Tag: Understood

52.v. Wilderness – 17.a. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God”

 

Deu 29:29  “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Job 11:6-7   and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.  “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

 Job 28:28    And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

 Psalms 25:14    The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant

 Proverbs 3:32     for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.

 Jeremiah 23:18     For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?

 Daniel 2:28    but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,

 Amos 3:7    “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

 Matthew 13:35    This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

 John 15:15     No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

 Acts 1:7     He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

 Romans 11:33-34    Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

 Romans 16:25-26     Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages  but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

 1 Corinthians 2:16    “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 Matthew 11:27-30   All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 Matthew 13:11    And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

 Romans 16:26    but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

 2 Timothy 3:16   All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

 Deuteronomy 6:7     You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

 Deuteronomy 30:2     and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul,

Moses ends his prophecy of the Jews’ rejection, just as St. Paul ends his discourse on the same subject, when it began to be fulfilled, Ro 11:33. We are forbidden curiously to inquire into the secret counsels of God, and to determine concerning them. But we are directed and encouraged, diligently to seek into that which God has made known. He has kept back nothing that is profitable for us, but only that of which it is good for us to be ignorant. The end of all Divine revelation is, not to furnish curious subjects of speculation and discourse, but that we may do all the words of this law, and be blessed in our deed. This, the Bible plainly reveals; further than this, man cannot profitably go. By this light he may live and die comfortably, and be happy for ever. (Henry)

Things which are revealed by God and his word, these are the proper object of our inquiries and studies, that thereby we may come to the knowledge of our duty, by the practice whereof we may be kept from such terrible punishments and calamities as these now mentioned. (Poole)

There are many secret things in nature, which cannot be found out and accounted for by men, which the Lord only knows; and there are many things in Providence, which are unsearchable, and past finding out by finite minds, especially the true causes and reasons of them; and there are many things relating to God himself, which remain secret with him; notwithstanding the revelation he has made of himself; for not only some of his perfections, as eternity, immensity, &c. are beyond our comprehension; but the mode of subsistence of the three divine Persons in the Godhead, the paternity of the one, the generation of the other, and the procession of the Spirit from them both; the union of the two natures, divine and human, in the person of Christ; the thoughts, purposes, and decrees of God within himself, until brought into execution; and so there are many things relating to his creatures, as the particular persons predestinated unto eternal life, what becomes of such who die in infancy, what will befall us in life, when we shall die, where and in what manner, and also the day and hour of the last judgment. Those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever; the things of nature and Providence, which are plain and manifest, are for our use and instruction; and especially the word and ordinances of God, which are the revelation of his will, the doctrines and promises contained in the Scriptures. (Gill)

39.b. “Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God”

 

 

Genesis 42:18   On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so. Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept. And he returned to them and spoke to them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. And Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, and to replace every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. This was done for them.

 Leviticus 25:43   You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.

 Nehemiah 5:9    So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God

  Luke 18:2   He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

 Nehemiah 5:15   But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

 On the third day Joseph modified his severity. “This do and live,” i.e., then ye shall live: “I fear God.” One shall remain in prison, but let the rest of you take home “corn for the famine of your families,” and fetch your youngest brother, that your words may be verified, and ye may not die, i.e., may not suffer the death that spies deserve. That he might not present the appearance of despotic caprice and tyranny by too great severity, and so render his brethren obdurate, Joseph stated as the reason for his new decision, that he feared God. From the fear of God, he, the lord of Egypt, would not punish or slay these strangers upon mere suspicion, but would judge them justly. How differently had they acted towards their brother! The ruler of all Egypt had compassion on their families who were in Canaan suffering from hunger; but they had intended to leave their brother in the pit to starve! These and similar thoughts could hardly fail to pass involuntarily through their minds at Joseph’s words, and to lead them to a penitential acknowledgement of their sin and unrighteousness. The notion that Joseph altered his first intention merely from regard to his much afflicted father, appears improbable, for the simple reason, that he can only have given utterance to the threat that he should keep them all in prison till one of them had gone and fetched Benjamin, for the purpose of giving the greater force to his accusation, that they were spies. But as he was not serious in making this charge, he could not for a moment have thought of actually carrying out the threat. “And they did so:” in these words the writer anticipates the result of the colloquy which ensued, and which is more fully narrated afterwards. Joseph’s intention was fulfilled. The brothers now saw in what had happened to them a divine retribution: “Surely we atone because of our brother, whose anguish of soul we saw, when he entreated us and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.” And Reuben reminded them how he had warned them to no purpose, not to sin against the boy – “and even his blood…behold it is required”; i.e., not merely the sin of casting him into the pit and then selling him, but his death also, of which we have been guilty through that sale. Thus they accused themselves in Joseph’s presence, not knowing that he could understand; “for the interpreter was between them.” Joseph had conversed with them through an interpreter, as an Egyptian who was ignorant of their language. “The interpreter,” viz., the one appointed for that purpose. But Joseph understood their words, and “turned away and wept”, with inward emotion at the wonderful leadings of divine grace, and at the change in his brothers’ feelings. He then turned to them again, and, continuing the conversation with them, had Simeon bound before their eyes, to be detained as a hostage (not Reuben, who had dissuaded them from killing Joseph, and had taken no part in the sale, but Simeon, the next in age). He then ordered his men to fill their sacks with corn, to give every one his money back in his sack, and to provide them with food for the journey. (Keil and Delitzsch )

It is most noteworthy to see Joseph feared God in the decisions he made, what he did, and what he said. In contrast, the minds of his brothers were seared with a hot iron in remembrance of how they treated Joseph. They had acted out of envy, jealousy, and without any fear of God.

Our lives are to be living sacrifices that humbly honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all that we think, say, and do. When we have this single purpose goal for our lives, it is then we will discern fleshly non-God honoring thoughts, actions, and words and be able to cast them out before they take root and cause harm to ourselves or others and more importantly dishonor God.

33.r. “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump”

 

Matthew 16:5  When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

 Luke 12:1   In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

 1 Corinthians 5:6-8   Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?  Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 Galatians 5:9   A little leaven leavens the whole lump

 2 Timothy 2:16-17   But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,  and their talk will spread like gangrene.

 Matthew 16:12    Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

 “It was the Jewish metaphorical expression for an evil influence. To the Jewish mind leaven was always symbolic of evil…leaven stood for an evil influence liable to spread through life and to corrupt it.” (Barclay) 

 “False doctrine; which is fitly called leaven, because it soureth, swelleth, spreadeth, corrupteth the whole lump, and all this secretly.” (Trapp)

Then Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees — That is, of their false doctrine; elegantly called leaven, for it spreads in the soul, or the church, as leaven does in bread. (Benson)

It passes secretly, silently, but certainly through the mass of dough. None can see its progress.” So it was with the doctrines of the Pharisees. They were insinuating, artful, plausible. They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines; they instilled them secretly into the mind, until they pervaded all the faculties like leaven.   It is secret, silent, steady; pervading all the faculties of the soul and all the kingdoms of the world, as leaven, or yeast, though hidden in the flour, and though deposited only in one place, works silently until all the mass is brought under its influence. (Barnes)

When God’s Word is neglected or when we become complacent with its influence in our daily lives, it is then we will begin to tolerate (by intentional choice) worldly or fleshly thoughts or actions that had no room in our heart, mind, and soul previously. By His Word and through the Holy Spirit we are given discernment into what is right, pure, good, and holy.  By its neglect, we allow leaven in and day by day it silently and surely influences what we say, think, and do. How sad it is that through neglect and complacency we intentionally choose to become blind and deaf to things of God and the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives.  None are immune to the effects of “leaven”. The key is to be ever seeking and desiring the Holy Spirit’s leading through God’s Word so that in all things we think, say, and do, they honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

22.c. “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom”

1 Corinthians 2:6  Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Do you ever wonder who the “among the mature” is referring to?  Some may argue that it is related to age.  Others would say saved and unsaved or mature and immature believers. Paul did use mature in Ephesians and Philippians as believers who had grown from the elementary concepts of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness to personal application and food for everyday growth, understanding, and knowledge in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  These mature would grow in discernment (wisdom) and understanding.  In this, the mature would understand the world and culture they lived in and how it was always trying to draw them away from honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ.  They would clearly see the separation from things of God and things of this world.  They would discern what was proper and right for their soul.  The immature (baby) Christian would put anything into its mouth and would follow after anything that was pleasing to the flesh.  The immature would be easily swayed toward things that were not God-honoring. Ignorance does not exempt them from the expectation of growth in their life.  

The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not the end of wisdom but rather the beginning of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, power, grace, love, mercy, courage, strength, joy, and peace.  

123. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David,

2Samuel 12:15  And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

 How do we end up sinning – Sometimes we think of the natural consequences of sin and we fear it and so we don’t do that sin. That may be true, but perhaps we are ignorant, perhaps we were unwise, perhaps we were tempted, perhaps we’re even told to do it even when we know it was wrong as if we were coerced. No matter how it happened, our sin is not something we want to continue in our lives. You should love God so much that when you sin, you realize that you hurt God. You should love God so much that after you sin, you want to restore your relationship with God. God wants to get our attention. He wants to help us out of our failure, but we have to listen to Him when He warns us. God gives us the Holy Spirit as our warning system. The Holy Spirit tells us when we are doing something that is against God and His commands. Nothing messes up your relationship with God more than unconfessed sin.  God wants to forgive your sin, but you have to come to Him and confess it.

Do not be blinded by neglect and complacency.  Recognize sin and run from it. Sin always has consequences and unconfessed sin will eat away at your soul.

Decision – Crucify Him

John 19:16  So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,  and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.  Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.  So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’”  Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”  When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,  so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,  but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Psalms 22:18     they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Acts 13:26  “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.  For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.  And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.  And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.  But God raised him from the dead,  and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.   And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

1Corinthians 1:20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 2:8    None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Many things done by rulers and even us seem right to do.  Are they really the right thing to do?  How do we know?  What is guiding us to the decisions we make?  What do we use as a the foundation to which we build our decision?  Depending on the circumstance some may say if it is good for me or if it is good for others.  If the decision is based on something or someone that hurt us financially, emotionally, or physically, some may use what is allowed by the culture they live in.  The problem is the decision is not based on the word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit in their response.  We have a sinful nature and it wants to believe and act in ways that do not humbly serve, honor, follow, or obey God.  We need to be mindful of this sinful nature.  We need to test each of our thoughts and decisions against the word of God.  His word is able to lead us properly.  His word gives us power and courage to forgive, encourage, help, and make decisions according to His purpose and plans.  Spend time in His word.  Desire to be led by Him. Listen for His whispers of guidance.  Build your foundation for decisions on His word.  Do not trust the first thought that comes to mind, test it against His word and either the conviction or confirmation by the Holy Spirit in your heart.

Choose to be His disciple

John 4:1  Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John  (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),  he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

John 3:26    And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

Acts 10:36    As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

1 Corinthians 2:8    None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:5    For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

1 Corinthians 1:13     Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,  so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.  (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Jesus’s disciples were baptizing disciples more so than John.  When Jesus heard the Pharisees had heard of this he departed for Galilee.  John’s disciples also made note of this.  This had to have made John’s heart very very happy.  People back then, like now, either reject or embrace the need for confession of sin and restoration (made right) with God.  Baptism symbolizing death to old self (repenting) and rebirth of new self (turning away from old self).  When God speaks to a persons heart they have the choice to come to Him or reject Him.  To those who choose to listen, honor, serve, follow and obey they find new life.  A life with clearer purpose, joy, peace, understanding, faith, and hope.  Those who do not see this choice as foolishness and a sign of weakness.  This is so much more to live when lived for serving Him.  Find your purpose in choosing to be His disciple.

Hidden for Ages

“ A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

“ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Malachi 4:5  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Matthew 11:13  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,  and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 17:10  And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”  He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.  But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:17    and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Luke 7:26  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

1 Peter 1:10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

“The mystery hidden from ages now revealed.”  God chose to reveal this mystery to us.  He chose to make known that which had previously been vague.  I wonder if we, on the knowing side of the mystery, fully understand the magnitude of this great gift.  Do we treat it as though it is something special or just a bit more information.  It would appear as though we have been brought out from designed ignorance into God given wisdom in things so wonderful and blessed that our voices should ring with praise and thanksgiving to God.  But reality is we don’t truly understand the ignorance others lived in so this comparison can only be a mental exercise.  We live in a time where there is so much information at our finger tips.  World troubles are seconds away from us knowing they happened.  World accomplishments the same.  It would appear we are living in a time of testing our resolve to remain true to God even though all of this bombardment of information is happening.  We have been given access to God through His son.  We have been given His word to better understand Him and what it means to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Do not let the speed and influx of this world’s information take one second away from spending time with God and His word.  Do not underestimate satan’s attempt at deceiving us into believing we are too busy or this other stuff is more important.  We leave this world with nothing and enter into eternity with true hope, faith, and assurance of salvation through Christ and promise of life with God.  Or, we spend this life totally cold or lukewarm to living for, trusting in, relying on, or clinging to Him ending in a life lived for self and no true hope.  The only thing that awaits is utter torment for eternity.

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.