Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James: To those who are the called, cared about by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. Jude 1:2 May mercy, peace, and care be multiplied to you. Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the devotees once for all. Jude 1:4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
fake faith
We have only this one letter from Jude, and it was a letter he was reluctant to write. He wanted to write about a topic that would bring comfort and gladness. But he felt compelled to write a warning about fake Christians. They could be spotted by how they lived. They would be ungodly. They might consent to the doctrines of the church, but their lifestlyle would be a denial of Christ.
Jude instructed his listeners to contend for the faith. Real faith in Christ responds to grace by obedience to his commands — not to get saved, but to get others saved. Fake faith uses grace as a license to sin more.
Nehemiah 13:1 At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, Nehemiah 13:2 because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. Nehemiah 13:3 When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. Nehemiah 13:4 Before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah Nehemiah 13:5 and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and fresh oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests. Nehemiah 13:6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence Nehemiah 13:7 so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God’s house. Nehemiah 13:8 I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the room. Nehemiah 13:9 I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense. Nehemiah 13:10 I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field. Nehemiah 13:11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. Nehemiah 13:12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses. Nehemiah 13:13 I appointed the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites as treasurers over the storehouses, with Hanan, son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, to assist them because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues. Nehemiah 13:14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services. Nehemiah 13:15 At that time, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, so I warned them against selling food on that day. Nehemiah 13:16 The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13:17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing — profaning the Sabbath day? Nehemiah 13:18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!” Nehemiah 13:19 When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that they be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day. Nehemiah 13:20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, Nehemiah 13:21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I’ll use force against you.” After that, they did not come again on the Sabbath. Nehemiah 13:22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the city gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion according to the abundance of your faithful love. Nehemiah 13:23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Nehemiah 13:24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! Nehemiah 13:26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. Nehemiah 13:27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” Nehemiah 13:28 Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me. Nehemiah 13:29 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Nehemiah 13:30 So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each priest and Levite. Nehemiah 13:31 I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, with favor.
another cleansing
Nehemiah’s life story ends with one more attempt to cleanse the temple, much like the life story of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29). The temple was significant because it represented the presence of God before men. The church – not the buildings, but the people – is supposed to do that today. That is why we should strive to be pure and undefiled. It is not ethnic diversity that defiles the church. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. He wants ethnic diversity. What he doesn’t want is divided loyalty. That is what makes any temple impure.
Nehemiah 12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. Nehemiah 12:28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the settlements of the Netophathites, Nehemiah 12:29 from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem. Nehemiah 12:30 After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates, and the wall. Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall and appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall, toward the Dung Gate. Nehemiah 12:32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed, Nehemiah 12:33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Nehemiah 12:34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah 12:35 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph followed Nehemiah 12:36 as well as his relatives– Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them. Nehemiah 12:37 At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the city of David on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east. Nehemiah 12:38 The second thanksgiving procession went to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, Nehemiah 12:39 above the Ephraim Gate, and by the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard. Nehemiah 12:40 The two thanksgiving processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials accompanying me, Nehemiah 12:41 as well as the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; Nehemiah 12:42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. Then the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as the leader. Nehemiah 12:43 On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated, and Jerusalem’s rejoicing was heard far away. Nehemiah 12:44 On that same day men were placed in charge of the rooms that housed the supplies, contributions, firstfruits, and tenths. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields, because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. Nehemiah 12:45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. Nehemiah 12:46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Nehemiah 12:47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron’s descendants.
thanksgiving processions
When they celebrated the dedication of the newly rebuilt wall in Jerusalem, all the leaders were there, and they formed two processions, each headed by a large choir for singing praises. Instead of sitting around congratulating each other on their success, and bragging about their hard work, the leaders spent the day worshipping the LORD who had called them to that work.
LORD, inspire us to magnify you as a response to our successes, because they all come from you.
Nehemiah 11:1 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns. Nehemiah 11:2 The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11:3 These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns– the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants — Nehemiah 11:4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; Nehemiah 11:5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. Nehemiah 11:6 The total number of Perez’s descendants who settled in Jerusalem was 468 capable men. Nehemiah 11:7 These were Benjamin’s descendants: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, Nehemiah 11:8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. Nehemiah 11:9 Joel, son of Zichri, was the officer over them, and Judah, son of Hassenuah, was second in command over the city. Nehemiah 11:10 The priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and Nehemiah 11:11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, Nehemiah 11:12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah Nehemiah 11:13 and his relatives, the heads of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, Nehemiah 11:14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief. Nehemiah 11:15 The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; Nehemiah 11:16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the heads of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; Nehemiah 11:17 Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the one who began the thanksgiving in prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda, son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. Nehemiah 11:18 All the Levites in the holy city: 284. Nehemiah 11:19 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the city gates: 172. Nehemiah 11:20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property. Nehemiah 11:21 The temple servants lived on Ophel; Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants. Nehemiah 11:22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. Nehemiah 11:23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating the singers’ daily tasks. Nehemiah 11:24 Pethahiah, son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah, son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people. Nehemiah 11:25 As for the farming settlements with their fields: Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba and Dibon and their surrounding villages, and Jekabzeel and its settlements; Nehemiah 11:26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, Nehemiah 11:27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba and its surrounding villages; Nehemiah 11:28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its surrounding villages; Nehemiah 11:29 in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, and Nehemiah 11:30 Zanoah and Adullam with their settlements; in Lachish with its fields, Azekah, and surrounding villages. So they settled from Beer-sheba to Hinnom Valley. Nehemiah 11:31 Benjamin’s descendants: from Geba, Michmash, Aija, and Bethel and its surrounding villages, Nehemiah 11:32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Nehemiah 11:33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Nehemiah 11:34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Nehemiah 11:35 Lod, and Ono, in Craftsmen’s Valley. Nehemiah 11:36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin. Nehemiah 12:1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah 12:2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Nehemiah 12:3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Nehemiah 12:4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Nehemiah 12:5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Nehemiah 12:6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Nehemiah 12:7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their relatives in the days of Jeshua. Nehemiah 12:8 The Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah — he and his relatives were in charge of the songs of praise. Nehemiah 12:9 Bakbukiah, Unni, and their relatives stood opposite them in the services. Nehemiah 12:10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib, Eliashib fathered Joiada, Nehemiah 12:11 Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. Nehemiah 12:12 In the days of Joiakim, the heads of the priestly families were Meraiah of Seraiah, Hananiah of Jeremiah, Nehemiah 12:13 Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, Nehemiah 12:14 Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, Nehemiah 12:15 Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, Nehemiah 12:16 Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, Nehemiah 12:17 Zichri of Abijah, Piltai of Moadiah, of Miniamin, Nehemiah 12:18 Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, Nehemiah 12:19 Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, Nehemiah 12:20 Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, Nehemiah 12:21 Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah. Nehemiah 12:22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. Nehemiah 12:23 Levi’s descendants, the family heads, were recorded in the Book of the Historical Events during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. Nehemiah 12:24 The heads of the Levites—Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David, the man of God, had prescribed. Nehemiah 12:25 This included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the city gates. Nehemiah 12:26 These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.
a tithe of the people
This section records the effort to repopulate Jerusalem, and the proof that levitical duties were carried out during the entire time of the restoration. It is interesting that the goal was to put a tithe of the people itself into the city. Not everyone could go and live there, but everyone was to bless those whom they sent to represent them. In a similar way, only a small percentage of us will know the joy and privilege of foreign missionary work. Under the new covenant, the blessing goes not to those who go to the holy city, but for those who go to reach others with the message of the gospel. Have we given ten percent? What would happen if we did?
Nehemiah 10:1 Those whose seals were on the document were the governor Nehemiah son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, Nehemiah 10:2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah 10:3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Nehemiah 10:4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Nehemiah 10:5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Nehemiah 10:6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Nehemiah 10:7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Nehemiah 10:8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. Nehemiah 10:9 The Levites were Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, Nehemiah 10:10 and their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Nehemiah 10:11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Nehemiah 10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Nehemiah 10:13 Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. Nehemiah 10:14 The heads of the people were Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Nehemiah 10:15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Nehemiah 10:16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Nehemiah 10:17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Nehemiah 10:18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Nehemiah 10:19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Nehemiah 10:20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Nehemiah 10:21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Nehemiah 10:22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Nehemiah 10:23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Nehemiah 10:24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Nehemiah 10:25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Nehemiah 10:26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Nehemiah 10:27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah. Nehemiah 10:28 The rest of the people — the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God — Nehemiah 10:29 joins with their noble brothers and commits themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of Yahweh, our Lord. Nehemiah 10:30 We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons. Nehemiah 10:31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day. We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year and cancel every debt. Nehemiah 10:32 We will impose the following commands on ourselves: To give an eighth of an ounce of silver yearly for the service of the house of our God: Nehemiah 10:33 the bread displayed before Yahveh, the daily grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbath and New Moon offerings, the appointed festivals, the holy things, the sin offerings to atone for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:34 We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our ancestral families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring the wood to our God’s house to burn on the altar of Yahveh our God, as it is written in the law. Nehemiah 10:35 We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to Yahveh ‘s house year by year. Nehemiah 10:36 We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in our God’s house. Nehemiah 10:37 We will bring a loaf from our first We will also bring a batch of dough to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God. We will also bring the first fruits of our grain offerings, every fruit tree, and the new wine and fresh oil. A tenth of our land’s produce belongs to the Levites, for the Levites are to collect the one-tenth offering in all our agricultural towns. Nehemiah 10:38 A priest from Aaron’s descendants is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to take a tenth of this offering to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:39 For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and fresh oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the priests who minister are, along with the gatekeepers and singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.
one percent
The people swear an oath of loyalty to the covenant, agreeing to do what the law requires. Among the requirements of this commitment was to give a tithe, and a tithe of that tithe (1%) went to the chambers of the temple storehouse.
Tithing is not required under the new covenant, but it is a great idea if you can afford it, and most can. One of the blessings of regularly giving a percentage of what you make is that you can see in your tithe check a visual reminder of how well the Lord is taking care of you. As your income increases, your tithe increases. One local church I attended tithed the offerings, and that went to missions. What a great way to say thank-you to the LORD – helping to bring others into his church.
Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting dust on their heads. Nehemiah 9:2 Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and their fathers’ iniquities. Nehemiah 9:3 While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of Yahveh their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of Yahveh their God. Nehemiah 9:4 Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the raised platform built for the Levites and cried out loudly to Yahveh their God. Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites —Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up. Blessed be Yahveh your God from everlasting to everlasting.” Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. Nehemiah 9:6 You, Yahveh, are the only God. You created the sky, the highest sky with all their stars, the land and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the sky’s stars worship you. Nehemiah 9:7 You, Yahveh, are the God who chose Abram, brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and changed his name to Abraham. Nehemiah 9:8 You found his heart faithful in your sight and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites– to give it to his descendants. You have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous. Nehemiah 9:9 You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea. Nehemiah 9:10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. You made a name for yourself that endures to this day. Nehemiah 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into the raging water. Nehemiah 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to illuminate the way they should go. Nehemiah 9:13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke to them from the sky. You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, and good statutes and commands. Nehemiah 9:14 You revealed your holy Sabbath to them and gave them commands, statutes, and instruction through your servant Moses. Nehemiah 9:15 You provided bread from the sky for their hunger; you brought them water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to go in and possess the land you had sworn to give them. Nehemiah 9:16 But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to your commands. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and did not remember the wonders you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, and you did not abandon them. Nehemiah 9:18 Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,” and they had committed terrible blasphemies, Nehemiah 9:19 you did not abandon them in the wilderness because of your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. Nehemiah 9:20 You sent your good Breath to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths and gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9:21 You provided for them in the wilderness forty years, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. Nehemiah 9:22 You gave them kingdoms and peoples and established boundaries for them. They took possession of the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and of the land of King Og of Bashan. Nehemiah 9:23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky and brought them to the land you told their ancestors to go in and possess. Nehemiah 9:24 So their descendants went in and possessed the land: You subdued the Canaanites who inhabited the land before them and handed their kings and the surrounding peoples over to them, to do as they pleased with them. Nehemiah 9:25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and abundant fruit trees. They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in your great goodness. Nehemiah 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They flung your law behind their backs and killed your prophets who warned them in order to turn them back to you. They committed terrible blasphemies. Nehemiah 9:27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. In their time of distress, they cried out to you, and you heard from the sky. In your abundant compassion, you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the power of their enemies. Nehemiah 9:28 But as soon as they had relief, they again did what was evil in your sight. So you abandoned them to the power of their enemies, who dominated them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from the sky and rescued them many times in your compassion. Nehemiah 9:29 You warned them to turn back to your law, but they acted arrogantly and would not obey your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, which a person will live by if he does them. They stubbornly resisted, stiffened their necks, and would not obey. Nehemiah 9:30 You were patient with them for many years, and your Breath warned them through your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, you handed them over to the surrounding people. Nehemiah 9:31 However, you did not destroy or abandon them in your abundant compassion, for you are a gracious and compassionate God. Nehemiah 9:32 So now, our God– the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant– do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today. Nehemiah 9:33 You are righteous concerning all that has happened to us because you have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. Nehemiah 9:34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your law or listen to your commands and warnings you gave them. Nehemiah 9:35 When they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness you gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land you set before them, they would not serve you or turn from their wicked ways. Nehemiah 9:36 Here we are today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we are– slaves in it! Nehemiah 9:37 Its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. Nehemiah 9:38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.
confessing truth
This long confession gives readers insight into what God wants of us when we come to him. Often our confessions seem empty and selfish. We know more about our failures and needs than God’s desires. After hearing God’s word read and explained, the returning Israelites were able to confess their true situation. They confessed God’s grace, and how they had rebelled against it.
LORD, teach us how to confess the truth, not just our truth.
Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered together at the square before the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the Instruction of Moses that Yahveh had given Israel. Nehemiah 8:2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. Nehemiah 8:3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. Nehemiah 8:4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Nehemiah 8:6 Ezra blessed Yahveh, the great God, and all the people raised their hands, saying, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped Yahveh with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. Nehemiah 8:8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. Nehemiah 8:9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to Yahveh your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve because the joy of Yahveh is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” Nehemiah 8:12 All the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a grand celebration because they had understood the words explained to them. Nehemiah 8:13 On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before the scribe Ezra to study the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:14 They found written in the law how Yahveh had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month. Nehemiah 8:15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.” Nehemiah 8:16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Ephraim Gate. Nehemiah 8:17 The whole community that had returned from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua, son of Nun, until that day. And there was tremendous joy. Nehemiah 8:18 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, according to the ordinance, there was an assembly.
joy of restoration
Restoration is not possible without being confronted by the revelation – God’s word, his law. Yet the LORD never intends those who will be involved in restoration to stop at the mourning phase. When God intercedes by his grace, we will feel sorry for our sins and shortcomings, but the end result should be joy. Key to getting back our joy is the ministry of explaining the sense of the Scriptures. Knowing the scriptures clearly brings joy.
Nehemiah 7:1 When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Nehemiah 7:2 Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. Nehemiah 7:3 I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.” Nehemiah 7:4 The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet. Nehemiah 7:5 Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it: Nehemiah 7:6 These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town. Nehemiah 7:7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the Israelite men included Nehemiah 7:8 Parosh’s descendants 2,172 Nehemiah 7:9 Shephatiah’s descendants 372 Nehemiah 7:10 Arah’s descendants 652 Nehemiah 7:11 Pahath-moab’s descendants: Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants 2,818 Nehemiah 7:12 Elam’s descendants 1,254 Nehemiah 7:13 Zattu’s descendants 845 Nehemiah 7:14 Zaccai’s descendants 760 Nehemiah 7:15 Binnui’s descendants 648 Nehemiah 7:16 Bebai’s descendants 628 Nehemiah 7:17 Azgad’s descendants 2,322 Nehemiah 7:18 Adonikam’s descendants 667 Nehemiah 7:19 Bigvai’s descendants 2,067 Nehemiah 7:20 Adin’s descendants 655 Nehemiah 7:21 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah 98 Nehemiah 7:22 Hashum’s descendants 328 Nehemiah 7:23 Bezai’s descendants 324 Nehemiah 7:24 Hariph’s descendants 112 Nehemiah 7:25 Gibeon’s descendants 95 Nehemiah 7:26 Bethlehem’s and Netophah’s men 188 Nehemiah 7:27 Anathoth’s men 128 Nehemiah 7:28 Beth-azmaveth’s men 42 Nehemiah 7:29 Kiriath-jearim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s men 743 Nehemiah 7:30 Ramah’s and Geba’s men 621 Nehemiah 7:31 Michmas’s men 122 Nehemiah 7:32 Bethel’s and Ai’s men 123 Nehemiah 7:33 the other Nebo’s men 52 Nehemiah 7:34 the other Elam’s people 1,254 Nehemiah 7:35 Harim’s people 320 Nehemiah 7:36 Jericho’s people 345 Nehemiah 7:37 Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people 721 Nehemiah 7:38 Senaah’s people 3,930. Nehemiah 7:39 The priests included Jedaiah’s descendants of the house of Jeshua 973 Nehemiah 7:40 Immer’s descendants 1,052 Nehemiah 7:41 Pashhur’s descendants 1,247 Nehemiah 7:42 Harim’s descendants 1,017. Nehemiah 7:43 The Levites included Jeshua’s descendants: of Kadmiel Hodevah’s descendants 74. Nehemiah 7:44 The singers included Asaph’s descendants 148. Nehemiah 7:45 The gatekeepers included Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants, Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants, Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants 138. Nehemiah 7:46 The temple servants included Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants, Tabbaoth’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:47 Keros’s descendants, Sia’s descendants, Padon’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:48 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants, Shalmai’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:49 Hanan’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:50 Reaiah’s descendants, Rezin’s descendants, Nekoda’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:51 Gazzam’s descendants, Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:52 Besai’s descendants, Meunim’s descendants, Nephishesim’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:53 Bakbuk’s descendants, Hakupha’s descendants, Harhur’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:54 Bazlith’s descendants, Mehida’s descendants, Harsha’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:55 Barkos’s descendants, Sisera’s descendants, Temah’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:56 Neziah’s descendants, Hatipha’s descendants. Nehemiah 7:57 The descendants of Solomon’s servants included Sotai’s descendants, Sophereth’s descendants, Perida’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:58 Jaala’s descendants, Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants, Nehemiah 7:59 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants, Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, Amon’s descendants. Nehemiah 7:60 All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants 392. Nehemiah 7:61 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their ancestral families and their lineage were Israelite: Nehemiah 7:62 Delaiah’s descendants, Tobiah’s descendants, and Nekoda’s descendants 642 Nehemiah 7:63 and from the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai — who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name. Nehemiah 7:64 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. Nehemiah 7:65 The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Lights and Darks. Nehemiah 7:66 The whole combined assembly numbered 42,360 Nehemiah 7:67 not including their 7,337 male and female servants, as well as their 245 male and female singers. Nehemiah 7:68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, Nehemiah 7:69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. Nehemiah 7:70 Some of the family heads contributed to the project. The governor gave 1,000 gold coins, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments to the treasury. Nehemiah 7:71 Some of the family heads gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas to the treasury for the project. Nehemiah 7:72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments. Nehemiah 7:73 The priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns. When the seventh month came, and the Israelites had settled in their towns.
it is the people
This chapter is mostly made up of a list that already appeared in Ezra. It fits in Nehemiah’s story because it records the people who came back from exile. After the construction of the wall for defense, it was time to transition to focus on the people. While the land is important because of God’s promises, it is the people of God who will inherit it.
When I originally wrote this, the church I had been attending had been going through an ordeal for months because we have outgrown the space where we gather, and have been seeking a larger building. So far, the Holy Spirit had prevented us from getting one. Along the way, we discovered that our most urgent need is not a building, but ways to meet the needs of people.
LORD, help us to focus on loving the people who need you, and training the people who know you.
Nehemiah 6:1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that no gap was left in it– though at that time I had not installed the doors in the city gates — Nehemiah 6:2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.” They were planning to harm me. Nehemiah 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:4 Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply. Nehemiah 6:5 Sanballat sent me this same message a fifth time by his aide, who had an open letter in his hand. Nehemiah 6:6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations — and Geshem agrees — that you and the Jews plan to rebel. This is the reason you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king Nehemiah 6:7 and have even set up the prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: “There is a king in Judah.” These rumors will be heard by the king. So come, let’s confer together. Nehemiah 6:8 Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.” Nehemiah 6:9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, “They will drop their hands from the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands. Nehemiah 6:10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was restricted to his house. He said: Let’s meet at the house of God, inside the temple. Let’s shut the temple doors because they’re coming to kill you. They’re coming to kill you tonight! Nehemiah 6:11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live? I will not go.” Nehemiah 6:12 I realized that God had not sent him, because of the prophecy he spoke against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Nehemiah 6:13 He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggested, sin, and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me. Nehemiah 6:14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me. Nehemiah 6:15 The wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. Nehemiah 6:16 When all our enemies heard this, all the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God. Nehemiah 6:17 During those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. Nehemiah 6:18 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. Nehemiah 6:19 These nobles kept mentioning Tobiah’s good deeds to me, and they reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
faithfulness amid conflict
Nehemiah speaks here of numerous attempts to make him afraid. The non-Israelite leaders of the land were themselves afraid that God would empower Nehemiah to lead a rebellion. They also feared the policy against intermarriage which had been enforced by Ezra. They wanted the rebuilding to stop, and they tried everything short of all-out war to top it. Nevertheless, the wall was finished. It was a lesson in faithfulness amid conflict for the Jews, who did this thing with the help of their God.
LORD, keep us faithful to our calling regardless of the attempts to stop us.
Nehemiah 5:1 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Nehemiah 5:2 Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” Nehemiah 5:3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” Nehemiah 5:4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Nehemiah 5:5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” Nehemiah 5:6 I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. Nehemiah 5:7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So, I called a large assembly against them Nehemiah 5:8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. Nehemiah 5:9 Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? Nehemiah 5:10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. Nehemiah 5:11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and fresh oil that you have been assessing them.” Nehemiah 5:12 They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So, I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. Nehemiah 5:13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised Yahveh. Then the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah– from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years — I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. Nehemiah 5:15 The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this. Nehemiah 5:16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of this wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land. Nehemiah 5:17 There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table. Nehemiah 5:18 Each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every ten days. But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. Nehemiah 5:19 Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.
exploitation
Everyone knew that the commitment to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls would involve hardship. What they did not count on, however, was the exploitation of the Jewish nobles and officials. They were taking advantage of the situation to exact interest and gain debt-slaves from the families of those doing the building. Nehemiah was a leader with integrity. When he heard the complaints of the people, he acted, demanding that the Jewish nobles and officials stop dealing corruptly, and restore that which the had taken.
LORD, make us leaders who deal fairly, not seeking gain from other people’s commitment.
Devotions 