Entries categorized as ‘Nehemiah’
Scripture:
Nehemiah 1; Nehemiah 2; Psalm 133; Luke 22 (New International Version)
Observation: Nehemiah 2:12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
Nehemiah is living in another land and should be happy that he is not directly affected by the damage in his homeland, yet he is distraught and unable to do anything but think of his people’s suffering. Though in a place of high importance, his heart breaks for his people and he desires to go back and help them. Once he gets permission to leave, he takes his servants but refuses to tell them where they are headed.
Application: When God gives us a picture of what we need to do, we don’t always need to go tell everyone immediately. We need to envision a plan to accomplish the picture before we jump to telling everyone what God has in store for us. Often, when I decide that God has laid something upon me to do, I want instant buy in. If I don’t get it, I question if it was really from God. Nehemiah tells us to ponder the things that break our heart and wait for the right time to reveal the picture to others. Sometimes without the vision it is hard to see the process of getting there.
Prayer: Lord, show me the vision and pictures of the things you want me to do. Let me know your plans for me in color. Don’t hide your plans from me but allow me to be wise enough to implement your plans because of your desire, not mine.
Categories: Nehemiah
Scripture for today: Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3 (The Message)
Scripture-My special verse today: Nehemiah 12:27-29 When it came time for the dedication of the wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes. The singers assembled from all around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, from the farms at Geba and Azmaveth—the singers had built villages for themselves all around Jerusalem.
Observation: When the time to dedicate the wall came, Nehemiah knew just who to invite. He brought all the Levites to celebrate this monumental event. They came with instruments and gathered to celebrate.
Application: Nehemiah knew exactly who to invite for the celebration!! Who better to invite than those who had the most to celebrate? They had lost the most and were in the most danger because of the wall being broken. They had built homes out once the wall was reconstructed because they once again felt safe. Only the people who have been touched know how to celebrate.
Not only did they come, they came with musical instruments and singing. They were only there to worship and sing praises, their safety had been restored and their lives were directly affected. Who want to celebrate today?
Prayer: Lord, let me see you as a protector and worthy of praise.
Categories: Nehemiah
Tagged: Celebrate
Scripture for today: Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Nehemiah 7:1 After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed. 2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with [a]Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.
Observation: After the wall is rebuilt, Nehemiah chooses a new leader to be in charge. For the qualifications he chooses someone that is a man of integrity and had an above average fear of God. After seeing the people weak and defenseless, he chooses carefully the man he wants to be in charge.
Application: What does one look for in a resume? Should we look as Nehemiah did for a man with integrity? A person who can be counted on no matter what, a person true to their word. Do people like that exist today? Certainly and they are usually the last ones to be chosen in today’s society. However, I think we should desire a true and honest person that rightly fears the Lord to be in charge. Maybe things would turn out better in the long run.
As a mother, I ask myself if I fit that description and am I raising sons and a daughter that could be described as such. What a wonderful son Hanani was – can you imagine the pride in his mother’s face when he is chosen leader because of his integrity and fear of God? Now that’s a hero!
Prayer: Let me be a person of integrity and let me fear you Lord. May I raise children who fit this description so you can count on them one day!!
Categories: Nehemiah
Tagged: Hero
Scripture for today: Nehemiah 5; Nehemiah 6; Psalm 146; Luke 24 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Nehemiah 6:1 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates- 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages [a] on the plain of Ono.”
But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Observation: Nehemiah is trying to build the wall but the people keep disturbing him. He wants to stay focused but they keep trying to get his attention and stop his work. After numerous times he informs them that he is not coming down from the wall but will remain on top doing his work. Nehemiah refuses to be distracted.
Application: What can easily distract me? Am I ever like Nehemiah in that I refuse to be interrupted because I am about God’s work? I am very project driven and hate to be interrupted when I am in the middle of something. I guess I am somewhat like Nehemiah in this aspect. I need to know the things that God is directing me to do and not let others distract me from the task at hand. Nothing should be able to stop me from doing God’s work.
Prayer: Let me stay focused to the things you want me to do and not get interrupted by those who want to keep me from doing your work.
Categories: Nehemiah
Tagged: Focus
Scripture for today: Nehemiah 3; Nehemiah 4; Luke 23 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Nehemiah 4:19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
Observation: As they are building the wall, news comes to them that they will be attacked. It seems the neighboring countries are not happy that they are rebuilding the wall and plan on attacking them. However, Nehemiah divides the people between the ones to work and the ones to guard the others. In that way the work of rebuilding can go on.
Application: What does a wall symbolize? Protection and power. Jerusalem is vulnerable as long as their wall is in shambles and Nehemiah knows that the people’s spirit is low. He urges them to rebuild not only for their own safety but also in order to restore the morale of the people.
Sometimes in my own life my wall seems to be in shambles. That is when I need to actively get involved in seeking God and not sitting around worrying. When I can actively get involved in “rebuilding” I become much less vulnerable to the enemy. Whether it is fellow-shipping with other believers or reading his word, I need to be doing something to rebuild to keep the enemy at bay.
Prayer: Lord, let me stay diligent in keeping my wall intact against the enemies’ attack.
Categories: Nehemiah
Tagged: The Wall
Scripture for today: Nehemiah 1; Nehemiah 2; Psalm 133; Luke 22 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. 7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Observation: Nehemiah has a high position in another place when he hears how the people are suffering. He immediately identifies it as sin and the falling away from God. He repents to God on behalf of his people without any delay and commits himself to go back and help the people get in a right relationship with God.
Application: Do we usually feel things that are going bad are from God or from bad luck? Did the politicians make a mistake or do we need to repent and get right with God? Is God even mentioned anymore without people thinking you are a crazy person?
It is sad that as our country hits times of financial hardships and things are changing that noone thinks about God anymore. Do I? Am I willing to fall before him and get myself right with Him before I try to fix things myself? If I did this more often, I would probably find my times of woe lessened and my relationship with Christ strengthened.
Prayer: Lord, let me go to you first and get things right before I blame others.
Categories: Nehemiah
Tagged: Repent
