I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Today is the start of the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah’s account begins in the 20th year of Artaxerxes reign. Ezra had led his expedition to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes reign. The story begins when Nehemiah’s brother and some other men who had recently visited Judah came to visit him. Nehemiah inquired about how things were going in Jerusalem. The men told him that things were not going well. The walls of the city had been torn down and the gates destroyed by fire. Nehemiah was heartbroken by this news. Nehemiah mourned at this news, but he did not just mourn. He fasted and prayed to God. When he had formulated a plan, he prayed for God to give him success in getting the approval of the king for his plan.
     Nehemiah was the cup-bearer for King Artaxerxes at this time. At some point after receiving the news about Jerusalem, Nehemiah is in the presence of the king. The king noticed that he looked sad and asked him about it. Nehemiah told the king that he was sad for the state of Jerusalem. The king asked Nehemiah how he could help. Nehemiah prayed silently as he asked the king to send him to rebuild Jerusalem. The king granted Nehemiah’s request. In addition, Nehemiah asked for letters instructing the governors of the areas around Jerusalem to allow him to travel to Jerusalem and to the manager of the king’s forest instructing him to give Nehemiah timber. The king granted this request as well. In addition, the king gave Nehemiah and armed escort.
     Nehemiah delivered the king’s letters to the governors of province. Several of the governors were unhappy with Nehemiah’s appointment. When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he did not apprise anyone of his arrival until he had an opportunity to inspect the city walls, which he did at night. Once Nehemiah had inspected the walls, he introduced himself to the leaders of Jerusalem. He proposed that they begin rebuilding the city walls. The city leaders received this suggestion enthusiastically. Work began on rebuilding the walls at once. The officials of the neighboring regions are unhappy with the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt. Nehemiah tells them that they have no claim to authority over Jerusalem, legal or otherwise. Nehemiah delegates the rebuilding of various sections of the wall to different leaders of the city or surrounding settlements.
     An important takeaway from this passage is that Nehemiah prayed for God’s support and help at every stage of his plan. In addition, he made clear to everyone that he was relying on God for his plan to succeed. I have felt called by the Lord to fast as I read this passage and several others over the last few days.

     Paul now begins addressing questions that the Corinthians had asked him in a letter. The first of these is regarding sexual relations and marriage. Paul starts his answer by saying that it is good to remain celibate, but that since sexual immorality is so prevalent in the surrounding society most people should be married. Paul further instructs that married couples should not abstain from sex with each other, except for limited times when they have agreed to do so as part of a prayer and fasting time. Paul again reiterates that he wishes everyone would remain single but that he knows that not everyone has that gift. Paul emphasizes that what he is saying is advice, not a command.
     Next Paul says something that he emphasizes is a command. He says that those who are married should remain married. A wife should not leave her husband. If she does, she should remain single or be reconciled to him. Interestingly, he makes no such provision for husbands. He tells husbands that they must not leave their wives. Paul then returns to giving his opinion as advice. He says that a believer who is married to an unbeliever should remain with them, but if the unbeliever leaves, the believer is no longer bound by the marriage vows. Paul says that the believer should stay with the unbeliever for the sake of the children (but if the unbeliever insists on leaving, let them go). In addition, he says that perhaps the unbeliever may come to know the Lord through their believing spouse.
     Finally Paul closes out this section by telling us that we should stay in the state we were in when God called us. If we were circumcised, we should not attempt to undo it. If we were uncircumcised, we should not become circumcised. If someone was a slave, they should not let it concern them (although if they get the opportunity to gain their freedom, they should take it).

     The psalmist tells us that God has great goodness stored up for those who love Him. He tells us that even when we feel cut off from God, if we cry out to Him, He will answer our call for help. If we put our hopes in God, we should stand strong and courageous because God will come to our defense.

     This proverb tells us that pride and an arrogant attitude are as much a sin as evil actions. Having evil thoughts and attitudes is just as much a sin as taking evil actions.