Author: Andrew Timberlake

Nehemiah 9:1-15

1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. 2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. 4 On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. 7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

9 “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, 10 and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. 12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. 15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The feast of tabernacles ended on the 22nd. On the 24th they all gathered again. They separated themselves from all foreigners, fasted, dressed in sackcloth and put dust on their heads as a sign of mourning and grief. Then they stood and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They spent a quarter of the day reading from God’s Word and then another quarter of the day they confessed and worshipped God. True worship can only happen after we have cleared our relationship with God through confession of our sins (1 John 1:8-10).

The rest of this chapter is their prayer of confession put forward in a new covenant that they wrote down and signed (Neh 9:38).
The prayer begins with God’s uniqueness. God exists in a class entirely of His own—He is the uncreated One!
God is the creator. He created everything and He is also the sustainer of His creation.
God is sovereign. He chose Abram and decided to make him the father of His chosen people and the source of blessing to every nation. God can and will choose to do things His way and His way is often beyond our understanding, yet He always knows better.
God is faithful. God chose to make a promise to Abraham and God kept His promise. God always keeps His promises. God is trustworthy because He is righteous and never lies.
God is compassionate. God cared about the affliction of His people as slaves in Egypt and went about rescuing them. God cares about even the little things. God cares about you and your situation.
God is holy. God came down on Mount Sinai and spoke personally with Moses but God is not one of us. God is wholly separate. He gets to set the rules and He has every right to enforce those rules through discipline and punishment.
God is gracious. He gives us food and drink and a place to live. He provided bread from heaven and water from the rock for Israel. God will supply your needs.

Israel looked back through history as a reminder of who God is and what He had done for them. This is also your story because God worked through Israel to bring Jesus as the ultimate blessing He promised to Abraham, the blessing who would free us from our sin. As you pray, you too can think back through this story and your personal story to remind yourself of who God is and what He has done for you.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Nehemiah 8:9-18

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The people had an emotional response to the reading and explanation of God’s word. After acknowledging what they heard and worshiping God, they mourned and wept (probably in acknowledgment of their sinfulness). Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told them not to mourn or weep because this was a holy day to the Lord. Instead, they were to go and eat and drink and share with those who had nothing ready. Rejoice in the Lord for He is your strength (these are sweet words to remember at a time like today when we all need much strength).

The next day the heads of families met with the priests and Levites in order to further study the law. In their study, they discovered the command written by Moses that Israel should celebrate the feast of booths (or tabernacles, or tents; Leviticus 23:37-43). This feast was to be celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month and they had discovered this on the second day of the seventh month (Neh 8:2,13) so it was perfect timing. So the people went out and collected branches of various trees and made tents for themselves on their roofs and in their courtyards. They lived in those tents for seven days as commanded. When you read God’s word, are you moved to do what it says? When God’s word convicts you of sin, you don’t need to mourn, God’s mercy and Jesus’ death on the cross have dealt with that sin, instead rejoice in your forgiveness, get up and live God’s way today!

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Nehemiah 8:1-8

8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

All the people gathered together in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring out the Law of Moses (Gen-Deu) and read it to them. Everyone gathered; men, women, and children who could understand. Ezra stood on a platform and read God’s word to the people while they stood and listened from early morning until midday. God’s word was read aloud and clearly, and then the Levites helped the people to understand what had been read—they probably helped to make it applicable to them. When this time of reading and explanation was finished, everyone responded with “Amen, Amen,” with their hands lifted up in agreement. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

This is a picture of people hungry to hear and obey God’s word. When last did you find yourself this hungry to hear God’s word taught and explained? How does a four hour (standing) church service of primarily preaching sound to you? It’s not that we should do church like this, but that our hearts should be hungry to hear from God. How hungry is your heart?

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Nehemiah 7:1-73

1 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

6 These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 9 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 10 The sons of Arah, 652. 11 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. 12 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 13 The sons of Zattu, 845. 14 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 15 The sons of Binnui, 648. 16 The sons of Bebai, 628. 17 The sons of Azgad, 2,322. 18 The sons of Adonikam, 667. 19 The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. 20 The sons of Adin, 655. 21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 22 The sons of Hashum, 328. 23 The sons of Bezai, 324. 24 The sons of Hariph, 112. 25 The sons of Gibeon, 95. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. 27 The men of Anathoth, 128. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42. 29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, 621. 31 The men of Michmas, 122. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. 33 The men of the other Nebo, 52. 34 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 35 The sons of Harim, 320. 36 The sons of Jericho, 345. 37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. 38 The sons of Senaah, 3,930.

39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. 40 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 41 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 42 The sons of Harim, 1,017.

43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.

46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.

61 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. 63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

66 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. 68 Their horses were 736, their mules 245, 69 their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.

70 Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests’ garments and 500 minas of silver. 71 And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests’ garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

With the wall complete and the doors finally in the gates, Nehemiah sets about establishing the city of Jerusalem again. He begins by appointing Hannah, a faithful and God-fearing man, in charge over Jerusalem. He gave instructions to continue to guard Jerusalem by only opening the gates during bright daylight hours and to keep guard at all times. At that time the city had very few inhabitants and none of the houses had been rebuilt. Nehemiah began the process of repopulating the city with those of pure Jewish descent.

All the people gave to the work of the temple. Those who had more (the nobles and heads of families) gave more, but everyone gave to the work of the template.

The pattern of life is not big projects like rebuilding the wall but rather the regular pattern of faithfulness in keeping things going. Big projects can be exciting but God requires that we are faithful in the regular day-to-day work of serving Him. Are you faithful in regular service and giving to the church?

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Nehemiah 6:10-19

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Sanballat and Tobiah tried a third way to get Nehemiah to fail. Nehemiah was summoned by Shemaiah the son of Delaiah who was confined to his home. This must have been someone Nehemiah trusted for him to go meet him in secret. Shemaiah’s plan was to get Nehemiah afraid for his life and then go into the temple and hide to save himself. But Nehemiah perceived the deceit because the plan couldn’t have come from God. The plan would have caused Nehemiah to sin by going into the temple (Num 3:10; 18:7). If he had hidden in the temple, not himself a priest, he would have desecrated the temple and brought himself under God’s judgement. If he had survived (God’s mercy means we don’t always receive the full punishment our sin deserves) then the people would have known that Nehemiah disregarded God’s commands and his reputation would have been ruined. Nehemiah figured out that Shemaiah had been hired by Tobiah and Sanballat to invoke fear and cause him to sin. Nehemiah prayed that God would deal with Tobiah, and Sanballat, and the prophets who had conspired against him. One of the qualities of a godly leader is to be above reproach (1 Tim 3:2,10). Do not let fear (a lack of faith) cause you to seek ungodly ways to solve your particular problems. Satan will tempt you to find some sinful shortcut that may even appear right but will bring you, and God, into disrepute. God will provide a way for you to finish His work His way.

After fifty-two days the wall was complete. Hearing the news Judah’s enemies were afraid as they recognised that this work had been done with God’s help.

Tobiah continued to send and receive letters with the nobles of Judah. He had ties with the Jews because of his father-in-law and his daughter-in-law. These letters were sent to leak information about Nehemiah’s dealings and to cause Nehemiah to be afraid.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Nehemiah 6:1-9

1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The wall was complete and had no gaps in it. Doors still needed to be set up in the gates but the city was secure. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and their cronies had to change tact. Their jeers and accusations wouldn’t work anymore because the building was near completion. They now turned to a series of personal attacks on Nehemiah. Their first attempt was on him personally. They invited him to a meeting but he recognised their intentions and declined the meeting citing the important work he was doing as a reason. They sent four messages trying to get him to come to their “meeting”. The fifth time, Sanballat changed to an attack on Nehemiah’s character. Instead of a sealed letter intended for Nehemiah’s eyes only, this time he sent an open letter. This meant that the letter could be read by anyone and everyone along the way. What he wrote reveals that his intentions were to smear his name. He accused Nehemiah of planning a revolt by the Jews and that he intended to become their king. The accusation included that Nehemiah had setup up [false] prophets to proclaim his kingship. Nehemiah denied the accusation. He knew their intentions were still to get them to stop the work and he would not let that happen. Instead, he prayed that God would strengthen his hands.

Nehemiah gives us a solid procedure for dealing with false accusation. Calmly deny the accusation, focus on the work God has given you to do, and trust God to help you get His work done. Accusations will come but if you live a life above reproach then at the right time God will vindicate you.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Nehemiah 5:14-19

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

At some point, Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah. He was in that position for twelve years from 444 B.C. to 432 B.C. As Governor he was entitled to a food allowance as one of his fringe benefits though he chose not to take it. Previous governors had placed heavy burdens on the people and exploited them for everything they could—even the governor’s servants had lorded over the people. Nehemiah was a different kind of leader. He recognised that certain benefits he might have been entitled to made life significantly more difficult for the people he was leading and so declined to use them. Instead of making use of the food allowance, he paid for his own food, even when entertaining foreign guests. His motivation—fear of God.

Nehemiah’s motivation was pure. He was there to do God’s work, not to build his own empire. He got stuck in and helped with the work on the wall. His servants got involved in the work on the wall as well. He didn’t acquire land (not as collateral for the loans he made, nor for personal wealth). Nehemiah was a servant leader who did God’s work for the good of the people.

Positions of leadership naturally come with certain benefits. The way of the world is to extract maximum benefit from positions of leadership, to acquire power and wealth without regard for those you are leading. God’s way is the opposite. In God’s kingdom, leadership is sacrifice. What are you willing to give up to help those around you?

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Nehemiah 5:1-13

1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” 12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. 13 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

It wasn’t only the walls of Jerusalem that were broken, there were also problems within their society. All the work on the walls had left the people very little time to tend to their fields. This had resulted in a famine. People had been forced to mortgage their fields, vineyards, and houses in order to buy grain. Others had borrowed money to pay the tax charged by the king on their fields and vineyards. The burden of the loans and taxes was so great that they had been forced to sell their children into slavery in order to pay. Other men, fellow Jews, now had their fields and vineyards.

Nehemiah was angry when he heard the news. While his anger would have been righteous, he took the time to calm down and consider the situation before responding. Then he took up the matter with the nobles. He held an assembly to address them all. He rebuked them because they were charging their own people interest in direct violation of God’s command (Ex 22:25). They were allowed to loan money but not to gain interest from another person’s distress. The biggest problem was that some Jews had helped their fellow countrymen by buying them out of slavery from the Babylonians, now they were being sold back into slavery by their fellow Jews. They were also profaning God’s reputation. God had delivered Israel from both Egyptian and Babylonian captivity. Nehemiah exhorts them to “walk in the fear of our God.” Nehemiah ends with a personal testimony and example that he and some others were already loaning people money and grain. He was personally doing something about the problem. He was not asking them to do something he was not already doing.

The noblemen responded well, but knowing that talk is cheap and it is easy to respond positively in the pressure of the moment, Nehemiah makes them take an oath that they will right the wrongs they have perpetrated.

It is very easy for those with wealth to exploit the poor. The poor are helpless and reliant and have very little means to ensure they are treated fairly. God calls on us to be generous with the wealth He has entrusted us with. We would do well to always consider how our spending affects those who have produced what we buy. Where we can, we should be helpful with our money rather than looking for every opportunity to turn a profit. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can be mindful of how you spend what you do have and how you use any influence or position you might have in society.
Like Nehemiah, we must also take opportunity to stand against the evils perpetuated in our society.
What can you do today to help someone less fortunate than you are?

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Nehemiah 4:10-23

10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The problems were beginning to pile up. The people had come weary of the work. The job seemed endless and they didn’t believe they could finish it on their own. They also faced the thread of a secret attack by their enemies. Nehemiah stationed whole families at the lowest parts of the walls with swords, spears, and bows. He encouraged everyone not to be afraid and reminded them that the Lord, who is great and awesome, was on their side and as they fought to defend their families and their homes.

Once the thread of attack had been frustrated, they returned to work on the wall. But from that point the work was divided in half. Half of the people worked on construction while the other half wore armour and carried spears, shields, and bows. Those who carried loads were loaded in a way that allowed them to carry their weapon with one hand. And those who built had their sword at their side while they built. Nehemiah had a trumpeter move around with him as he managed the work so that if he spotted a thread, the trumpet would sound and everyone would rally to that point to aid in defending the city.

From that time the city was under guard 24 hours a day. People stayed within the walls of Jerusalem and didn’t go out at night. People didn’t even get changed after a days work, but remained on guard, weapon at hand.

We may not be facing physical thread while we do God’s work, but the Bible reminds us that Satan is a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul tells us to put on our spiritual armour so that we can stand against his attacks (Eph 6:11). James tells us to submit to God and resist the devil, and he will flee from us (Jas 4:7). If you are doing God’s work, then you are going to be under attack. Some of it may be in verbal or physical abuse, but you will definitely face spiritual attack. Are you strapping on your armour every day in preparation? (Eph 6:10-20) Remember what Nehemiah said, “Our God will fight for us.” (Neh 4:20)

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Nehemiah 4:1-9

4:1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

When Sanballat heard that the project to rebuild the wall was going ahead, he was angry and began to tease and mock the Jews. He gathered with his friends and the army of Samaria and started to make fun of them. He called them feeble and questioned whether they would be able to finish the job themselves. “Will they sacrifice?” was a question of whether they would be able to offer up sacrifices of thanks for a job completed. He mocked their timeline and their ability to complete the job with the resources they had available. Tobiah joined in and ridiculed their work as a poor job that wouldn’t even hold up the weight of a small animal like a fox.

Nehemiah’s response was to turn to God in prayer. He recognised that their opposition was not against him or Israel, but against God. It wasn’t his job to deal with the opposition, that was God’s prerogative. As Christians, we are called to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44; Rom 12:14). Because of Jesus, we need to take a slightly different approach to Nehemiah. Our prayer should also that God deals with those who oppose our work for Him, but it should be that God deals with them the same way He has dealt with us, by changing us through belief in His Son—Jesus. We must love our enemies and pray for them, but that doesn’t mean we let them derail our task for God. Nehemiah didn’t just sit down and pray, he continued with the work at hand. They continued building and go the wall to half its height. Nehemiah committed the situation to the Lord in prayer and then got on with the work.

Sanballat, Tobiah and their gang were angry that the construction of the wall was going ahead. So they escalated from jeering to threatening to come and fight against Jerusalem. Again Nehemiah led them in prayer and then posted a guard to protect them as they continued the work.

Who or what is trying to derail you from working effectively for God? Satan uses many tactics to prevent us from being effective in service. Perhaps you’ve been derailed from even getting going in the first place or maybe you feel down and dejected and weary to continue. Pray for God’s strength and protection and then get up in faith that He will help you achieve your goal.

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