Throughout the Old and New Testament, there are instructions on the treatment of poor individuals. Also, lest we think that the existence of needy individuals in this world is temporary Jesus informs us differently in words He spoke to his disciples in Mark 14:7a, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.” In chapter 5, this issue of poverty and the treatment of the poor in the Israel community arose. Despite the laws concerning the poor (Exodus 22, 23; Leviticus 19, 23, 25; Deuteronomy 14, 15, 24) given to Israel by God via Moses there were greedy, disobedient, wealthy individuals who were oppressing their fellow countrymen. Thus, Nehemiah had to address and rectify this problem.
Three groups had come to Nehemiah and informed him of their suffering due to hunger, famine, working on the wall instead of harvesting their crop and the Persian taxes. Also, children were being enslaved, and exorbitant interest was being paid to the wealthy.
This report greatly disturbed Nehemiah, who first reflected on the matter before he took any action. Then Nehemiah chided the wealthy Jews who were exploiting the poor and using himself as an example, shared his practice of buying back and releasing the Jews that had been sold into slavery.
After being addressed by Nehemiah, the guilty parties agreed to rectify their injustices and restore all that had been taken without penalty. Additionally, Nehemiah made them take an oath before the priest to seal their pledge, and he gave them a symbolic illustration of what would happen to them if they disobeyed their oath.
The chapter ends with a short synopsis of Nehemiah’s tenure as governor, how he served the people, cared for those in his household, and his desire for God to bless him for his actions.
The gleaning points that I have received from this chapter are:
- When people are in oppressive situations, they will cry.
- People want to be fed.
- Disobedience results in hardship.
- Think before speaking.
- Speak directly to wrongdoers.
- When you are wrong, don’t attempt to justify your wrongdoings.
- Don’t give the world reasons to criticize or judge you.
- Restoration is needed to rectify injustices.
- Be true to your words.
- Your actions reveal your servanthood qualities.
Chapter 4 of Nehemiah shares several accounts of opposition toward the reconstruction efforts of the Jews.
The work was being accomplished, and the walls around Jerusalem were being built; however, everyone was not happy with this project. Sanballat the Horonite who was the governor of Samaria and Tobiah the Ammonite, a local official continued in their ridicule and attempted to discourage the Jews. In response to their actions, Nehemiah prays and places them in God’s hands requesting severe judgment to be bestowed upon them.
Thankfully, the Jews were not deterred for they continued working and half of the intended height of the wall was reached which served to infuriate further the opposition who then gathered others to their side. Nehemiah 4:7-8 records their responds as, “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.” Thus, this possible enemy convergence caused the Jews to pray and establish a 24-hour watch while continuing to work.
Consequently, the spirit of discouragement attempted to overtake some of the Jews. First, the people of Judah became discouraged because of the workload and secondly when the Jews that lived near to the vast surrounding opposition came privy to their plans of attack they repeatedly came and shared the information with Nehemiah. Therefore, Nehemiah placed guards behind the walls and on top of the walls by families with their weapons prepared to fight, and he spoke encouraging and inspirational words to the people, reminding them, they were fighting for Jerusalem and their families. As a result of these actions, the enemy abandoned their plan of attack.
Additionally, Nehemiah divided his servants into two groups: one group worked with their weapons on them, while the others stood guard with their weapons. Also, he kept a trumpeter near-by to sound an alarm which would assemble the people at a set place to war, and for extra precautions, during the building process, he persuaded the Jews to stay in Jerusalem rather than return to their homes in the surrounding communities.
The last verse of this chapter ends showing the determination and tenacity of Nehemiah and the people; it says, “So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that everyone put them off for washing” (Nehemiah 4:23).
This chapter contained a myriad of gleaning points, so I am posting those that I feel will be beneficial and they are:
- The enemy becomes angry when he sees the work of God progressing.
- The enemy will attempt to discredit your efforts.
- When one plan of the enemy does not work, he comes with another; he has an arsenal.
- The enemy has people standing by to join his attack against you.
- Prayer should always be the foundation of problem-solving.
- God will allow the enemies plan to be exposed.
- Building and fighting are to be done simultaneously.
- Pray and watch.
- When people have a mind to work, they will not be easily deterred.
- Rather than speaking to a man about your problems, speak to God.
- Weak areas need to be fortified.
- Believers must be vigilant twenty-four hours a day.
- The greatness of our God helps us to overcome the fear of men.
- Don’t become complacent with past achievements continue to work; pursue new goals.
- Protect your accomplishments.
It was time to do the work. Previously the walls and gates of the city had been shattered and burned down, and without them, the inhabitants of Jerusalem were left defenseless. Therefore, under the leadership and coordination of Nehemiah, the Jews reconstructed the walls and gates with their assigned work location near their homes and business. Plus, when some completed their assignment, they went to helped others.
Willingly people of every status and occupation volunteered and worked side by side. There were priest, Levites, rulers, artisans, merchants, goldsmiths, apothecaries, commoners, women, and children. This included those that lived in Jerusalem and their countrymen who lived in the surrounding area.
The walls of the city encompassed ten gates whose names were: the sheep gate, the fish gate, the valley gate, the dung gate, the gate of the fountain, the water gate, the horse gate, the east gate, and the gate Miphkad. For an orderly fashion of work to be achieved the walls and gates were divided into sections and Eliashib, the high priest and his brethren were the first to start the wall reconstruction near the sheep gate which was close to the temple and when they were completed, they sanctified their area.
Finally, there was a group of nobles from Tekoa who refused to participate in the work; however, the work continued without them.
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- Leaders are to be seen leading.
- There will always be those who feel they are above others. They are unwilling to share in the work, but they want to receive the benefits of those that labored.
- Everyone should have a specific place in which to work.
- People are more committed to their task when it does not separate them from their family and livelihood.
Nehemiah petitioned God for favor with the king in the month of Chisleu (December), and it is now Nisan three months later that while he is doing his job, the king finally responds to Nehemiah’s demeanor. After being questioned by the king concerning his countenance, Nehemiah explains his sadness is caused by the ruinous conditions of his homeland, and he asks the king if he would permit him to go there and work on its restoration.
With King Artaxerxes permission and blessing, Nehemiah is given leave to go to Jerusalem. Also, the king sends captains of the army and a cavalry to accompany him, gives him a letter to give to the governors beyond the river which would provide him with protection while he is traveling, and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest to provide him with lumber for his home and the gates and walls of the city.
Upon arrival, Nehemiah did not inform the people of his commission but took three days to quietly assess the city before doing a secret survey at night of the disrepair, and then he addressed his countrymen with his testimony, findings, and plan which needed their assistance to be accomplished. Their response, as recorded in Nehemiah 2:18b was, “Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
Nevertheless, some district magistrates Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem who were opposers of the Jews confronted Nehemiah with derision, accusations, and mockery but Nehemiah response to them was, “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:20).
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- Some answers to prayer are not quickly attained.
- Don’t allow your emotional state to stop your assignment.
- Though you may be sad, you still must work.
- Speak to your employer, tactfully, and respectfully.
- Request help as needed from those who have power.
- Be strategic in your movement and planning.
- Leaders are awake while others sleep.
- Before talking, have a plan.
- Share your testimony; it builds faith.
- Seek the cooperation of your fellow laborers.
- Don’t become sidetracked or discouraged by your adversary.
- With the good hand of God upon you, you will be successful.
Nehemiah was serving as the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia when he receives a discouraging verbal report from some fellow countrymen concerning Jerusalem. This report revealed that the remnant Jews in Jerusalem were under opposition and the walls and gates of the city remained in a deplorable state.
Previously, during the time of the Ezra, and the second remnant groups return to Jerusalem an erroneous report from their opposition had been sent to King Artaxerxes which resulted in him stopping the rebuilding of the walls (Ezra 4). So, since that time, no repairs had been done, and the Jews were defenseless, disgraced, and discouraged.
Nehemiah’s response was similar to Ezra and mournfully, he retreats to prayer and fasting. In his prayer he acknowledges the greatness and mercy of God, he requests God to hear his prayer, he confesses the sins of the Jews, he reminds God of the covenant that He made with his forefathers, and he asked Him to cause the king to grant him a favor.
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- Bad news will find you.
- Don’t forget your homeland
- When faced with issues, pray.
- Before petitions, confession of sins is needful.
- God is our complete source, and it is He who causes men to respond positively to us.
- Put God in remembrance of His Word.
I just completed blogging the book of Ezra, and I thought it is only fits that I also do the book of Nehemiah since they were considered one book in the Hebrew Bible until they were separated in the fifteenth century A.D.
It is believed that the book of Nehemiah was written by Ezra and Nehemiah and the recording of this book took place in the postexilic period of Jewish history.
Thirteen years after the second group of Jews returned to Jerusalem, Nehemiah the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes of Persia travels there with his primary concern being the political and geographical restoration of Jerusalem. He became the governor of Jerusalem from 444 to 432 B.C.at which time he returned to Persia and then came back to Jerusalem in 430 B.C. and resumed his post. Under his leadership, the Jews experienced opposition; however, he did not allow it to deter them from accomplishing his God-given assignment.
Both the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are a testament to what believers can accomplish with the help of God. As you read the blogs on Nehemiah, I pray they will inspire you to keep moving ahead despite what you see, hear, or feel. God richly bless you and may His hand rest heavily upon you.
At the conclusion of Ezra’s praying, confession and lamentation, a massive congregation of repented Jews gathered around him, and a spokesperson named Shecaniah addressed Ezra first acknowledging the trespasses of the people and then with the hope that if the nation repented God would possibly extend His mercy to them. He also proposed that Ezra make a covenant with the people requiring those who married foreign women to divorce them and to shun the children born to that union.
With the cooperation of his fellow countrymen, Ezra sent an order to the residence of Judah to gather themselves in Jerusalem within three days, and those that failed to assemble would forfeit their property and be excommunicated from the congregation. With all assembled Ezra shared the covenant proposal to which the people agreed; however, due to the adverse wintry months, they were experiencing they requested that Ezra allowed them to return to their homes and let the judges in their cities oversee this mandate with the completion date of three months given. At the end of the set time, Ezra and specified leaders sanctioned the findings and actions of the judges; plus a register of those that had married Canaanite women which included priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, and commoners was made. Thus, ends of the book of Ezra.
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- Those of us that can see the sins of our nation should be weeping, praying, and fasting for the nation.
- There is a need for national repentance.
- Our only hope is in God for we need His mercy to exist.
- Those that are willing and obedient will stand correction.
- No one is above the Law of God.
- Covenants are to be taken seriously.
- Separation from the world remains a mandate for believers.
- Repentance is not repentance if there is no change.
- The prosperity and blessings of God on a nation can be determined by the obedience of its people to the Laws of God.
I conclude this study of Ezra with a statement found in the Holman Bible Handbook, which I believe applies to all believers today as it was in the days of Ezra. “The Jews survived because they found their identity as God’s people not in nationalistic dreams but a renewed commitment to God’s Word.”
The Jews have once again settled in the promised land, and Ezra receives a report that leaves him utterly dismayed; the Jews (priest, Levites, rulers, and commoners) had intermarried with the idolatrous heathen neighbors exposing themselves and their children to the possibility of idolatry. Many years ago God had warned Israel via Moses not to do this because it would lead them astray (Exodus 34:11-12; Deut. 7:1-6); however, they disobeyed and it was one of the major factors in their downfall which resulted in their captivity. Apparently, the people had not learned from the sinful mistakes of their forefathers; for now, they were repeating this disastrous act.
Upon hearing the report, in a display of overwhelming grief, Ezra sat down appalled in the temple, tore his garments and plucked off the hair of his head and beard. Those that saw Ezra and realized the seriousness of his action joined in the lamentations of Ezra.
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Ezra changed his posture and knelt in prayer with outstretched hands before God. In his prayer, Ezra voiced his shame, the ever-increasing sins of the Jews and the consequence of their sinful actions, God’s amazing grace and favor extended to the remnant in returning them to their homeland, his gratitude to the righteous God and their dependence on God’s mercy.
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- Time does not erase the Laws of God
- God’s law does not change.
- Disobedience to the Laws of God should cause believers to grieve.
- Repentance is needed when we sin.
- Knowing God’s laws and the consequence of disobedience should cause believers to cease sinning.
Because of our sinful nature, believers need God’s mercy to be continually extended to them.
Chapter 7 talked about the departure from Babylon of the second group of Jews and their arrival in Jerusalem; now, chapter 8 shares that journey.
This chapter opens with verses 2-14 recording the genealogy of those that traveled to Jerusalem with Ezra; however, before their departure when all the Jews assembled at the designated departure location Ezra discovered that there were no Levites among them. Thus, he sent a delegation to Casiphia to recruit some Levites who would be involved with the temple ministry upon their arrival in Jerusalem. This resulted in thirty-eight Levites and two hundred twenty Nethinim joining the group, and accordingly, Ezra was able to give twelve priests and twelve Nethinim the responsibility of handling, guarding and transporting the valuable gifts and monies that would be used in the temple.
Ezra had boasted highly about God’s supreme power and faithfulness; therefore, he did not want to ask the king to send a military escort with them. However, he and the traveling Jews fasted and prayed before leaving and asked God for traveling mercies. Despite the 900 miles perilous journey and the marauding plundering tribes of the desert with God’s hands on them the group arrived unmolested in Jerusalem where they were able to deliver and record the gifts and monies for the temple, offer burnt offerings and convey to the nearby Persian satraps the king’s wishes for continued assistance for which they complied.
The gleaning points from this chapter are:
- In life, we have a beginning, an end and the unknown in-between which we can call “the journey.”
- Ministry gifts and offices are needed for the work of the ministry.
- There is no comparison; God’s help always supersedes that of man.
- Prayer and fasting before starting an assignment are always advisable and beneficial.
- God cares for His people; He provides traveling mercies.
- Offer thanks to God for answered prayers and all that He does for you.
Sixty years have passed, and another Persian king named Artaxerxes graciously authorized Ezra who was known as a priest, scribe, and scholar to escort a contingent of 17,000 willing, likeminded, exiled Jews to Jerusalem. Also, the decree given to Ezra revealed monies from the king’s treasury was given to him for the maintenance of worship, he had the ability to receive monies from other Persian officials along their travel route, he was given the power to establish a judicial system with judges and magistrates, tax exemption for the priest, Levites and temple helpers was to be given, and punishment was to be administered to those that opposed the king’s decree and disobeyed the laws of God. In closing the decree, Artaxerxes like his predecessors acknowledged his respect for the God of the Jews and his need for God’s benevolence.
After journeying from Babylon for approximately five months the group arrives safely in Jerusalem, and Ezra proclaims “Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem: And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me” (Ezra 7:27-28).
The gleaning points that I received from this chapter are:
- It may take years for the plan of God to be fulfilled.
- An excellent pattern to follow is found in Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” Ezra prepared himself for the task of instructing, reforming and edifying others before his departure. Thus, he learned the law, he practiced it, and then he taught it.
- In the book of Ezra the Jews, Zerubbabel, and Ezra were shown favor blessings and opportunities by King Cyrus, King Darius and King Artaxerxes and these kings caused others to respond positively to the work of the Lord. Hence, favor, blessings, and opportunities are yours when the hand of the Lord is upon you.
- ALWAYS acknowledge what God does in your life.
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