Fri.’s Devo - The Feast of Tabernacles

Read: Nehemiah 7:61-9:21;1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12

Everyone came to be registered and to claim what land was owned by their family. If they could’t find their names in the genealogy, they were not allowed to serve as priests until a priest came with the Urim and the Thummin so they could ask the Lord. Even their donkeys were registered and counted. 

Many gave of their wealth to the work of the Lord. By the seventh month everyone was living in the town they came from. Ezra assembled all the people before the Water Gate and told Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. The priests read and explained all the words in the law. 

Nehemiah explained that this day was to be holy and not a sad day even though as they read the book, they realized their sin against God and were grieved. Nehemiah told them to be joyful and enjoy the food God had provided. So the people rejoiced. This was the week of the Feast of Tabernacles which had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua. For seven days they listened to the reading of the law. The priest would read then break it down where they could understand it. 

On the eighth day they had a solemn assembly where they fasted and repented. They confessed their sins and separated themselves from all foreigners. The laws was read for the first four hours, then they confessed and worshipped the next four. They listened to the retelling of their history as a nation and how their sins led them into bondage. But, God delivered them from Egypt and brought them through the wilderness where their clothes didn’t wear out and there feet didn’t swell.

In Corinthians, Paul gives a number of questions trying to get them to think about all their accusations against the apostles. He defends their right to eat and drink and marry.  He also defends their right to be paid by the church for their work. He backs what he is saying with God’s law. Then he says that he didn’t party or marry even though it would have been his right to do so. His only claim to fame is that he preached the gospel everywhere. 

Lord, thank you for your Word which gives us life. May we as a nation repent of our sins and return to the Word as our source of living. May we stand behind those who are faithfully teaching the Word of God and doing his work. May we be faithful to do what you have called us to do. Thank you for saving us.

Thurs.’s Devo - Finishing the Wall

Read: Nehemiah 5:14-7:60; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10

When Nehemiah was appointed to be the governor of Jerusalem he didn’t tax the people for a food allowance for his government. He provided for his own food and that of his 150 servants because he feared the Lord. 

Amazingly Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem and their group are still around as the adversaries of God’s work. They heard that the wall was finished and all they had to do was to set the gates in. They sent a message to Nehemiah wanting to meet with them at Hakkephirim on the plain of Ono which was in the territory of Benjamin. Nehemiah sensed they were up to no good and declined the invite four times. On the fifth invitation Sanballat sent his servant with an open letter in his hand. An open letter means that instead of being rolled up and placed in a bag, it was just handed to him as a sign of disrespect. In it they wrote that they heard reports that one they had their wall built they would rebel against the king and proclaim Nehemiah their king. The accused Nehemiah of having his prophets prophesy that their is a king in Judah. They were going to tell the king, so Nehemiah should meet with them to discuss this. 

Nehemiah saw this as a way to get them distracted from their task of finishing the wall so he prayed that God would give him the strength to finish the wall. 

One of the prophets named Noadiah who was house bound, invited Nehemiah to his house to give him a “word from the Lord.” He told Nehemiah that Sanballat and Tobiah were planning to kill him and he should hide out in the temple and live there to escape them. Nehemiah saw this as a deceptive devise to get him to fear Sanballat and Tobiah and sin against God. He realized that they had hired Noadiah to say these things to him to get him to be afraid and sin. He prayed that God would remember what Noadiah, Tobiah and Sanballat did against him and against God.

The wall was finished in 52 days which even their enemies recognized as an act of God. The doors and gates were all set and gatekeepers, singers and Levites had been appointed to open and close the door at the set times. Guards were set to guard the city but no houses had been built in the city yet. 

God put it in Nehemiah’s heart to find the book of genealogies and see which families came from the city of Jerusalem. 

In Corinthians, Paul starts out to talk about food offered to idols but instead explained that knowledge puffs up the person who has it, but love causes the person who has love to build up others. The person who thinks he is knowledgeable doesn’t know everything, but the person who loves is known by God which is so much better.

Paul goes back to explaining eating food offered to idols and says that they know that idols have no power or life and that there is only one God. But not everyone knows this and they worship all these false idols. He is trying to let them see that their worship of these idols doesn’t change the food - it is still the same. So they are free to eat it. But, if they are with others whose conscience is weak and they have a problem with eating the food offered to idols, then they should not eat it. It all goes back to his first statement about knowledge verses love. The person who is free to eat it shouldn’t flaunt his knowledge, but because he loves the person who has a problem with eating the food offered to idols, he should not eat it in his presence to honor his convictions. To wound their conscience is to sin against Christ. 

Lord, may we let love guide our actions and may we honor other’s convictions. May we be strong like Nehemiah who stood in the face of opposition to do what God put in his heart to do. May we build our walls around the temple in our heart that we don’t let sin and pride break through to make us unholy.

 

Wed.’s Devo - Building the Wall -

Read: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7

As we read through the places the people built the wall we learn how extravagant Solomon’s kingdom was. There were artificial pools, gardens, an armory, a house for the mighty men, buttresses and towers, and many gates. Everyone was responsible for the wall on his own property and others worked on the wall in the public places. 

Sanballat heard that they were successfully building the wall and came to make fun of them and intimidate them. He obviously knew some of the prophecies concerning the Jews because he said things like, “Will they finish up in a day?” “Will they revive stones out of the heaps of rubbish?” These were all things prophesied to the Jews.

  Nehemiah prayed that God would plunder the land where their enemies were and cause them to become captives. He prayed that God would remember their sin and hold them responsible for it.

They build the wall to half of its height and more of their enemies heard that the breaches were being closed up and they were very angry. They plotted to come and fight Jerusalem and cause confusion to stop their work. 

The people of Jerusalem prayed and set a guards day and night. The people of Judah were getting discouraged because there was so much rubble. They were also afraid for their lives. The leaders responded to their cry for help and came armed and protected the workers as they all worked. They worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. 

They were so spread out that they also had people with trumpets and if the enemy came they could sound their trumpet and help would come. 

In the midst of all the building, it was bought to Nehemiah’s attention that because of the famine, many of the people had had to borrow from the nobles and officials to buy grain to live. The interest on the loans were so great they were having to sell their sons and daughters to be slaves to their debtors. Nehemiah was distraught over this and called a meeting. 

Nehemiah reminded them that they had been sold to other nations and now they were doing the same thing to their own people. This should not be going on and they needed to give back the land they had taken from the people and the money they had taken as interest and everything they had taken from them. They should not do this to their own people. He made them swear they would do this and pronounced a curse on those who didn’t obey. If they didn’t set them free then they would lose everything they had. They promised to do this.

In Corinthians, Paul continues his advise to the people in Corinth. His advise is just that…advise to a people who were coming out of paganism and facing the end of the world. He advised them to remain single if possible, but told them it was not wrong to marry. He thought the world was close to passing away and they were at the end of the age.

He wanted them to be free from the pressure of marriage so they cold devote themselves wholly to the Lord. He talked as if he thought they were about to face the judgment of God and the end of the world. One day this advise will be applicable. Not today.

Lord, may we be free from the slavery of debt our system has put on us. May we witness a jubilee in our day. May we practice living each day with the sword of your Word in one hand and our schedule in the other. May we finish the task we were sent to accomplish. To your name be the glory!

Tues.’s Devo - Nehemiah - “Yahweh Comforts”

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4

It was now approximately 423 B.C. It took 21 years for Ezra and Zerubbabel to build the temple. Sixty years later Ezra returned and brought a revival of teaching and temple worship. It was now 13 years later that Nehemiah will return to rebuild the walls. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah span around 110 years. Nehemiah and Malichi worked together to eradicate the worships of other gods and did such a good job that they helped prepare the way for both John and Jesus to be born in a godly home and be raised by godly parents.

Nehemiah was a Jew taken to Susa during the exile. Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to Artexerxes the king. Some of the men had returned from Judah and Nehemiah asked them how things were going in Jerusalem and how those who had returned were fairing. He was very upset to hear that they were not fairing well. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates had been destroyed by fire. Nehemiah did the only thing he could do. He fasted and prayed. 

Nehemiah was still sad and distraught when it was time to bring the king his wine. The king noticed his sad countenance and asked him about it. Nehemiah shared with the king why he was so upset and when the king asked him what he could do, Nehemiah asked if he could go and help rebuild the wall. The king granted his request and supplied him with the materials to build the wall, the gates and a house for himself. He also gave him letters allowing him to pass through the land unharmed. God was with Nehemiah.

Of course, there were people who didn’t want to see the prosperity of Jerusalem and they were Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite. 

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem he was there three days before he presented himself to the leaders of the city. He would go out at night and assess the damages of the city. When he did present himself to the leaders of the city he told them that he was there to help them rebuild the wall. They rose up to help. Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab heard about what they were doing and tried to discourage them. They accused them of rebelling against the king. They told these three men that the God of heaven would prosper them and they would build but, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem had no claim to Jerusalem.

Everyone in Jerusalem took a section of the wall to build and they went to work. They repaired the gates also.

In Corinthians, there was so much sexual immorality that Paul had to explain that they should only have one wife and be faithful to her only. Paul felt he had been given the gift to be single and wished others wanted that gift also, but told the unmarried and widows that if they could’t control themselves, they should marry. He told the married to stay married to their spouses. 

To those who are married to unbelievers, they should remain married to them if they consented to live with them. The unbelieving spouse is made holy by the believer and the children will be holy also. But if the partner wants a divorce from the believer, the believer should give it to them. 

Everyone is to live the life God planned for them to live. Whatever state they came into the kingdom of God, they were to remain in until God led them else wise. 

Lord, your Psalm says that you have stored up goodness for us. You work for us who trust you. May we be strong and wait for you. You are the one who helps us build our walls and you hide us in the shadow of your wings. May we be strong and rise up and build.

Mon.’s Devo - Cleansing the Nation -

Read: Ezra 10:1-44; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3

As Ezra showed such outward show of repentance, the people responded and wept with him. The people confessed their sin and asked Ezra to ask the Lord what they should do to make things right. Ezra had them make an oath to do what the Lord said to do and they did. 

Ezra withdrew and spent the night fasting and praying. A proclamation was made for all the people to come to Jerusalem in three days. If they didn’t come their would forfeit their property. 

They all came to Jerusalem on the 20th day of the 9th month. The people sat trembling in the cold rain in the open square before the house of God. Ezra explained the guilt they had brought upon their nation for marrying foreigners ad told them to confess their sin and divorce their foreign wives. 

The people agreed to do it and made appointments with the priesthood to do this. It took the rest of the year to finish them all because there were so many and some of them had children.

This was a big complicated deal but they did it! I wonder if we would have the courage to call all the people in our nation to divorce all the same sex marriages in our land. 

In Corinthians, Paul called them out for hiring secular lawyers to handle their problems and divorces. He told them that the church was supposed to do this because one day we will judge the world and the angels who left heaven to have sex with women on the earth. Paul says that to have a lawsuit against a believer is already a defeat for you. Then he tells them if would be better to suffer wrong or to be defrauded than to sue a brother. 

Paul gives a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God and it is all the adulterers, those who practice homosexuality, thieves, drunkards, and the greedy. He reminds us that we have been washed and sanctified and justified in Christ’s name and by his Spirit. 

Our bodies were not made for sexual immorality but to be instruments of God and members of Christ. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and was bought with a price. 

Both of our readings have to do with sexual immorality and how to repent and live God’s way. God is holy and he calls us to be holy also. He always gives us a way to repent and get back to right standing with him, but it is not always easy. Once we take the step towards righteousness, he will help us take the next step and it will get easier and easier to finish. The end is eternal life.

Lord, help us to take the necessary steps to cleanse ourselves of any unrighteousness in us. Cleanse our minds and hearts and may we stand before you holy and righteous because of Christ.  May we be ready to meet you when you return.

Sun.’s Devo - Remove the Unholy From the Holy -

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2

Ezra had just gotten permission to take exiles back to Jerusalem and was given much gold and silver from the king to use to offer sacrifices to the Lord. He told the king that the Lord was good to all who seek him and would pour his wrath on all who forsake him so he was embarrassed to ask for military protection. So, he proclaimed a fast to pray that God would protect them as they traveled with all this great amount of wealth. He selected 12 of the priests and divided the gold and silver in their hands to be responsible for it till they got to Jerusalem. 

God heard their prayer and got them safely to Jerusalem. On the fourth day they took all the gold and silver to the house of God and gave it to Meredith the priest there. They weighed and counted all of it and recorded it. 

The officials of the land told Ezra that the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites had not separated themselves from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonnites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. They had married them and given their daughters and sons to marry them. They had become a mixed people. Ezra was sick with grief when he heard this. 

After mourning, Ezra fell on his knees and interceded for the people’s sin. They had married the very people the Lord had told them to kill and take possession of their land because they were so evil. God had warned them against marrying them and seeking their peace or prosperity and now they had done just that. He asked that God forgive them and not consume them since they were the only remnant left.

In Corinthians, Paul finds himself in the same predicament Ezra found himself in. Paul finds out there is terrible sin going on in the church of Corinth. Sexual immorality was being tolerated which the world wouldn’t even tolerate. A man in their congregation was having sex with his own mother-in-law while his father was alive. She was a heathen so Paul doesn’t address her, but the man claims to be a Christian. Paul is appalled that the church is allowing it and not mourning this sin. Paul calls for this person to be removed from the church. 

Paul prayed that God will judge this man and instructs the Church to turn him over to Satan so he can destroy his flesh in order for his spirit to be saved on the day of the great judgement. 

Then Paul addresses how they boast about which leader they follow and tells them that a little sin makes the whole person a sinner. They were not to have malice in their heart but have a sincere heart of truth. 

Paul tells them that there is no way not to have to associations with sexual immoral people in the world because you would have to leave this world not to do that. But, they can choose not to associate with immoral people in the church. They are not to judge the world, but they are to judge those in the church and purge the sinners out. This is one of the most misunderstood principles of God. We are to judge those who claim to know Christ. They are our brothers and sisters and discipline must happen in the family if it is to function properly. 

Lord, may we be respectful of the fact that we represent our whole family of faith. May our lives bring honor to your family of faith and to you. Give us strength to do what we need to do to keep your house holy.

Sat.’s Devo - Ezra’s Role -

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30

After Darias’ reign, Artaxerxes came to reign. This is the king who married Esther. 

Ezra is introduced who was the grandson or great-grandson of Seraiah who was the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in 2Ki 25:18. It had been one hundred thirty years since he was killed. Seriaiah’s grandson Jeshua now held the office of high priest and had accompanied Zerubbabel in the first caravan of returning exiles. Ezra must have been a grandson, too. Ezra was a skilled scribe and the Lord was with him.

Ezra left Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxzes with some the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants and people. It took them only five months to get to Jerusalem. He had with a letter from Artaxerxes saying that any of the Jews who wanted to go with him could go. He gave Ezra gold and silver and anything the people wanted to give to use it to buy animals for offering to the Lord. Anything they needed for the sacrifices would be provided so they could pray for blessings from the Lord on the whole land. He was also to make sure the men serving in the Temple were not taxed. 

The king told Ezra to do whatever the Lord told him. He was to appoint magistrates, and judges to judge the people according to the laws of the Lord and the king. Ezra was to decide what their punishment should be according to his knowledge of the law of God and the law of the land.

Ezra blessed the king for wanting to do this. and he gathered many people who wanted to return to Jerusalem. But, among the hundreds that wanted to return there were no priests. He sent word to the leading men of the towns to send an appeal for priests and over 250 priests responded. 

In Corinthians, Paul explained the difference between the way the pagans looked at their priests and the way the church should look at their leaders. The people judge the pagan priests but God is the one who judges the church’s priests and leaders. The Jewish religion made known to all the people the mysteries of their religion, while the pagans concealed their mysteries from all but the "initiated" few.

So, since everything is transparent in the church and everyone can know the mysteries of God, there is no reason to be puffed up and think more of themselves than they ought. 

Paul went to great care to let them know his state of his affairs. He was poor in the world’s eyes, yet he had the wisdom of God which made him very wealthy. He came to them as a father, not like their leaders who lorded their authority over them. 

Paul was sending them Timothy to teach them the ways of Christ and hoping to come later, Lord willing. Paul reminded them that the kingdom of God does not consist of of talk but power. He asked them if they want him to come with a rod of correction or the spirit of gentleness. Paul was their example of how to live a humble godly life. He was giving them time to repent and change.

Lord, may we remember that we have nothing that you haven’t given us. Help us to be grateful and humble instead of arrogant and proud. You have given us so much and we are very thankful. May we be good stewards of all the blessings you have given us.