Transcript

Podcast Introduction

This is History Tuesday. and we’ll read Nehemiah 5-9, and  I’m calling today’s episode “Is This Okay?”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Alex Gorbi on Unsplash

Comments on Nehemiah 5

In the New Living Translation, this is how verse 19 reads: "Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it."

When I read "...and bless me for it" I raised my eyebrows just a bit. That seems a bit presumptuous, don't you think?

But then I thought of the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10: “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.”

God granted Jabez's request, which tells us that God did not think Jabez's prayer was out of line. Jabez asked God to give him more, and God did it. Why? We don't have a lot to go on, except for the verse previous to what we just read. Verse 9 says: "There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful." So now we know that Jabez was an honorable man.

And so was Nehemiah. This we know because everything we read of him here in the book that bears his name testifies to that fact. He did not take on this task of rebuilding the walls for personal gain. He did it to honor God and to help the people. 

God knows our heart, beloved. You cannot fool Him. And if our heart is pure, if our motivations are right and honorable, we can come to God in confidence and humbly ask Him to bless us. 

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 5-6 NLT; Ch 7-8 NIRV; Ch. 9 NCV

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Transcript

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STEVE WEBB - 0:00I kind of raised my eyebrows just a bit.

INTRO S12E342 - 0:10Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year. And today is History Tuesday. We'll read Nehemiah 5 through 9 and I'm calling today's episode “Is This Okay?” The show notes page for today's episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e342. And my email address is [email protected]. Let's get started.

NEHEMIAH 5 (NLT) - 0:42Nehemiah, chapter 5. (1) About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. (2) They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”

(3) Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”

(4) And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. (5) We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy,