Walls anyone??

Is anyone else amazed at the grace of God after reading Ezra, and now starting Nehemiah? The Jews were taken into captivity because of their sins against God, but now God has not just allowed them to return to their home land, but allowed them to return wealthier and more numerous than before. God has also moved the hearts of the Babylonian kings to provide them with protection, provision and restores to them the items stolen from the temple. How amazing. It just goes to show you that when God disciplines, restoration is always his goal.

While the temple of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and Ezra tended to the spiritual needs of the people in Jerusalem, the walls of the city were still in shambles. Why was Nehemiah so upset when he learned this? The city walls were the protection for the city from raiders as well as symbols of strength and peace. While I'm sure he was concerned for the well-being of his fellow countrymen, there was also an element of shame associated with broken down walls of a city. Because Jerusalem was God's city, the shame of the broken down walls didn't just reflect on the Jews, but God himself. How powerful was a God who's people lived in a city with broken down walls?

All of this moved Nehemiah to first of all, mourn and fast. Keep in mind that Nehemiah had probably never set foot in Jerusalem before. I believe his distress came from a heart united with God over the plight of his people. When was the last time you were so moved over the plight of others or their spiritual welfare that you actually mourned and fasted? I don't know about you, but I'm certainly convicted here...

Then, he prayed. Anytime prayers are recorded in scripture, I pay attention. I find it interesting that he didn't pray for a plan or even direction. He already knew what God wanted him to do. All he asked for was 1. Forgiveness 2. God to remember his covenant and 3. "favor in the presence of this man." Who was the man? None other than the King of Babylon...Nehemiah was cupbearer to the King. God had already put him right where he would be needed. Earlier this week Terry posted about politics and power. We've already seen that God's power is greater than the political powers or the power of Kings and nations. Here, and later, we're going to read about how God uses faithful men (and women!) he places in the service of pagan Kings to move their hearts. Question...where has God put YOU???

It was about four months between his prayer and Nehemiah's opportunity to present his request to the King. To me, that means that the "favor" he requested was more than just his request being granted. For four months and possibly even earlier, as cup bearer to the King, Nehemiah would have had opportunity to show his character and faithfulness, and earn the true "favor" of the king- a respect and trust. Our battles for the Lord aren't always won in one big "showdown"- often it's in the tiny day to day decisions we make. Nehemiah's actions from possibly years past are what set him up to be able to request to be able to go back and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Note, he didn't get just a pass to go, but letters to provide safe passage, permission to use timber from the Kings forest and an armed guard consisting of officers from the King's army and cavalry! In all this, Nehemiah gives glory to God..."because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests." God is certainly gracious, and shows it here!

Once arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah sets about motivating the Jews to rebuild the walls. I can imagine that previously it had seemed an incredibly daunting task. Jerusalem was a large city, and from what it sounds like, none of the walls were in any type of good condition. He encouraged the people by telling them all God had done for him in allowing him to come there. Sometimes visions just need to be shared! He also sets up a very efficient system for rebuilding the walls- that used anyone in the city willing to work. There were a few (3:5) who wouldn't help and thought they were above the work. Every group has some...and sometimes the best practice is just to ignore them so they don't drag the rest of the group down. Nehemiah enlisted everyone to simply be responsible for the part of the wall closest to their home or place of business. This meant that they didn't have to waste time walking to a more distant part of the wall, were able to keep their "day jobs," would probably be more motivated to work quickly and properly, and could defend their family incase of an attack. It also allowed the rebuilding to be a family affair. I love that one mans daughters got involved in the heavy lifting! When we all do part of the work, no one has to do all the work. It's an old testament example of the "body of christ" at work!

When we look at the world around us, the task of making a difference for Christ can seem so daunting. I pray that God will place a task on our hearts like Nehemiah. Remember, God has placed you where you are now for a reason. Be faithful there. God will provide (graciously!) for the task he calls you to! Remember it is for HIS glory...and may all of us be willing to do our part.

On a more personal note...I don't know what sort of captivity God may have brought you out of. When He graciously restores you (which he will!)...don't forget about your own personal "walls." We all have areas of spiritual weakness, where we are open for attack. Work on building them up and restoring them. Remember, God will (and has) provide the materials we need just like he did Nehemiah. It may require some practical steps on our part to actually USE them. There isn't a whole lot super spiritual about laying brick and mortar...but it still brought glory to God.

Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Resist him, standing firm in the faith

because you know that your brothers throughout the world

are undergoing the same kinds of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Return to Jerusalem and Return to God

Today we see in this scripture the genealogy of all of those that went with Ezra from Babylon back to Jerusalem during the reign of King Artaxerxes. Ezra gathered all the people together by the river that runs to Ahava (which means love), they stayed there for three days. Ezra took inventory of the people that were in their group and realized that they didn’t have any Levites. For some reason none of the Levites had volunteered. Ezra had to have them recruited. I wonder if the Levites had forgotten their special calling or maybe they were discouraged. This makes me think about how we, as a church, tend to let the world do our job. Maybe we should be more willing to do what ever it is that God has called us to do.


Ezra proclaimed a three day fast to God there at the Ahava Canal. He wanted God’s leadership in which way they should travel and his protection for the journey. They had a lot of gold and silver with them, that robbers would love to take. They also had their wives and children with them, so they wanted to make sure they were safe. Ezra wanted to rely fully on God for their protection and didn’t want to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen. He had told the king that the hand of God was upon them so he wanted to prove it. Ezra and the people fasted and prayed for the protection and guidance along the way and Go heard them.

Next we read about the leaders going to Ezra to tell him about the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites marrying daughters of the people groups around them. This was a bad thing because it brought in things that were ungodly into their homes and ways of life. This is why God said in 2 Corinthians 6:14 not to be yoked together with an unbeliever. A marriage is the coming together of a man and woman to become ONE. Faith will be an issue and if you’re not on the same page someone or both will have to compromise his or her beliefs for the sake of the marriage.


The people were returning to the very thing that caused them to be driven out of Jerusalem to start with and to be taken into captivity. The horrible part about it is that the very religious leaders were taking part in these practices. They were supposed to be setting an example.

Ezra was so upset when he heard this that he tore his clothes and pulled his hair out of his head and out of his beard. At the evening sacrifice Ezra fell on his knees and lifted his hands to God and prayed to God saying he was ashamed of the sins that we, your people have committed. Did you notice the humility of Ezra in including himself in the prayers. Ezra begged God for mercy on his people.

Then the people come to their senses. A large group of Israelites gathered and saw Ezra praying and confessing to the Lord. They saw him weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God. This is where it starts to get a little confusing to me. They decided to get rid of all the wives and children that were of the land, the pagans.

God had warned them not to mingle with these people and now they were in a mess. Ezra told them they had to confess to God and do his will by separating themselves from their foreign wives. This affected over 100 families. How sad.

I really had a difficult time with this last chapter of Ezra. I know that God hates divorce so what was happening here? Malachi 2:16a: "I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel." “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6) I read some notes on this text that explained that some of the practices of the pagan culture was to just live together as if being married. That sounds like today’s society. So, does that mean it wasn’t an actual divorce? My heart breaks every time I hear about divorce and especially when there are children involved. Even now my heart aches at the thought. How difficult was this for them to all decide to send away their wives and children? I did read in my study notes that these “marriages” were something that could be compared to a Christian marrying a devil worshiper. Above all else God must be first. He should be our everything and the people of Israel had done a terrible thing. To be with these pagan women was committing spiritual adultery. The good thing about this is that they did what they needed to do to make their hearts right with God, for themselves and for the good of their people. I do hope to get some more insight on this part or Ezra. Lord, thank you for your Word.

The Second Temple: Politics and Prose

When exactly are we not supposed to talk about religion and politics? Well, I'm breaking the rules. Here we go...

According to Merriam Webster, one of the definitions of politics is simply this: "the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy". The mention of politics usually has a negative connotation these days. My husband loves to discuss politics and his opinions of current U.S. government policy. I have learned a lot from him, but am also sometimes overwhelmed at the job I believe needs to be done to guide or influence current day policies. To be honest, I usually feel helpless to impact change such a grand scale.

In these chapters of Ezra, we clearly see politics involved with the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. We also read several letters written to Persian kings and the responses. (I enjoyed reading those, didn't you?) As always, there were those who opposed God's work. In this case, they were disturbed about the rebuilding of the temple. These people wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes with their opinions, persuasive statements, and request to stop the work of building the temple. They claimed to be concerned with lower tax revenues and "honor" of the king. Sound familiar? In this case, these people make a difference. Under King Artaxerxes' decree, the temple efforts were temporarily stopped.

The oppositions' motives were selfish, but we know that God's plan would not be thwarted. Several years later, the Jewish elders resumed work on the temple. Again, the opposition complained through written letters. However, this time King Darius was moved to follow the previous commands of King Cyrus for the Jewish people to rebuild the temple. God not only to allow the rebuilding to continue. He also wanted to make sure the Israelites had everything they needed and paid for it from his royal treasury.

Praise God... He provided and still does!

The second temple was completed and the "people of Israel... celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy" (6:16). We read that they were offering sacrifices, reestablishing the service of priests and Levites, and celebrating (Passover) "according to what is written in the Book of Moses" (6:18). I believe they were experiencing a spiritual revival after their period of exile. They were re-rooting themselves in God's commands and promises. The Israelites had persevered through ridicule and opposition and now were able to celebrate.

We also see the dedication of studying the Law of the Lord in the life of Ezra. "The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him." (7:6). Ezra was also allowed to return to Jerusalem with many other Israelites including those to serve in and maintain the temple. God moved in the king's heart to provide anything Ezra needed for the temple and to allow Ezra to return the remaining treasures to the temple. Ezra's response was to acknowledge God's work and to praise Him. Ezra returned to Israel and took many others with him.

In current days, extreme politics continue around the temple site in Jerusalem. This is arguably, THE hot spot on earth today as the Muslims and Jews continue to battle over this piece of land. There is a plethora of information about the first, second, and third temples on the Internet. If you are interested, take a few minutes (or hours) and search Google, youtube, and Wikipedia.

Miraculously through God, we are able to unite with the Israelites from 2500 years ago. We can also celebrate with joy today because His temple is completed in us through Jesus Christ.

"The God who made the world and everything in it
is the Lord of heaven and earth
and does not live in temples built by hands."
~ Acts 17:24