Daily Bible Devotionals

“The leaders of the people took up residence in Jerusalem; while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one-tenth of them to live in Jerusalem the holy city, with the other nine-tenths in the other cities. The people blessed all those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 11:1-2 (CJB)

A “tithe” is ten percent. When followers of Jesus give ten percent of their income to support the ongoing ministry of their local congregations, it is called a “tithe.” Of course, the tithe is the minimum requirement, and any faithful believer will offer over & above the minimum whenever the need arises, as the Lord leads.

Nehemiah proposed a “tithe of the people” to repopulate Jerusalem and continue rebuilding. Not only was this decision good for the city of Jerusalem, but it was also a brilliant political move because it evenly distributed Jerusalem’s population among all the returning exiled tribes.

Historically, most of Israel’s problems came while the kingdom was divided after Solomon’s reign. Ten tribes rejected Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem because they rejected the Davidic kingship, which came from the tribe of Judah. The dispute grew to include the issue of where & how to worship. Nehemiah’s solution had Jerusalem populated by representatives of the entire remnant. Jerusalem was to be a cosmopolitan city yet focused on God.

We have a similar situation in the United States. Right on the border of Virginia and Maryland, a district was developed (the District of Columbia…the “DC” of Washington DC), which houses our federal government. The reason for the development of the District of Columbia is so that no state can boast of housing the nation’s capital. Our capital was designed as a city with no favoritism to any State. This is the idea for Jerusalem’s repopulation plan: God’s agenda would reign. With an evenly spread demographic, every tribe would be inclined to rush to Jerusalem’s aid because each family had relatives there.  

Beyond the practical and political reasons for this arrangement, there are more spiritual concerns. The people who repopulated Jerusalem were not chosen by election or whimsy. God chose each person. He made His will known through the “lots,” …a legitimate way of seeking the Lord’s will in Nehemiah’s day. Believers today don’t need to cast lots. We each have the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), given in Acts 2 on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost).  

God chose people bent on holiness who would be confronted with opposition yet view opposition as an opportunity to stand faithfully. Perhaps those people would never have chosen to live in Jerusalem, but God knew what was best. Similarly, I never would have chosen to follow Jesus on my own, but He pursued me, and eventually, I believed the gospel. God has also chosen to give eternal life to those who believe in and follow Messiah Jesus. Therefore, when the Lord calls, I am eager to depart this body and be present with the Lord, taking up residence in the New Jerusalem!

“Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding—these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:” Nehemiah 10:28-29 (NKJV)

Before Israel rebuilt the actual walls of Jerusalem, they had to rebuild the “spiritual” walls of Jerusalem by seeking God’s Word and praying. Then, before houses could be built within the walls of Jerusalem, the “homes” of Jerusalem had to be established through knowledge of God’s Word and personal & national confession. In today’s chapter, those “homes” are further distinguished by separation from “the peoples of the land” and toward “the Torah of God.” They were to be a nation in the World but distinguished from it.

We live in a day and age where tolerance and political correctness seem to rule the day. This generation of “Millennials” (18-30 years old) is characterized by a strong distrust of institutions and absolutes. So, it is hard for me to envision such a “separation,” as today’s passage describes, taking place in our culture, yet Jesus commands us to be “in the World but not of the World.” He even prayed to the Father about such an arrangement.  

“I have given them Your Word, and the world hated them because they do not belong to the World – just as I Myself do not belong to the World. I don’t ask You to take them out of the World, but to protect them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the World, just as I do not belong to the World. Set them apart for holiness by means of the Truth – Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the World, I have sent them into the World. On their behalf I am setting Myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the Truth.” John 17:14-19 (CJB)

In a culture that seeks to be liked by everyone, I am reminded of the old saying: If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. More than simply standing for “something,” believers are standing on God’s Word, the very thing that distinguishes/separates them from the World. But if you fear being disliked or rejected because of your pursuit of holiness, consider Jesus’ words.

“If the World hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the World, the World would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the World – on the contrary, I have picked you out of the World – therefore the World hates you. Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is no greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too; if they kept My Word, they will keep yours too.’” John 15:18-20 (CJB)

Holiness has a price, but the rewards are worth it!

“Our kings, our leaders, our priests and ancestors did not keep Your Torah, pay attention to Your commands, or heed the warnings You gave them. Even when they ruled their own kingdom, even when You prospered them greatly, in the great rich land You gave them, they did not serve You; nor did they turn back from their wicked deeds. So here we are today, slaves. Yes, in the land you gave our ancestors, so that they could eat what it produces and enjoy its good – here we are in it, slaves! Its rich yield now goes to the kings you have set over us because of our sins: they have power over our bodies, they can do what they please to our livestock, and we are in great distress!” Nehemiah 9:34-37 (CJB)

My grandfather, Virgil, was born in 1905. He was a very sharp guy up till the day he died in his mid-90s. For instance, when Virgil turned 90 years old, the State of Arkansas renewed his driver’s license! A year before he passed away, I had the opportunity to visit with Virgil and ask about his upbringing and what it was like living through the Great Depression. He smiled and said, “We can’t choose when, where, or to whom we are born. We can only choose how we live in response.” The returning Israelite exiles did not have the option to choose to be born in a time of God’s disfavor towards their parents or to be born into Babylon slavery. They only had the choice of how they’d worship.

If I could give today’s chapter a title, I would call it “How Our Actions Affect Others.”  With all of Israel assembled in the garments of humility, sackcloth, and ashes, Nehemiah led the people in a national confession. The confession was not just for the personal sins of the people in the assembly; it was also a confession of the sins of Israel’s forefathers, sins for which their descendants were still suffering the consequences. They were acknowledging how personal sin brought down an entire nation.

National sin begins when one person decides to step outside of God’s Word. Unless repentance comes quickly, a lawless mindset quietly spreads throughout the whole community. Compromised communities become compromised cities. Compromised cities infect a state, then a nation, and eventually the World. Recall how one bite of “forbidden fruit” has affected all mankind with a horrible sinful aftertaste. That is distressful news, and when confronted with it, the returned exiles had a choice to make. Would they continue fueling God’s disfavor or reverse it within their generation to set up their descendants to win? They chose God.  

Israel returned to God’s favor by retracing their parents’ steps back to the Lord. Instead of departing from God’s Word, they sought it. Instead of denying their sin and rebelling against God, the returned exiles humbly confessed their sins. As a result, personal holiness affected the community, cities, states, and nation, as it were.

Friends, America is in trouble, and the future looks bleak. The source of its woes is not financial; it is spiritual. We have departed from God’s Word and sold ourselves into credit and moral bondage. So, how should we respond to the revelation of God’s Word in our time? We should humble ourselves by personally repenting & turning back to the Lord. Your personal holiness can set national revival into motion.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Nehemiah 8. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Then it was, when the wall was built, and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. And I said to them, ‘Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.’” Nehemiah 7:1-3 (NKJV)

As noted earlier, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem is both a historical account and a symbolic picture of the Church today. Therefore, one question begs to be answered: Why did God’s people have to leave the land in the first place? Answer: They departed from God’s Word and began to follow after idols. Jeremiah said it well:

“How lonely lies the city that once thronged with people! Once great among the nations, now she is like a widow! Once princess among the provinces, she has become a vassal. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears running down her cheeks. Not one of all her lovers is there to comfort her. Her friends have all betrayed her; they have become her enemies.” Lamentations 1:1-2 (CJB)

After repeated prophetic warnings, God’s great patience transitioned into His justice. God allowed Israel and Judah to be besieged by the Babylonians. Furthermore, the Babylonians plundered and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Solomon’s Temple, which had stood for approximately 400 years, was burned to the ground. Lest we consider God a tyrant, we should note that Israel’s idolatry has been going on since the generation after Joshua.

“When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel. Then the people of Israel did what was evil from the Lord’s perspective and served the Ba’alim” Judges 2:10-11(CJB)

Israel had been on a slow yet steady departure from God’s Word for many generations. Since the history of Israel is also a warning for the Church, we must ask how a nation collectively becomes idolatrous. First, individuals depart from the Word. Then, those individuals share their non-Biblical word views within the assembly. Eventually, the whole community becomes saturated with idolatrous thinking.  

So, how does a nation become virtuous? The very same way. Individuals (you & me) must return to the Word! When those individuals assemble, a culture of holiness develops, and the walls surrounding God’s people begin to be rebuilt. Important to note: We are not building ghetto walls to enclose ourselves. The walls of “Jerusalem” are walls with gates so that we can go in & out, and others can enter as well! True, we need gatekeepers and watchmen, but the intent is to allow those seeking virtue to enter.

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about it, and the surrounding nations became afraid, our enemies’ self-esteem fell severely; because they realized that this work had been accomplished by God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16 (CJB)

Have you ever had to deal with a bully? Because of their size, expertise, or influence, some people feel the need to intimidate, harass and threaten others. At the core of the bully’s heart is low self-esteem. Even if they have considerable power, they fear losing it, so they feel compelled to prove their dominance over and over.  

Some bullies are seriously pathologically mean and dangerous. They continue bullying long after being locked away in prison with other bullies. But most bullies cower in the midst of opposition. I’m not tall, so when I was younger, I was bullied. A big guy wants to prove himself, so he looks for the smallest guy to harass. What these bullies didn’t know was that I had a big brother, and the two of us were always fighting. So, I was bullied by several kids, but only once. You see, I knew how to fight. It is amazing how much blood a well-placed punch to the nose can produce. Bullies learned that there were easier wins out there than me. Has Satan learned that about you?  

Nehemiah and the struggling Jewish community faced a collection of bullies. They mocked Israel and puffed up their feathers like a peacock, but all their threats were nothing more than hot air. They were trying to intimidate Israel against following the Lord because history had proven that when Israel believed God, they were unstoppable. In short, their power through intimidation was coming to an end. Once the wall of Jerusalem was completed, the bullies’ true colors came out: they became afraid, and their self-esteem fell severely. Israel had won a great victory by submitting to God amid opposition. In fact, God had won a great victory through the lives of His submitted people. He led His people back to Himself by guiding them, step-by-step, to a right relationship with Him. He was reversing their steps, back up the same path their parents’ generation had walked down in their departure from God.

Yes, there was victory, but that did not mean the enemy gave up trying to undermine Israel’s return to the Lord. The enemy never quits; it just changes its tactics.

“Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.” Nehemiah 6:17-19 (NKJV)

If bullying does not prove effective, perhaps politics or intermarriage will. Maybe it will be something else. The reality is that the enemy never stops trying to stop us, so we must never stop pursuing the Lord. That is why we search His Word, every day.

“The earlier governors, before me, had burdened the people, taxing them more than one-and-a-half pounds of silver shekels for food and wine; and even their servants lorded it over the people. But I didn’t, because I feared God. Moreover, I put all my energy into working on this wall. We didn’t buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for work.” Nehemiah 5:15-16 (CJB)

It is amazing how effectively a follower of Messiah can lead simply by communicating to those around them that there is no personal agenda for which the leader is exploiting the laborers. Nehemiah was not rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem for political advancement or personal profit. He simply labored as unto the Lord, and the people respected and followed him because of it. Jesus exhorted His disciples similarly.    

“Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like one who serves.’” Luke 22:25-26 (NIV)

As a loyal subject of an earthly king, Nehemiah was “on leave” to Jerusalem only for a season. Afterward, he had to return to Shushan, where he came from. Still, he faithfully labored on behalf of his ancestors, his contemporaries, and the next generation. Nehemiah’s selfless attitude was very similar to Abraham’s.

“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:9-10 (NKJV)

In our generation, we also must have the attitude that this World is not our home. If we keep this perspective, we will be free of the Worldly distraction that constantly nags us to get our “piece of the pie.”  Again, as with Abraham and Nehemiah, this World is not our home. Furthermore, we are given a task not unlike Nehemiah’s. He rebuilt the wall and gates of Jerusalem, but we are tasked to build God’s holy temple!!

“So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s family. You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Messiah Jesus Himself. In union with Him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. Yes, in union with Him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling place for God!” Ephesians 2:19-22 (CJB)

Not are we building His dwelling place, human stone upon human stone, but we ourselves are stones, stacked & mortared in the apostle's teaching, with Jesus as our chief Cornerstone.

“Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’ And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.” Nehemiah 4:13-17 (NKJV)

We live in perilous times. War, financial uncertainty, moral decay, family breakdown - dangerous times.   Would it surprise you to know that it’s all spiritual? Yes, in real-time, here on earth, it seems like the “enemy” is some extremist, corporate tycoon, media giant, or family member. But in reality, the enemy is the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. When we have human conflict, it is really the effects of the Lord in our lives standing in opposition to the effects of the “enemy,” both in our lives and the lives of others.

“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 (HCSB)

There is hope, therefore, beyond human conflict because if our oppressors submitted to the Lord, they would cease oppression and join us as brothers. It is part of the reason we suffer affliction for the cause of evangelism. We must love a person beyond their actions against us and see them apart from the “enemy’s” influence on them.

It is important, then, for us to take Nehemiah’s struggle to build the walls of Jerusalem both literally and metaphorically. True, the citizens of Jerusalem faced strong human opposition and risked their lives to rebuild the city’s walls and gates. But it also reminds us of a greater reality: The mission field is also a battlefield!

While we “wrestle not against flesh and blood,” recognizing the greater spiritual narrative, we still face human opposition. We need each other. The purpose of “community” is to render our weaknesses ineffective. So, from today’s passage, we can glean that we need to work together to rebuild the “walls of Jerusalem” in the Church at large. That means pastors and laity, husbands and wives, parents and children, and denominations with other denominations. When we work alone, the “enemy” has a greater chance of picking us off. But when we work in close proximity, we can lean into each other, or shall we say we lean into “the Lord’s strength, working within each of us”?

We must die to the notion that God exists solely to provide for our comfort and pleasure. We are created to live in community, which means dying to ourselves and living to serve the body of believers, trusting that they are doing the same for you by God’s grace. If the World saw that, many unbelievers would be more willing to believe!

“Also the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars.  And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok the son of Baana made repairs. Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.” Nehemiah 3:3-5 (NKJV)

I believe that Jerusalem is the center of the world. I know it may seem a bit mystic to some, but I am not alone in that belief. Israel dominates news coverage more than any other country in the world, and what is happening in Jerusalem dominates the coverage of Israel. Furthermore, according to Revelation, the entire world will be driven to Israel for a final battle. When it is all said & done, the city that will descend from Heaven is literally the “New Jerusalem  .”Center of the world.

In ancient days, the center of Jerusalem was the Temple, with the Ark of the Covenant at the Temple’s center. Because of Jerusalem’s “central” position in the world and God’s presence in the Temple, many theologians consider the gates of Jerusalem to be symbolic of how one must “enter in” to meet with God. Perhaps, we should consider their rebuilding… Going with that thought, the “Fish Gate” is considered to be representative of evangelism.  

“Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’” Luke 5:10b (NIV)

To be honest, the narrative of “who was rebuilding & where” can be pretty dull. But here, in chapter 3, we have a bit of drama. The nobles of T’koa would not labor toward the Fish Gate. As another translation puts it, “they would not submit themselves to supervision.”  Regardless of the debate concerning the symbolic nature of Jerusalem’s gates, one thing is true: Nobility does not mix with evangelism.

Here is what I mean. To evangelize, we must make ourselves uncomfortable and literally be “servants.” We must be willing to risk our images, dignity, and reputations to share the gospel. It takes getting out there among the “unwashed masses,” so to speak. In other words, we must be willing to smell like fish to catch them!  

Nobility, by definition, is directly opposed to evangelism. Nobility rejects servanthood and is preoccupied with “deserving.”  Nobility says, “I am too good for this. I don’t deserve to be treated this way!”  And when you break it down, “de-serve” means to “lessen, or completely diminish” a servant’s role. Nobility cannot evangelize.

Are you living out your calling to share the gospel? Are you boldly evangelizing with humility, or are you paralyzed with nobility? Do you refuse to do the work of an evangelist because it is “beneath you,” afraid of what people might think of you?   As Jesus did for you, do for others. Let’s humble ourselves and build that Fish Gate!

“And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.’ So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’” Nehemiah 2:1-5 (NKJV)

I have spent my whole adult life as a touring musician and speaker. During that time, the Lord has given me a unique experience in which I have visited over 1000 churches scattered throughout the United States (and several countries). One thing I have observed is that when God decides to move in a mighty way, He doesn’t just tell one guy His plan. He begins working in the hearts of several people, giving them pieces of a vision, and then He starts bringing those people together. Then, BOOM! A movement develops.

The rebuilding of Jerusalem is the best observable example of what I am talking about. First, God spoke to Isaiah, who prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem unless the people repented. Then we have Jeremiah, who was the “on the scene” reporter during Jerusalem’s destruction, who also prophesied the season of Israel’s exile (and the terms of their return). Today’s passage can seem like Nehemiah was a random lucky guy. But when we connect the Bible’s books like pieces to the puzzle, we see God was preparing the hearts of several men scattered abroad. Then, He drew them together to accomplish great things. Notice how Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra all had pieces of the same vision:

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.’” Ezra 1:1-3 (NKJV)

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” Daniel 9:1-3 (NKJV)

As you pursue God’s Word every day, and He reveals pieces of His great plan to you, He is actually preparing you to join others to accomplish His perfect will in our days

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Nehemiah 1. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, ‘We have trespassed[a] against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.’” Ezra 10:1-4 (NKJV)

At times, God appears to turn a deaf ear to prayer. Isaiah wrestled with this problem:

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you.” Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)

Sin was separating the Jews from God in the days of Ezra. It was, therefore, essential that Ezra’s prayer of confession in the previous chapter should be followed up with repentance, which took form in the separation from foreign wives.

It is hardly surprising that a large crowd gathered around Ezra when they saw him weeping and throwing himself down before the Lord. This was strange behavior for such a prominent leader, as it is strange for our generation’s otherwise dignified leaders. The cause of Ezra’s intense agitation was the marriage of God’s people to non-Jewish, idol-worshipping wives. It has been said that children live by rules and adults live by principles. With that in mind, the whole scenario of today’s chapter can be viewed, in principle, as a metaphor for any intimate relationship that believers may be considering, personal, social, or business. The apostle Paul knew this very well:

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)

As stated yesterday, it was not as much the nationality of the foreign wives as it was their idolatry that the Lord was opposed to. For the record, this specific instance of putting away foreign wives and children is one of those moments - like Peter’s suggestion to cast lots to choose another apostle after Judas committed suicide - where the Lord makes no comment as to His approval or disapproval. We are simply given the facts. According to the Torah, both the Israelite men and their foreign wives should have been removed from the community of Israel. We know from reading Nehemiah that it was still a problem in his day (Nehemiah 13:23-27). The questions that arise are: 1.) How strongly do we believe God’s Word, and 2.) Are we willing to put away those “foreign wives” (aka Worldly sins) that separate us from the Lord?

“Now, after all this has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our deep guilt – and even so, you, our God have punished us less than our sins deserve and have given us a surviving remnant – are we to break Your commands again by making marriage with the peoples who have these disgusting practices?  Won’t You become so angry with us that You would destroy us completely, so that there would be no surviving remnant and no one escapes?  The Lord, God of Israel!  You are just; yet we have been left a surviving remnant that has escaped, as is the case today.  Look, we are before You in our guilt; because of it, no one can stand in Your presence.” Ezra 9:13-15 (CJB)

A few years ago, I was in my living room, watching TV, when I heard my son Wyatt in his room, playing CDs on his stereo.  This was usually not a problem, but on this occasion, he was only playing the intro to one of the songs over and over.  Finally, I got irritated with the whole stop-start, so I busted into his room and told him to let the entire song play.  That’s when I realized he wasn’t playing a CD.  He was playing the song on his guitar.  I was amazed because it sounded like a recording from the original artist.  How quickly he had become a really good guitar player!  I have never seen someone pick up an instrument and absorb it so quickly.  When I asked how he had learned the song, he pointed to his computer: YouTube.

It helps to have an instructor, someone to sit right there and teach us.  But, sometimes, the video instructor is better than a living, breathing person.  The video is free; you can rewind, pause, and replay infinitum until you have mastered the course.  

One of the values of books like Ezra and Nehemiah is that they let us observe how they petitioned and prayed to the Lord.  Just like YouTube, we can read and reread their prayers.  And every time we do, we learn a bit more.  They are not parading their spirituality by including the text of their prayers for all to see.  They are teaching us how to beseech our Heavenly Father, and today’s chapter is just that.

Ezra knew how to pray in times of crisis because he was familiar with the path to the throne of grace.  He was on “speaking terms” with God at all times.  In today’s chapter, the central theme of his prayer is confession.  It was the condition of the nation which prompted him.  The widespread moral failure of Christians and unbelievers should not result in paralyzing despair but in sincere supplication to Almighty God.  Only He can heal our wounds, restore our standing with Him, and save us from inevitable judgment.

It is also important to note that many Christians and Jews alike have misinterpreted today’s passage to say that God is against people of different nationalities intermarrying.  We know from the Bible that God is not against His children intermarrying the “peoples.”  Otherwise, the book of Ruth would be tough to explain…as well as other Gentile women listed in the genealogy of Messiah Jesus: Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife).  If we read closely, it was not the “nationality” but the “morality” God was concerned with.  He was against “making marriage with the peoples who have these disgusting practices.” (v. 14)

“Then, there at the Ahava River, I proclaimed a fast; so that we could humble ourselves before our God and ask a safe journey of Him for ourselves, our little ones and all our possessions. For I would have been ashamed to ask the king for a detachment of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies along the road, since we had said to the king, ‘The hand of our God is on all who seek Him, for good; but His power and fury is against all who abandon Him.’ So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and He answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:21-23 (CJB)

Years ago, the Southern Baptists decided to hold their national convention in Las Vegas. I know it’s ironic. When the Las Vegas mayor showed up on the first day of the convention to welcome the pastors, the SBC president asked if there was an area of need in the community that the Baptists could pray for. The mayor said, “Well, we’re in the middle of the desert, and we could sure use some rain.” So, the pastors prayed for rain. The next morning, the keynote speaker arrived early, placed an umbrella on the pulpit, and asked, “How many of you brought one of these this morning?” The crowd nervously laughed because nobody had brought an umbrella. Then, the speaker went on to say, “We need to learn to pray, believing that God is listening. Otherwise, our testimony about God is ineffective.” Perhaps they should have read Ezra 8.

Verses 15-31 record the results of Ezra’s three-day stocktaking at the canal and also give us insight into the character of this remarkable man of God. Ezra displayed five traits that equipped him to be God’s “man of the hour”: Wisdom, Piety, Faith, Management skills, and Gratitude.

Today’s passage focuses on his Piety and Faith. Ezra “proclaimed a fast” as an acknowledgment of his sinfulness and an expression of his earnest desire to obtain divine guidance and the protection that comes with following Him rightly. Ezra asked God to be the guardian of the people. His mention of the “children” was a tender-hearted plea to the compassionate heart of the loving Heavenly Father. As a parent, I am always asking for God’s spiritual and physical protection of my children. Verse 23 says he “fasted and petitioned” the Lord. The idea of “petitioning” indicates more than a simple prayer. It was more like pleading with God. How did God respond? “He answered our prayer.” How slow we are to pray when God is willing to answer our supplications!

Concerning Ezra’s faith, he used strong terms to tell King Artaxerxes that the Lord was a mighty God who would indeed protect those who trusted and obeyed Him. With the journey imminent, Ezra began to realize the serious hazards he would face. To ask for assistance would have lessened the king’s esteem of Israel’s God, so Ezra put His faith where his mouth was, so to speak. How easy it is to proclaim the Lord’s greatness and sing of His might, but when trials test our faithful proclamations, how often do we seek shelter in the World? Like Ezra, we must READ God’s Word, BELIEVE it, LIVE it, and PROCLAIM it.

“On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:9-10 (NKJV)

The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity came in stages.  First, Ezra came and restored the worship.  As worship was restored, Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, the place of worship.  Then, Nehemiah arrived and rebuilt the walls and gates of Jerusalem.  The wall acted as a barrier against attack and protected those living within the city.  Stability radiated outwardly.  It is not enough to fortify the walls and build a place of worship.  Is that really “revival”?  Revival begins with the individual’s heart before the community is strengthened.  That meant YOU.  

From the moment Ezra puts his suitcase down in Jerusalem, we learn why God had chosen him to rebuild worship.  Ezra had prepared his heart to 1) Seek the Law of the Lord, 2) do it (live according to God’s Word), and 3) teach statutes and ordinances.

Do you want to be used by God?  Would you like to have the faith to stand firm and commit to being a “kingdom builder”?  Then you also must SEEK God’s Word, discipline yourself to OBEY His Word, and be a disciple-maker, TEACHING others how to seek and serve the Lord.  Anything that falls short of (or adds to) that simple formula will not perpetuate and sustain discipleship.  That is because anything other than God’s prescribed pattern of discipleship will never develop a firm spiritual foundation from which to stand against the troubles and attacks of this World.  Consider Jesus’s words:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever COMES TO ME, and HEARS My sayings and DOES them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.” Luke 6:46-48 (NKJV)

The good news is that God does not leave the task of fulfilling that pattern of seeking, doing, and teaching entirely up to us.  Every follower of Jesus, at the moment of their belief in Him, is given the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the truth of God’s Word and enable believers to perpetuate the gospel effectively.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1: 8 (NKJV)

So, boldly seek God’s Word and commit to living faithfully and sharing it with others!

“Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written thus: In the first year of King Cyrus, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: ‘Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices; and let the foundations of it be firmly laid, its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, with three rows of heavy stones and one row of new timber.’” Ezra 6:1-4a (NKJV)

As a high school senior, I was nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.  My father, being an Air Force Lt. Colonel, was very proud of me.  In fact, it had been my dream to fly fighter jets.  But there was one problem: My eyesight was way below the vision requirements for entrance into the Academy.  Still, I went forth with the procedures and interviews all the way up to the medical physical.  I had asked my eye doctor to write me a “dummy” prescription, hoping to slip past the exam, but I wasn’t counting on the Air Force doctors.  They used special drops to dilate my eyes.  When I walked out of the eye exam that day, I knew I had failed the physical, but I still had some youthful hope, some naïve notion that I would magically be allowed into the institution. Thus began my waiting for the official Air Force Academy decision.  

It can be challenging to await the arrival of an important letter.  The Jews must have felt some apprehension about the reply Tattenai would receive to the letter he dispatched to the powerful Persian King Darius.  Would Darius bother to search the old dusty records and back up the claim of the Jews that Cyrus had commanded them to build their Temple in Jerusalem?

Some of the Jews may have been dreading the answer from Darius; perhaps, ALL of them feared that the king would force them to stop building.  Are you afraid of something that might happen in the future?  You might be anxious about an upcoming medical procedure, impending unemployment, or family problems – the list is as vast as our imaginations!  God may surprise us and turn a terrifying prospect into a blessing.  Whatever happens, whether the future is better or worse than we imagined, it will be overseen by our loving, ever-present, all-knowing Heavenly Father.  The God who cared for His anxious people awaiting the reply of King Darius watches over us and plans the path ahead. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

By the way, I did not pass my Air Force Academy physical: eyesight.  I dejectedly accepted a track scholarship at a state college in Arkansas.  One night two years later, on our way home from a track meet at the University of Indiana, I heard the gospel and decided to follow Jesus.  Sometimes, what we think is bad news turns out to be the best news ever.

“Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them. At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?” Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building. But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter.” Ezra 5:1-5 (NKJV)

Turning from Ezra 4 into Chapter 5, we move fourteen years from Cyrus’s reign to that of Darius 1. Cyrus was killed during battle in 530 B.C.  Darius came to the throne in 522 and reigned until 486 B.C. He was Persian by birth and brought up in Zoroastrianism, which is based on the concept of an ongoing struggle between good and evil. Darius established this religion as the state religion of Persia, which was most likely the motivation for his support of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. While he did not believe in the Lord, rebuilding His Temple was simply to provide a “balance” of religions. God uses a myriad of means and motivations to accomplish His purposes.

The mood of God’s people at the time of Ezra 5 was one of abject depression. The people were so downhearted that they abandoned their attempt to renovate the Temple. They never wanted to see another brick or trowel (4:24). The two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, had their work cut out as they tried to cure the “cancer” of discouragement raging among the Jews. And that’s what discouragement is, isn’t it? Cancer. It begins growing slowly, and by the time you notice, it has traveled throughout the community and threatens to kill progress in its tracks.

Most believers in Messiah Jesus sometimes feel dejected while doing the Lord’s work. There are Saturday evenings when the pastor vows never to preach another sermon and when Sunday School teachers are ready to quit their classes. Volunteers grow weary of their duties amid their busy lives. The layman who goes out, sharing the gospel among the community, sometimes wonders if all his efforts are actually worthwhile after a street full of people refuse to engage in spiritual conversation. Ezra 5 can teach us how to cope with discouragement.

God did not forsake His people in their sadness or leave them to wallow in their self-pity. Instead, He sent two prophets to spur them on to action. Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Judeans in Jerusalem. Then, they set out to join in the work. The gospel speaks best with “sleeves-up.”  That is, the prophets were not simply messengers telling the people to have courage; they were also willing to practice what they preached! And that is what we are called to do: Know God through His revealed Word, and then roll up our sleeves, getting to work by mixing the “spit” of our preaching with the “sweat” of our brows. Lead with your labor.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Ezra 4. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.” Ezra 3:1-3 (NKJV)

In an age when most people never enter the doors of a place of worship on the Sabbath, and most others have dismissed the belief in Messiah Jesus as irrelevant and outdated, we need to ask ourselves some pertinent questions. As Christians, we claim to have the true gospel, but why are we making so little impact on the unreached masses?

Ezra 3 spells out four essential ingredients for spiritual blessing: Unity, Zeal, Obedience, and Worship. These components are indispensable and are found in every period of revival. Hence, they are urgently needed today.  

When the Jews returned to Jerusalem, they found the Temple in ruins. Their task was to restore the worship of God and rebuild the Temple. Our task is very similar. We must ask the Lord what job He has set aside for each of us to restore worship and build the “temple” made with “human stones,” the greater community of Messiah (The Church), in our generation.

We find those answers in Ezra 3. As you study today’s chapter, bear in mind that the reason for God’s choice of Israel is a companion to the reason why He has chosen to establish the Church: so that unbelievers may know His pattern of how to worship Him. The mission of God’s people (then and now) is that we would bear witness of Him to those who have yet to know Him in a saving way or are yet to worship Him rightly.

In considering the “four essential ingredients” for revival, perhaps it might help to ask a few simple questions. These questions will help you analyze yourself and determine whether you are a catalyst for (or hindrance to) revival.

1) Is there a fellow believer in my congregation with whom I have a rift?

2) Is my lack of zeal frustrating my ministry leader and holding back God’s favor on our congregation? In short, am I the “Jonah” who needs to be thrown out of the boat?!

3) How would I respond to God if He were to ask me if I genuinely believe I am living by His Word?

4) Is the Savior who shed His blood for me more precious than anyone or anything else?

5) Does my worship focus attention on men or God?

6) How could I increase these four “ingredients” in my congregation?

“These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.” Ezra 2:1-2 (HCSB)

Be honest! Did you really read every word from chapter 2? I bet you were tempted to skip it and go on to chapter 3, as was I. Though Ezra 2 is a difficult chapter to read, it contains some valuable spiritual lessons.  

The primary spiritual benefit we derive from Ezra 2 has been summed up well by H.A. Ironside:

“Most of the names are for us only names, but God has not forgotten one of the persons once called by these names on earth. He will reward each according to his work. Nothing of good or ill shall be overlooked by Him, who looks not on the outward appearance but on the heart. How little did any of these devoted Jews of Ezra’s day think that God would preserve a registry of their names and families for future generations to read and thus to learn how highly He values all that is done from the devotion of the heart to Himself and for the glory of His name!”

This genealogical section proves that the returning exiles were legitimate descendants of the Jews who occupied Israel before their deportation to Persia. More importantly, it demonstrates that God cares about and is intimately aware of the goings-on of His children. Do these people seem insignificant to you? Well, they are very significant to the Lord, and that should be comforting to us, especially when we feel alone, forsaken and insignificant in this World.

Furthermore, the gift of the land of Canaan to the Israelites and their preservation as a nation were tied in with God’s plan to send His “Son,” Jesus, the Messiah, Savior of the World. We should be thankful that God remembered these people, for in remembering them, we have faith that He also remembers us!

There are a few names worth mentioning, mainly because the persons named may be confused with other prominent Biblical persons with the same name. These people are Joshua, Nehemiah, and Mordechai. They are NOT the “Joshua” who led Israel into Canaan after Moses died, the “Nehemiah” who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem (he came later), or the “Mordecai” who was Esther’s uncle.

We will encounter more of these lists of names as we go further into Ezra’s book. It will be helpful to keep Ironside’s comments in the back of our minds, knowing full well that if the Lord is slow in returning. Our names may be added to a similar list to encourage future generations. And, of course, ALL believers’ names are written on the most important list: The Lamb’s Book of Life.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’” Ezra 1:1-2 (NKJV)

In an age of clap-happy worship and entertainment-oriented evangelism, the book of Ezra directs our thoughts to a holy God who demands reverent worship and uncompromising loyalty from His people. Furthermore, Ezra calls us back to a renewed obedience to God’s Word (something close to my heart) and a wholehearted commitment to the work of God in fellowship with the people of God.

Even in the first few verses, Ezra assumes that we are already searching the Scriptures, for it begins with the words, “in order that the Word of The Lord prophesied by Jeremiah be fulfilled.”  How could we appreciate that Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled unless we were intimately familiar with its predictions? How could we understand the magnitude of God’s sovereign intervention unless we were familiar with the pagan brutality of the Medo-Persians?

Imagine that Iran became so powerful that they defeated Israel and the United States, carrying us back to their country as slaves. Furthermore, imagine that once enslaved on Iranian soil, we were forbidden to read the Bible and worship the Judeo-Christian God. Instead, we were forced to worship Allah and recognize the Koran as the supreme spiritual authority. Then, amid such spiritual oppression, what if the president of Iran announced, one day, that his ability to rule has come from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and that Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus are to go to Jerusalem and build a synagogue to our God! Sounds far-fetched? That is precisely what happened in Ezra’s day. Persia is where modern-day Iran resides.

And the overriding message of Ezra is one of hope and certainty in God’s Word. I am certain that is a message we could all use these days, so we must read closely and be encouraged that the peace of God does not always mean the absence of conflict; rather, it is the presence of peace amid conflict that passes all understanding. Hold on – for God is faithful to His Word, and nothing can keep Him from accomplishing His purposes. He can even turn the source of opposition towards His people into a tool to deliver His people!

“And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.  And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.” 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 (NKJV)

We are in a season of history characterized by great struggle and resistance to the Word of the Lord. Anyone who claims that Messiah Jesus is the Only Way (John 14:6) is labeled a fanatic, brain-dead at best. During this season, perhaps more than ever, we must ask ourselves what our highest values are. Because many people in the church value “not offending” above proclaiming God’s Word. They are afraid of offending people or being made uncomfortable but do not seem to have any problem offending God, Who calls us to suffer on Messiah’s behalf. (Philippians 1:29)  Before God judges, He graciously sends His messengers, the prophets, with words of 1) Exposing Sin and 2) Restoration. Consider Jesus’ words:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13:34-35 (NKJV)

God’s merciful rebuke of His people is always ultimately meant for their restoration.

“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NKJV)

“So all the service of the Lord was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, according to the command of King Josiah. And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.”  2 Chronicles 35:16-19 (NKJV)

Do you remember the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s, what it was like sitting in a tent in Costa Mesa, California, while Chuck Smith preached and Love Song sang “Little Country Church” for the first time? Chances are, you don’t. Most folks were late responders to that movement, so they cannot recall how it felt when revival broke out. Fifty-seven years had passed since Hezekiah died, and in those years, Judah was ruled by the evil kings Manasseh and Amon. Sure, Manasseh repented and found forgiveness, but it was all too little, too late. The kingdom had gone to the dogs.

Then came the boy-king, Josiah, bent on reform. (2 Chronicles 34:1-3)  His efforts to clean out the temple led to the discovery of the Book of the Law. When the Law was read to Josiah, he believed it and sought the Lord’s forgiveness for Judah’s idolatry. More than lip service, Josiah was willing to put his faith into action. (2 Chronicles 34:29-33)  And he reaped the harvest of revival!  

People respond differently to the Word of God. Some hear the gospel, humble themselves in repentance, and commit to following Messiah Jesus. Others get angry and seek to distance themselves from Him, often becoming violent toward God’s messenger. Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, was that kind of man. He received the same Word as his father, yet he sought to kill the messenger, Jeremiah, to the prophet. Which begs the question: How do YOU respond to the revelation of God’s Word?

“So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.” Jeremiah 36:21-26 (NKJV)

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.’ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard - because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. “Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.”’ So they brought back word to the king.” 2 Chronicles 34:24-28 (NKJV)

King Josiah had childlike faith. And that makes sense because he was just a child (8 years old) when he assumed the throne. At age sixteen, Josiah began seeking the Lord. By 26 years, he had purged Israel of its idols. It is not enough to simply do away with idols. You must replace idolatry with Biblical worship. So, when the renovation of God’s temple began, the priests found something extraordinary: The Book of The Law of Moses…the Bible! Hilkiah, the priest, was clueless about the book’s value, and Shaphan, the secretary, gave the king a financial report before announcing, “Hilkiah has given me a book….”  But when King Josiah heard the words of the Bible, he knew his nation was on the verge of divine annihilation. His humble response led to salvation. It stands in stark contrast to King Zedekiah’s response many years later.

“So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: ‘Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.’”  Jeremiah 36:21-28 (NKJV)

Our nation is on the verge of judgment. Will we be a Josiah or Zedekiah generation?