Nehemiah 9
Revival in the people of God verse 1- 4
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were
assembled with fasting – sackclothes – earth upon them
And the seed of Israel SEPARATED themselves from all strangers
and stood and CONFESSED their sins
and the iniquities of their fathers
And they stood up in their place
and READ in the book of the law of the LORD their God
one fourth part of the day
and another fourth part they CONFESSED
and WORSHIPED the LORD their God
THEN stood up upon the stairs of the Levites
Jeshua – Bani – Sherebiah – Bani – Chenani
and CRIED with a loud voice unto the LORD their God
Levites pray to the LORD: Praise verse 5- 6
THEN the Levites – Jeshua – Kadmiel – Bani – Hashabniah – Sherebiah
Pethahiah – said
Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever
and blessed be YOUR glorious name
which is exalted above all blessing and praise
YOU even YOU art LORD alone
YOU hast made heaven – the heaven of heavens
with all their host – the earth
and all things that are therein
the seas – and all that is therein
and YOU preserves them all
And the host of heaven worship YOU
Levites pray to the LORD: Abraham verse 7- 8
YOU are the LORD the God – WHO choose Abram
and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees
and gave him the name of Abraham
and found his heart FAITHFUL before YOU
and made a covenant with him to give the land of the
Canaanites – Hittites – Amorites – Perizzites
Jebusites – Girgashites – to give it
I say – to his seed – and have performed YOUR words for YOU art righteous
Levites pray to the LORD: Egypt verse 9- 12
And did see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt
and heard their cry by the Red sea
and showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh
and on all his servants
and on all the people of his land
for YOU knew that they dwelt proudly
against them
So did YOU get YOU a name as it is this day
and YOU did divide the sea before them
so that they went through
the midst of the sea on the dry land
and their persecutors
YOU threw into the deeps
as a stone into the mighty waters
MOREOVER YOU led them in the day by a cloudy pillar
and in the night by a pillar of fire
to give them light in the way
wherein they should go
Levites pray to the LORD: Mount Sinai verse 13- 14
YOU came down also upon Mount Sinai
and spoke with them from heaven
and gave them right judgments – true laws – good statutes
commandments
And made known unto them YOUR holy Sabbath
and commanded them precepts – statutes – laws
by the hand of Moses YOUR servant
Levites pray to the LORD:
Provision in wilderness verse 15
And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger
and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst
and promised them that they should go in to possess
the land which YOU had sworn to give them
Levites pray to the LORD:
People of God rebel verse 16- 18
BUT they and our fathers dealt proudly – hardened their necks
and hearkened not to YOUR commandments – refused to obey
neither were mindful of YOUR wonders that YOU did
among them
BUT hardened their necks – and in rebellion appointed a captain to
return to their bondage – BUT YOU art a God
ready to pardon – gracious – merciful – slow to anger
of great kindness – forsook them not
YEA – when they had made them a molten calf – and said
This is your god that brought you up out of Egypt
and had wrought great provocation
Levites pray to the LORD:
Longsuffering of LORD verse 19- 21
YET YOU in YOUR manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness
the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day
to lead them in the way – neither the pillar of fire by night
to show them light and the way wherein they should go
YOU gave also YOUR good SPIRIT to INSTRUCT them
and withheld not YOUR manna from their mouth
and gave them water for their thirst
YEA forty years did YOU sustain them in the wilderness
so that they LACKED NOTHING
their clothes waxed not old – their feet swelled not
Levites pray to the LORD:
Blessing to Israel verse 22- 23
MOREOVER YOU gave them kingdoms and nations
and did divide them into corners
so they possessed the land of Sihon
and the land of king of Heshbon
and the land of Og – king of Bashan
Their children also multiplied YOU as the stars of heaven
and brought them into the land
concerning which YOU did promise to their fathers
that they should go in to possess it
Levites pray to the LORD:
Promised land verse 24- 25
So the children went in and possessed the land
YOU subdued before them the inhabitants of the land the Canaanites
and gave them into their hands – with their kings
and the people of the land
that they might do with them as they would
And they took strong cities – and a fat land
and possessed houses full of all goods – wells digged – vineyards
oliveyards – fruit trees in abundance – so they did eat
and were filled – and became fat
and delighted themselves in YOUR great goodness
Levites pray to the LORD:
Judges who rescued verse 26- 27
Nevertheless they were disobedient – rebelled against YOU
and cast YOUR law behind their backs – and slew YOUR prophets
which testified against them to turn them to YOU
and they wrought great provocations
Therefore YOU delivered them into the hand of their enemies – who vexed them
and in the time of their trouble – when they CRIED to YOU
YOU heard them from heaven
and according to YOUR manifold mercies YOU gave them saviors
who saved them out of the hand of their enemies
Levites pray to the LORD:
Answered prayer verse 28
BUT after they had REST – they did EVIL again before YOU
therefore left YOU them in the hand of their enemies
so that they had the dominion over them
yet when they returned and CRIED to YOU
YOU heard them from heaven
and many times did YOU deliver them
according to YOUR mercies
Levites pray to the LORD:
Mercy of the LORD verse 29- 31
And testified against them – that YOU might bring them again to
YOUR law – yet they dealt proudly
and hearkened not to YOUR commandments
but sinned against YOUR judgments
(which if a man do – he shall live in them)
and withdrew the shoulder – and hardened their neck
and would not hear
Yet many years did YOU forbear them – and testified against them
by YOUR Spirit in YOUR prophets
yet would they not give ear
therefore gave YOU them into
the hands of the people of the lands
Nevertheless for YOUR great mercies’ sake
YOU did not utterly consume them – nor forsake them
for YOU are a GRACIOUS and MERCIFUL God
Levites pray to the LORD:
Justice of the LORD verse 32- 35
NOW therefore our God the Great – Mighty – Terrible God
WHO keeps covenant and mercy – let not all the trouble seem
little before YOU that has come upon us – on our
kings – princes – priests – prophets – fathers
on all YOUR people since the time of the
kings of Assyria unto this day
Howbeit YOU are just in all that is brought upon us
for YOU have done right BUT we have done wickedly
Neither have our kings – princes – priests – fathers – kept YOUR law
nor hearkened unto YOUR commandments
YOUR testimonies wherewith YOU
did testify against them
For they have not served YOU in their kingdom
in YOUR great goodness that YOU gave them
and in the large and fat land
which YOU gave before them
neither turned they from their wicked works
Levites pray to the LORD:
Present condition verse 36- 37
BEHOLD – we are servants this day – and for the land that YOU gave
to our fathers to eat the fruit thereof
and the good thereof
BEHOLD – we are servants in it – and it yielded much
increase to the kings whom YOU hast set over us
BECAUSE of our sins – also they have dominion
over our bodies – cattle – at their pleasure
and we are in great distress
People respond to prayer of Levites verse 38
And because of all this we make a sure covenant – and write it
and our princes – Levites – priests – seal to it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack clothes, and earth on them. (6684 “fasting” [tsuwm] means abstaining from food for a certain time period for religious reasons, or a condition or time of voluntarily abstaining from food as a religious disciple)
DEVOTION: Genuine revival will never happen unless there are times of fasting and prayer before the LORD. Ezra and Nehemiah are leading the people through the priests and Levites into a time of revival. They review the history of the nation of Israel to the people.
The people understand what they are being taught and are willing to have a time of fasting before the LORD with them dressed in burlap which is a sign of humility before the LORD. They are even sprinkling dust on their heads to show they mean business with the LORD. They want HIS blessing.
We have to understand the history of the Old Testament to understand how God worked in the past which helps us understand how HE will work in the present. HE has not changed. We are HIS people today. The church was established to train people to grow in their knowledge of the LORD to better serve HIM.
Our churches need to teach the truth of the Word of God and the people need to believe the truth and know that the LORD can still work even today if HIS people are willing to repent and turn from their wicked ways and serve HIM.
Too many believers are playing at their Christianity. They give the LORD one hour a week and think that that is enough. They know that things are not good in their nations but they are not willing to do the hard work of fasting and prayer to first change their attitude and then change their world with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We are a lazy group of people. We want instead success or we give up. We have to be in for the long haul. We have to persevere. Nehemiah and Ezra faced many enemies and never gave up. We have to have the same attitude.
Our message is one of hope and the world needs that hope. Those outside of Christ think there is no hope today. They are wrong. God can change things. HE can change our world. HE can protect us for the wiles of the devil who is our real enemy.
Are you and I willing to spend time with the LORD? How much time will you give HIM? What will it take to change you into the servant HE wants you to be?
CHALLENGE: Our world needs genuine believers who have a burden for the lost!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 YOU, even YOU, are LORD alone; YOU have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and YOU preserves them all; and the host of heaven worshipped YOU. (2416 “preserves” [chay] means to be alive, to revive, to cause to have life or cause to have life a second time, be revived, come back to life again, restore to life, or get well)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel when they were in right relationship with the
LORD realized that the LORD was the creator of the universe. It took them going into
captivity to understand all that HE had done for them throughout the years.
Too often it takes hard times to get us to understand who we are serving. HE is the one
who helps us through the hard times. Once the children of Israel were on the other side of
the captivity and celebrated their feasts that the LORD wanted them to celebrate because
HE was the one who set them up with Moses.
We have to realize that we are serving the same God that created the world. The same
God who allowed the children of Israel to go into captivity to get their attention and make
them realize that their sins have consequences.
The children of Israel were slow learners even after they returned from captivity and were
able to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Now they were worshiping the LORD again with
HIS blessings on them.
Too often we have to go through so much before we realize the blessings we have in the
LORD. Once we come to the conclusion that God is the only true God of the universe
then we can truly worship HIM alone. The children of Israel came to this conclusion and
we need to come to the same conclusion today.
The children of Israel realized that the LORD was the only ONE who made the nation of Israel to stay alive and able to worship HIM. Today we have to realize that HE is the only one who keeps the true church alive in our world.
There are many false religions that say they worship the LORD but they attach their customs and their own way to salvation through good works or some other custom that is not found in the Word of God.
There is only one way to go to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ alone with us doing good works for a show of appreciation and not for helping us to get into heaven. It will show if we are a genuine believer rather than someone who is just religious.
We have to have the same testimony that the children of Israel had here. We have to make the same confession. We have to have the same genuine worship. If it is fake the LORD knows. Also those around us know too.
CHALLENGE: We need to genuinely worship the LORD in spirit and in truth. Then we will realize that it is the LORD who is influencing us to worship HIM. Worship is necessary.
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: 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of YOUR wonders that YOU did among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to the bondage: but YOU are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsook them not.
DEVOTION: Here we have an accurate description of God’s people. They were given their freedom from Egypt but when the going got rough they wanted to return to Egypt thinking it was better there then where they were at present.
They were a rebellious group. The LORD had provided a way to escape from Egypt where they were slaves and yet they didn’t like to have all the trials they faced in the wilderness which was of their own doing because of their disobedience.
Yet the LORD is also described in this verse as a God who is willing to pardon sin if there is confession involved in the lives of those who are willing to follow HIM. HE is also describes ad gracious. HE offers grace to those who don’t deserve it because of HIS love for HIS people. HE is willing to give them mercy which is something they don’t deserve because of their disobedience.
HE is slow to anger which means that HE has every right to judge them but HE is longsuffering not willing that any should perish but gives them time to repent. Jonah didn’t like it that HE was willing to show mercy toward Nineveh when he thought HE should destroy the city because of their actions toward the children of Israel. Yet the LORD was even longsuffering toward this heathen nation after they repented under the warning of Jonah.
God wants HIS people to repent as well and serve HIM with all of their heart, soul and body. HE wants us to reach all those who are willing to listen. Sometimes HE allows HIS servants to even die giving the message of salvation but that should not stop us from witnessing to those around us.
Many of us live in a somewhat free nation where we can share the truth of the Word of God. HE will not forsake us if we are willing to even die for our belief in HIS message of hope that HE even offers to our world today.
The children of Israel rebelled throughout their history but HE never gave up on them and HE will not give up on us. We are HIS missionaries today. We have the only message of hope that the world needs. We need to spread HIS message.
CHALLENGE: Many in our world have hard hearts but there are some who are willing to listen. Share your message with them.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou are a gracious and merciful God. (3617 “consume” [kalah] means completion, termination, full end, complete destruction, consumption, or annihilation.)
DEVOTION: Is God in control of all nations? Yes HE is!!! HE is the one who raises up nations and brings them down. HE has set a standard for each nation. HE has a standard for the children of Israel. HE has a standard for America. HE blesses the nations that honor HIS standard.
The children of Israel have returned from captivity to the Promised Land. They have rebuilt the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. They are gathered together in Jerusalem for a time of worship.
The Levites recite the history of the children of Israel in a prayer to the LORD. All the people hear the prayer. It starts with the promise the LORD gave to Abraham regarding the land of promise. They keep the history going regarding their return from Egypt. They record all their rebellions against the LORD. They talk about all the great attributes of God. They tell of how the LORD answers prayers repeatedly.
However, every time they have their freedom, they rebel. This verse tells of God’s mercy but also reminds them that God has the power to give life or take life. HE could annihilate all living beings. HE could have destroyed Israel for all their sins but HE is not going to annihilate anyone. HE has an eternal place for those who refuse to accept HIS son as their personal Savior – that place is HELL. HE is a gracious God who does send judgment into the lives of his people for their sins because of the blood of HIS son on the cross.
HE, however, restores those who repent. We serve a gracious and merciful God still. We should not take advantage of HIS mercy by using license in our lives. We are not to sin more, just so HE can show us mercy. That is not HIS plan and it should not be ours.
Too often we don’t take our sin seriously. We are never going to be sinless but we can sin less. Isn’t that great news!!!! Let us start each day by putting on the armor of God to protect us from the fiery darts of our enemy.
Learn from history. The children of Israel didn’t seem to learn. They were reminded that it is important to honor the LORD. HE honors HIS word to us.
Realize the reality of hell for eternity for those outside of Christ. The Bible is exclusive. Only those who are followers of Christ will be in heaven.
CHALLENGE: All those who reject Christ will spend eternity in hell. No middle ground with the LORD!!!
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: 33 Howbeit you are just in all that is brought upon us; for you have done right, but we have done wickedly. (6662 “just” [tsaddiyq] means righteous, lawful, correct, upright, devout, virtuous, in the right, or guiltless)
DEVOTION: In the review of the history of Israel they realize that God has always been upright in HIS dealings with Israel. They have been a very sinful nation. They have never appreciated all that the LORD has done for them.
Once they are blessed of the LORD they wander away from HIM and disobey HIM until HE has to seen captivity their way to get their attention. They cry to HIM often because of their captivity. They don’t like to go into captivity but they reject the message of the LORD’S prophets, in fact, they even kill HIS prophets because they don’t want to listen to them.
The children of Israel under Nehemiah and Ezra realize the past of the nation and declare the LORD righteous in all HIS dealings with the nation. HE has never done anything wickedly but HE has been correct to deal with them in the manner they deserve.
Now they are confessing their sins to the LORD and want HIM to bless them. HE will bless those who are willing to confess their sins and turn and serve HIM again. That was true at the time of Nehemiah and it is true today as well.
We need a revival in every church that honors the name of the LORD. It can only come through a time of confession and prayer. We need to cry to the LORD for grace and mercy to help us as we face a world that doesn’t love HIM.
HE is in the right today when HE sends judgment on many nations that used to honor HIM at least in their laws and lifestyle. Now it is not happening. Everywhere we turn we find the message of the LORD put down and not accepted.
If we could get all of God’s people to get down on their knees and ask for HIS help to defeat the enemy that seems to be taking over our world – then we can have a revival that might win many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The church should never give up trying to win others to the LORD. It might be a time of persecution but it is not a time when the LORD cannot work a miracle of salvation into the hearts of many in every nation if we repent and ask for HIS help through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
God gave HIS Spirit to the children of Israel and HE can give it to us today as well. HE is the one who convicts of sin. HE will start in the church of God and move out into the world as we repent and seek HIS guidance and direction.
CHALLENGE: God always acts righteously. We need to live righteously and HE will use us for HIS glory.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Children of Israel fasted verse 1
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Confession of sin verse 2, 3
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Levites pray to the LORD verse 4- 37
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Children of Israel worshiped the LORD verse 3
Levites verse 4
Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah,
Hodijah, Shebaniah, Pethahiah
Message: Stand up and bless the
LORD your God
Host of heaven worship verse 6
Holy Sabbath verse 14
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Book of the Law verse 3
Right judgments verse 13, 29
True laws verse 13, 14, 29, 34
Good Statutes verse 13, 14
Commandments verse 13, 16, 29, 34
Holy Sabbath verse 14
Precepts verse 14
Moses verse 14
Testimonies verse 34
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 3- 7
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 3- 5, 17, 31, 32
Book of the law of the LORD their God verse 3
LORD their God verse 3, 4
LORD your God verse 5
Glorious name which is exalted above
all blessing and praise verse 5
LORD alone verse 6
Creator of the Universe verse 6
Preserver of life verse 6
Host of heaven worship HIM verse 6
LORD the God verse 7
Choose Abram
Performed YOUR words verse 8
Righteous verse 8, 33
Heard cry of Israelites verse 9
Show signs and wonders verse 10- 12
Came down on Mount Sinai verse 13
Gave right judgments and true laws
good statutes, commandments verse 13
Made known holy Sabbath, precepts, statutes
laws by the hand of Moses your servant verse 14
Gave bread from heaven verse 15, 20
Brought forth water our of rock verse 15
Ready to pardon verse 17
Gracious and Merciful God verse 17, 19, 31, 32
Slow to anger verse 17
Great kindness verse 17
Not forsake HIS people verse 17, 31
Manifold mercies verse 19, 29, 31
Pillar of the cloud verse 19
Pillar of fire by night verse 19
Gave water for thirst verse 20
HE sustained Israel for 40 years verse 21
Goodness of God verse 25, 35
Great provocations verse 26
Delivered enemy into hand of their enemies verse 27
Manifold mercies verse 27
Gave saviors verse 27
Hear prayers verse 28
Not utterly consume Israel verse 31
Gracious and merciful verse 31
Great God verse 32
Mighty God verse 32
Terrible God verse 32
Keep covenant verse 32
Just God verse 33
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Good Spirit to instruct Israel verse 20
Spirit in the prophets verse 30
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Hosts of heaven verse 6
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Strangers verse 2
Abraham of Ur of the Chaldees verse 7, 8
Chosen of God
Renamed Abraham by LORD
Heart faithful
Given the land of Canaanites, Hittites
Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites,
Girgashites
Declared righteous
Land of the Canaanites verse 8, 24
Hittites verse 8
Amorites verse 8
Perizzites verse 8
Jebusites verse 8
Girgashites verse 8
Egypt verse 9, 18
Pharaoh verse 10
Land of Sihon verse 22
Land of king of Heshbon verse 22
Land of Og king of Bashan verse 22
Enemies verse 27, 28
Kings of Assyria verse 32
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sin verse 2, 29, 37
Iniquities verse 2
Dealt proudly verse 10, 16, 29
Hardened their necks verse 16, 17, 29
Hearkened not to commandments verse 16, 26, 29, 34
Refused to obey verse 17, 26
Remembered not wonders of God verse 17
Rebellion verse 17, 26
Molten calf verse 18
False god verse 18
Wrought great provocations verse 18, 26
Cast God’s law behind their backs verse 26
Disobedient verse 26
Slew the prophets verse 26
Evil verse 28
Harden neck verse 29
Would not hear verse 29, 30
Wickedly verse 33, 35
Not served God verse 35
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Fasting verse 1
Humility verse 1
Separation verse 2
Confession verse 2
Read the Book of the Law [Old Testament] verse 3
Worshiped verse 3
Crying out to the LORD [Prayer] verse 4, 9, 27, 28
Bless the LORD verse 5
Exalt the LORD verse 5
Chosen verse 7
Heart faithful verse 7
Covenant verse 7, 32, 38
Promise verse 8, 15, 23
Protection verse 11
Leading of the LORD: cloud & fire verse 12
God speaks to HIS people verse 13
Servant verse 14, 36
Provision verse 15, 20- 22, 25
Pardon verse 17
Grace verse 17, 31
Mercy verse 17, 19, 27, 28,
31, 32
Kindness verse 17
Not forsaken verse 17, 19, 31
God shows light verse 19
God shows the way to go verse 19
Instruction verse 20
Lack nothing verse 21
Multiply YOUR people verse 23
Delight verse 25
Vexed when sinning verse 27
Times of trouble when sinning verse 27
Cried to God verse 27
Rest verse 28
Deliverance verse 28
Prophets verse 30, 32
Provision of God verse 35
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Children of Israel verse 1
Assembled with fasting, sackclothes,
and earth
Separated from all strangers
Stood and confessed their sins and
iniquities of their fathers
Read in the book of the law of the
LORD their God – fourth of a day
Confessed a fourth of the day
Worshiped the LORD their God
History of Israel: Abraham to present verse 7- 38
Affliction in Egypt
Cry by the Red sea
Signs and wonders upon Pharaoh
Fathers dealt proudly
Hardened their necks
Hearkened not to God’s commandments
Refused to obey
Children multiplied as stars of heaven
Possessed the land
Moses YOUR servant verse 14
Saviors = Judges verse 27
Prophets verse 30
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
16 “Became arrogant” (from zîd, used in v.10) “and stiff-necked” (see vv.17, 29; cf. a similar phrase in 3:5) is a figure borrowed from the driving of stubborn oxen who resist guidance (Exod 32:9; Deut 10:16; 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 36:13; Jer 7:26). (Yamauchi, E. (1988). Ezra-Nehemiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 733). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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But the Israelites’ ancestors became disobedient and rebellious against God even to the point of worshiping a calf-idol (Neh. 9:16–18; cf. Ex. 32). However, God was still gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (cf. Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). God continued to guide them … instruct them, and provide for them (Neh. 9:19–21). He helped them conquer their enemies Sihon and Og (v. 22; cf. Num. 21:21–35), and brought them into the Promised Land under Joshua (Neh. 9:23–25). In all this they enjoyed God’s great goodness (cf. v. 35). (Getz, G. A. (1985). Nehemiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 690–691). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Forming the nation (Neh. 9:7–18). It was an act of pure grace when God chose Abram and revealed Himself to him, for Abram was an idolater in a pagan city (Josh. 24:2–3). Eventually, God changed his name from Abram (“exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of a multitude”), because He had promised to make him a great nation (Gen. 12:1–3; 17:1–8). Though Abraham had occasional lapses of faith, for a century he trusted the Lord and walked in obedience to His will. His obedient faith was made especially evident when he gave his son Isaac on the altar (Gen. 22; Heb. 11:17–19).
God’s covenant (Gen. 12:1–3) was the basis for all that God did with and for Abraham and his descendants. It was God’s purpose that all the world be blessed through Israel, and He did this in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:8). God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though during his lifetime Abraham owned nothing in the land but a cave for burying his dead (Gen. 23).
In the land of Egypt, the nation multiplied greatly, saw God’s power over the pagan gods, and experienced deliverance from bondage by the mighty hand of God (Ex. 1–15). God opened the sea to let Israel through and then closed it again to destroy the Egyptian army. It was complete deliverance; Israel was to have no further relationship with Egypt.
God led His people by day and by night, giving them food to eat and water to drink. He also gave them His holy Law, so that in their civil, personal, and religious life, they knew the will of God. The Sabbath was given as a special sign between God and His people (Ex. 31:13–17), but there is no evidence in Scripture that the Sabbath law was given to any of the Gentile nations.
In Nehemiah 9:16–18, Nehemiah tells us how the nation responded to all that God had done for them: They refused to bow to His authority (“hardened their necks”), listen to His Word (“hearkened not”), or obey His will. At Kadesh-Barnea, they tried to take matters in their own hands and appoint a new leader to take them back to Egypt (v. 17; Num. 14:1–5). When Moses was on the mountain with God, the people made and worshiped an idol (Neh. 9:18; Ex. 32). Moses interceded for the people, and God pardoned them.
How could these people turn their backs on God after all He had done for them? They did not truly love Him. Their obedience was only an outward form; it didn’t come from their hearts. In their hearts, they were still living in Egypt and wanting to return there. They did not have a living faith in God but were willing to receive His help and enjoy His gifts. Read Psalm 78 for an “x-ray” of Israel’s spiritual history. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Determined (pp. 112–113). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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One of the ingredients of spiritual renewal is the reestablishment of a meaningful prayer life, and after the confession of sin, the Levites lead the people in a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord who alone is from everlasting to everlasting (9:4–37). (Goldberg, L. (1995). Nehemiah. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 320). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
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Ver. 16. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, &c.] Behaved in a haughty manner towards God, their kind benefactor: and hardened their necks; refused to take the yoke of his law, as refractory oxen, that withdraw their necks from the yoke: and hearkened not to thy commandments; to do them, though they promised they would, Exod. 24:7. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 148). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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QUOTES
North Americans and those around the world bowing to the media, politicians, comedians and actors as their source for wisdom are finding themselves bankrupt intellectually, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, twisted with fear, seething anger, anxiety, depression and outrage. #JesusistheAnswer #Godswordwisdom #gototheoneswithsolutions
JESUS is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6 by Mark Crate
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Isaiah 53
Our Savior bore the chastisement for our iniquity.
INSIGHT
When Christians suffer, they are tempted to resent God, to wonder: “Why me?!” If God is all good and all powerful, why must His children suffer? The answer to that question is difficult –and not totally satisfying to the finite mind. Jesus maintains His credibility, however, in that He readily suffered for us all–suffering more than He will ever ask of us. Why must God’s children suffer? We don’t know. What we do know is that God was willing to suffer for us. He asks nothing of us that He was not willing to do for us.
(Quiet Time)
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THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
We say we want to worship God and to know Him; so the first thought that comes to our minds is the existence of God, because, as we all know full well, there are many people who tell us they do not believe in it. It is not so much that we are concerned with them and their arguments as that, from our own standpoint, it is essential that we should be clear in our thinking about this subject.
The Bible does not argue about the existence of God–it declares it. The Bible does not give us any proofs of the existence of God–it assumes it. Take that opening phrase of the Bible. Genesis does not start by saying, “Well, by the following proofs we establish the existence of God, and because He was existent, we establish that at the beginning He created….” Not at all! “In the beginning God created….” It just states His existence and His being.
Some theological books present a number of “proofs” of the being and existence of God. There is the so-called cosmological argument, which is an argument from nature: Every effect has a cause. Then there is the argument from order and design, called the teleological argument, which says that everything leads up to something–that is clearly evident. Then there is the moral argument, which concludes that our awareness of good and bad, our sense of right and wrong, point to the existence of a moral God.
Now what the Bible teaches about such arguments is that they can never create faith. They are useful in a negative sense, but they will never lead to faith; and according to the Scriptures, no one can believe in God without faith, without the inward work of the Holy Spirit that leads to faith.
A Thought to Ponder: The Bible does not argue about the existence of God–it declares it. (From God the Father, God the Son pp. 48-49, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Loving God’s Word
“Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” (Psalm 119:140)
When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus cited Deuteronomy 6:5: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” One who loves God must surely also love His Word. God has given the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the primary means to know God.
Those who love God’s pure Word respond to it in obedience and faith. James instructed believers, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
One who loves the Lord and His Word should realize that whenever the Bible says something that a reader may find unsettling, it is because humans fail to understand the infinite wisdom of God. The Lord explained this through the prophet Isaiah: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
One foundational point at which people often fail to trust God’s Word concerns the timing of creation. The first example of faith given in Hebrews 11 is “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (v. 3). One who truly believes that “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11) must also accept the chronological information the Bible provides. These data indicate that Abraham lived about 2,000 years after creation (Genesis 5 and 11), making the earth around 6,000 years old, not billions of years as secular scientists claim. Christians should be known for taking God at His Word and living in obedience to it. (WP, The Institute for Creation Research)
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PUT GOD FIRST
poem by Anne R. C. Neale
When you get out of bed do you pray to God?
For your being alive on earth’s sod?
Or do you wait until something happens,
And you pray for help or for something from God
We seem to put God in our” Back Seat “
Only asking Him for help as we suddenly need it,
But you need to put God first when you wake up each day,
That is God gift to you a new day, so be sure to Thank Him as you pray
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On Being A PASTOR by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg
I then kept one evening a week – usually the two or three Wednesdays in a month when I did not have elders or deacons meetings – to visit non-Christian folks with whom we had been brought into contact as a church, usually through their filling in a visitor’s card on a Sunday. (p. 180)
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A useful development of pastoral groupings was the meeting of all the members of the church fellowship in their pastoral groups for prayer every four months. (p. 184)
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Our own spiritual freshness determines the usefulness of our pastoral ministry. (p. 187)
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Made in Christ
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)
The Greek word ginomai, translated “is made” in this verse, is most fascinating. It is rendered many different ways—“become,” etc., as well as “be made.” Most often it is simply translated “be.” It basically means “begin to be,” or “be caused to be.” It is even applied to the work of Christ in calling the universe into being. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). “Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).
It is frequently used also to denote the marvelous work of Christ in and on the believing Christian. As our text says, He becomes wisdom to us who lack wisdom; He is made our righteousness, although we were sinners; we who are unholy receive our sanctification in Him; and when we were lost, He became our redemption. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become [same word, ginomai] the sons of God” (John 1:12). All that Christ is, we are made through His great sacrifice for us.
Note some of the other things we are made in Christ, by His grace. We are “made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). We are “made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). “We are made partakers of Christ” and also “made partakers of the Holy Ghost” (Hebrews 3:14; 6:4).
In fact, when we receive Christ, old things pass away and “all things are become [same word] new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). These wonderful attributes are given to us and appropriated right now by faith and will be accomplished in full perfection when Christ returns and “we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Acts 17:1-9
Two of our children have just moved their families to new homes. Being willing to change is a difficult decision for a lot of people. The comfort of having a routine and knowing what is expected each day can make it uncomfortable and challenging when change is thrust upon us.
Paul traveled presenting a message of change which created controversy and division in each place the team trekked on their journeys. The message of Christ was so divisive that riots broke out and cities were divided all because of the message of the Savior that Paul proclaimed. As was his practice, Paul traveled to the larger cities and went first to the synagogues where he found devout Jews and gentiles that were interested in the scriptures. Paul would then present the death and resurrection of Christ which evoked reactions of envy, jealousy and hatred for the team and the message. The Jews obviously felt threatened and offended that someone would declare and bring accusation that they had arranged and killed the Son of God. Further, that many would find the message attractive enough to follow whole heartedly was disconcerting and puzzling to the Jewish leaders.
In proclaiming this message, Paul presented the gospel message using four methods of presentation (vv.2-3). First, he reasoned, or used a question-and-answer format with the Jewish audience about the Old Testament. Secondly, he explained or opened the same scriptures to them about Christ and His life. Paul then proved that Jesus was the Messiah from the scriptures that they themselves studied. Lastly, Paul carefully announced the death and resurrection of Christ and called for repentance and obedience to the risen Savior.
After several weeks in the synagogue, Paul and the team moved out and continued to proclaim the message of Christ to the city. This culminated with a riot and accusation of them being responsible for the world being turned upside down (v.6). Since Thessalonica was a Roman free city and Caesar and his decrees were followed closely, the rulers and prominent people were disturbed enough to investigate the cause of all this upheaval. Paul’s proclamation of Jesus as another king (v.7) and the need to follow Him stimulated the recognition in many that a change was necessary.
When Christ is depicted clearly and factually, a crisis occurs. Individuals are presented with a decision to accept this truth or disregard it. This leads to heightened emotions and possible discord between loved ones. Times of prayer making intercession for loved ones and their sensitivity to the Spirit is vital. Pray specifically for someone you know that has rejected the truth of the gospel in the past. In addition, pray that God would open their heart to hear and respond to Him.
With an expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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