Remembering Justice

 Esther 9:25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.

The book of Esther is an amazing and intriguing account of how God spared his people while they were away from the promised land. It is a lesson repeated throughout history which at times has been forgotten, even by the Jews. When accounts of justice like this are forgotten, the history of treacherous acts repeats itself and we need to learn it all over again.  May we remember and sustain justice all our days. 

Acting Treacherously...

 Nehemiah 13:23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

After rebuilding the wall, restoring worship, and renewing the covenant, Nehemiah stood back to evaluate how the resettling in the land was going, and he found several things that were not being done properly: unqualified people were serving in the temple; some Levites were not being properly cared for; pagans were selling their goods in the city on the sabbath, etc.  But the one which grieved him the most was the intermarriage taking place with idol-worshipping women. Nehemiah saw that this was the slippery slope which began Israel's decline, beginning with Solomon. It was "acting treacherously," a phrase used in the scriptures to describe the worst possible departures from God's covenant. His reaction may have been "over the top," but do we tend to go the other way in taking lightly acts of treachery?  

More than a Wall

Nehemiah 12:26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe. 27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

Finally, the day came to dedicate the wall around Jerusalem.  It was a great celebration drawing in people from all the outlying areas. They all came to be purified as well. The wall represented their safety and their unity with one another under the covenant they made with God. On that day they also reinstated all the offices of worship: the gatekeepers, singers, and those who cared for the temple. They were celebrating much more than a wall. May we have the same attitude when it comes to places God entrusts to us.

Accepting God's Conditions

 

Nehemiah 10:28 “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29 join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes.

After the return to the land after the exile, with all the restorations of the city and the renewal of worship, the people recommitted themselves to the covenant they had broken with God.  It wasn't just for the leaders to agree to: it had to do with everyone involved.  Throughout history they had repeatedly left the commandments of God for the culture and religion of the surrounding peoples. It happened as they broke one commandment after another. Sometimes it was a slow side, while at others it spiraled downward quickly.  The point was that they realized they could not pick and choose which of His laws to obey.  The key word was and always is all the commands of the Lord. Are you always trying to renegotiate with Him?

Memories of Many Mercies

 Nehemiah 9: 26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 

Repeated rejection and failure: that could describe the history of Israel which had landed them in exile. Now that they had returned to the land, rebuilt the walls and restored worship, they were rejoicing. But in their rejoicing, they also paused to remember God's mercy to them many times in the exodus, wilderness wandering, and wild living under the judges. This was the platform from which they committed to a new covenantal relationship with God. He is merciful and we need His mercy. How many times have we rebelled and failed and received His mercy. His merciful acts are new every morning. Thank Him today.

Building Together

 Nehemiah 3:24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

The book of Nehemiah joins with Ezra in helping us see what is possible when we trust and obey God. He had given vision, wisdom, and courage to these leaders to leave the comforts of Persia to return to the rubble and rebuild.  In this chapter we could get caught up in trying to read the names and miss the big picture: these people were working together to rebuild the walls, each doing their part. Each section was meaningless on its own, unless all were joined together.  Like many things, there is so much more meaning when we do the work rather than have others do it for us. We have a greater sense of ownership and responsibility. We realize how much we need one another. We must also not wait around for others to do their part before starting ours. We're in this together.

If They Don't Know... Teach Them

 

Ezra 7:25 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. 26 Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” 27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

After the Exile, it is amazing how the Persian leaders gave such freedom and authority for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, the city, and a life there. They provided them with everything they needed. Ezra was able to see that this was much bigger than himself or even those Persian leaders; it was the steadfast love of the Lord.  With this privilege came great responsibility: to teach and reteach the people the ways of the Lord.  As God gives us opportunity to build and rebuild, may we respond with the same kind of appreciation and action Ezra did.