Milo

GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
Ephesians 2

“Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ” (Eph. 2:3–5).

Considering what God had to work with, He’s done an amazing job!

Overview
God selected sinful, spiritually dead human beings as materials for His church (2:1–3). He gave us life and called us to good works, that His grace might be displayed (vv. 4–10). United now, Jew and Gentile form one building, with Christ the Cornerstone (vv. 11–22).

Understanding the Text
“Dead in your transgressions and sins” Eph. 2:1–3. “Death” is one of the most awesome and complex of biblical concepts. We understand biological death, and to a certain extent spiritual death is modeled on it. As the dead body cannot sense or respond to the material world, the dead spirit cannot sense or respond to God.
But spiritual death moves beyond this to imply corruption. As the physical body decays, so the spiritually dead become infested with all sorts of corruption. The spiritually dead “followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan].” The rotten flesh of the spiritually dead gasps and heaves in the grip of “the cravings of our sinful nature,” whose desires and thoughts the lost blindly follow.
Paul’s graphic portrait is horrible, and we may well draw back. But Paul wanted us to understand that this is the raw material from which God constructs His church! This mass of corruption is what God intends to use to display His glory and the beauty of His holiness.
It’s not nice. But it is important for us to be totally honest with ourselves and with God. Paul drew this portrait, and he said, “This was you.” He went on. “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature.”
Thank God this is what we were, not what we are! And thank God that He saw fit to make me His own anyway.
I once worked with a man, not a Christian, who had chosen to marry a woman who had been a prostitute. I remember one of my coworkers telling me, “She’d do anything for Jim. He always treats her like a lady.”
We Christians are not to deny our past. We’re to remember, and to realize that in spite of what we were, God has loved us and made us His own. And He always treats us “like a lady.”
What a motivation to do anything for Him!

“Because of His great love for us” Eph. 2:4–7. The old song rightly says, “I’m not what I wanta’ be, I’m not what I will be, but thank God I’m not what I was.” Paul has reminded us of what we were. Now he tells us what we are, and will be.
What we are is persons who have been given the gift of life. He has “made us alive with Christ.” The Gospel message brought us to life, raised us up, and even seated us with Him in the heavenly realms! This last image is one of power. God, seated on heaven’s throne, is Sovereign over all. In Christ we are not only alive, but conquerors.
Never forget who you were. But never imagine you are still the same old man or woman. Addiction, depression, depravity, despair, low self-esteem, inconsistency, lack of self-discipline—whatever troubled you, was an expression of the old life that had established a grip on your personality. Now you have been raised with Christ to a vital, new life capable of breaking out of any bondage. Don’t look back. Look ahead, and realize that God has destined you to display “the incomparable riches of His grace.”

“By grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Eph. 2:8–9. Many debate whether the gift of God here is the faith, the salvation, or the grace. In a sense, it makes no difference. Paul simply wants us to understand that our life in Christ is a miracle. We didn’t earn it; God gave it.
The TV last night reported on “sweat equity,” a new approach to home ownership. People who have no money for a down payment on a new home can contribute labor, while the bank or government finances materials. The work they put in on building their own homes is their “sweat equity.”
Well, verses 8–9 state that you and I don’t even have “sweat equity” in our salvation. We had no cash for the down payment. And there was not a single thing we could do to contribute to the work. God did it all, so that for all eternity you and I will stand as trophies of His grace, saved through no merit of our own.

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” Eph. 2:10. Good works can’t contribute to our salvation. But good works are an outcome of salvation.
We have been given life to glorify God. And one way we glorify God is by performing good works.
What are “good works”? The Greek word here is agathois, which means “useful, helpful.” God has saved us and set us on a path filled with opportunities to be helpful to others, and useful in accomplishing His own purposes.
Again we sense the contrast between what we were, and what we are. Corrupted by sin, we could do nothing for God, for ourselves, or for others. Made alive by God in Christ, we are different. And we make a difference!
Never put yourself down. God has prepared useful works for you to do.

“In Christ Jesus you who were once far away” Eph. 2:11–13. Paul directed these remarks to Gentiles, who were isolated from the promises and covenants given to Israel. Christ, however, has changed their situations as well as changed them! In Christ God brings believers to Himself, and to each other.
The image of a living temple helps us here. A building is a construction: formed by fitting different kinds of material together. The cement foundation is laid, a wood frame is put up, plywood sheeting and plaster board are added. God’s church is also a construction, and this too requires that different kinds of material be fitted together.
What God has done in Christ is to draw all believers to Himself, and thus draw us into intimate relationship with each other as well. If you or I isolate ourselves from any of God’s other building materials, some beautiful aspect of His living temple may be marred.

“He put to death their hostility” Eph. 2:14–18. In New Testament times the Old Testament Law was a “barrier” between Gentile and Jew. And that barrier did create hostility: anti-Semitism led to frequent riots in ancient cities, and ancient Jews did look with contempt on Gentile neighbors.
Then Jesus died, and made Law irrelevant. Jew and Gentile alike approached God by faith, and through faith each had direct access to God the Father. Suddenly it became clear that the church is one, and that out of the two hostile groups God formed “one new man” which was called to live at peace.
How we need to learn that lesson today. Whatever there may be in any society that creates barriers, and arouses hostility, is irrelevant now. Blackness and whiteness are irrelevant now. Each approach God through faith in Christ, and from the two God is at work forming His “one new man.” Think of any groups who have inherited a tradition of hostility, and the Christ of the Gospel cries, “Peace.” Christ has brought you near to God through faith, and in bringing you near God He has brought you near each other.
Let’s realize what God is doing in His church. And let’s make peace.

“In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord” Eph. 2:19–22. Whatever may divide us, Christ brings us together. Whatever fears or suspicions arouse hostility, Christ brings peace. And we must let Him. For the “holy temple in the Lord” that Jesus is building today rises only as we, His people, are “joined together.”
Don’t let the partisan divide you. Don’t let the strident preacher of doctrinal distinctives isolate you from brothers and sisters whose faith is one with you, but whose beliefs may differ. And don’t let race, or age, or social status, or education, or wealth or poverty, drive you apart. Reach out for others, and hand-in-hand be built, “together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”

DEVOTIONAL
Were, Are, and Will Be
(Eph. 2:11–22)
Christianity is a faith of contrasts. Often the contrast we emphasize lies between past and future. We were lost sinners. But we will be raised in Christ’s own image.
The “were” and “will be” of Christianity are exciting. But Ephesians 2 reminds us that there should also be a contrast right now, between what we “were” and what we “are.” Being a follower of Jesus is to make a dramatic difference in our present. What we “are” is to stand out as clearly as what we “will be” against what we “were”!
Here in Ephesians the “were” and “are” contrast is seen in our relationships. Human beings by nature are separate from Christ and, as strangers and aliens, are isolated from His people. In fact, sinful human beings find all sorts of reasons to separate themselves from others. We turn away from others because of race, of looks, of clothing, of customs, of wealth, of language. And we look down on others, supposing ourselves better than they. This is a “were” dimension of human beings separated from Jesus Christ.
How different those who know Jesus are to be. The cross has reconciled us to God, and brought us near to Him. And, in Christ, God has brought us near to all humanity, and especially those of the household of faith. We “are” one now with all believers. One in the Spirit. And by God’s grace, one in love, one in caring, one in honoring and respecting each other. We “are” being “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”
When you and I ignore those things that divide mere human beings, and because of Jesus reach out to others who are different from us, the contrast of what we “are” with what we “were” gives vivid witness to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Personal Application
Real love for those who are different is evidence of God’s work within.

Quotable
“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”—Peter Scholtes

Ephesians

INTRODUCTION
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written during his two-year imprisonment in Rome, about A.D. 61. It shares Paul’s vision of a Christian community united by love and a common purpose under the headship of Christ. Each believer, linked to Jesus by faith, is linked to every other believer as cells in a living organism. By living together in love, the whole body and its individual members grow to spiritual maturity.
This is both one of the most theological and most practical of Paul’s letters. It exalts Jesus as Head of the living church, and it exhorts each of us to “live a life of love” in all our personal relationships. Ephesians also includes a number of moving prayers, and passages which many view as elements in the liturgy of the early church.

THE TRUE CHURCH
Ephesians 1

“You also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13).

Christ’s church is people, not buildings.

Background
Ephesus. When Paul wrote his letter the harbor of the aging city of Ephesus was nearly filled with silt, and its boast as the “landing place” of Asia was empty indeed. Yet Ephesus had one claim to fame. It was the site of the magnificent temple of Artemis (Diana), four times the size of the Parthenon of Athens, and held in reverence throughout “Asia and the world” (Acts 19:27). Tourists and worshipers flocked to Ephesus to visit the splendid shrine, which also served as a bank in which cities and kings deposited funds—and from which they drew loans.
Innkeepers, restauranteers, and tradesmen depended on the tourist trade that made pagan religion such an economic success in Ephesus.
So to the believers in this city founded on institutional religion, Paul wrote a letter conveying a vastly different vision. The church of Christ is a body, not a building. It is constructed of living, breathing human beings, not marble. And its vitality is seen not in the cash it contributes to a city’s economy, but in the love and purity that shine through its members’ lives.
In reading Ephesians we too are called to catch Paul’s vision of Christ’s church. Beside that vision even our greatest cathedrals fade to insignificance, as we realize that the building which thrills our God is the reconstruction of our lives to bear the image of His Son.

TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS

Overview
Paul greeted the saints (1:1–2) and then reviewed the role in their salvation of the Father (vv. 3–6), Son (vv. 7–13a), and Holy Spirit (vv. 13b-14). Paul praised God (vv. 15–16) and prayed for the Ephesians (vv. 17–19), as he exalted Jesus, the Head of His church (vv. 20–23).

Understanding the Text
“To the saints in Ephesus” Eph. 1:1–2. The word “saints” means “holy ones” or “set apart ones.” In the Old Testament, the Jerusalem temple and all utensils used in the service of God were holy, set apart to the Lord. Paul commonly greeted believers as saints. Here there is even more meaning, for Paul was about to display the great truth that today we ourselves are temple and utensil in one.
God doesn’t look for beauty in church buildings. He looks for beauty in church members.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord” Eph. 1:3–6. The Ephesians looked back in history and spoke of a meteorite that fell from the heavens, and was shaped into the form of the idol that stood in their temple. Paul looked back beyond history, into the very origins of the universe. There he saw God the Father, the Architect of our salvation, drawing up plans for the living church!
Like any architect would, the Father specified the materials that would go into His construction: He “chose us in Him before the Creation of the world.” God also specified how the materials would be worked: He chose us “to be holy and blameless in His sight,” to be “adopted as His sons.” The beauty to be displayed in our worked and polished lives will reflect through eternity “to the praise of His glorious grace” (see DEVOTIONAL).
People wondered at the great temple that graced Ephesus: at its design, at its pillars of marble, at its columns carved in the Doric style. Paul wants us to wonder at the church which God the Father Himself designed, carefully specifying its materials and defining just how they would be shaped to glorify Him.
Always remember, you and I have been chosen by God to display His grace and wisdom. Let’s gladly dedicate our lives to exhibit the beauty of holiness.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood” Eph. 1:7–13a. If God the Father was the Architect of our salvation, Christ was the Builder. He was the One who slipped into history as a Babe, grew up in dusty Palestine, taught amid noisy crowds, and bled on Calvary’s cross. In that great act you and I have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
That awful work complete, Christ today has a right to stand back and look at the building He has erected. And He has the right to expect us to be to “the praise of His glory.” We are a costly building indeed, and Jesus has a right to expect us to be beautiful.

“Marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” Eph. 1:13b-14. The Holy Spirit has moved into the building that the Father planned and the Son built.
In New Testament times a “seal” was often placed on goods to be shipped or on a completed product, as a mark of ownership. That which bore the seal was protected, its future guaranteed. The owner would take full possession in his own time.
You and I, Christ’s living church, have in the Holy Spirit the mark of divine ownership. The Spirit is the sure guarantee of our future in God. And the Spirit in us enables us to live, today, to “the praise of His glory.”

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ” Eph. 1:15–19a. Paul praised God for the Ephesians, living stones in the church built by God. And he offered a very specific prayer.
One way to build our own prayer lives, and to direct our intercession for others, is to model our prayers on those found in Scripture. Here we see a prayer Paul offered with the intention of strengthening Christ’s church. What did Paul ask? That we might know God better (v. 17). That we might look beyond appearances, to see the church as God does—a people transformed to display His glory, unspeakably precious to Him (v. 18). That we might sense and experience the working of “His incomparably great power for us who believe” (v. 19a). I suppose it’s all right to pray for that addition to a new Sunday School wing. Or the funds to go on the radio. But if we want our church to truly be the church, the things Paul prayed for here are vastly more important.

“Far above all rule and authority” Eph. 1:19b-23. If we measure the church by the members of the body seen here on earth, we might well be discouraged. We’re weak. We’re undisciplined. We squint desperately with our spiritual eyes, and our spiritual ears are dull.
But the church isn’t to be measured by its members. We’re to measure by the Head. We’re to see Christ, exalted above every “rule and authority, power and dominion.” We’re to acknowledge Him as our living Head, respond to His guidance. And in His name, conquer.

DEVOTIONAL
Predestination and Praise
(Eph. 1:3–14)
Twin themes are repeated three times in these 12 verses, which tell the story of the construction of God’s living temple, the church.
The first of these themes is predestination: the idea that God marked out ahead of time those who would serve as living stones in His glorious temple. Paul said the Father “chose us in Him before the Creation” (v. 4). That “in love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons” (vv. 4–5). And that “in Him [Christ] we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (v. 11).
Some resent this emphasis, and some fear it. But if we look at it in the framework of Paul’s imagery, as he pictured God the great Architect planning construction of the church and specifying materials, there’s nothing sinister here. And there is nothing that contradicts the broadest application of the Gospel. As one preacher succinctly put it, ” ’Whosoever will’ is elect. ’Whosoever won’t,’ ain’t.”
What’s usually lost in the debate over predestination is the other theme that is restated three times here. God the Father planned our adoption as sons “to the praise of His glorious grace” (v. 6). He drew us to Christ that we “might be for the praise of His glory” (v. 12). And His Spirit marks us as God’s own possession—“to the praise of His glory” (v. 14).
You and I can’t resolve the long debate over predestination. We probably shouldn’t even try. But as living stones in a building that God intends to reflect His beauty, we can make sure that we live “to the praise of His glory.”
I’m satisfied to let God resolve the paradox of predestination and free will. All I’m really concerned about is, is God satisfied with me?

Personal Application
Glorifying God beats debating predestination any day!

Quotable
“The church of Christ is not an institution; it is a new life with Christ and in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.”—Sergius Bulgakov

Esther

INTRODUCTION
The Book of Esther is set in the Persian capital of Susa. It tells the story of a vicious plot against the Jewish people that was thwarted by Esther, a young Jewish girl married to the empire’s ruler, Xerxes. This victory of the Jews over Gentile persecutors, which took place in the 470s B.C., is commemorated by the Feast of Purim, still celebrated in our own day.
The Book of Esther is unique for its failure to mention God. Yet its messages shine clearly through as the story unfolds. God did take providential care of His Old Testament people, even when they lived outside the Promised Land. And, God works through circumstance as well as through miracles.

DELIVERANCE OF THE JEWS
Esther 1–10

“If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place” (Es. 4:14).

The doctrine of providence holds that God quietly works through cause and effect in the natural world to supervise events. The Book of Esther shows how a series of “coincidences” combined to deliver the Jewish people from an early, organized effort to exterminate the race.

Background
The author of Esther is unknown. But the number of Persian loan words in the book, and the lack of similar Greek terms, indicates it was written early, between 450–300 B.C The events described took place in the reign of Xerxes, best known as the invader whose attacks on Europe were thrown back by the Greeks at Marathon. The feast mentioned in Esther 1 is probably the same feast mentioned by Greek historians as one Xerxes called to plan his conquest of the West.
The author is careful to let the story carry his message. He points to no event as the handiwork of God, and fails to criticize any of the questionable acts of either Esther or Mordecai. Yet through the story we see that God, even though unmentioned, sovereignly works out the deliverance of His people.

Definition of Key Terms
Providence. Providence is a term theologians use to express the conviction that God works out His purposes through natural processes in the physical and social universe.
In this universe every effect can be traced back to a natural cause. In the world of cause and effect there is no hint of miracles, and no need to bring God up to explain what happens. In the natural universe the most one can point to is coincidence: “What a coincidence that Esther happened to be queen just when Haman tried to exterminate the Jews!” Or, “What a coincidence that the king couldn’t sleep one night, and that the portion of the annals of his kingdom that were read to him recorded how Mordecai had uncovered a plot against his life.” The believer can say that God arranged the coincidences—the unbeliever scoffs because each event can be traced back to natural causes that “fully explain” what happened without reference to God.
The story told in the Book of Esther illustrates divine providence by identifying “coincidences” which led to the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them. Because this is a book about providence, God is not mentioned. Yet the string of coincidences, leading so naturally to the deliverance, is so striking that His activity is clearly implied.

The God of the Old Testament is God of the Covenant. God is committed to care for His chosen people, Israel. Against the background of the covenant relationship of God with the Jews, the story’s “coincidences” testify to the fact of His providential care.
What you and I learn from Esther is that God is always at work in the lives of His people. The seeming “coincidences” that mark our lives are not simply products of cause and effect or of random change. The coincidences that mark our lives are ordained by God, and are intended for our good.

Overview
Esther was chosen as Xerxes’ queen (1:1–2:23). Her uncle, Mordecai, aroused the hatred of a high royal officer, Haman. Haman determined to destroy Mordecai’s whole race (3:1–15). Mordecai enlisted Esther’s reluctant help (4:1–5:14). Coincidentally Xerxes honored Mordecai for a forgotten service (6:1–14). Esther revealed she was one of the race Haman plotted to exterminate, and Haman was hanged (7:1–10). The Jews gained the right to protect themselves from their enemies (8:1–17). Many enemies of the Jews were slain (9:1–16), and Purim, celebrating deliverance, was instituted (vv. 17–32). Mordecai gained high rank in Persia, and used it to help the Jewish people (10:1–3).

Understanding the Text
“The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice” Es. 1:1–2:18. The first “coincidence” in the book is that of Queen Vashti’s rebellion against her royal husband. The author traces the reasoning of those who advised Xerxes to divorce his wife and choose a new queen. Vashti’s willfulness, and the reasoning of Xerxes’ advisers, cleared the way for Esther to become Queen of Persia.
God is able to use the free acts and the uncoerced reasoning of unbelievers to shape events.

“Two of the king’s officers . . . conspired” Es. 2:19–23. Mordecai thwarted a plot against Xerxes’ life. This act, though unrewarded at the time, was destined to loom large in the future.
Our own actions, and the responses of others to them, become elements in God’s providential plan. Let’s not worry if we are unrewarded at the time. Frequently God’s purposes are long-range.

“They cast the pur (that is the lot)” Es. 3:1–15. Haman reacted to what he felt was Mordecai’s insult by determining to exterminate the whole Jewish people. He turned to the occult to fix a day for the attack on the Jews. The lot fell, supposedly by chance, on a distant date, far enough off to give Mordecai and Esther time to counter his plot.
God is able to turn even evil practices to His good purpose.

“Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Es. 4:1–5:14 Mordecai enlisted the aid of a reluctant Esther. It was clear to him that God had placed her in a strategic place to influence Xerxes in favor of the Jews. Even Esther’s hesitancy, as she put off the confrontation and invited Xerxes and Haman to supper with her, played a part in God’s timing of events.

“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received?” Es. 6 Unable to sleep that night, Xerxes had the annals of his kingdom read to him. The reader “just happened” to read the report of Mordecai’s exposure of the plot against Xerxes’ life, and the king realized Mordecai had not yet been rewarded.
The next day Haman was himself forced to walk through the streets of Susa, leading one of the king’s horses on which Mordecai rode! Haman, furious and frustrated, sensed that his plot was going wrong.

“This vile Haman” Es. 7–8. That night at supper Queen Esther accused Haman of plotting against her and her people. The furious king ordered Haman’s execution—on the very gallows he had erected intending to hang Mordecai! Mordecai was permitted to write a decree in the king’s name granting the Jews permission to defend themselves if attacked. (The earlier decree was not reversed because by custom Persian laws once made could not be changed.)

“Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes” Es. 9–10. The Jews were successful in defending themselves against their enemies. Purim was instituted as a festival of deliverance. And Mordecai went on to achieve the second highest rank in Persia, which he used to aid his people.
The plot Haman had against the Jews had not only been thwarted but was turned around, so that its effect was to promote the welfare of God’s people rather than to harm them!

DEVOTIONAL
Look Back
(Es. 6–7)
It was only looking back that Esther and Mordecai could clearly see the hand of God in what had happened to them. It’s like that for us too. We seldom sense God’s hidden guidance or protection as events unfold. But when we look back, we see His hand more clearly.
My mother used to read a magazine called Revelation, edited by Donald Grey Barnhouse of Philadelphia. When I joined the Navy I went to a school in Norfolk, and then, because I had graduated high in my class, picked a duty station in Brooklyn, New York. It just happened that Dr. Barnhouse taught a Monday night Bible class in a Lutheran church in Manhattan. My mother, reading about it in Revelation, suggested I go see him. I began to go each Monday, and was stimulated to begin serious personal Bible study. I started a Bible study on my base, and soon sensed God’s call to the ministry.
Coincidences? Mom reading a magazine. Me, stationed in a city where the editor came weekly to conduct a Bible class? Through that class being moved to personal study, and then called to the ministry? The humanist would say, “Yes, nothing but coincidence. A different set of coincidences and you could have been launched on an entirely different career.”,Yet, looking back, I clearly see the hand of God, working providentially to draw me closer to Him, and guide me into my life’s work.
And there are so many more ways that, looking back, I can see the good hand of God, even in things that when I experienced them seemed like tragedies.
Perhaps this is the secret of discovering God’s work in your own life. Look back. Examine the coincidences that set you on each new course. And realize that God was at work in each, even those which at the time brought pain.
You see, the doctrine of Providence tells us that God is at work in the life of each of His covenant people. God’s activity may be hidden. But it is very real. Look back, and you’ll see it in your life. Look back, and you’ll find evidence of the constant love of your Lord.

Personal Application
God is at work on your behalf right now, through the coincidences of your life.

Quotable
“Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.”—Abraham Lincoln

NEHEMIAH’S REFORMS
Nehemiah 8–13

“Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God” (Neh. 8:18).

Nehemiah had restored the walls of the city. He then turned to his most important task: restoring the relationship of the people of Judah with God.

Overview
Ezra read and explained God’s Word to the people of Judah (8:1–18). The people confessed sins (9:1–38) and determined to give God priority (10:1–39). Nehemiah resettled Jerusalem (11:1–12:27), and the people joyfully dedicated its restored wall (vv. 27–47). Later, returning for a second term as governor, Nehemiah found the people had failed to live up to their commitments and initiated further reforms (13:1–31).

Ezra and Scroll. Nehemiah 8:8 says Ezra read from the Book of the Law “making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand.” The biblical text recorded on ancient scrolls is in Hebrew. By Ezra’s time ordinary people spoke Aramaic, a related but different language. Ezra had to translate as well as explain the text!

Understanding the Text
“Day after day . . . Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God” Neh. 8:13–18. A highlight of the eight-day Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) reported here was daily reading of the Old Testament. By spending one fourth of the day in reading (9:3), Ezra was probably able to cover the entire five Books of Moses. This reading of Scripture laid the foundation for the spiritual renewal that Nehemiah was so eager to stimulate.
Scripture still has power to lift us out of any spiritual low.

“They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers” Neh. 9:1–38. The reading of Scripture provided the people of Judah with perspective. The history of their fathers was one of persistent rebellion, yet one shaped by continual expressions of God’s grace. The Jews were now “slaves in the land You gave our forefathers” to Gentile kings, who “rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please.” And this was “because of our sins” (vv. 36–37).
The perspective provided by Scripture produced a dual response. First, the people acknowledged that their present “great distress” was a consequence of their own and their fathers’ failure to obey God. Second, the people determined to make a formal “binding agreement” to obey God from that time onward.
Scripture still speaks in the same voice. We are convicted of sin, and at the same time called to commitment. Conviction leads to conversion—if we too hear and respond.

“All these now join their brothers . . . and bind themselves” Neh. 10:1–39. The religious reforms stimulated by Ezra and Nehemiah touched the whole people. The reforms reveal areas in which Judah had fallen short. There was a general commitment to “follow the Law of God,” but specific promises were made to avoid marriage with neighboring peoples, to keep the Sabbath holy, and to actively support temple worship.
The very concept of “reform” means that we identify weaknesses and commit ourselves to correct them. Self-examination is important for believers of every age. Self-examination, however, must always have correction as its goal. Without renewed recommitment, confession alone is unlikely to transform.

“To live in Jerusalem” Neh. 11:1–12:26. The agricultural lands that supported the small Jewish community after the Exile lay far from Jerusalem. The now-walled city had been sparsely occupied, especially as the people had failed to pay the tithes which would have supported the priests and Levites who were supposed to minister at the temple.
To support themselves, these worship leaders had been forced to move out to their villages and till their own fields.
The repopulation of Jerusalem, while necessary for its security, was religiously motivated. This is seen in the emphasis in the text on priests, Levites, and other temple officers (11:10–12:28). All these persons would have to be supported by the tithe pledged by the rest of the community. Such sacrifice could be motivated only by a pure desire to worship and honor God.
Sacrifice remains a significant measure of our commitment to and love for the Lord. The giving of many Christians goes beyond tipping God out of their excess, to tightening their belts in order to contribute more.

“The dedication of the wall” Neh. 12:27–47. The text emphasizes the fact that the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls was an occasion to “celebrate joyfully.” As two choirs marched in opposite directions to meet before the temple, the whole community rejoiced “because God had given them great joy.”
There were two sources of this joy. The first was external and visible. The people of God had successfully rebuilt the walls. This visible accomplishment not only honored the Lord, whose city Jerusalem was, but also boosted Jewish morale. The Jews were no longer despised by their neighbors, who realized that the work had only been achieved “with the help of our God” (6:16). We do live in a material universe. Visible accomplishments not only impress others, and thus testify to the reality of God, but also serve as a testimony to us. We have a right to be joyful over visible as well as strictly spiritual achievements.
Yet the great well from which Judah’s joy flowed was inner and spiritual. God’s people had confessed their sins to Him, and had recommitted themselves to serve Him. There was a great sense of spiritual well-being. All sensed that they were again right with God.
For you and me too, the ultimate source of joy is to be found in our relationship with the Lord. When we are right with Him, visible signs of His presence become less important to us. When we are right with God, we can rejoice even when external things go wrong.

“I was not in Jerusalem” Neh. 13. After a productive first term as governor of Judah, Nehemiah returned to serve the King of Persia. During his absence the people drifted back into their old practices of mixed marriage, doing business on the Sabbath, and failing to support those who conducted temple worship.
Nehemiah did return, and immediately set things right again. Nehemiah’s whole life reminds us of an important spiritual principle. Leaders are called to encourage others to complete commitment to God, and to help them maintain that commitment. Today, as in Nehemiah’s day, we need leaders who will help us serve God wholeheartedly.

DEVOTIONAL
Remember Me for This
(Neh. 13)
Here, in the last chapter of the book that bears Nehemiah’s name, we find the clearest expression of this great Old Testament leader’s heart. In his “remember me” statements, Nehemiah identifies those actions which he sees as his most significant service for the Lord.
What is striking about the list is that nowhere does Nehemiah say, “Remember me, O Lord, for rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.” The one accomplishment which his contemporaries might have seen as most important, isn’t even mentioned!
It’s helpful for us to remember this in a day when so many take pride in buildings—in founding universities, in constructing beautiful churches, or in building great networks over which the Gospel can be heard. Certainly these are worthy endeavors, just as building the wall of Jerusalem was a worthy and holy endeavor. Yet what we see in Nehemiah 13 is that these are not the most important of spiritual endeavors.
For Nehemiah, what was most important was promoting the worship of God (v. 14). It was helping Judah honor God by keeping the Sabbath Day holy (v. 22). It was insisting that those who served the Lord remain pure (v. 30). What counted most to Nehemiah was his impact for God on the lives of the men and women of his own time.
What a blessing to see this in Nehemiah. You and I may never stand among the great builders of our times. But we can stand, with Nehemiah, as persons who encourage the men and women among whom we live to worship the Lord better, to honor Him more fully, and to remain pure.
If we do, when the day comes that God honors His servants, you and I will stand beside Nehemiah among the most significant people of God.

Personal Application
It is more important to touch one life for God than to build a great city.

Quotable
“I believe that the reason of life is for each of us to simply grow in love. I believe that this growth in love will contribute more than any other force to establish the kingdom of God on earth.”—Leo Tolstoy

OPPOSITION TO REBUILDING
Nehemiah 4–7

“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ’Their hands will get too weak for the work and it will not be completed’ ” (Neh. 6:9).

Nehemiah faced serious opposition. The way he met various challenges serves as a model for us today.

Overview
Nehemiah faced ridicule (4:1–5) and the threat of attack from Judah’s neighbors (vv. 6–23). He also found injustices in Judah that delayed the work (5:1–19). Nehemiah avoided traps set by enemies (6:1–14) and completed the wall (vv. 15–19). After checking genealogies, he repopulated Jerusalem (7:1–73).

Understanding the Text
“Can they bring the stones back to life?” Neh. 4:1–5 The stone in Judah is a soft limestone. When fired, all moisture evaporates and even massive stones crumble into dust. The very idea that Nehemiah might “bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble” amused the surrounding peoples. They openly ridiculed the Jews, and joked about their efforts.
Ridicule can be discouraging, especially when we undertake a difficult task. Nehemiah’s response serves us as a guide for dealing with ridicule. He prayed that God would “turn their insults back on their own heads.” Nehemiah did not argue or defend his calling. He knew that God could bring success, and that success alone can silence ridicule.

“We rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height” Neh. 4:6–23. As the wall gradually rose, the ridicule of the Jews’ enemies turned to angry hostility. No one likes to be proven wrong!
Hostility soon turned to open opposition, as the neighboring peoples plotted an attack on Nehemiah’s work force. Nehemiah met the threat by showing determination, and by preparedness.
He showed determination by arming his men. This evidence that the Jews were ready to defend themselves frustrated the enemy, who had planned a sneak attack on defenseless people. A show of determination in the face of an enemy often avoids conflict.
Nehemiah did not rest on that initial bloodless victory. From that time on half the people stood guard while the other half worked. Trumpet signals were established so the whole group could respond to an attack on any section of the wall. When we know enemies surround us, we need to plan in advance how to meet any attacks.

“A great outcry against their Jewish brothers” Neh. 5:1–19. The work was also threatened by injustice in Judah’s society. The wealthy oppressed the poor, and rather than follow God’s laws, they loaned money at high interest, then claimed lands and forced families into servitude in payment of the debt.
Nehemiah confronted the practice, and won agreement by the whole congregation to stop the usury and to return seized lands.
Note that Nehemiah was able to confront this internal sin because he himself was blameless. Unlike other governors, who lived by taxing their subjects, Nehemiah had paid all the expenses of his office himself!
Leaders need to be blameless if they are to exhort others with integrity. Parents too must be sure when correcting children that they are setting a good example. Nehemiah was able to accomplish all that he did not because he had secular authority, but because of the moral force of his example of full commitment to God.

“He had been hired to intimidate me” Neh. 6:1–14. Three more attempts were made by the Jews’ enemies to halt work on the wall.
They attempted to isolate Nehemiah so they could harm him (vv. 1–4). Nehemiah refused to abandon his mission even for a brief time. We need to concentrate on the task God has given us, and resist those who would harm the work by distracting us.
They attempted to frighten Nehemiah by accusing the Jews of rebellion (vv. 5–9). It’s not unusual for Christians to be misrepresented and falsely accused. All they can do in such cases is to assert, as Nehemiah did, that the accusations are not true, and to continue their work.
They attempted to intimidate Nehemiah into an act of unbelief (vv. 10–14). Nehemiah rejected the so-called prophecy of one Jew, who wanted Nehemiah to lock himself up inside the temple for self-protection. If Nehemiah had fallen into this trap, he would have displayed a lack of that faith in God that he was exhorting, and forfeited the confidence of his people. If we are calling on others to trust the Lord, we must surely display trust in Him ourselves.
Each effort of the enemy failed to distract Nehemiah from his mission. The result of Nehemiah’s faithfulness was successful completion of his mission.

“So the wall was completed” Neh. 6:15–19. The impossible task was accomplished! The enemies of God’s people “lost their self-confidence,” and God was glorified. Even the enemies realized that the work had been done with the help of the Lord.”
When you and I are called to any ministry we can approach it as Nehemiah did—with steadfast faith, and the knowledge that when we succeed, it will all be to the glory of God.

“The city was large and spacious” Neh. 7:1–73. Most of those who had resettled Judah lived in smaller towns, where there were fields to cultivate. Jerusalem had been largely unpopulated. Nehemiah, after carefully consulting the genealogical records to ensure each family’s claim, settled 1/10th of the people in the city (cf. 11:1–2).
Once again the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not only lived on lands promised them by God, but also occupied the city God chose as a resting place for His name.

DEVOTIONAL
Danger! Danger! Danger!
(Neh. 5)
A favorite TV show of mine, long even off reruns, was “Space Family Robinson.” One of the characters was a rotund robot, who each show would sense some approaching threat and cry out, “Danger! Danger! Danger!”
The danger might be a meteor storm or a space pirate or the breakup of a planet. But it was always a threat that the family met and overcame together.
Reading Nehemiah 5 reminds us that the greatest dangers to God’s family aren’t from without, but from within. Nehemiah easily met outsiders’ ridicule, their threats, and their attempts at intimidation. What really threatened his mission was injustice in Judah itself!
Wealthy Jews took advantage of their neighbors’ poverty to defraud them. These injustices created more poverty, hunger, and despair. How could the people of Judah unite to build Jerusalem’s walls when so many were distracted by their deep personal needs?
It’s the same today in Christ’s church. The greatest hindrance to accomplishing the mission Christ has set for us is sin. When we ignore the needs of our brothers and sisters, when we put money ahead of ministry, when we are insensitive to others’ hurts, we defraud our brothers and sisters of the love that can meet their needs and bind the body together in unity.
Only when we cleanse ourselves of sin, and practice Christian love within our fellowships, will the church be ready for mission.

Personal Application
Sins of Christians must be addressed if we are to have an impact on our world.

Quotable
“Sixteen years ago, I talked about the desperate needs in other parts of the world. Now I tell Christians, wherever they are, that they must ’refall’ in love with Jesus. Christianity in the West today says we must have a bigger church and bigger car and a better suit. Once Christians fall out of love with that and fall in love with Jesus, I won’t need to talk mission: they will become missionaries because they love Him.”—Helen Roseveare