Once the people got settled again after completing the walls around Jerusalem, they gathered on the first day of the seventh month (which by our calendar would have been early October) to listen to Ezra read the Law of Moses. The passage tells us that Ezra read the Law from early morning until noon to everyone who could understand and all of the people listened closely. While Ezra was reading from the Law there stood to either side of him thirteen Levites. I am not certain of this, but the passage reads to me as if these additional men were also reading the Law, with them spaced out so that everyone could hear what was being read (after all, this was in the days before amplifiers). As they read, they explained to the people what each passage meant, helping the people to understand what was being read. As they listened to the Law being read, the Spirit of God touched the people and they began to weep. We are not told why the people were weeping, but from the context I would guess it was as a result of their recognition that they had failed to live up to God’s commands. Nehemiah and the other leaders calmed the people and told them not to weep because this day was a day of sacred celebration and feasting. The leaders told them to go and celebrate with a feast and to share their feast with those who did not have.
     The following day, the leaders of the people met with Ezra to go over the Law in greater detail. As they studied they discovered that the Law had instructed the people to celebrate this festival by gathering branches and building temporary shelters in which to live during this festival. So, they instructed the people to do this and the returned exiles built such shelters and lived in them for the duration of the festival (which was seven days, with a solemn assembly on the eighth day).
     On the 24th day of the seventh month, they gathered again. This time they gathered for a time of penitence and mourning for their sins. The passage tells us that this time, they stood for three hours listening to the Law being read. Then, for another three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped God. And today we sometimes complain when our Sunday morning service goes over an hour and a half, most of which we spend seated on comfortable seats.

     Today’s passage is an interesting one. It appears that Paul is responding to rumors that question his authority and motives. He starts out by saying that while some might not view him as an apostle, certainly the Corinthian Church should. This makes sense here since the Greek word that is translated “apostle” (and which is the root for the word apostle itself) means delegated messenger. Paul was certainly God’s delegated messenger to deliver the Gospel to the Corinthians. Paul then goes on to give several examples which demonstrate that those who preach the Gospel are entitled to receive support from those they preach to. Paul points out that he was entitled to their support, but that he did not avail himself of it. He emphasizes that he does not wish to start doing so now.
     There are two things I take away from this passage. The first is that God calls on the Church to provide financial support to its preachers, teachers and missionaries. The second is one that people tend to overlook. Some people who are called into ministry are called by God to support themselves. The Church should call people into ministry and be prepared to provide support to those they so call. However, some fraction of those called are called by God Himself to support themselves, leaving those Church resources for use in other ministries. I do not know what percentage that should be, but it is a small number. I am sure the number would vary depending on the financial circumstances of those who make up the Church body which does the calling. I doubt it is ever much higher than 10% of those called to ministry and probably usually much lower.

     The psalmist tells us that military prowess is not sufficient to maintain a nation that does not have God’s favor. However, he also tells us that if we put our hope in God, He will protect us, no matter what other forces are arrayed against us. No matter what forces and troubles we face, we can have confidence that God is more than equal to shielding us from them.

     The simple-minded need to witness punishment before they will learn wisdom, while the wise simply need to be instructed in order to become wiser. The righteous know what the wicked do and recognize that such behaviors lead to destruction.

     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.