Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 13:15-22 (day two)

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. v. 20

Discipline is a part of every part of life. Relationships take discipline, education takes discipline, work requires discipline, children need discipline. If we are to be true disciples, we must be disciplined. This happens in many ways. We must develop habits of faithful obedience. We must practice skills that will help our understanding of others and tasks. We must also be prepared to receive discipline when we step out of line. We don’t often talk about church discipline anymore, but there is solid ground for the church to take action if its members step out of line. This was the case in Nehemiah’s time. His approach was to shut the gates to remind them that they were not to work on the Sabbath. It is likely that we have areas of our spiritual lives that need to be brought under better discipline. Don’t be in the position to have the doors shut on you; practice those habits that will keep your heart focused on the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 12:40-47 (day two)

…and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. v. 43

Pastor Don used to exhort us to sing so the seven year-old passing us by on the sidewalk would stop and wonder what was going on. I heard him use that illustration several times over the years. The age and gender of the passerby would change each time, but the sentiment was still the same. Our praise should radiate. When we gather it is a declaration that Jesus is Lord over everything and everyone. He has conquered death; he has given us life, and we have reason to rejoice. Does this reflect how you worship? Or does this make you uncomfortable? We have a declaration of victory to proclaim to the world. We gather in thanksgiving to glorify the Lord for his goodness, and in so doing, we cannot help but shout our praise. I can’t wait for Sunday.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 10:28-30 (day two) are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law…v. 29a

It is not difficult to misuse this passage of scripture. At first glance there is a distinct xenophobic directive given. They were to separate from foreigners, and not associate in any way with outsiders. Taken straight out of context this gives the impression that one people group is better than another. God is speaking directly to his people, in our modern context his people is not a nationality, a bordered identity, or a racial identifier. God’s people are marked with the blood of Jesus, and as such, are together redeemed. Nehemiah is reminding the people that to associate with the Lord is to take on the yoke of the law. It is a ponderous burden, and it is difficult to keep, but it is the responsibility of the people of Moses. They could not be of two minds. If they followed the rest of the world, they were of the world. If they were to follow the Lord, they were to keep the Law. Our modern reading has nothing to do with foreigners, and everything to do with grace. May our obedience to Jesus be marked by his mercy and grace toward us all.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 9:1-3 (day two)

While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. v. 3

The confession of God’s people should be a cathartic experience. Whenever we confront our sin, we cycle through many emotions. No one wants to grieve the heart of God, and shame can often accompany our confession. Our confessions may recognize hurt and anguish as we let go of self and assume a repentant posture. When viewed from the outside this seems to be a lonely and uncomfortable place to be, and for anyone who has repented their sin they can attest to that discomfort. Whatever has brought us to a place where repentance is needed should grieve our hearts, but the catharsis is the release. Even without the promise of forgiveness, which we have, the unburdening of our hearts is cause for worship. To have a God who will hear our cries is a tremendous comfort. Worship may feel different when we are in a repentant posture than we are celebrating, but it is no less genuine. May our repentance always have an element of worship.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 8:9-12 (day one)

So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” v. 11

We are told in the book of Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything under heaven. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4 – Nehemiah and Ezra recognize the need for both joy and sorrow in people’s lives. As we continue in our study next week, we will enter a time of sorrow and repentance, but on this day there was joy. Much repair was needed. Not in the physical wall anymore, but in the hearts of the people. The wall was a representation of the broken relationship between the people of God and God himself. The people had drifted and abandoned the teachings of the Lord. When confronted with the truth, they were understandably upset. They came face to face with their sin. Their reaction was warranted. Ezra and Nehemiah are not trying to sugar coat the need for repentance, but they are giving the people hope and reminding them they are loved by God who will welcome them back. There may be hard days ahead, but it is important to know that there is a path forward. Sometimes, even before everything is fixed, it is important to remember you are heading for hope. Celebrate this truth.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 6:10-19 (day two)

When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. v. 16

Why were there so many voices of opposition to Nehemiah and the Jews? There was a great concern that God himself may actually be helping them to rebuild the wall. If God was behind this project, then what else was he going to do? Often the loudest criticisms and oppositions will appear when you are being used mightily of the Lord. Before Jesus began his public ministry he was tempted by Satan. How did Nehemiah discern what was noise and what was truth? How did Jesus, for that matter? Their nearness to the Father’s message and call were the plumb line for their actions. Even if what you hear sounds plausible, it must line up with the Spirit’s direction. Nehemiah trusted his path, and refused to let the noise dissuade him from what he knew to be true. There will be noise in your walk, and often the closer you are to the truth, the louder it becomes. Don’t be led by noise, be led by the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 5:6-13 (day two) I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” v. 7a

The Jewish people were in a desperate place, and conflict came not just from others, but from among themselves. Sometimes businesses, individuals, and nations can lose sight of each other when we focus solely on ourselves. Nehemiah was able to look at the situation and see it for what it was. The Jewish people were not taking care of each other. Their businesses practices were causing people to fall further and further behind. Who knows how long this had been going on, or how it got as bad as it did. What strikes me, however, is Nehemiah’s response. Like every other instance in this story, Nehemiah pauses before he acts. Verse seven begins with the statement, “I consulted with myself.” Nehemiahs actions are never rash. Time and time again we are reminded that prayer and patience are the ingredients for how to effect change. We may recognize problems in our lives, but we would do well to take a note from Nehemiah and pause to pray before we act.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 4:1-8 (day two) Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. v. 7

There is/was an historic animosity between these people groups. It can be seen playing out in our headlines every day. I don’t want to get into the geopolitical situation that we are experiencing today, but I think we can find parallels to Nehemiah’s story all around us. There will always be people who actively discourage you. It is one of those things like death and taxes that you can count on. How do you deal with those words thrown at you? How do you confront the plot to undermine your work? How can you push forward, when there is such an active force pushing against you? Trust your call. Surround yourself with others who share the vision. Rely on the Lord. Nehemiah knew what was before him was a great task. He was select in whom he trusted with the vision, and he was undeterred by those who were against him. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, but surround yourself with the Lord’s protection, and get to work.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 3:1-5 (day two)

Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. V. 1

Never far from the minds of those working on these gates and the wall is there purpose, both as a structure and as a symbol. After each door, gate, or portion of the wall is completed they consecrated that section. To consecrate is to set aside as to make holy. It is to bless all those who will use it, and to ask for a blessing on the structure itself. They were under no illusion. This was holy work. Do you take your work that seriously? Maybe you think your job is not that significant in the Kingdom. You may not be rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, but there are people around you that are counting on you to model a life lived in service the Jesus. Try to reframe your life as one which is building the Kingdom whether at home, in the office, or wherever you may be.

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 2:11-20 (day two)  

I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work. ¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”  v. 18-19

Same message, different responses. Jesus told his disciples that the message of hope and truth would be received by some and rejected by others. His parable of the Good Earth is a classic example of how different hearts accept or reject God’s offer of peace. It shouldn’t surprise you, then, when you hear a clear directive from the Lord and others don’t fall in step. It must be a bit disconcerting when you know you are walking in step with the Lord and others don’t want to follow. We can follow Nehemiah’s example. He eventually shared with others what the Lord had placed on his heart and moved in that direction regardless of how others reacted. Some will get it, and some will reject it. We are responsible for our own hearts.