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.

What One Bad Choice Can Do

 

II Chronicles 35:22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” 24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Josiah, like Hezekiah, had made a lot of good choices in restoring worship, the Passover, and obedience to God and His Word. For whatever reason, when Neco came through the region (as Egypt often did in going to battle with their enemies, Josiah decided to try to stop him.  There was no need. There was no seeking God for direction. Notice the effect on the nation: long-lasting laments. People looked back on this decision as a turning point: the revival under Josiah ended abruptly and Judah was never the same again. May we take heed.

Humility Makes the Difference

II Chronicles 34:23 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched. 26 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’”

As we saw yesterday, when Hezekiah ruled over Judah, there was a lot of positive renewal in the land, but eventually his pride settled in. Then next two kings thrived on that pride, and the kingdom took a nosedive. In this chapter, we find another bright spot in the reign of Josiah. Under his rule the Law of God was found, read, and responded to.  This postponed the eventual disaster and proper respond of God to carry out the covenant curses agree upon by the people with God. But Josiah would not see this disaster. Why? His humility. God was also going to be faithful to keep His covenant promises toward true humility. He is the same God today.

Hezekiah: AKA Solomon II

 

II Chronicles 32:24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

As we have seen, great things happened in Judah during the days of Hezekiah. The temple was restored; worship was revitalized; Passover was reinstated; Jerusalem prospered; the Assyrians were repelled. Life was safe, comfortable, and good. Things had never been better than the days of Solomon. Including pride. When success permeates, the temptation to pride is great. We can see in some of the wisdom literature of Solomon his struggle with it, and it led to problems after his death. The same would be true of Hezekiah. Pride does lead to that fall; it just might not be in our lifetime. Hezekiah's rule was good, but not perfect. May we never be deluded to think our lives are either. May we avoid at all costs the temptations to pride.