Category: Daily Prayers

Understanding Instruction

so that the people understood the reading.

Nehemiah 8:7
And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 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. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Leviticus 10:11
and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses

Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2:36
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 7:51
“You stiff- necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Can you imagine what it was like to live in a time where the Holy Spirit did not indwell you. (this assumes you have repented of sin and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness) There are two points that come to mind today.  We know that Jesus promised to send a helper (the Holy Spirit) to us after His resurrection.  The Holy Spirit will guide and lead us into all truth, convict of sin, and confirm in our heart where God is leading us.  In the time of Nehemiah people did not have this indwelling and required instruction to be explained so that they could understand.  This is much like our understanding of what was being preached/taught prior to being saved.  We could not understand or connect the promises of God to our everyday lives.  However upon receiving the Holy Spirit we are given this gift.  It is not all at once but a life long learning – precept upon precept, line upon line, promise upon promise, application upon life’s journey.  The second point is that the people chose and wanted Nehemiah to teach them.  Since Christ’s death and resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are given great opportunity to grow in our understanding of God, His purpose, and how to live in this world so that we can be used by Him.  It seems our lives get so caught up in everyday stuff that we lose sight of this gift.  And because we do not guard our selves and keep Him first we lose sight of our purpose.  How can the Holy Spirit speak to our heart if we spend no time in God’s word?  How can we know our true purpose if we neglect the source of our leading?  How can we grow if the only food is what we hear in a 30 minute teaching from our pastor?  The answer is we will not grow.  As Paul said “You are infants on milk when you should be eating solid food”.  It is good for us to see people of Nehemiah’s time who chose to be taught as an example – And for us to commit to spending time each day feeding on God’s word with a desire for Him to teach us.

Worship God

And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law

Nehemiah 8:3
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. 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

1 Timothy 2:8
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling

2 Chronicles 20:18
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord

Exodus 4:31
And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped

Genesis 24:25
The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master

I wonder if we have lost sight of the reverence we should have to God.  Most of us were taught to bow our heads to pray but the reason behind it was not reinforced or explained.  God, the creator of all there is, is a Holy God far above our understanding. Yet He has reached out to His creation in steadfast love and we mediocarlly approach His holiness and this love.  Are we in a state of thankfulness, humbleness, reverence, hopefulness, willingness, faithfulness, seeking to continually worship Him or do we see Him as the great ATM machine where we stick in our wanting prayer expecting answered prayer to come out.  Our God is deserving of so much more from each one of us.  Our days should be filled with desire to worship Him with our whole mind, heart and soul for the purpose of honoring and glorifying Him.  Lift up your hands, bow your knee and head – give Praise to the Great I Am – God.

Bring the Book

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works

Nehemiah 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. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard.

Ezra 7:6
this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him

Deuteronomy 28:61
Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the Lord will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God. And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you

Chronicles 34:19
And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.

After the walls were build and the gates repaired the people asked Ezra to read the Law of Moses.  All men and women who were able to understand were present and WANTED to hear these words.  There are many scriptures that speak of what happened to God’s chosen when they did not obey Him.  This should not be lost on anyone of us.  God established a new covenant through Christ – and as Paul put it “a new and better way”.  We live in a time of grace and mercy but scripture is clear that there is a time of judgement and reward coming.  I wonder if we spend much time on thinking about this.  What will be be held accountable for – when we are asked to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, or love your neighbor as yourself, or take care of widows and orphans, or train up your self to be a workman not ashamed, or go make disciples, or fear not for I am with  you, or praise God continuously, or pray without stoping, or trusting in, relying on, clinging to God…..  The list can go on and on where by we fall short.  We must start by desiring God and then through His word grow in our understanding of what His purpose is for our life that brings honor and glory to Him.  There is so much more to being a child of His than going to church every Sunday.  It is living every day with thought of His purpose.

Trouble Makers

O God, strengthen my hands

Nehemiah 6:1
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), 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. 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?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 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. 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.” 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.” 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.
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.” 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.” 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. 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. 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.

There are always those around us that do not want to see success God has given to us.  When God has placed within your heart a plan, Nehemiah is a good example of a person of God who knew God’s plan and that His hand was in it no matter what obstacles or hinderances came his way.  It is easy to fear the unknown and stop.  Standing firm and trusting that God is in control requires FAITH.  Faith that no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the uncertainty, no matter how impossible it seems, holds firm to God.  How many times does scripture say He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Strength, our Hope, our Deliverer, our Joy, our Rest…… In times of uncertainty trust in Him alone.

Imitate Me?

“being examples to the flock”

Nehemiah 5:14
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. 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. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 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. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate

Philippians 3:17
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us

Titus 2:7
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works

Nehemiah had a heart for the people and did not claim rights to what he easily could have.  He chose to have the burden fall on him rather than others.  He is an example of a true servant.  Our best example is Christ who gave His life for us.  Yet scripture is full of those who either were examples to follow or not to follow.  Searching our heart for what we are keeping for ourselves and what we generously give is a good place to start each day.  Asking God to speak to our heart and then having our ears open to where He is leading, topped off with a desire to obey Him is the beginning of bringing honor and glory to Him.  I must confess I do not ask myself often enough for His leading in this area but I think it is something  to be more diligent in doing.  When I read these scriptures I wonder if I am willing to say “imitate me”.  A very good question to ask God as you look in the mirror each morning is “what am I doing that people should imitate that brings You honor and glory”.  And as well “what am I doing that does not and needs to stop”.  Above all else, we all need to have a heart’s desire  to “Obey, Honor and Glorify Him”

Shake the Dust

“Your blood be on your own heads!”

Nehemiah 5:13
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.

Matthew 10:14
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Acts 18:6
And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.

Ezekiel 33:6
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

We are given multiple examples of warning – shaking out the dust from your garment showing you wash your hands of it.  You have done all you can and now it is left upon that person or group.  I wonder if we do not take living in a time of God’s grace and mercy serious.  Do we so caught up in busyness of life that we lose sight of what is expected of us in our daily walk with Him.  Do we set our expectations well below what it means to be living for and following Him?  Stop and ask yourself what would you expect to see from a life that was committed to living for and following Him.  Would you see more humbleness, joy, giving, serving, hope, love, praise, study, worship, peace…….. It does not take long to come up with a list of what we would expect in a very short time.  Choosing to serve and follow Him requires a desire to know Him and seeking what His purpose is for your day and life.  Come to Him with a desire to serve and be used by Him.

Give vs Lend

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me

Nehemiah 5:7
I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.

Exodus 22:25
“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Leviticus 25:36
Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.

Psalms 15:5
who does not put out his money at interest

Deuteronomy 24:14
“You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.

Profit at the hands of the poor and needy will be judged harshly by God.  Our eyes should be open with a willing heart to those around us so that we can be used by God.  Are we living to be used by God for His purpose each day?  A willing heart with eyes open will see what God has for them to do.  God gave His only son because He loved us and wanted none to parish.  He only asked that we believe, obey and live with purpose to honor and glorify Him.  We give and serve to honor and glorify God.

Face Fear with God

Our God will fight for us

Nehemiah 4:15
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

Psalms 33:10
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage

Isaiah 19:3
and I will confound their counsel

Job 5:12
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end

Isaiah 8:10
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us.

People are around us everyday that choose not to follow God and have schemed their own plans.  They seem to have the upper hand in what they are doing.  God’s plan is never interrupted or altered.  His plans are sure. Why then is there room for fear in our thoughts?  It is easy to see what is happening around us and have doubts and fear what is right before us.  Remember God is in control no matter what is before us.  He is our Heavenly Father who loves us. He will never leave or forsake us.  He has given us precious promises to allow us to live without fear and with joy, hope, and purpose.  When doubts and fear blindside you – remember who God is and lean not unto your own understanding but take everything to Him in prayer and the peace of God that passes all understanding will flood your soul.  Stand firm in Him alone – let Him be your strong hold and solid rock.

Mighty and Awesome

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome

Nehemiah 4:14
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.”

Number 14:8
If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

Deuteronomy 1:29
Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place. ’ Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the Lord your God,

Deuteronomy 7:21
You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.

 

Nehemiah had a job laid on his heart by God.  During the job, others looked on what was being done and made fun of it.  Yet Nehemiah new in his heart this plan was of God and encouraged the people with how AWESOME GOD IS.  It is common to have concerns and questions about life when something comes up against our health, finances, family…..  Yet remember – We are children of the God of god’s.  It is common to occasionally worry about tomorrow’s things that have yet to happened….. Yet remember – We are in our Fathers hands who can separate us from His love.  It is common to look to the past with regret over things long past and confessed to God…… Yet remember – If we confess our sin’s He is faithful and just to forgive us.  Live today in desire and purpose to serve God’s plan.  Listen for the quiet small voice nudging your heart.  Seek His wisdom and move forward with confidence in His awesome power, strength, and might.

Let Us Begin

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love

Nehemiah 2:11
So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work

Ezra 5:5
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them

Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love

Psalms 147:11
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love

Psalms 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation

The story of Nehemiah is a good reminder to us all.  He was with those who had been taken in exile yet he did not forget God.  When he heard the news of how broken Jerusalem was his heart was broken and he sought comfort bringing this to God.  His heart was all about the honor and glory of God.  Imagine living in exile and God stirring your heart to the plight of something outside of your control.  In fact the only way you would be able to move on this stirring is if God’s hand was in it.  Then the King asks you what is on your heart, you tell him not only what is on your heart but that you need the King to allow you to rebuild the city, supply safe passage back to the city, supply letters to show those in opposition of what you are about to do, and letters instructing others to supply materials for the job at hand.  Any of these questions could have been answered with your head chopped off.  Yet God’s hand was in it.  His timing, His plan, His sovereign will.  This is a good reminder for us to always keep our heart’s desire for serving God.  Without this desire we will never be willing to hear and act on what God places on our heart.  No matter how big the task is that God lays on your heart – remember God is more than able to overcome our weakness and feeling of not being equipped – who can stop what God puts into motion!