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.
No comments:
Post a Comment