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.

     When the wall was completed, Nehemiah organized two choirs to go around the top of the wall in opposite directions, singing praises to God. When they met again, they joined together and went to the Temple to conduct a worship service dedicating the wall of Jerusalem. During the reading of the Law as part of this celebration, they discovered that the law said that no Ammonite or Moabite should be part of the assembly of God. At that point they excluded everyone of foreign descent from the assembly. This sounds harsh. However, there is some back-story.
     Before this all happened, Nehemiah had needed to return to the court of Artaxerxes. When he returned to Jerusalem he discovered that the priest in charge of the Temple storerooms had converted one of them into a warehouse for Tobiah, one of the leaders of the neighboring peoples (and an opponent of the restoration of Jerusalem). Nehemiah also discovered that the Levites who were supposed to help conduct Temple services had not been given their allotment of food and had returned to working the fields rather than serving in the Temple. Nehemiah confronted the leaders over this and brought the Levites back. Further Nehemiah found the residents of Jerusalem conducting business on the Sabbath, both on their own and with non-Jewish merchants. He confronted them and demanded that they keep the Sabbath. Finally, he discovered that many Jewish men had married foreign women and had children with them and were not even teaching their children to speak Hebrew, instead raising them to speak the languages of their mother’s people. So, Nehemiah purged the people of foreign influences which were leading them away from God. The key factor in all of these things was that these foreign influences were leading the people to be unfaithful in following and worshiping God.

     Today’s passage begins with Paul’s final comment on the topic he was discussing in yesterday’s passage: “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” I have heard different expositions on this passage, but the one that strikes me today is a simple question. Do I imitate Jesus well enough that I can in good conscience suggest that others imitate me? That is quite the challenge, but I think it is the standard we are called to live up to. For me, the idea that others are measuring the validity of the Christian message by my behavior is scary enough, but the thought that someone might be attempting to model their Christian life on what I do comes close to giving me the screaming willies. I just don’t do that good of a job of imitating Christ. I guess that means one thing: Time to up my game!…And there is only one way to do that, give the Holy Spirit more control over my life.
     Paul next says that men should not cover their head when praying or prophesying and that women should. People have argued about whether or not this passage is something that we should follow today. I am not inspired today to make a case for it one way or the other. I will merely say that I am inclined to believe that we should follow the instructions in this passage. For today, the Spirit is bringing another point to my attention. One which I do not believe we spend enough time looking at. In the middle of this teaching Paul tells us that in Christ women are not independent of men. And that men are not independent of women. Men and women fill different, but equally important, roles in the Body of Christ. All too many of the problems in our congregations result from us acting as if we are independent of each other. I had a lot of trouble composing that last sentence because I kept coming up with things that touched on issues addressed in other passages, most of which are somewhat controversial. I wanted to stick with the point I see here, that men are dependent on women and women are dependent on men. We need each other.

     We can count on the Lord to fight our battles for us if we follow a few simple rules.

• Do not give our enemies cause to attack us
• Do not commit crimes of which to be accused
• Do good for all at every opportunity
• Mourn with those who suffer loss (rather than rejoicing in other’s misfortune)

If we do these things, God will give us victory over our enemies and humiliate those who attempt to harm us.

     If we do not learn to delay gratification of our desires we will end up in poverty. If we spend our money on all of the luxuries we can afford, we will never accumulate much wealth.

     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.

     Once the walls around Jerusalem were rebuilt people began to settle into Jerusalem. The leaders of the returned exiles settled in Jerusalem. In addition, one out of every ten of the people living in the other towns of Judah were selected to resettle in Jerusalem. Those who volunteered to settle in Jerusalem were commended by the rest of the people. The passage then goes on to list some of the people who settled in Jerusalem and some of the villages around Jerusalem where others settled.

     Paul continues his discussion on eating meat offered to idols. He starts by pointing out that by taking part in Communion/The Lord’s Supper/The Eucharist (whatever term your tradition uses to refer to the breaking of bread and sharing the cup) we become one body, even though we are many. He then extends the same metaphor to the sacrifices which the Jews offered in the Temple and then ate part of as a meal. In the same way, those who partake in offerings made to idols become part of the body which is worshiping an idol.
     Paul points out that he is not saying that food offered to idols has some significance, nor that idols are real gods. Rather the sacrifices made to idols are made to demons, not to God. Paul says that we should not participants with demons. We cannot be part of the Body of Christ and the body of a demon (I really need to take some time and write a blog on some thoughts I have had about spiritual beings). Paul then continues by talking about our freedom in Christ. He quotes some as saying that as a Christian we have the freedom to do anything. He acknowledges this as a truth, but he tells us that there is an important qualifier, not everything is beneficial, not everything is constructive. Yes, we are free to do anything, but we should only do those things which are constructive and beneficial. More importantly, we should only do those things which are beneficial for others. Our concern should be with building up others.
     From this, Paul offers a guidance about eating meat. He tells us that it is ok to eat anything sold in the market because, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” He goes on to say that if someone invites us to a meal, we should eat whatever is put before us without asking any questions. However, if someone tells you that the food that is put before you was offered as a sacrifice, then do not eat it. The reason to not eat it is to make clear to the person who told us that we will not take part in pagan sacrifices and by doing that we might encourage them to do so.

     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.

     Once the wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt and the people were able to settle into “normal lives in and around Jerusalem a gathering of all of the people was called. They asked Ezra the priest to bring out the Book of the Law and read it to them. Ezra read to them from daybreak until noon. Ezra was flanked by several Levites. The way I read the passage, they were standing some distance from him, repeating what he said so that those more distant from Ezra could hear what he was saying as well. In addition to reading the Book of the Law, Ezra explained what it meant.
     As the people listened to what Ezra was saying, they began to weep. Nehemiah told the people that they should not weep because the day was a sacred day of the Lord. He told them instead to go and celebrate with a feast, sharing their food with those who had nothing prepared. With further encouragement from Ezra and the Levites the people went from mourning to joy at having heard and understood God’s words. The leaders of the people, along with the priests and Levites, met with Ezra to go over the Law in greater detail. While studying the Law they discovered that the Law prescribed the Festival of Shelters in that month. When they realized this they sent out word and the people gathered and celebrated the Festival of Shelters as outlined in the Law. The people celebrated the Festival with joy. Ezra read from the Book of the Law each day and on the eighth day they all gathered for a solemn assembly.
     At the end of that month, the people gathered again for a day of fasting. They dressed in sackcloth and humbled themselves before God. Once more the Book of the Law was read to them. At the end of the three hour reading the people confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord for an additional three hours. Following that the leaders of the Levites called on the people to praise the Lord and led them in a prayer recounting the mighty miracles God had performed for their ancestors during the Exodus, miracles God performed for them despite their sins against Him.

     Having just said that he would spend the rest of his life as a vegetarian rather than cause someone to stumble in their faith in Christ, Paul asks a rhetorical question of his readers. He asks them if he does not have the right to accept support from the churches where he has preached the Gospel. Paul goes on to show that Scripture does indeed teach that those who pastor/teach/lead a congregation are entitled to financial support from that congregation. He then points out that despite the fact that he was entitled to support from the congregations he preached the Gospel to, he never asked for nor expected such support. Paul then tells them that he has no intent to start asking for such support now. He tells them that while he has a right to such support, he would rather die than accept it. Paul tells them that the reason he does not want to receive their support is because that is the only thing he has to boast of. He cannot boast of preaching the Gospel because he is compelled by God to do so. Paul did not consider preaching the Gospel to be something he did voluntarily. Since he has no choice (at least in his own mind) but to preach the Gospel, what reward is he entitled to? His answer is that he is not entitled to any reward. However, by preaching the Gospel without accepting any remuneration. Paul both becomes eligible for a reward and received that reward in the same action. Paul considers preaching the Gospel free of charge to his reward.

     The psalmist tells us that the people whose God is the Lord will experience joy, not in a personal sense, but in a corporate sense. No matter how well equipped you are, nor how strong, nor what aids you may have in your endeavors, you will not have success unless God is on your side. I will put my hope in the Lord because no matter how powerful those who strive to harm me, God will defend me. I will trust in His name.

     The simple gain wisdom by observing wrongdoers being punished, the wise gain wisdom by being instructed. God takes note of what the wicked think they are doing in secret and they will not escape the consequences of their evil.

     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.

     Nehemiah recounts how he never drew on the food allowance of the governor for the twelve years he was the governor of Judah, nor did he use his position as governor to acquire land. He and his men devoted their time to working on the wall. As the work on the wall reached completion Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab sent word requesting that Nehemiah meet them in a village outside of Jerusalem. Nehemiah suspected that they were plotting to ambush him and replied that he was working on an important project and could not take the time to come to meet them. Nehemiah’s enemies sent the same message to him requesting a meeting outside of the city to him four times. He sent the same reply to them every time. Finally, they sent a personal message with a message threatening to send word to the king of Persia alleging that Nehemiah was plotting to have himself named king of Judah and rebel against Persia. Nehemiah told the messenger to pass the word to his master that such allegations were baseless and that he was not going to meet with him.
     Later, Nehemiah went to visit a shut-in named Shemaiah. Shemaiah told Nehemiah that his enemies were coming to kill him that night and that they should go to the Temple and bolt the doors. Nehemiah refused to follow such advice to barricade himself in. Shortly after this they completed the walls and set up doors in the gates. During this time many letters went back and forth between nobles of Jerusalem and Tobiah. The nobles kept praising Tobiah to Nehemiah and passed everything Nehemiah said on to Tobiah. Many of the nobles in Jerusalem had sworn allegiance to Tobiah because of his family connections. After the wall was finished, Nehemiah appointed his brother as governor over Jerusalem and gave him instructions on keeping the city well guarded.

     Today Paul moves on to another topic, whether or not Christians may eat food offered to idols. This is not a topic of much concern to us today, but there is much we can learn from what Paul says on the topic. The first thing Paul tells us is that it is more important to love one another, and to act towards one another with love, than it is to have the correct knowledge. He further says that it is only through love that we gain full knowledge.
     From there Paul goes on to the specifics of eating meat offered to idols. He starts by expounding on the fact that idols are not truly gods. There is only one God. Some people worship many different gods, but we know that those gods are not truly gods at all. However, not all believers know this, more importantly, some believers are used to believing and behaving as if certain idols are real gods. As a result if and when they eat meat that has been offered to idols, they think of it as worship of those idols. We do not win God’s approval by what we do or do not eat. We do not lose anything in God’s eyes if we do not eat specific foods, nor do we gain anything if we do eat them.
     Paul goes on to tell us that since we neither gain, nor lose, by what we eat, we should consider the consciences of those whose faith is weaker than our own. He tells us that we should be careful to make sure that we do not exercise our freedom in Christ in such a manner as to cause someone with a weaker conscience to stumble into sin. If our actions might encourage our brother or sister in Christ to sin, we should choose not to take those actions.

     The psalmist calls on those who are godly to sing for joy and praise the Lord. It is fitting that those who He has purified praise Him. We can trust everything that God does. If something is just and good, we can be sure that God loves it. The psalmist tells us all we need to know of God’s power in verse six:

     The guilty follow a path that winds and twists, while the innocent are direct and open about their intentions and where they are headed. If you desire evil, you are evil.

     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.

     The passage starts with a continuation of the descriptions of which groups were working to repair which portions of the wall. When the account of who was rebuilding which portion the wall was complete, we are told that Sanballat and Tobiah came to view the work and were furious that the Jews were doing this. Sanballat mocked the work that was being done and Tobiah chimed in saying that the wall would collapse if even a fox walked on top of it. When Nehemiah heard their mockery, he prayed to God, asking God to hold them accountable for their attempt to belittle the builders and make them feel worthless. Nehemiah called such behavior a sin (and I would agree with him). Even so, before long the people had rebuilt the wall to half its height all the way around the city.
     When Sanballat, Tobiah and other leaders of surrounding peoples learned that they were making such progress on the wall, they made plans to attack the Jews at Jerusalem in order to disrupt the work. Jews who lived near those plotting to attack Jerusalem brought news to those working in Jerusalem of the planned attack. This news arrived just as those working on the rebuilding were becoming overwhelmed at the amount of work yet to be done in order to complete the wall. Nehemiah stationed armed guards at the weakest points in the walls and assigned some of the people to stand guard according to their families. Nehemiah called together the nobles, other leaders, and all of the people and told them not to be disheartened, God would stand with them. He encouraged them to stand and fight in defense of their families and neighbors. from that time forward, only half of Nehemiah’s men worked while the other half stood guard. In addition to this, those who worked on the wall made sure that they had weapons nearby. Nehemiah kept a trumpeter by his side at all times. He instructed the people that, since the work was spread out, they would need to rush to the sounds of battle to reinforce those who met any initial assault. Finally, he asked those who lived outside of Jerusalem who were working on the wall to move into the city until work was completed, so that they could help stand guard. When their enemies, those plotting to attack Jerusalem, learned that they were aware of the plans, they abandoned the idea of a sneak attack (probably in part because they would now likely be held accountable by the Persian king for such an attack). Nehemiah and those directly accountable to him remained at all times after the plot was revealed.
     In the middle of all of this, some of the men came to Nehemiah complaining of their financial hardship and how the leaders and aristocrats were exacerbating their troubles. One of the problems was that some of them were forced to sell their children into slavery in order to meet their living expenses. When Nehemiah heard their complaints he was angry. Nehemiah called together the nobles and wealthy among the Jews and confronted them over what they were doing. He pointed out that, as a group, they were attempting to buy out of slavery all the Jews they could find who were enslaved by pagans, yet some of the same people who were part of that group were selling Jews into slavery to pagans!
     Nehemiah admitted that he, and his brothers, and some of his men, had been lending money to people in order for the people to buy grain. Nehemiah then declared that he and those answerable to him would stop charging interest on the money they lent to their fellow Jews. He demanded the same of the other wealthy people among the Jews. They all agreed with that he was right and vowed that they would return the property they had obtained as interest for the money they had lent to other Jews. Nehemiah then called the priests and had all of those involved swear an oath before God to do as they had agreed. “And the people did as they had promised.”

     Paul continues his discussion about sexuality and marriage. He starts off this section by saying that what he is about to say is not a command from the Lord. Rather it is merely what is in his judgment wise advice. Paul tells them that he thinks that those believers who are unmarried would be wise to remain unmarried. He emphasizes that those who are married should remain married and make no attempt to end their marriage (this is a message that not enough congregations emphasize). Paul advises that those who are not married should remain unmarried, but that if they do get married, it is not a sin.
     Paul says that because we are living in troubled times, it would be better to remain unmarried so that we can focus on doing the Lord’s work and not have to think about meeting the needs and desires of a spouse. However, he tempers this advice by saying that those who struggle with sexual temptation would be well advised to get married and thus blunt that temptation by giving those desires a legitimate outlet. Paul expresses the opinion that in general it would be better for those who are single to remain single, but he acknowledges that not everyone is gifted by God to live in that fashion.

     The psalmist tells us that joy abounds for those whose sin has been forgiven. He tells us that as long as we refuse to confess our sins, as long as we deny that we are sinners, our sins will eat away at us. They will cause our bodies to waste away and our strength to drain from us. Our unconfessed sins will destroy our ability to reason and bring suffering upon us. However, if we confess our sins and repent of them, God will forgive us.

     Careful planning and hard work are the path to financial security, attempting to follow “get-rich-quick” schemes is the path to poverty. Gaining wealth by lies or evil violence will lead to trouble for those who employ such means and the wealth will not last.