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September 26th - Day 269
Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472
September 26th
The bible reading today is in Nehemiah chapters 1-5.
1000 years after the time of Moses and some 400 years before the birth of Jesus, the nation of Israel was in a desperate condition. Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were completely destroyed.
Continuing in review, 70 years after Babylonian captivity, 50,000 Jews out of the 3,000,000 Jews deported, took advantage of King Darius’s offer of allowing God’s kids to return to their promised land to rebuild Jerusalem, especially their temple.
That’s only about 2% of the Israelis that were exiled to Babylon, but they went “anyway. They went “home”. They went home to “devastation”, but they went home “to rebuild” their homes, their cities, and their promised way of life.
There was a second wave and a third wave of Jewish exiles that would leave their homes in the Persian provinces to return to their homeland in Israel. Nehemiah would be a part of that third wave.
Apparently Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, had returned to Jerusalem for a short period of time. After his visit to Judah, Hanani came back to his home in Susa. There he talked with his brother about the dire circumstances that plagued the people of Israel after their return from exile.
“And Hanani said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah 1:3 ESV
Nehemiah’s body was in the capital city of Persia at this time, but from the text, his heart was in Jerusalem.
“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps your covenant with your people...hear me...They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.”
Nehemiah 1:4-5, 10-11 ESV
Nehemiah’s heart was broken for his people’s plight and his heart remembered the land and the once beautiful city of David that God had given to them. Something had to give...or better still “Someone”. So Nehemiah prayed to “the Lord” and volunteered to be “the “someone” that God could use if He wanted to.
That reminds me of another someone...“And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here Am I...Send me.”And he said, “Go...
Isaiah 6:7-9
Nehemiah was saying, “Here am I, Lord...use me up for Your glory and the benefit of Your people. And, I’m reminded of another “someone” whose life message mirrors Nehemiah’s and Isaiah’s...“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
Philippians 2:17 ESV
The Apostle Paul....“Here am I Lord...” pour me out”...” use me up”...” send me”...as a sacrificial offering for the sake of the believers in the Philippian church.
And guess what Paul said of Christ...Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant...humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8
Nehemiah was willing to give himself away for his people. So was Isaiah and so was Paul.
Nehemiah was willing to work and fight for the good news of God. That He would restore the full of truth city...the beautiful holy city of Jerusalem on the mount of Zion!
It’s a great story...it’s the rest of the story...
Have a great day
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By Michael McCracken
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Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472
September 26th
The bible reading today is in Nehemiah chapters 1-5.
1000 years after the time of Moses and some 400 years before the birth of Jesus, the nation of Israel was in a desperate condition. Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were completely destroyed.
Continuing in review, 70 years after Babylonian captivity, 50,000 Jews out of the 3,000,000 Jews deported, took advantage of King Darius’s offer of allowing God’s kids to return to their promised land to rebuild Jerusalem, especially their temple.
That’s only about 2% of the Israelis that were exiled to Babylon, but they went “anyway. They went “home”. They went home to “devastation”, but they went home “to rebuild” their homes, their cities, and their promised way of life.
There was a second wave and a third wave of Jewish exiles that would leave their homes in the Persian provinces to return to their homeland in Israel. Nehemiah would be a part of that third wave.
Apparently Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, had returned to Jerusalem for a short period of time. After his visit to Judah, Hanani came back to his home in Susa. There he talked with his brother about the dire circumstances that plagued the people of Israel after their return from exile.
“And Hanani said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah 1:3 ESV
Nehemiah’s body was in the capital city of Persia at this time, but from the text, his heart was in Jerusalem.
“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps your covenant with your people...hear me...They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.”
Nehemiah 1:4-5, 10-11 ESV
Nehemiah’s heart was broken for his people’s plight and his heart remembered the land and the once beautiful city of David that God had given to them. Something had to give...or better still “Someone”. So Nehemiah prayed to “the Lord” and volunteered to be “the “someone” that God could use if He wanted to.
That reminds me of another someone...“And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here Am I...Send me.”And he said, “Go...
Isaiah 6:7-9
Nehemiah was saying, “Here am I, Lord...use me up for Your glory and the benefit of Your people. And, I’m reminded of another “someone” whose life message mirrors Nehemiah’s and Isaiah’s...“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
Philippians 2:17 ESV
The Apostle Paul....“Here am I Lord...” pour me out”...” use me up”...” send me”...as a sacrificial offering for the sake of the believers in the Philippian church.
And guess what Paul said of Christ...Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant...humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8
Nehemiah was willing to give himself away for his people. So was Isaiah and so was Paul.
Nehemiah was willing to work and fight for the good news of God. That He would restore the full of truth city...the beautiful holy city of Jerusalem on the mount of Zion!
It’s a great story...it’s the rest of the story...
Have a great day
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