; the impact of the child of God on the world 3) the essence of moving beyond being a "professing" believer to being a "possessing" believer.  4) unbelievers and merely professing Christians are without excuse. Do I walk the talk? 5) The Espistle to the  Romans gives lie to the often taught doctrine that we can sin over and over, and God will always forgive us.  Often the fact of consequences to the sin - despite forgiveness - are never preached. There does come a point of no return, when God will "give us over" to the continued pattern of depravity and sin in our lives.  (Romans 1:18-32 - 2)  Does my life give honor and glory to God or blaspheme His name to unbelievers?

Finally, we must never forget that the gospel of Christ is holy.  His gospel never excuses sin; it pardons it, but only through the atonement.  Thus, if our life is to resemble the gospel, we are to shun anything and everything that would hinder our perfect conformity to Christ, not merely what we consider the worst vices.  Therefore, for Jesus' sake, for the sake of others, and for our own sake, we must strive day by day to bring our conduct into greater accordance with His gospel. 

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Concerning Friends and Practices---Day 210 Through The Bible

                                             Just as I built this dry-stacked wall by following instructions,
                                                       we can also build solid lives when we follow God's instructions
                                                                                        revealed to us in His Word. 



"Two thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God. . .The singers sang loudly. . .God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off"!  This was the scene at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.  What is the condition of the wall of our spiritual lives?

Tobiah, an Ammonite official had attempted to hinder Ezra and Nehemiah in the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6).  Eliashib, the priest, was allied with Tobiah-- a priest aligning himself with a worshiper of idols. He took upon himself to provide Tobiah with one of the storage rooms in the temple.  He removed the grain offerings, frankincense, the tithes of grain, oil, and wine, along with other articles that were used in the temple.

Nehemiah had already returned to Babylon to resume his duties serving the king there.  When he returned to Jerusalem, "(he) discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved (him) bitterly" (Nehemiah 13:7-8).  We saw at the beginning of this chapter that on the day of the dedication, it was found written in the Book of Moses that "no Ammonite. . .should ever come into the assembly of God because they had refused to help God's people and even hired Balaam to curse Israel. Following the reading of this passage, "they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel" (verse 3).  How much distance do we put between ourselves and ungodly influence? Are we grieved bitterly by what we see going on around us?

Nehemiah "cleaned house" and removed Tobiah's things from the room.  (According to one source, the room was being used as an "office" for Tobiah to conduct business in the newly reconstructed temple.)  Nehemiah also found that the house of God had been forsaken due to failure to carry out the tithing system.  The tithe belonged to the Lord and was for the purpose of maintaining the operation of the house of God (Lev. 27:30, Mal. 3:8).  The Sabbath day was also being desecrated with buying and selling, and business as usual on the Sabbath, rather than respect for it as a day of rest in obedience to God.  Nehemiah reminded the nobles of Judah that God had previously brought disaster on them for this same evil.  He went on to say, "Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath"!  Are we supporting the work of God? Is something we are doing bringing "added wrath" on our country?

Nehemiah took charge of the situation and had the gates of the city closed from evening until evening on the Sabbath day, thus preventing outsiders from bringing merchandise into the city to sell.  At first, some of the merchants hung around outside the gate, however, Nehemiah warned them there would be a physical confrontation if they continued to do so. Do I deliberately deal with sin, close the gates, and forcefully confront persistent temptations?  (Matthew 11:12, says, "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force". According to Life Application Study Bible, this verse can mean that "entering God's Kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination, and endurance because of the growing opposition leveled at Jesus' followers".)

Nehemiah also addressed the fact that the Jews were marrying pagan women.  Eliashib's granddaughter had even married Sanballet's son. (Sanballet persistently attempted to stop God's work in Jerusalem.) Nehemiah drove Eliashib, the priest away from him and asked God to remember that he had defiled the priesthood.  In the Book of Proverbs God reminds us to choose our friends carefully.  Eliashib had unwisely allied himself with Tobiah.

The wisdom in Proverbs 22:3, could have prevented Eliashib's ruin as a priest. It says, "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished".  When people come into our lives, they bring things with them that can have an influence on us.  We would do well to consider what those things might be before we become allied with them.  In Psalm 89, God warns that He "will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes" (verse 32).  Nehemiah had warned that he would lay hands on the merchants. He was also forceful with the Jews who had married pagan women when he discovered that some of their children could only speak a pagan language. "So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair" (Nehemiah 13:25).  In other words, Nehemiah got their attention! He made them promise (swear by God) that they would not allow their children to marry worshipers of idols. He reminded them that pagan women caused even Solomon, the beloved of God and king of Israel, to commit sin!  Do we convince ourselves that we are above being negatively influenced and that our situation will be different?

Nehemiah cleansed Judah of everything pagan.  He also "assigned duties to the priests and the Levites" (verse 30).  Eliashib had evidently forsaken his job as priest somewhere along the way.  He had obviously failed to take his duties seriously as he became sidetracked by his friendship with Tobiah.  Is something interfering with my carrying out my obligations to God and to others?

After reading the law of God, Israel had separated themselves from those who worshiped idols. In Romans 1:1, we read that Paul was "separated to the gospel of God".  We are "the called of Jesus Christ"--who was "declared to be the Son of God. . .by the resurrection from the dead". In Romans 1:28-31, we find a list of practices that comes with this warning: "those who practice such things are deserving of death".  Paul says there are those "who know the righteous judgment of God", yet they "not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (verse 32).  God warns us in this chapter to beware of refusing to give up sin.  He will allow us to be entangled with these sins that will eventually take over our lives and destroy us.  We should read this list very carefully.  It not only includes sins that most of us would recognize as such, but also lists conduct that we might feel less uncomfortable with--whisperers, back-biters, boasters, undiscerning, unloving, untrustworthy, unforgiving, unmerciful, full of envy, proud, strife, deceit.  God makes no difference in these practices and the seemingly (to us) more serious sins.  According to the previous verses, this entire list of sins has its origins in "a debased mind" and are considered as "things which are not fitting". What are we approving of by our actions?  What do we enjoy watching or listening to?

 Eliashib evidently saw nothing wrong with developing a friendship with Tobiah.  He allowed Tobiah's influence to draw him away from God and his duties as priest.  These practices listed in Romans 1, are serious to God and each has the potential for also taking us down a path that leads away from God.  Prayerfully consider this list and confess our sins. "(God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).  We can then raise our voices with great joy as we re-dedicate ourselves to holy lives before God, just as the two "thanksgiving choirs" celebrated with gladness at the dedication of the restored wall at Jerusalem!

Humbled for Use in His Kingdom Work - Day 209 Through the Bible

Two festivals this coming weekend: Top:  57th Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair on the historic town square of Burnsville, NC, August 2-3 and Bottom: The NC Mineral and Gem Festival held since the early 1950's in historic Spruce Pine, NC in the Bridge Coliseum August 1-4 - both near Mt. Celo Church

My Gleanings from Today's Readings

Committed to the OT Covenant, to the Mission - Nehemiah 10 and 11 - The wall around Jerusalem is rebuilt, close to 50,000 exiles have returned from Babylon, worship is restored according to the Law of God with the Levites, priests, musicians, singers, the Nethinim, and the people humbling themselves before God.  This is the culmination of the 3 mission journeys: the first led by Zerubbabel, the second by Ezra, the priest, and the third by Nehemiah, the governor.  Those who have "separated themselves to the Law of God - who had knowledge and understanding - these entered into a curse and an oath to walk, to observe, to do all the commandments, ordinances and statues in God's Law".  Tithes are established for the service of the house of God, first fruits of livestock, sons and agricultural products given to God, and one of every 10 families is chosen to live in Jerusalem with the people's blessing while the rest return to their homes in the other cities of Judah.  Some of the children of Judah - of the line of Perez - of the line of the coming Messiah - dwell in Jerusalem.

Committed to the Mission of the New Covenant - Acts 28 - Paul is on his final mission journey fulfilling Jesus's command that he must be a witness in both Jerusalem and Rome (Acts 23:11).  This is accomplished through great sufferings and trials - also in fulfillment of words spoken by Jesus to Ananias after Paul's Damascus Road conversion (Acts 9:13-16)  Paul is a prisoner, shipwrecked on the island of Malta, bitten by a poisonous snake while building a fire with the people.  The superstitious, fickle people at first think him a murderer destined to die because of the bite; then they think him a god because he has survived the poison.  Paul heals the sick father of the leading citizen of the island and then the rest who come to him with diseases to be healed.  The shipwrecked crew finds passage on an Alexandrian ship, visits several ports and finally lands in Rome where Paul is met by brethren and "thanks God and takes courage."  He meets with Jews there and assures them he means no harm against Judaism; he explains and testifies of the kingdom of God to them.  Some believe; some do not.  He quotes from Isaiah that this, too, is prophecy that their eyes, ears, and hearts have grown dull, unable to understand and, "therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" For two years Paul "remains here in a rented house, receiving all who come to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him."  Ignatius writes that Paul was martyred in Rome, and Paul alludes to his impending martyrdom in 2nd Timothy.  Christian tradition holds that he was beheaded in this city during the reign of Nero.

My Lessons and Applications - 1) How different the mindset of the humbled Jewish exiles from their pre-exilic pride of self; how different the heroism and humility of the converted Paul, one of the greatest leaders of the Apostolic Age from the Saul of Tarsus, prideful persecutor of Christians.  I was listening to Ravi Zacharias, Christian apologist, last night on the way home from Bible Study.  He said that humility - a humbled heart, submitted and committed before God - was the essential trait needed in fruit-bearing for Christ.  2) God will use trials and suffering to bring us back to Him, to minister more effectively, more humbly for Him and through Him (Acts 9:13-16), 3) This is a reminder of the Jewish roots of my faith - of the "grafting-in" of the Gentiles through God's Plan - spoken of by Paul, the learned Pharisee taught by Gamaliel who becomes one of the great Apostles of the Christian faith (Romans 11:11-31), 4) This is a reminder that great humbling may also be the call of Christ, His "flinging out" of a disciple for special commissioning, 5) In today's readings, God brought the Chosen Nation, the Chosen People back to Himself in covenantal fellowship in the OT reading; in the NT reading He uses one of the Pharisee's of that Chosen People to preach Christ and the kingdom of God, to call believers that belong to the kingdom of God from every tongue, tribe and nation (Daniel 3:4, 5:19, Revelation 5:9 and 7:9.) 5) Now Christ has given each of us as believers this same mission (Matthew 28:16-20).  Am I doing my part to His glory?  What of my past or present will He use for His kingdom work?  Am I daily humbling myself before Him, laying my life before Him, readying myself for His "flinging out"?

Faith is the heroic effort of your life; you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.  

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Out of Bondage - Day 208 Through the Bible

The 57th Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair will be held this coming weekend - August 2 and 3 - on our historic town square in Burnsville NC - near Mt. Celo Church.  Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the annual event that includes 150 juried crafters, live music, clogging, many food vendors, and more.  It is one of the largest craft fairs in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

My Lessons and Applications for Today's Readings

Back to the Word of God / Back to Confession, Repentance and Covenant with God - Nehemiah 8 and 9 - The nation of Israel is devastated and its people despondent.  All the bounty of the land, of their families, their lives  - all is for the kings who dominate them...because of their sins. "Here we are, servants today!  And the land that You gave to our fathers, to eat its fruit and its bounty, here we are, servants in it!  And it yields much increase to the kings...You have set over us....because of our sins.   Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle at their pleasure...and we are in great distress."(Ellipses are mine and are for contemplation.) So Nehemiah, the governor, Ezra, the priest, the Levites and the people have gathered...as one...to hear and learn and do the Word of God.  One-fourth of the day is spent on this hearing, preaching, and teaching.  One-fourth is spent on confessing, repenting and covenanting with merciful God once again.  HIS story in their story is recounted before God and before the people from the time of Abram to the present.  The pattern is always there.  Goodness, blessing, enjoying the fat of the land, rest from enemies is followed by forgetting...not heeding God's Word, rebelling...acting proudly...until God brings destruction upon them again and gives them over to their enemies again.  Then they weep...mourn...fast...pray...humble themselves before God...confess...repent...covenant to return to God and His laws.

My Lessons and Applications - 1) We still continue this pattern of turning away from God and His word during times of wealth, health, and prosperity today or never believing in God in the first place. I have mentioned this before, but this always brings me back to September 11, 2001, and the months following that when churches were filled beyond capacity, people desperate for the Word of God regarding those almost apocalyptic events.  Peace was restored, and the disregard of God, of collective worship became the norm once again. Perhaps this is Spurgeon's "professing vs. possessing" Christianity or likely something much deeper. I read this in the Geneva Study Bible notes today during our sermon on the ABC's of Sin and God's Grace (ABC - Author, Birth, Consequences) that explains to me why so many turn from God during times of blessing (Cast out from Paradise / "your seed and her Seed" - Genesis 3), "Humanity is now divided into two communities:  the redeemed who love God, and the reprobate, who love self (John 8:33,44, 1 John 3:8).  2) Revelation is gained by recalling our  life walk with God - His blessings, His withdrawing of them, our response, 3) We gain physical and spiritual release from confessing particular sins, 4) True repentance  requires humility and deep soul-work 5) There is comfort, help and hope found in personal and communal study of God's Word, 6) I am in awe of the unfathomable mercy and patience of Holy God with sinful man, with me.

Paul's Final Journey in Fulfillment of His Mission - Acts 27: 27-44 - The captain and centurions have refused to listen to Paul's warning about bad weather and shipwreck.  Now caught in horrendous winds, weak from no food for 14 days, Paul urges the crew to eat for their survival. The Apostle offers thanks to God as he breaks bread.  All provisions are thrown overboard after the meal, and the crew attempts to drive the ship onto land.  The violence of the waves breaks up the stern when the ship is caught where two seas meet, the soldiers plan to kill the prisoners - including Paul - but the centurion intervenes and commands that all aboard swim or drift to shore on parts of the boards.

My Lessons and Applications - 1) As the OT promises material prosperity and peace on earth while following God's Word, the NT promises those in the spiritual realm now, their fulfillment for us eternally.  A study of Jesus's (Isaiah 53 and the gospels), Paul's (2 Cor. 11), the apostles' lives certainly gives lie to the material wealth and prosperity gospel preached by so many today, 2) We are warned by Jesus and the Apostles that we will suffer many trials, that our pilgrimage on earth will be difficult. 3) We must speak discerned truth even when it is not heeded (short-term vs. long-term consequences), 4) Remember the commandment to give thanks in all things - including trials and tribulations, 5) We must follow the command to "keep our eyes on Jesus, the author of our faith", in order to persevere to the end, through God's grace, for His glory.

It is our wisdom, in all our affairs, to follow Providence, and folly to force it.

Matthew Henry

Obeying The Promptings of God---Day 207 Through the Bible

The South Toe River is full at present due to an extremely wet spring and summer.

In today's scriptures we see both Nehemiah and Paul being directed by God to accomplish a work of God. Nehemiah was working to restore the broken down walls of Jerusalem.  Paul was on his final journey to Rome--by ship, to appear before Caesar.

Nehemiah's quality of perseverance stands out in chapter 6 of Nehemiah. Sanballat (even the name has an evil ring to it) wanted to stop God's work and four times he invited Nehemiah to come meet with him.  Nehemiah recognized that Sanballat was seeking to harm him, and four times he refused, saying he was doing a great work and could not leave it.  Do we cave under an enemy's persistence? It is really easy to finally give in when someone or something keeps pushing us.  Nehemiah's persistent refusal to meet with Sanballat speaks volumes of his character and dedication to God.  Do we, like Nehemiah remain focused on what is right when we are hard pressed to lose our focus?  It could be something we are physically working on for God or more than likely it could be on a spiritual level--a characteristic God is building in us--such as patience or perseverance.

Nehemiah was obviously close to God and faithfully asked for God's help. In Paul's situation, God sent an angel to reassure Paul that he nor those with him on the ship would perish in the persistent storm. But how does God put things in our hearts today?  Dr. Stanley writes this in today's "Life Lessons": "(God) may use our own observation and experience, the counsel of others, or perhaps work more directly. However He does it, we walk in the Spirit when we obey His initial promptings."

Dr. Stanley also writes this lesson for us regarding Nehemiah: "A solid prayer life and a close relationship to God do not minimize the need for clear and extensive thinking.  Rather, these things empower and sharpen our thoughts".  Nehemiah's faith in God served to clear his thinking and sharpened his thoughts regarding Sanballat's requests. He saw through the plot to strike fear in his heart so that he would go into hiding in fear for his life.  Nehemiah's response: "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life?  I will not go in!"  Being a man close to God--this just did not add up for Nehemiah.  Are we close enough to God that He can impart His wisdom to us?

Nehemiah and Paul encouraged others by their faith and by their example. "When times get hard, those who do not have a relationship with God can take courage from those who do---if believers maintain and display their trust in the Lord" (Dr. Stanley's commentary on Acts 27:25).  We are facing uncertain times in the United States, as well as in other countries, that are unprecedented.  Will those of us who know God be spiritually prepared to help those who are fearful and confused by events that may occur? Drawing ever closer to God will not only serve to keep our own feet on solid ground, but to be a Nehemiah or a Paul for our loved ones and neighbors in the midst of deceitful propositions or in the tempest of a seemingly never ending storm!  Will we be ready to exemplify unswerving faith in God during such times of trouble?  We will be if we are doing so in the "little things" now!

Facing Opposition from Without and Within - Day 206 Through the Bible

Another "Trashformation" birdhouse by Rolf Holmquist at the Cabin - made from found and discarded objects

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

Facing Opposition from Without and Within in the OT- Nehemiah 4, 5, and 6 - Nehemiah, an exile in the Persian court of King Artaxerxes, is fulfilling the vision he has had from God to rebuild, repair, restore the wall around Jerusalem.  The king, in God's Providence and Sovereignty, gives full military, financial and proclamation support for Nehemiah to return and do this.  After careful and private observation of the extent of the disrepair, Nehemiah determines a course of action.  Each family, priest, Levite will build the section nearest to him.  Some do more.  As success comes, so does outside attack from the enemies of the region who at first laugh and mock and then become "furious...very indignant...conspire together...attack Jerusalem...and try to create confusion...to stop the building.  Nehemiah's first response is prayer, "Hear O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!  Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders." Then Nehemiah, as governor, arms the builders.  The enormous task becomes a 24/7 job for the Jews.  One group works from first light to first stars (with swords strapped to their bodies), then that group takes the watch with armor and additional weapons.  Now the attack comes from within.  Many of the nobles have not participated in the rebuilding, and they begin to exact usury upon the workers who cannot tend their fields or vineyards.  The workers' sons and daughters are sold into slavery to their own people, their lands and houses mortgaged to buy grain, and money borrowed at usurious rates to pay taxes on the land to the king.  Nehemiah becomes very angry with the people, gathers them, and accuses the nobles of perpetrating the same evil against their own people that foreign powers have done.  This is not only against the law of Moses but brings reproach against God's people before the eyes of others.  Nehemiah and those with him lend money to those in need and demand the usury stop, the lands and houses be returned to the rightful owners and a portion of the money, wine, oil, and grain they have taken be returned as well.  Nehemiah never uses or demands a governor's portion, never buys land to enrich himself, continues work on the wall alongside the others, and provides daily meals at his table for 150 Jews plus those around him from other nations. "Remember me, my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people."

Contending with Opposing Forces From Without and Within in the NT - Acts 26 - Paul is now before King Agrippa - the last of the kings of the very small Jewish territory who is married to his sister, Bernice (who has been married to several other men before Agrippa, including her uncle.)  Paul is faced with the proconsul, Festus, who accuses him of insanity from too much learning, with the Jewish council who accuse him of treason against Caesar and blasphemy against the temple and the law of Moses, and against this Jewish king who most scholars believe is sarcastic in his reply, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." But Paul, like Nehemiah, has had a vision from God.  Jesus has told Paul he would be required to witness at Jerusalem (which he did with great opposition almost costing his life), and then he must witness in Rome.  This is still ahead, and Paul has now appealed to Caesar.  Neither Agrippa nor Festus find anything deserving of death or chains in Paul.  He could have been set free, but his mission is not complete.  He preaches Christ before Jews, Gentiles, and kings as Jesus has said, "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me".  He preaches the need for "repentance, turning to God and doing works befitting repentance." Paul is following Christ, not the Jewish leaders, not the king, not the proconsul.

My Lessons and Applications OT - The importance and efficacy of 1)  diligence and perseverance in a task, 2) delegation / division of work so that each person is vested in the project, in the nation; wisdom of being assigned the work nearest their own land ensured that extra care would be taken in the work, 3) prayer and work going hand-in-hand 4) leaders and people standing together against enemies determined to undermine and stop the fulfillment of the vision, 5) leaders willing to go against the wealthy (who often are not part of the workforce but benefit from it) who are taking advantage of the workers.  Here this was done through usury in lending money, then absconding with property.  It also manifests itself today with the super wealthy manipulating financial markets, tax loopholes in the law, and other disingenuous methods to the disadvantage or destruction of the working populace, 6) a leader who works alongside others, supporting, encouraging, praying for, standing up for the people, not taking bribes or enriching self in his role as a leader, sacrificing when necessary for the common good, 7) ruling by and being ruled by the same law as all the people, 8) serving God and the people over whom he has been given authority - not expecting or causing them to serve him = the Servant Leader.
My Lessons and Applications  NT - 1) The king of Israel has now degenerated from a point of rebellion against God's law forbidding intermarriage with pagans to a low point of incest.  Sin is always down-spiraling. 2)When believers are given visions by God in the Bible - and now - we are often faced with a great deal of opposition - also from unbelievers outside and professing Christians inside.  Are we able to stay the course "to be obedient to the heavenly vision", to finish the mission, regardless of the cost? 3) When Paul encounters Jesus, the Master asks, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?  When we as believers are persecuted, Jesus is persecuted.  We are inseparable.

If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage..The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost to God's highest, and this can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision.  The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings...Watch God's cyclones.  The only way God sows His saints is by His whirlwind...Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does.  If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty pod.  If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit.  

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Prayerfully Running Our Race---Day 205 Through the Bible

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth"(Colossians 3:2).

Today we begin the Book of Nehemiah.  What is our response to the spiritual decay around us among the people of God?  Nehemiah learned that the survivors of the captivity were "in great distress and reproach" and that Jerusalem's walls were broken down and its gates burned with fire".  His response--"I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 1:4).  Nehemiah began his prayer to God with praise and thankfulness for God's faithfulness. The Lord's Prayer also begins with praise to God. I know from personal experience that beginning a prayer with a list of problems spells defeat. Our focus in prayer must be on God. When we begin to consider Him, His power, His faithfulness, His greatness, His position as our Heavenly Father--we begin to experience hope that can replace despair.

Nehemiah then confessed the sins and shortcomings of Israel and rehearsed the words that God Himself had said to Moses regarding gathering His scattered people.  Praying God's Word is powerful and effective as it taps into His will and brings confidence to our prayers.  Nehemiah came to God with humility, with his whole heart, and in accordance with God's will.  Dr. Stanley mentions that many great things God has done for His people has begun with prayer and fasting. Fasting humbles us physically, mentally, and emotionally, and serves to help us focus on our need for God.

"God does not act in many situations because we do not pray.  God waits for either the co-instigator of the negative situation to cry out to Him for forgiveness, or for the victim of the negative situation to cry out to Him for mercy. Then He will act" (Dr. Stanley's "What The Bible Says About Effectively Tackling a Prayer Burden").  In this situation we see both a need for God's forgiveness and for His mercy.  Nehemiah recognized Israel's part in this--their sins had resulted in their captivity, and now they needed God's mercy.

Other lessons from today's reading in Nehemiah include:
-the value of short, wordless prayers,
-the importance of assessing situations for yourself (as a nurse, I came to realize how vital this is.)
In today's scriptures in Acts, we read this: "It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him" (25:16). King Agrippa, in verse 22, added, "I also would like to hear the man myself" (referring to Paul). Even the Romans recognized the importance of first hand information.
-"When God puts something on our heart, the core issue is always spiritual" (Dr. Stanley).
-Don't be afraid to stand before the enemy with confidence in our standing with God: Nehemiah replied in this way to those who laughed at them and despised them (including at least one official) for what they were doing, "So I answered them, and said to them, 'The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem'" (Nehemiah 2:20).

From Psalm 88:11, we are reminded that life is very short; I think we especially realize this when we pass the age of 50 or 60, and begin to count up how many years we may have left.  Do we feel an urgency in only having a short time left to declare God's faithfulness and loving kindness to others?  (This should serve to motivate us!) The two verses in Proverbs contrasts the lazy with the righteous and implies that laziness is unrighteousness.  It says, "the desire of the lazy man kills him".  Why? "For his hands refuse to labor".  The results?  "He covets greedily all day long".  On the other hand, "But the righteous (not lazy) gives and does not spare"---he has plenty to be generous with because he has gained much through hard work. A Proverb with a similar message says that "hope deferred makes the heart sick" (13:12). Desiring things yet doing nothing to bring goals to fruition is evidently unhealthy.  God wants us to set goals and accomplish them through a good work ethic.

As we conclude in Acts today, there is a subtle lesson here for us. Legal charges can be formulated against believers, although they have done nothing wrong. This happened to Paul as well as to Jesus and without a doubt this pattern would surface if we studied the lives of the apostles and other martyrs in the past as well as today. (Yes, people are being martyred today for the sake of Christ. It has been estimated that 176,000 Christians were killed in one year because of their faith, between mid 2008 and 2009 (World Net Daily). Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1967, by Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor who was imprisoned for for 14 years in Communist Romania because of his faith.)  "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 11:39-40 & 12:1)!

Marriage and Other Alliances with Unbelievers - Day 204 Through the Bible

On My Hike to Crabtree Falls near Mt. Celo Church

My Lessons, Applications and Meditations on Today's Readings

Why God Forbids Marriage With Pagans - Ezra 9 and 10 - The constant warning of God throughout our OT readings has been to not intermarry with the pagans of the land because the unholy alliance would take believers and their children away from God to serve the idols of the unbelievers.  The remnant has done just this while re-building the temple - including the priests and the Levites as well as the people.  They have not "separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with respect to the abominations..."so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of the lands.  Indeed the hands of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass."  Ezra knows this was the cause of the original destruction and dispersion of the Holy Nation.  The prophet tears his clothes, plucks out some of the hair of his head and beard, sits down astonished, then begins to gather the people, fast and pray before God in their presence.  He confesses, repents, pleads for God's mercy and grace for the remnant despite their unworthiness.  He recalls God's command to the people, that there is no excuse, 'And now, O God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments to the prophets..."The land which you are entering is an unclean land and people with their unclean abominations...filled with impurities...do not intermarry with them...never seek their peace or prosperity THAT...you may be strong...and eat the good of the land...and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever."' A proclamation is sent out with three-days notice to come before the prophet and chosen heads of households to "confess, do His will, separate themselves from the people of the land and the pagan wives." This cleansing begins with the priests and Levites.

My Lessons and Applications:  Here we are again.  Over and over the kings have been brought down by marriages with pagans that led to idol worship in the land and a turning away from God.  Of course, the NT gives this same command to believers, and blankets it to cover all relationships. (2 Corinthians 6: 14-18) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will dwell in them
, and walk among them.
 I will be their God,
 and they shall be My people.”[c] Therefore, “Come out from among them, 
and be separate, says the Lord. 
Do not touch what is unclean,
 and I will receive you.”[d] “I will be a Father to you, 
and you shall be My sons and daughters,
 says the Lord Almighty.”[e]

c) 2 Corinthians 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

d) 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41

e) 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14

Do we caution and teach our children this?  Is our example this?  What have been the consequences of marriage, business, friendship with unbelievers on the believer, in the business, on the children, in the church, in the community, in the nation?  Do we search beyond the surface profession of faith in God for the evidence of genuine possession of that faith as the pattern of life?  

Underlying Motives Behind Actions and Words -  Acts 24 - Paul is in Rome before Felix, the governor, and his accusers - including the high priest and Tertullus, the orator.  Untruths are spoken in this court of law also...accusing Paul of profaning the temple, of the commander Lysias protecting Paul "with great violence" when it was the Jews perpetrating violence on Paul without a trial.  Paul defends himself, admits that he is a follower of the Way, still a Jew, "still a believer in all the Law and in the Prophets, and in the resurrections of the dead - both of the just and the unjust, striving to have a conscience without offense toward God and men."  Felix continues calling Paul back for questioning for two years with a pretense of learning more about his beliefs of "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come", but the real motives are revealed.  Felix is afraid, the time is not convenient for him, and "he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him."  Then a new governor succeeds this governor, "and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound." 

My Lessons and Applications - God's motives forbidding marriage with pagans are protections of His holiness and His people through the generations.  The kings often married pagans for material possessions, lust, or protection against other nations, but the pagan alliances brought idol worship into the land and caused the eventual downfall of the nation.  Felix's motives were fear, monetary gain through bribes, and a desire to please the Jews - not follow the law he was to represent.  What about my motives in marriage, in business alliances, in friendship, in church?  Do I strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men?  Am I putting my desire to not offend men before my desire to not offend God?  

Reflections on Ezra's Life: What a shame that so few believers have such a holy jealousy for God as Ezra...standing upright and firm on the Rock of Ages, upheld by the Lord alone...We are to use everything at our disposal, but our error seldom lies in neglecting to use whatever means we have but far more frequently in foolishly believing in our means rather than believing in God.  Few of us err in neglecting to use the help of others, but many of us sin in making too much of it.  

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening