Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; (Nehemiah 10:28-29)
The covenant that is ratified here spelled out the details of the worship experience. They were to be faithful in their marital dealings with their daughters. They are not to be married to those outside the family of Israel. Their sons were not to marry daughters of pagans. Here is where God’s people had gotten into trouble. The people of God were not distinguishable among the nations that surrounded them. There was no uniqueness among them. So steps were taken to insure this. Agreement to be a set apart people was necessary to establish themselves as a unique nation once again. The danger in doing this is that it can foster racial discrimination when it reality it is spiritual discrimination. The admonition to have believers equally yoked can be applied here. When two people see the world through a different lens, then their purpose will not be a cohesive one. They will not travel life's road together. Their spiritual agendas and allegiances will be different. Their worship will be compromised because their gods are different. So here the people are restoring purity to their lives as it applies to worship. The Sabbath observance is next. Interesting that the domestic unity was brought forth first. Then the Sabbath. Because the Sabbath is only understood from the perspective of God's people. For example, when two people of unlike faith are joined together, the unbeliever will not stop selling merchandise to observe the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day. That’s not where the priority lies. More likely than not, the believer will stop observing the Sabbath to sell. It’s kind of like what happens when spotless white gloves that cover the hands are dipped into a bucket of mud. The result is muddy gloves instead of glovey mud. There is a commitment to giving as part of their worship experience. Unless we realize that we will not experience the fullness of worship. You can give without worship but you can’t worship without giving. Even in Nehemiah's day this was a reality. The context of this passage tells us even the details of the wood that was to be burned are spelled out. The supply of wood was a physical requirement and not to be overlooked. Kind of like heating and cooling in our buildings. These details are often elevated to a place where they should not be. But they are often overlooked and trivialized as well. Without wood, there would be no worship. What good would it be to bring a burnt offering when there was no provision for the burning? The giving of the firstfruits are highlighted here. We do well to remember that this is a personal requirement of worship. To freely worship the Living God, it should cost us something. We must let go of that which our hands tend to cling in order to open them to God and receive His blessing. Everyone had something to give, whether they could support the temple budget or not. The tithe is not to be forgotten. When God's people tithe, then they will support the worship of the house of God. In these ways, God's house is not neglected. But the house that we often get bound up in is made of bricks and sticks. The spiritual house of God, built on the foundation of the worship of God, is the House that God builds. And His people are engaged. The pattern I see here is the (1)dedication of our family structure is primary. It is hard to worship different gods. The unified worship in each family is brought together. They bring the desire to see the one true God worshipped as one committed people group. They give God their families. (2) Then they give God His Sabbath day. The setting apart of God's people precede the setting aside the time and manner of worship. Holy days are revered and observed once again. The purpose of God's people is being realized. Worship is central to their existence. (3) Then they give to fund the faithful worship of God. Their money is released as a resource. They realize that it is God's money after all. Once released in serious worship, people find that money does not hold power over them. (4) The commitment to attend to the physical aspects of worship is necessary. We need to make our physical facilities and trappings as functional as possible. Changing blown out light bulbs and cleaning the restrooms are things that are needful. (5) Regular first fruit giving and tithing are crucial to the spiritual life of God's people. It is here that the most are the least spiritually mature. The growth in a disciple is most likely stunted here. Do we worship God with our bank accounts? Ongoing ministry needs are met when people give in their worship experience. The house of God is not neglected when there is a healthy adoption of these 5 principles. They are critical to the worship experience within the family of God. The restoration of the house of God and the people of God continued in Jerusalem. The good news is that restoration is still possible today…in the house of God…wherever people have a desire to see God glorified. It works every time it’s tried.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Crime Scene
They finished investigating all the men who had married foreign wives by the first day of the first month. (Ezra 10:17)
Have you ever passed by a place with the crime scene tape encircling the scene of the crime? I always wonder what might have taken place there, thinking about the change in the lives of the victims as well as the perpetrators. In the passage before us, we get a biblical drive-by observation of the aftermath of a spiritual crime scene. Much damage was done to God's people by generations of intermarriage. The restoration depended upon a heart-breaking remedy. Ezra grieved over what must be done. The men who had foreign wives must put them away or be excluded from the nation. As the investigation continued, the intermarriage seemed to be pervasive and common to all groups. The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the congregation of Israel were all affected. Families were affected. But the action was taken nonetheless. There was too much at stake not to act. To compromise and allow this behavior to remain, or to “grandfather” them in and only decree that it would no longer be tolerated, was not an option. The transgressors were not allowed to ignore this remedy. To put away their foreign wives would endeavor to undo what had been done wrong...at least as much as possible. This is the way of sin. Even when we undo what should not have been done in the first place, people are still hurt and the damage is great and longlasting. The families that had been produced from these ungodly unions were devastated in the remedy. The high cost of sin is compounded and magnified in the lives of others that we never anticipated. Sin is a condition that keeps on giving out what no one bargained for. Sin takes in life and gives out death, destruction, and disorder. Here is another example of a godly man doing what God requires…and grieving over the devastation. God is at war with sin and His remedy is to restore His people and deliver them from its influence. Ezra points us to our Great High Priest…who never compromises with sin…and picks up the pieces of His people's lives to restore them in right relationship with God.
Have you ever passed by a place with the crime scene tape encircling the scene of the crime? I always wonder what might have taken place there, thinking about the change in the lives of the victims as well as the perpetrators. In the passage before us, we get a biblical drive-by observation of the aftermath of a spiritual crime scene. Much damage was done to God's people by generations of intermarriage. The restoration depended upon a heart-breaking remedy. Ezra grieved over what must be done. The men who had foreign wives must put them away or be excluded from the nation. As the investigation continued, the intermarriage seemed to be pervasive and common to all groups. The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the congregation of Israel were all affected. Families were affected. But the action was taken nonetheless. There was too much at stake not to act. To compromise and allow this behavior to remain, or to “grandfather” them in and only decree that it would no longer be tolerated, was not an option. The transgressors were not allowed to ignore this remedy. To put away their foreign wives would endeavor to undo what had been done wrong...at least as much as possible. This is the way of sin. Even when we undo what should not have been done in the first place, people are still hurt and the damage is great and longlasting. The families that had been produced from these ungodly unions were devastated in the remedy. The high cost of sin is compounded and magnified in the lives of others that we never anticipated. Sin is a condition that keeps on giving out what no one bargained for. Sin takes in life and gives out death, destruction, and disorder. Here is another example of a godly man doing what God requires…and grieving over the devastation. God is at war with sin and His remedy is to restore His people and deliver them from its influence. Ezra points us to our Great High Priest…who never compromises with sin…and picks up the pieces of His people's lives to restore them in right relationship with God.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Remorse, Repentance, and Restoration
But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God; and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. (Ezra 9:5-6)
Repentance always comes before restoration. Repentance is the place where the Lord leads His people because His desire is to restore our ruination. How can we repent if we do not know where we are? Repentance is the place where the kindness of God leads a man. Ezra is overwhelmed with the grace of God, allowing them to return to rebuild Jerusalem and a godly culture. But the Ezra's realization was how can the Lord lead them into restoration while the people are in such a sinful condition? The prohibition of marrying outside of the faith had been ignored for generations. This was not a racial admonition, but a spiritual one. For how does a family worship the Living God when the family devotes themselves to the worship of idols? This kind of spiritually mixed marriage is fractured in their godly pursuits and the cause of many heartaches even in our day. Ezra knew their fallen condition. So did the Lord. But how about the people? Ezra’s struggle with the restoration is how would the people respond to the truth? How the Lord’s people deals with their sin is crucial to their restoration both in Ezra’s day and ours. Knowing the wrong, we must turn to the right. The grace of God is truly our guide. God reveals sin so we can repent. We can repent or change our life direction when we truly experience the kindness of God that leads us to godly sorrow. Restoration is only possible when repentance is practiced. When we become aware of the sin…and it grieves us because we sin against this Most Kind and Most High God, we are truly made aware of our constant failing and His consistent faithfulness. For God’s people of any age to move into real and meaningful restoration, repentance must be authentic. Repentance must be practiced. Repentance truly is a vital change of direction and our great hope for restoration.
Repentance always comes before restoration. Repentance is the place where the Lord leads His people because His desire is to restore our ruination. How can we repent if we do not know where we are? Repentance is the place where the kindness of God leads a man. Ezra is overwhelmed with the grace of God, allowing them to return to rebuild Jerusalem and a godly culture. But the Ezra's realization was how can the Lord lead them into restoration while the people are in such a sinful condition? The prohibition of marrying outside of the faith had been ignored for generations. This was not a racial admonition, but a spiritual one. For how does a family worship the Living God when the family devotes themselves to the worship of idols? This kind of spiritually mixed marriage is fractured in their godly pursuits and the cause of many heartaches even in our day. Ezra knew their fallen condition. So did the Lord. But how about the people? Ezra’s struggle with the restoration is how would the people respond to the truth? How the Lord’s people deals with their sin is crucial to their restoration both in Ezra’s day and ours. Knowing the wrong, we must turn to the right. The grace of God is truly our guide. God reveals sin so we can repent. We can repent or change our life direction when we truly experience the kindness of God that leads us to godly sorrow. Restoration is only possible when repentance is practiced. When we become aware of the sin…and it grieves us because we sin against this Most Kind and Most High God, we are truly made aware of our constant failing and His consistent faithfulness. For God’s people of any age to move into real and meaningful restoration, repentance must be authentic. Repentance must be practiced. Repentance truly is a vital change of direction and our great hope for restoration.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Wisdom Works
The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. (Proverbs 8:22-23)
Wisdom is the oldest thing in the universe but it never goes out of date. We need wisdom as much as any human ever has. And the Lord knows this. The Lord is timeless…and when He began His work of creation, He already had wisdom with Him. When we think that we have discovered wisdom, that it is some new thing, it is only new to us who are finite. Wisdom itself has an infinite history. It has been with the Lord all along. What are we to make of this? Do we not know that in the beginning there was only God? So what was wisdom doing there? If I read this chapter rightly beyond the text before us, Wisdom is the Agent of Creation. This passage declares that Wisdom is a Master Workman...a Maker of Wise Creatures, delighting in the sons of men. Wisdom is a Person. Wisdom is the Creator…God the Son…actively making the world and man in His image. This is the preincarnate Christ. This could be the One who walked with Man in the Garden. One who created the Man in His image. This God-Man was there in the Garden to warn about wise and foolish choices. This One would become a man who walked this fallen earth to restore the right image of God in man. Here we see Wisdom walking…in Eden…and we see Him through time walking in Jerusalem. So is He walking with me today? Is Wisdom my constant walking Companion? Has Wisdom possessed you at the beginning of your way? If we seek wisdom, if we seek Jesus …He will make Himself known to us. He will be manifested to man once again. When foolish people are born again…we have been breathed into spiritual life by the Wisdom and the Word of God. I have not found Wisdom as much as Wisdom has found me! Is your life a testimony that you are becoming a work of Wisdom?
Wisdom is the oldest thing in the universe but it never goes out of date. We need wisdom as much as any human ever has. And the Lord knows this. The Lord is timeless…and when He began His work of creation, He already had wisdom with Him. When we think that we have discovered wisdom, that it is some new thing, it is only new to us who are finite. Wisdom itself has an infinite history. It has been with the Lord all along. What are we to make of this? Do we not know that in the beginning there was only God? So what was wisdom doing there? If I read this chapter rightly beyond the text before us, Wisdom is the Agent of Creation. This passage declares that Wisdom is a Master Workman...a Maker of Wise Creatures, delighting in the sons of men. Wisdom is a Person. Wisdom is the Creator…God the Son…actively making the world and man in His image. This is the preincarnate Christ. This could be the One who walked with Man in the Garden. One who created the Man in His image. This God-Man was there in the Garden to warn about wise and foolish choices. This One would become a man who walked this fallen earth to restore the right image of God in man. Here we see Wisdom walking…in Eden…and we see Him through time walking in Jerusalem. So is He walking with me today? Is Wisdom my constant walking Companion? Has Wisdom possessed you at the beginning of your way? If we seek wisdom, if we seek Jesus …He will make Himself known to us. He will be manifested to man once again. When foolish people are born again…we have been breathed into spiritual life by the Wisdom and the Word of God. I have not found Wisdom as much as Wisdom has found me! Is your life a testimony that you are becoming a work of Wisdom?
Monday, October 22, 2012
God's Housekeepers
Now I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I observed the people and the priests, I did not find any Levites there. (Ezra 8:15)
Ezra looked for the Levites. He saw the people, he saw the priests, but he saw no Levites. Why was he concerned about this? This tribe was assigned the task of taking care of the house of worship. If the house was to be restored, the Levites were to be involved. If they were being activated, they needed to be trained again in the mission that had fallen by the wayside. Their national identity of being the people of Yahweh was at risk. The Levites were the Lord’s housekeepers. This is a lesson for our day. Pastors and ministry leaders are not to forget the housekeepers in the congregation. They are an integral part. These people are the ones who quietly serve in the small places that escape the limelight. True godly men and women know the value of the housekeepers. And I am not only talking about custodial stuff and custodial staff. I am talking about the people who keep the house…preserve its integrity…looking out for the things that are out of order and being willing to do something about the disorder. They are the ones who pray and have a burden to serve the Lord by serving His people. They are the ones who have a spirit like Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, who was a Levite and had a heart to give. The New Testament writer describes him as one of these housekeepers. God is orderly and His authority rests in the orderly worship in the midst of His people. We need to be like Ezra. Take a look around for those that are missing in our midst. Are there any housekeepers missing from the house? Look around for the housekeepers. Know their value. Encourage them to serve. Give thanks for their gifts and encouragement. And don’t leave on mission to restore God's house without them!
Ezra looked for the Levites. He saw the people, he saw the priests, but he saw no Levites. Why was he concerned about this? This tribe was assigned the task of taking care of the house of worship. If the house was to be restored, the Levites were to be involved. If they were being activated, they needed to be trained again in the mission that had fallen by the wayside. Their national identity of being the people of Yahweh was at risk. The Levites were the Lord’s housekeepers. This is a lesson for our day. Pastors and ministry leaders are not to forget the housekeepers in the congregation. They are an integral part. These people are the ones who quietly serve in the small places that escape the limelight. True godly men and women know the value of the housekeepers. And I am not only talking about custodial stuff and custodial staff. I am talking about the people who keep the house…preserve its integrity…looking out for the things that are out of order and being willing to do something about the disorder. They are the ones who pray and have a burden to serve the Lord by serving His people. They are the ones who have a spirit like Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, who was a Levite and had a heart to give. The New Testament writer describes him as one of these housekeepers. God is orderly and His authority rests in the orderly worship in the midst of His people. We need to be like Ezra. Take a look around for those that are missing in our midst. Are there any housekeepers missing from the house? Look around for the housekeepers. Know their value. Encourage them to serve. Give thanks for their gifts and encouragement. And don’t leave on mission to restore God's house without them!
Friday, October 19, 2012
War On The Home Front
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him. (Esther 1:10-12)
Domestic disputes occur even in the houses of kings. Here we have the ultimate clashing of desires. The king desiring to put the beauty of the queen on display. And the queen desiring not to do what the king wants her to do. We don't know the reason for the queen's refusal…only that she did not come. She refused the king's command. Interestingly, we are given the king's motivation. I wonder how the writer of Esther knew this. The wise men interpret that the queen's behavior will spark similar activities in households across the kingdom. Something must be done to act as a deterrent. Banishing the queen from the king's presence and selection of another is chosen as the course of action. So much for equal rights. The reality is that the rule of the king is absolute. The queen does not share the authority. The queen serves at the pleasure of the king. At least that’s the king’s understanding, The king's edict is sent to all the kingdom. The message is that every man should be the master in his own house and the speaker for his people. Every man is to be the king in his castle, so to speak. The story of Esther is about the sovereign rule of Almighty God, the King of all kings. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Almighty. So events such as this one is under the sovereign authority of God. How God does what He does is a marvelous thing. He uses the obstinate attitude of Vashti to create a selection process to place one of His people in a critical place at a crucial time. It is often said that the Lord will not overrule our will…that we have the ability to choose our acceptance of His way or reject it. Maybe so…maybe not. But I see in this passage what the Lord will do with our will. He will use even the stubborn and rebellious will of men and women to accomplish His purposes. Our rebellion does not thwart the work of God. The Lord can actually use the rebellious will of humanity to accomplish His sovereign plan. And He is still in the process of daily arranging the affairs of kings, queens, people and peasants to fulfill His purpose.
Domestic disputes occur even in the houses of kings. Here we have the ultimate clashing of desires. The king desiring to put the beauty of the queen on display. And the queen desiring not to do what the king wants her to do. We don't know the reason for the queen's refusal…only that she did not come. She refused the king's command. Interestingly, we are given the king's motivation. I wonder how the writer of Esther knew this. The wise men interpret that the queen's behavior will spark similar activities in households across the kingdom. Something must be done to act as a deterrent. Banishing the queen from the king's presence and selection of another is chosen as the course of action. So much for equal rights. The reality is that the rule of the king is absolute. The queen does not share the authority. The queen serves at the pleasure of the king. At least that’s the king’s understanding, The king's edict is sent to all the kingdom. The message is that every man should be the master in his own house and the speaker for his people. Every man is to be the king in his castle, so to speak. The story of Esther is about the sovereign rule of Almighty God, the King of all kings. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Almighty. So events such as this one is under the sovereign authority of God. How God does what He does is a marvelous thing. He uses the obstinate attitude of Vashti to create a selection process to place one of His people in a critical place at a crucial time. It is often said that the Lord will not overrule our will…that we have the ability to choose our acceptance of His way or reject it. Maybe so…maybe not. But I see in this passage what the Lord will do with our will. He will use even the stubborn and rebellious will of men and women to accomplish His purposes. Our rebellion does not thwart the work of God. The Lord can actually use the rebellious will of humanity to accomplish His sovereign plan. And He is still in the process of daily arranging the affairs of kings, queens, people and peasants to fulfill His purpose.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Preach To Me
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim 4:16)
Preach to yourself…and the Lord's message will be more relevant to others. It will be more real and not some abstract theory if you are part of the process. It will be more practical if we are seen practicing the truths of the faith. For how will we teach others about pursuing godliness unless we are pursuing it ourselves? This young preacher is warned about false teachers teaching demonic doctrines. The power of godly teaching that effects transformation will always be opposed by spiritual forces bent on our destruction and the attempt to diminish God's message into irrelevance. To be the most effective teacher, I must communicate a firm belief in what I believe. One thing I believe is that the Lord is able to transform us into the image of Christ when we learn to live within the authority of His word...practicing His teaching...practicing what we preach. I must preach to myself. Godliness is the goal. Teaching godliness requires that I am becoming more godly and the example of my life will confirm this for all to see. When I do not practice what I preach I can become one of those false teachers…teaching doctrines of demons…one of them being that God is not true to His word. Doctrines of demons consist of any teaching not grounded in the truth of God's word. This truth will set us free to serve the Lord and free from slavery to sin. When we are living God's word and learning how to worship Him rightly there should be progress toward Christlikeness. People should be able to see my spiritual progression…not regression. I don’t want to go backward from where I’ve come. Forward…godliness...is the goal. When I preach to me it is because I always need to be reminded of my destiny...and since I am going to be with Jesus it is required that I am to be more like Jesus.
Preach to yourself…and the Lord's message will be more relevant to others. It will be more real and not some abstract theory if you are part of the process. It will be more practical if we are seen practicing the truths of the faith. For how will we teach others about pursuing godliness unless we are pursuing it ourselves? This young preacher is warned about false teachers teaching demonic doctrines. The power of godly teaching that effects transformation will always be opposed by spiritual forces bent on our destruction and the attempt to diminish God's message into irrelevance. To be the most effective teacher, I must communicate a firm belief in what I believe. One thing I believe is that the Lord is able to transform us into the image of Christ when we learn to live within the authority of His word...practicing His teaching...practicing what we preach. I must preach to myself. Godliness is the goal. Teaching godliness requires that I am becoming more godly and the example of my life will confirm this for all to see. When I do not practice what I preach I can become one of those false teachers…teaching doctrines of demons…one of them being that God is not true to His word. Doctrines of demons consist of any teaching not grounded in the truth of God's word. This truth will set us free to serve the Lord and free from slavery to sin. When we are living God's word and learning how to worship Him rightly there should be progress toward Christlikeness. People should be able to see my spiritual progression…not regression. I don’t want to go backward from where I’ve come. Forward…godliness...is the goal. When I preach to me it is because I always need to be reminded of my destiny...and since I am going to be with Jesus it is required that I am to be more like Jesus.
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