Silent, Patient Endurance. Job 3-4; Second Corinthians 6

May the mumbling commence!

Job finally breaks the silence and wishes that he was never born.  Talk about tough words.  Who would answer him?  Would anyone answer him?  For those of you who have read the book of Job before the answer is easy – yes someone answered Job, in this case it was Eliphaz.  Eliphaz and his compatriots prove that remaining silent will keep people in doubt of your foolishness but opening your mouth will remove all doubt.

Eliphaz mines his knowledge of Job’s previous responses to other people who were troubled.  Read the brief summary of Eliphaz from Job chapter four:

"In the past you have encouraged many a troubled soul to trust in God;

you have supported those who were weak. 

Your words have strengthened the fallen;

you steadied those who wavered.” (Verses 3-4)

What action verbs of compassion!  Job encouraged the troubled soul – trust in God.  Job supported the weak and strengthened the fallen.  Job steadied those who wavered.

How did Eliphaz follow Job’s example?  It’s an important question.  It does not appear that he followed in Job’s footsteps.  Instead he assumes Job’s falling from grace in God.  Though he does say that Job’s remaining life is a sign that Job is not irredeemable, Eliphaz makes the assumption that Job has sinned to deserve his current state.

These words seem harsh to our ears.  Not many of us would make the assumption of sin or guilt when someone good suffers.  Yet, it was not to uncommon a thing.  In Job’s day, it was believed that all things came from God – both good and bad (see Job 1:10). 

Maybe Job was getting a dose of his own medicine.  Maybe the way of Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar was the way of Job.  Did this personal attack seem like encouragement to the comforter?  Was this supporting the weak and strengthening the fallen?  Did words of accusation steady people who wavered?

Job did not receive the words of his friends in that way.  BUT that does NOT mean that Job did not give the same types of comfort to the troubled souls that he ministered to before his valley experience.

It makes me think about how people are eager to give advice when they have not experienced the situation themselves – like non-parents giving parenting advice.  Maybe we should not assume we know what it’s like without having lived through something similar.  In fact, we should not assume to know what it’s like for someone even when we have lived through something similar.

The ministry of presence is still at the heart of being there for someone hurting.  Silence is essential – so that we can listen… and perhaps help the person suffering see God working in unexpected ways.  Or sometimes we only need to wail along with our loved one who is suffering because we cannot see God at work.

Sometimes it’s necessary to see our own methods of ministry used upon us to see them more clearly from the perspective of our suffering loved ones.  Grant us the valley experiences so that we might learn and draw closer to you, O Lord.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter six:

We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry.  In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.  We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.  We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.  We have faithfully preached the truth. God's power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.  We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.  We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives.  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. (Verses 3-10)

Experiences do not define us.  We are defined in our relationship with the Lord.  Everything else follows that.  Help us, O Lord to have right relationship with You.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

Theology of Presence. Esther 8-10; Job 1-2

May the mumbling commence!

Mordecai counseled Esther to stand up for her people… “who knows that you have come to such a position of power for such a time as this.”  It was good advice.  And Mordecai accepted that advice for himself.  He, too, became a powerful person.  Read a brief summary of what Mordecai did with that power at the end of Esther:

King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout his empire, even to the distant coastlands.  His great achievements and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Media and Persia.  Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he worked for the good of his people and was a friend at the royal court for all of them.  (Esther Chapter Ten)

Mordecai remembered where he came from… he remembered his people and worked for their betterment.  He worked for the betterment of all Jews.  What did “all the Jews” encompass?

Mordecai would have included the non-Jews who became Jews with the king’s announcement that the Jews could band together and protect themselves (Esther 8:17).  Mordecai would have given special attention to the poor… like when Purim was celebrated and gifts were given to the poor (Esther 9:22).  Mordecai not only gave his niece the advice to remember her people and save them but he also accepted that plan of action for himself.

That is a sign of a great and godly person – able to give good advice and personally follow it.

The Jews of Esther’s day were at the bottom of the valley with little hope.  How do we respond to the pain and suffering of those nearest and dearest to us?  What is there to say or do?  We can feel utterly helpless.

That is where the theology of presence comes into its own.  Just be there.  You don’t need to solve anything.  You don’t need to say just the right words.  Be there.  Let your loved one know by your constant presence that what is happening to them matters.  Somebody cares.  You care.

How long do we need to be present with them in their pain and suffering?  For as long as it takes, be there.  Read from Job chapter two:

Three of Job's friends were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him.  When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to demonstrate their grief.  Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. And no one said a word, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. (Verses 11-13)

For seven days and seven nights, Job’s friends sat with him in silence.  In Scripture, seven is a complete number.  Job’s friends sat with Job in silence for as long as it took.

But, please note: the time did not begin in utter silence.  They wailed loudly, tore their clothes and threw dust over their heads.  In their own way, they demonstrated their grief over the afflictions of their friend.  When we are present with our suffering loved ones, we need not hide the emotions that we have.  

That being said, we cannot allow our emotions and feelings to drive everything that we do.  Remember the silence.  Remember that Job’s friends allowed him the first words.  Listen.   Be present.

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out

Proud Haman & Humble Mordecai. Esther 6-7; Second Corinthians 5

May the mumbling commence!

God brings down the proud and lifts up the humble.  That is the truth.  Do you want to see this reversal of fortunes played out?  You need only read Esther chapter seven.  Read it below:

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther's banquet.  And while they were drinking wine that day, the king again asked her, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!" 

And so Queen Esther replied, "If Your Majesty is pleased with me and wants to grant my request, my petition is that my life and the lives of my people will be spared.  For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had only been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would have been a matter too trivial to warrant disturbing the king." 

"Who would do such a thing?" King Xerxes demanded. "Who would dare touch you?" 

Esther replied, "This wicked Haman is our enemy." Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.  Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden.

But Haman stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that he was doomed.  In despair he fell on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining, just as the king returned from the palace garden. "Will he even assault the queen right here in the palace, before my very eyes?" the king roared. And as soon as the king spoke, his attendants covered Haman's face, signaling his doom. 

Then Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs, said, "Haman has set up a gallows that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to hang Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination."

"Then hang Haman on it!" the king ordered.  So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had set up for Mordecai, and the king's anger was pacified.

Haman, the second in command of the king, is brought to his knees.  He is begging for his life. 

Not so long ago (see Esther chapter six), Haman had built a gallows for the execution of Mordecai.  Not so long ago, Haman went to the king to ask permission to execute Mordecai on the gallows.  Not so long ago, Haman learned that the king wanted to honor someone who greatly pleased him… and Haman assumed that man was him.

And Mordecai was lifted up by Haman… but not on a gallows.  Haman was forced to give Mordecai the honor and respect that Haman thought he deserved.  Haman’s conniving was catching up with him, it seems

And the gallows that were set up for Mordecai were used instead for Haman.  The transition would be complete when Mordecai took Haman’s place of honor before the king.

God brings down the proud and lifts up the humble.  There you see it in black and white.  Let us humble ourselves.  Let’s not seek our comforts in this life but in the next.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter five:

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down – when we die and leave these bodies – we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.  We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.  For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies.  Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life.  God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (Verses 1-5)

If we seek our own comfort, we will perish.  True comfort cannot be found in this old world.  It can only make us groan and sigh… and do horrible things to “get ahead”, a terribly perishable prize.

Let us be famished for our new bodies and new lives that the Lord God promises us.  Weariness will leave us.  We will feel no need to groan and sigh.  

The Holy Spirit that God has given us through Jesus is our first taste of this.  Let’s savor that taste and hanker for more!  

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out

Being a Peculiar People. Esther 4-5; Second Corinthians 4

May the mumbling commence!

Fasting for a purpose… it’s not something that we do that often these days in America.  We are an instant society that’s used to our whims being pandered to.  The focus is on me.  Look at how peculiar the life choices of Esther are… when she receives firm guidance from her uncle.  Read from the end of Esther chapter four and the beginning of chapter five:

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  "Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die."  So Mordecai went away and did as Esther told him. 

Three days later, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance.  When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her, holding out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched its tip. 

Then the king asked her, "What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!" 

And Esther replied, "If it please Your Majesty, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king." (4:15-5:4)

Most of this is familiar with this part of Esther’s story.  “Maybe you have been elevated to the palace for such a time as this.”  These were the words of her Uncle Mordecai.  Esther must stand with her people, the Jews.  The secret of her ancestry could no longer be kept – the secret that Mordecai had asked her to keep.

But anyone who went into the king’s inner courts without being called by the king was risking death.  Esther knew that – most everyone did.  And Esther had not been invited by the king for over a month.  But the edict to kill all Jews made her choice pretty simple.  Her life would eventually be forfeit either way.  Secrets have a way of coming out.

Did Esther not trust her eunuch with sensitive transmission between her and Mordecai?  Did not Esther trust in her maids, who joined her in the cleansing experience of fasting?  Her secret could not be kept forever.

So, after complete fasting – no eating or drinking for three entire days, Esther approached the king.  And the king extended his scepter and spared her life.  The king asked her what she wanted… for she must want something from him to approach him unannounced and risk her life.

But Esther did not tell him her request before all the people in the inner courts.  She invited the king and Haman (the author of the Jews problems) to a feast that she prepared.  Can you imagine after fasting for three days preparing a feast for someone else?  Maybe Esther did not prepare herself… but her maids did and they had been fasting too.  Somehow, I picture Esther working right beside them.  The meal was too important.

But why did she insist on not one but to feasts?  Have you ever thought about that?  I have.  Maybe she wanted to reestablish her relationship with the king so that he would recall the things that he loved about her… before she revealed her true ancestry.  It sounds logical.  Maybe, this idea came to her as she was fasting.

And why did she invite Haman along?  Talk about loving your enemies!  Esther graced Haman with some of the best delicacies that money could buy.  Not that is peculiar – just as we Christians are to be peculiar.  And never give up that peculiarity – despite the troubles that we may see in our immediate roads.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter four:

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!  So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (Verses 16-18)

Troubles want last for the peculiar people of God.  What will last?  Our joy in the Lord will last forever.  Praise God!  

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out

With Godly Actions, No Veils Are Required. Esther 2-3; Second Corinthians 3

May the mumbling commence!

Who receives our highest respect and honor?  Who is number one on our list?  Is it the person who just happens to be on the top of the heap?  OR is it the Lord?  To whom do we bow?  Read from Esther chapter three:

Sometime later, King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite to prime minister, making him the most powerful official in the empire next to the king himself.  All the king's officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect. 

Then the palace officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why are you disobeying the king's command?"  They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai's conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew. (Verses 1-4)

Haman was second only to the king.  Haman had ascended about as high as possible among the human hierarchy of Persia.  The king ordered that everyone should bow down before Haman and show him respect.

But Mordecai refused to do either.  Why?  He refused to bow down and honor Haman at the least because he was a Jew.  Mordecai would only bow down to the Lord.  No matter how much they tried to convince him to follow the king’s order, Mordecai would not bow down in Haman’s presence.

Mordecai had a higher King – the King of kings.  Though the Lord is not mentioned by name, Mordecai’s actions show his devotion to the one true God.  Being a Jew or a Christian or a Muslim or any other of the world religions is not just about throwing around a name. 

Being faithful is proven in the pudding of action – no matter the immediate cost.  The proof is in the pudding, indeed.  And there is a great reward waiting for all people who make this leap of faith in action.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter three:

So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory. 

Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.  We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away.  But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.  Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away.  Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.  And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. (Verses 11-18)

Clear away the fog of human desire, and you will find the freedom of the Spirit of the living God within you.  With that freedom, we act in godly ways so that we might reflect the glory of the Lord for all to see – the Shekinah glory of God.  No veils required.  

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out

Keeping the Sabbath Holy. Nehemiah 13 (Esther 1); Second Corinthians 2

May the mumbling commence!

Keep the Sabbath holy.  It is a commandment of the Lord.  And it’s the only commandment that practicing Christians will brag that they break.  Though Jesus speaks a lot about doing the Lord’s work even on the Sabbath, people from our time and culture need to be reminded about the necessity of Sabbath.

It is more than all right to rest and worship the Lord.  We can depend on the lord to provide.  Depending only on ourselves will eventually end us up in a ditch.  For this reason, a passage from Nehemiah chapter thirteen caught my attention.  Read it below:

One Sabbath day I saw some men of Judah treading their winepresses. They were also bringing in bundles of grain and loading them on their donkeys. And on that day they were bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on the Sabbath.  There were also some men from Tyre bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise. They were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah – and in Jerusalem at that! 

So I confronted the leaders of Judah, "Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?  Wasn't it enough that your ancestors did this sort of thing, so that our God brought the present troubles upon us and our city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon the people of Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!" 

So I commanded that from then on the gates of the city should be shut as darkness fell every Friday evening, not to be opened until the Sabbath ended. I also sent some of my own servants to guard the gates so that no merchandise could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 

The merchants and tradesmen with a variety of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice.  But I spoke sharply to them and said, "What are you doing out here, camping around the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you!" And that was the last time they came on the Sabbath.  Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to preserve the holiness of the Sabbath.

Remember this good deed also, O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love. (Verses 15-22) 

How often do we do our livelihood work on the Sabbath?  How often do we tread our grapes?  How often do we ask our animals (which by the way are supposed to have a Sabbath too) to work on the Sabbath?

Sometimes, we feel that we cannot stop or we will get behind.  Gotta keep up with the Joneses!  NO!  WRONG!

We depend upon God to provide for us.  We can and should take rest in the Lord.  Rest and worship will help to put our lives into a more proper perspective. 

That is one of the reasons honoring the Sabbath and keeping it holy is so important.  And we must not ask other people to work on the Sabbath or buy their wares.  To honor the Sabbath will all people in mind is to develop compassion and harvest love.  

Honoring the Sabbath helps us to extend forgiveness to ourselves and to the people we care so deeply about.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter two:

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt your entire church more than he hurt me.  He was punished enough when most of you were united in your judgment against him.  Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won't be able to recover.  Now show him that you still love him. 

I wrote to you as I did to find out how far you would go in obeying me.  When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive him (for whatever is to be forgiven), I do so with Christ's authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes. (Verses 5-11)

Forgive one another.  It shows that love runs far deeper than hurt.  And we forgive with Christ’s authority.  Forgiveness disarms one of Satan’s strongest tactics – to divide us.  May we be united in Christ Jesus.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Value, Honor & Respect. Nehemiah 11-12; Second Corinthians 1

May the mumbling commence!

Place great value on honoring the Lord and His servants.  It is the call that we hear in Nehemiah chapter twelve.  Read it below:

On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the gifts, the first part of the harvest, and the tithes. They were responsible to collect these from the fields as required by the law for the priests and Levites, for all the people of Judah valued the priests and Levites and their work.  They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as required by the laws of David and his son Solomon, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers.  The custom of having choir directors to lead the choirs in hymns of praise and thanks to God began long ago in the days of David and Asaph.  So now, in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, the people brought a daily supply of food for the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Levites. The Levites, in turn, gave a portion of what they received to the priests, the descendants of Aaron. (Verses 44-47)

Tithing showed the Lord’s servants value, honor and respect.  And that value, honor and respect was then given to the descendants of Aaron… and eventually to the Lord.  When we worship and praise the Lord, we stand on the shoulders of our spiritual ancestors.

And God’s dedication has never wavered from His people.  Read from Second Corinthians chapter one:

Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing.  I wanted to stop and see you on my way to Macedonia and again on my return trip. Then you could send me on my way to Judea. 

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn't I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no?  As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes – God's affirmation.  For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say "Amen" when we give glory to God through Christ.  It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us. 

Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn't return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.  But that does not mean we want to tell you exactly how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy as you stand firm in your faith. (Verses 15-24)

All truth and dedication finds its source in God.  Jesus is God’s hearty affirmation of our standing with Him.  Through Jesus, we stand firm before God.  Through Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit of God in our hearts.  And that’s just the first installment!

Praise the Lord!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

Worship & Confess. Nehemiah 9-10; First Corinthians 16

May the mumbling commence!

Yesterday, we talked about a marathon worship service that lasted all morning… and the tears of repentance it brought because the people understood what the Word of the Lord meant to them.  Today, we will look at another marathon worship service that took place soon after.

This worship service contained three hours of Scripture reading that was followed by three hours of confession.  Three hours of confession!  That would make most of us squirm.  This is the Lenten Season, where confession happens more frequently in many church bodies.  But three hours in a row seems a little over the top.  That’s just what the people of Nehemiah’s day did.  Read from Nehemiah chapter nine:

On October 31 the people returned for another observance. This time they fasted and dressed in sackcloth and sprinkled dust on their heads.  Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.  The Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them for about three hours. Then for three more hours they took turns confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God.  Some of the Levites were standing on the stairs, crying out to the Lord their God. Their names were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani.  (Verses 1-4)

In this passage we see the position of humility.  They fasted and dressed in sackcloth.  They sprinkled dust on their heads and separated themselves from foreigners.  They confessed the sins of their ancestors and themselves.

The people of Judah examined themselves and saw themselves very well.  They saw themselves in the light of the read Word of God – three hours worth.  And it led to confession – also for three hours.

That must have been a bitter pill to swallow...  confessing all those sins.  Yes, confession is about confessing our sins before God and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  There is some confession of sins in Nehemiah chapter nine.  Look for yourself. 

But there is another side to confession.  The sins that these people confessed were interwoven in a much larger part of confession of the wonderful deeds of the Lord.  That is the other side of confession – confessing the Lord and His power in our lives.

Using both sides of confession, we can make three consecutive hours of confession easier to bear.  This two-sided confession gives us strength to stand true with our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Read from First Corinthians chapter sixteen:

Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.  And everything you do must be done with love. (Verses 13-14)

Confession leads to self-awareness and God-awareness.  It helps us to stay on guard against the deceptions of this world.  It helps us to see true.

And clear vision will help us to be courageous and strong.

And all of these things are powered by the love of God.  So, plug in!  Worship and confess.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Oh, To Understand! Nehemiah 4-8

May the mumbling commence!

Have you ever found yourself looking at your watch or the clock on the wall when you were at church?  Have you ever wondered when the worship service would ever end?  I think most of us have been there a time or two if we are honest with ourselves.  

It means that, in those times, we haven’t been engaged with what was going on.  We weren’t aware of God’s presence.  And we did not fully understand what the Word of the Lord meant for our lives.

When I think about it, the vital nature of preaching becomes paramount.  The essential nature of hymns and their theology becomes apparent.  And a community who comes together to engage the Word of God is invaluable.  Read about the community of leaders in Nehemiah’s day that sustained a worship service all morning long.  Read from Nehemiah chapter eight:

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.  He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law.  Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.  Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. 

Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, "Amen! Amen!" as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 

Now the Levites – Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – instructed the people who were standing there.  They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, "Don't weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God." All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law. 

And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, "Hush! Don't weep! For this is a sacred day."  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them. (Verses 2-12)

Ezra read from early morning until noon.  And the people stood through the whole reading.  Ezra read and explained… and so did the thirteen Levites who were working with him.

Did the people fall asleep on their feet?  Did they complain about the length of the service?  Did people worry about the roasts they had stewing at home?  NO! 

So what if they had a "burnt offering" waiting for them at home!  They understood the meaning of the Word of God for their lives.  They were shouting like an “Amen” chorus.  They lifted their hands in the air.  They bowed down in worship of the Lord.

And they were crying.  NO, they were not crying because of the length of the service (though some of us might have been).  They were crying because they fully understood the meaning of God’s Word for them and realized that they had fallen woefully short.

But the leaders, as one, told them not to cry.  This was a time of celebration.  It was a wholehearted return to the Lord.  Feast of choice foods and share them with those who came unprepared.  

God will give you strength to return to him once you approach him – just as the faithful father from Jesus’ parable of the “prodigal” son did.  We are set apart.  We are sacred – holy – unto the Lord.

I pray that we are engaged this way in worship today.  May the whole Body of Christ be so called to return fully to the Lord.  

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out

Listen, Inspect, Be Convicted, & Inspire. Nehemiah 2-3; First Corinthians 15

May the mumbling commence!

Our brothers and sisters and friends tell us about a condition that is disgraceful – just as Nehemiah had heard about Jerusalem.  So, what is the first thing that we do?  We try to make it possible to see the disgraceful condition for ourselves.

Once we get there, who do we trust?  If the condition of… say the Body of Christ… is disgraceful, then the people already present have allowed such disgrace to happen.  Once we arrive we inspect the condition for ourselves.  Trust not completely to hearsay.  And we inspect on our own… without the knowledge of those present.  Read how Nehemiah preceded from Nehemiah chapter two:

Three days after my arrival at Jerusalem, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us, except the donkey that I myself was riding.  I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal's Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates.  Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but my donkey couldn't get through the rubble.  So I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate. 

The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the religious and political leaders, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.  But now I said to them, "You know full well the tragedy of our city. It lies in ruins, and its gates are burned. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and rid ourselves of this disgrace!"  Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, "Good! Let's rebuild the wall!" So they began the good work. 

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. "What are you doing, rebelling against the king like this?" they asked. 

But I replied, "The God of heaven will help us succeed. We his servants will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no stake or claim in Jerusalem."  (Verses 11-20)

Nehemiah did not put his trust in those who had power.  But Nehemiah did not go alone either.  He took a few others with him.  Were they some others from Jerusalem that he felt he could trust?  It seems likely enough, for they would know where to look.  They could be guides.  But we do not know for sure.  They may have simply been some of the men that the king sent to protect Nehemiah on his journey.

After seeing the condition of the city, Nehemiah’s conviction stuck.  So, the pattern so far is listen/hear, inspect, be convicted.  After these things are complete, then Nehemiah confronted the people in power with a situation they already knew had existed.  

Nehemiah sought to inspire the leaders into action by the bold actions that he had taken… and by the knowledge of the king’s support.  Once again, they could be servants of God.  And the work to repair the city and the Temple began as a community effort – read the third chapter for those details.

Seemingly hopeless situations will be solved when we seek to serve God together.  So, push on!  Working for the Lord is never a useless task.  Read from First Corinthians chapter fifteen:

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (Verse 58)

Grant us strength and steadiness to do Your work, O God.  Give us enthusiasm to complete the tasks You have given us.  Though we may be blunt tools, nothing that we do in Your Name will ever be counted as useless.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out