[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (DG) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
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"When
I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was
fasting and π‘π£ππͺπππ before the God of heaven."
In
distress, in bad news, in unhappiness, in sorrow, in failings, in
disappointment, in everything, let's pray! Nehemiah prayed, actually was
continuously in prayers. Notice the word, it says "was...praying"
And
his prayer was a confession of sins. His request was based on the faithfulness
of God. His petition was based on the promise of God both to punish and to
bless! Our prayers must be like this, or else we are praying in the wind. It
doesn't reach up to heaven— blown away!
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"When
Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were
deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of
Israel."
Do
not be surprised of opposition when you set out to do good works. Remember,
there are Sanballat and Tobiah ever ready to attack us, but they are like
barking dogs; we can still go through victoriously if we have the courage
through strong conviction! π
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The
two words that are repeated again and again are “built” and “repaired”. Also is the phrase
“after him”. It was a community project:
Faithful, Dedicated, Dutiful.
Are we dutiful, dedicated, and
determined to be faithful in building up the saints?
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"And
we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and
night."
They
also prayed. Not just building, not just clinging to the sword. Sanballat and
Tobiah were mocking their good deeds, but they kept going on! Many inspiring
actions from these guys! π
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"Now there arose a great outcry
of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers."
In chapter 3 we see the progress of
committed leaders.
In chapter 4 we see the threat from
enemies outside, the neighbors.
In chapter 5, we see the threat from the
inside. Some of them were mistreating their fellow countrymen. And Nehemiah was
more furious about this.
The threat from the inside is often
worse than from the outside.
Don't be complacent when there's progress,
enemies will look out to devour you. And even if you prevail against them, be
watchful, your own people will bite you.
Also confirmed from the partition of
India, nah? Britishers left, India and Pakistan divided, and how many died,
bloodshed, looting, etc.?
Coronavirus comes with sorrow, but
what was worse in America wasn't a coronavirus, it was the George Floyd
incident that burnt America.
The internal threat is more subtle
than the external threat!
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"Then Sanballat sent his servant
to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand."
Stand firm for the right cause. Don't
give up even if they threaten you 2 or 3 times, or even 4, 5, times, or more.
Nehemiah wasn't afraid even to die!
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"Some from among the heads of
fathers' households πππ§π to the work.
The governor πππ§π to the treasury
1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, 530 priests' garments. Some of the heads of fathers' households πππ§π into the
treasury of the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. That which
the rest of the people πππ§π was 20,000 gold
drachmas and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests' garments."
Repeated word: Gave
Repeated action: Gave
Responses of the people toward God's
act of Faithfulness is Giving!
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"He read from it before the
square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in
the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people
were attentive to the book of the law."
That's listening for about 6 hours.
And you are fed up with 1hour long sermon? You need a serious beating, huh!? π
Next time when you think sermons are
long, remember this verse, this story, and the passion of these people!
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"Then the Levites, Jeshua,
Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, ‘Arise,
bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed
And exalted above all blessing and praise!’"
Look at the difference between our
prayers and the prayers of the believers in the Bible, in this chapter, read v6-37
as well.
We love to say, "Bless us, Lord,
Bless him, Lord" again and again. Here, they recalled the wonders of God
already written in the Scripture. And based on these, they prayed.
Are your prayers full of scriptural
truths? What's the theological basis for any of your prayers? Most of our
prayers don’t reach heaven's door. I don't think even it reaches the terrace of
our building! π¬ Many prayers are too shallow, too
selfish, too simple, too senseless, and too stupid. Satan doesn't mind anyone
praying because of this! π¬
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"For the sons of Israel and the
sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the
oil to the chambers; there are the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who
are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the
house of our God."
Not neglecting the house of God. Do
we cherish church? Or are we glad that we can sleep in peace on Sunday morning
because there's no church service anymore [covid lockdown]? They love the house
of God!
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". . .but in the cities of Judah
each lived on his own property in their cities--the Israelites, the priests,
the Levites, the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's
servants."
It's difficult to leave a comfort
zone, especially when that's home. And it's not easy to shift settlement, that’s
also in a new place, that’s also where Sanballat, Tobiah, and their men are
plotting its downfall.
But some people must. Some people are
called to live extraordinary lives. Well, missionaries are. All pastors in
cities are, including me. We aren’t from Delhi or Chandigarh. Here, we don't
have homes, neighbors, gardens, influence, etc. We are even looked down as Nepali,
Corona, etc. Yet, we stay because there are people of God and we must serve
them.
Let's not just admire those leaders
and Israelites in the Bible, we have lots of people in our time also! And let's
do for our present leaders as what was done for those in the Bible! ππ
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"Now at the dedication of the
wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring
them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness,
with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals,
harps and lyres."
And v30 says that they purified
themselves to be ready for the worship. These singers were brought to worship
God.
Nowadays, singers are invited to a celebration
[yes, even to a Christian program] for decoration, as a means of attracting
people to an event. And singers performed to be applauded taking all the glory,
not worshiping God but being adored and admired by the audience. The singers,
the organizers, and the audience are applauding idols on the stage! This is far
from the singers, singing, and celebration of biblical times!
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"I also discovered that the
portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the
singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. So I
reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God
forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their
posts."
In chapter 11, we see some people
volunteering to live in Jerusalem and to look after the house of God. For this
reason, the people blessed them. Now, chapter 13, and how quickly were they to
give up! They were superficial in their commitment. They were shallow in their
conviction. They were pretentious in their affirmation. They were not for real.
And so was the trouble around.
Churches are full of such people. And
must be reprimanded as Nehemiah did!