based on the Love God Greatly Study, From Broken to Restored / w2d1
“These next few chapters of Nehemiah (chapters 4-6) recount the opposition the Jews faced as they began rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The author of Nehemiah intentionally included these details, reminding his readers that opposition to God’s work is not a reason to stop.” borrowed from the LGG devotional journal, from Broken to Restored, w2d1
For foreigners attack me; ruthless men, who do not respect God, seek my life. (Selah) 4 Look, God is my deliverer. The Lord is among those who support me. 5 May those who wait to ambush me be repaid for their evil. As a demonstration of your faithfulness, destroy them.
Psalm 54:3-5
The details of today’s passages are helpful because they let us know who was opposing the Jews in the rebuilding of the walls. You might find it interesting to know they weren’t only enemies of God but they were also from the family of God’s people – sons of Lot, one (Moab, the Moabite) through his oldest daughter and one (Ben Ammi, the Ammonite) through his youngest. (Genesis 13:1-18, 19:36-38; Numbers 22:3-6; Deuteronomy 2:19, 23:3-4).
The rebuilding of the wall meant opposition early on, as is seen in most of our passages today. Nehemiah 4:1-5 tells about one of those situations and gives us insight on handling the opposition. Nehemiah leads/teaches by example – he PRAYS. He actually prays a very bold prayer. This is also true of the Psalmists’ words in 54:3-5, who is dealing with terrorists (foreign attackers), ruthless me, who did not respect God. The Psalmist reminds the people to remember that God is His deliverer and is among His supporters. Then, he too, prays a bold prayer of faith against his attackers.
It seems we would be wise to remember God in these ways as well, One that delivers and supports His people. When we are distressed by the evil of this world or the personal attacks/battles of life — the first thing we should do is – SEEK GOD! He is our faithful deliverer.
The LGG Team wrote it like this:
Like Nehemiah, when we face opposition, we need to remember God’s faithfulness. he will help us accomplish the work He has given us, and He will guard and defend His people until His will is done. It doesn’t matter who opposes us. God may not immediately remove the opposition we face, but He is always faithful to give us endurance as we continue in His good work.
based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored /w1d4
They will rebuild the perpetual ruins and restore the places that were desolate; they will reestablish the ruined cities, the places that have been desolate since ancient times.
Isaiah 61:4
Don’t you just love reading/seeing the prophecies of the Scriptures fulfilled. Each one an encouragement that God’s promises are sure and certain and each one an assurance that Jesus is truly coming again!
Today’s Love God Greatly Devotional points out that more than three-hundred years passed between the promise God spoke through Isaiah and Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Actually, “when God made this promise, Jerusalem had not yet been destroyed.” However, they had been “warned” about the consequences of their disobedience. Yet, as the writer of the LGG devotion states, “God also promised that He would restore them, rebuilding what had been ruined and devastated.”
This is exactly what happens in Nehemiah 3. Gate after gate and section after section is rebuilt. Perhaps the most beautiful thing about the rebuilding for me, is that God allowed the people to participate in the rebuilding process. Seriously, go back and read the entire report. It’s worth reading every verse to see the personal involvement of God’s people – whether family units or priests, temple servants, goldsmiths, or inexperienced people – they came – one after another after another – and worked together to rebuild the walls.
Then I said to them, “You see the problem that we have—Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.” 18 Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, “Let’s begin rebuilding right away!” So they readied themselves for this good project.
Nehemiah 2:17-18
If you look back to chapter two, specifically verse seventeen and eighteen, you will hear Nehemiah’s plea coupled with what I would call a cheer. After pointing out the problem they were facing was the desolation of Jerusalem he pleads for them to “come on.” He urges them, “let’s rebuild the wall;” and he cheers them on by assuring them that God’s hand was on Him. Read carefully and you will see that in large part their participation was due to the encouraging and passionate invitation of Nehemiah.
Going Further
Today’s going further is borrowed from the From Broken to Restored journal, w1d4. Read, reread, and then dwell on it for a bit. Let it soak in that no matter the season you are in – God is not only working in and on you but He invites you to join Him in the rebuilding process.
Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
While our SOAP verse comes from Colossians I couldn’t help but get caught up with pieces of the passage from Nehemiah. Namely, that Nehemiah sought God before seeking the King’s favor toward him; and that Nehemiah had a plan and a purpose – and God was with him.
Do then the best you can, not for reward – not for the praise of man – but for the LORD.
The instructions we find in verses twenty-three and twenty-four of Colossians chapter three are very similar to the instructions we find in Nehemiah. Paul teaches the people that when we are truly serving the Lord Jesus we will work enthusiastically for the LORD and not for the glory or pleasure of the people. We will look forward to our ‘inheritance’ as a sure and certain reward. Surely no reward or praise that man may give can be better than the inheritance of eternal life with our God.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Based on the Love God Greatly Study, From Broken to Restored
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Ezra 1:1-4, 7:1-10; 2 Peter 3:8-13 / SOAP: 2 Peter 3:9-10
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
2 Peter 3:9-10
Part of the back story of our study is that God allowed Jerusalem to be taken captive by Babylon because of their idolatry and disobedience. During this time many people were killed, the temple was destroyed, and Jerusalem was laid to waist. It’s easy to consider this ancient history of God’s people not relevant to us today but it is – not just concerning the history of God’s people but concerning the promises and faithfulness of our God. Commentators for gotquestions.org describe it as something that Christians should be familiar with, saying:
The seventy-year period of the Babylonian captivity is an important part of Israel’s history, and Christians should be familiar with it. Like many other Old Testament events, this historical account demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His people, His judgment of sin, and the surety of His promises.
gotquestions.org
In their devotional on today’s passages the LGG team wrote the following:
The Babylonians captured Jerusalem and took the people into exile by transporting them to Babylon, where they remained for seventy years. -Nehemiah was living in Persia, not having returned to Jerusalem like many others. However, God used Nehemiah and his connections to the king of Persia to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and to turn the hearts of the people of Judah back to Him.
From Broken to Restored / week1day1
Are you waiting on something? Whether it is God’s promised return or a job, marriage, a house, a child or perhaps God’s healing hand on you or someone you know – waiting is difficult. Seventy years must have seemed like forever for the Israelites, and whatever your wait is may seem like forever – but we must remember, God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purpose Whether it is the redemption of His people or the strengthening of their faith – God is not waisting the time.
Father God, thank You that You do not waste time – instead You use it for good … Your good, Your glory, the good of Your people, and to accomplish Your good and holy purpose. Thank You for the hope that is ours while we wait on You God, for we see and know the truth of Your promises and the depth of Your faithfulness! In Him we pray
Trust in the Lord and do what is right. Settle in the land and maintain your integrity. 4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers. 5 Commit your future to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
Psalm 37:3-5
I love the profound yet simplistic passages like this. David, the Psalmist, uses the if this, then that process, which is very much how my brain works. He gives us four directives:
Trust
Obey
Live, or as it means here – Abide ( which is defined by bibleref.com as – more than merely existing or surviving . It is wholehearted engagement! ) This wholehearted engagement most likely looks like what Moses taught in Deuteronomy 6:5 and what Jesus Himself said summed up all of the commandments in Luke 10:27, namely – “You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.”
The fourth and final directive is, “Commit your future to the LORD.”
These directives are summed-up in verse 5, repeating where he started in verse 3 – “Trust in the LORD.” It is worth noting that unless you trustthe LORD, the second, third, and fourth directives are unlikely to be done. When we trust – all the rest will follow, and we will find ourselves delighting in the LORD and seeing Him working in our lives.
The Psalmist says when we choose to live like this, not only will we take delight in the LORD, but that the LORD will answer our prayers and act on our behalf. What great motivation to trust and obey, to wholeheartedly engage as a faithful follower of Christ, and to commit our future to the LORD.
Prayer / Response to God’s Word
Father, You are worthy of our trust and obedience . We want to more than merely exist or survive – we desire to be wholeheartedly engaged with You and in Your work. Help us to faithfully abide in Your Son and find our delight in You.
Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. 19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
It should be noted that Paul is giving instructions to Timothy about teaching wealthy believers how to live. That being said, the truth behind the teaching is good for all believers, wealthy or not. For every believer should put their hope in God and not worldly riches or possessions. Likewise, every believer is to do good and to share/give as generously as the Lord allows. And, in doing so – every believer is storing up for themselves treasures that truly matter and lead to what is “truly life”.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
The focus of our hope is vital to our endurance. This is made clear by Paul’s words to Timothy. He doesn’t just give instructions about not setting their hope on riches (things, desires, treasures) of this world that are “uncertain” – but he immediately follows up with the good and profitable focus of their hope, which was “on God”. The contrast of the focus is – one is uncertain and the other is not only a sure and trustworthy ‘hope’ but also one who “richly provides”. Paul says that God provides those who hope in Him “with all things – not just for necessity but “for enjoyment”. In-turn, as recipients of His rich provisions we are to imitate Him by “doing good” and not just being good through obedience – but “to be rich in good deeds and generous in giving and sharing with others.” By doing this we are storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven where that which is “truly life” – Jesus, the hope of eternity – awaits us.
Application
I’m a list maker by nature and this is definitely one of those times where a list is beneficial –
Do not set your hope on riches that are uncertain.
Set your hope on God, who richly provides all things for our enjoyment.
Enjoy what He gives.
Do good.
Do an abundance of good deeds.
Give generously.
Share with others.
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... as you endure with hope
Prayer, Response to God’s Word
Father, giver of life and light and all that is good I praise You. I hope in You and seek to please You and to what is good and pleasing in Your sight. Help me to not be haughty or to set my hope on riches, which are uncertain, but instead, let them be set on You – who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Help me to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be a generous giver who shares with others.For in this way I will save up a treasure that is a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life – that which is eternal life in Jesus Christ my Lord. – In His name I pray and trust – amen and amen!
More for the Journey
Today’s Scripture included a passage from Genesis chapter three. I have included the notes from my journal page on this passage. It always amazes me when such a familiar passage can seem so new and enlightening – but for me it was captivating. May we always be blessed by the Word of God – careful not to rush through it as though its a boring ‘rerun’. Rather, may we pray over it before reading, asking for fresh insight and understanding … and may we linger there so that we do not lose sight of it when we are finished.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 12:2
Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 12:12
Romans 12:2 and 12
Observations
In verses nine through twenty-one, Paul basically makes a list of things that Christians should do, or ways they should live, in order to please God. He starts with the importance of love without pretense (9), and ends the list with instructions to not be overcome with evil but rather to overcome evil with good(21).
Verse twelve, the second of our SOAP / focus verses, is so important to our study that I wanted to share this Scripture ‘nugget’ I found by Bibleref.com – I encourage you to really take the time to carefully read through this explanation of “rejoicing in hope and enduring suffering,”as well as the role prayer plays in it all.
The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. Often, we resist instruction about what we should feel: that we should change our attitudes to be joyful. The idea here, though, is more about declaring ourselves as having reason for joy. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. What hope? Paul is referring to the hope of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Romans 8:23–24).
The next command is to be patient [endure] in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we are keeping the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being [enduring] during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain of those experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul has pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). So, we wait with patience (Romans 8:25).
The final command of the verse also connects with Paul’s thoughts in Romans chapter 8. We’re commanded to be constant in prayer, or to keep praying continually. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should pray. Prayer brings a connection with our Father through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). He hears, understands, and helps in response to even our clumsiest attempts to communicate with Him.
Keep in mind that none of this is possible without the transformation of our minds, which is the focus of verse two, our other SOAP verse. In a recent message by one of our pastors, this verse was explained as such: “God wants a transformation, meaning a continual moving toward God, and allowing Him to change and renew the way we think. However, prior to this transformation we must be intentional to guard ourselves from being “conformed to(or to copy the behavior of…) this world.” Pastor Yates went on to clarify that being conformed to the world involves a continual renunciation of God for the ways of the world.”
Application
Consider these applications found at Bibleref.com and from Pastor Yates’ sermon …
Bibleref – 12:2 / “…God may continue to provide us with pleasure, possessions, and status in various forms, but he urges us to learn how to look at life with a new question: What does God want for me? What is truly a good, acceptable, and perfect use of my life for His purposes and not just for my own?”
Pastor Yates –
“God wants a presentation” –
We are to …
be a living sacrifice
“a vehicle through which we serve Christ”
be set apart for God
to be holy as He is holy=====
be pleasing to God (Malachi 1:6-8_
“second best is not pleasing to God”
be a true worshiper
Prayer, Response to God’s Word
Father, Your Word is living and active and life-changing when we yield to Your instructions. Help us to faithfully present ourselves to You as living sacrifices … to live set apart for You, pleasing You by really loving others. Help us to hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good, to work hard and serve You enthusiastically, being eager to show hospitality. Let us rejoice in the hope we have in You, patiently endure – even in our suffering, and to always keep praying. If we are persecuted may we bless our persecutor and not curse them – and may we even pray for them to know God’s blessing. Remind us to be happy with those who are happy, to weep with those who weep, and to live in peaceful harmony with all people – as much as is possible with You. Guard us from vengeance or paying back evil for evil, and in all of this may You be glorified – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. 7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. 8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8 NLT [for your preferred translation click on the Scripture link above]
Observations
God is worth waiting on, for real hope comes only from Him. He alone is our protector, deliverer, and refuge. Because of Him – I am not “shaken” when troubles come.
God is the only one who gives me hope.
ak
Application
When I am in danger, whether from earthly forces or spiritual, He is my protector. I can trust in Him.
When I am threatened or afraid, I can hide myself in His refuge, I can rest secure in His shelter – knowing that I am safe and protected.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, thank You for being all that You are to us, Your Children. Thank You for being a safe refuge in times of trouble. Thank You for Your living and active Word and Presence that provide strength, protection, and refuge.
Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15
Job, for no reason known to him, has lost basically everything he held dear for reasons beyond his understanding. Scripture says it was “the very thing he had dreaded and feared. It brought him unrest and heightened turmoil. His strength was weakened and he was filled with bitterness. In chapter six we are told that he saw no reason to go on living. Clearly he had lost hope – yet, Job did not curse God! instead Job announces that “Even if God should slay me, I will hope in Him.”
In his writing on Job’s losses, Evangelist, Scott Pauley, wrote:
You can lose things and get more. You can lose family but know that you will see them again. You can lose health and regain it. You can lose relationships and have them restored. The one thing that sustains a man through the hardships of life is hope. “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14). To lose hope is to lose heart. To lose hope means that you have lost sight of the goodness of God and of the future.
We are living in days of tremendous loss. Most of us have lost loved ones. Many have lost their health. Some have lost their business and financial security. All of us have suffered some sense of loss with the ever changing circumstances in our world. There is one thing that must not be lost – hope!
I believe our remedy to maintaining our hope is found in not only knowing who our God is but in remembering who He is. We must be careful to remember, whether on the mountain of blessings or in anguishing loss or real and present crisis – that God is good. We must continually, and often intentionally, recall that He is full of compassion, faithful in mercy, sufficient in grace, and abounding in love. To do anything less puts us in grave jeopardy of hopelessness.
Some Noteworthy Observations
“Job was a faithful servant of God.” These horrific events/losses did not just happen to anyone. They happened to Job for a reason, not because he was unfaithful but rather because he was faithful.
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. …
6 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:1, and 6-12
Job spoke openly and honestly with God. There was no pretense about how the devastating losses had affected him. Even though Job knew he was innocent, he “could only plead with [his] judge for mercy.”Job also knew that he was weak and that God was strong.
Perhaps the best observation is the one we read at the end of our passages today – “So the LORD blessed the second part of Job’s life more than the first.” There is no question that the righteous suffer but Scripture also bears witness that the faithful of God are blessed.
A Notable Application
Remember Who God is and what He has done for us, how He loves His people,
When we are questioning our strength, or when fears, dread, sorrows (great and small) rise within and around us, or when we sense our weakness in any situation, not just loss – we would be wise to remember: our help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth. When the “mountains” of this life loom ahead of us or when the losses of life weigh us down – we can endure with hope in our Creator.
Look to God
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121:2
Prayerful Response to God’s Word
Father thank You for the example of Your faithful servant Job. When we think of him please guard us from thinking or dwelling on all of his losses but rather help us to faithfully recall Who You are and what You’ve been doing and will do on behalf of us, Your children. May we be faithful to say, on the mountains and in the valleys, Even if he slays me, I will hope in You, my God]
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Observations:
The first question that begs to be asked when ‘soaping’ this passage is – what is the “treasure” mentioned in verse seven? According to 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, the treasure is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. In other words, the Treasure is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to a commentary by Bibleref.com, “Paul has been defending himself from allegations of practicing falseness with the Corinthians. Some may have even accused him of being manipulative or a false apostle. To counter these arguments, Paul has emphasized his sole mission: to deliver the true gospel of Jesus and to proclaim that Christ is Lord. Paul insists that he and his friends see themselves as mere servants to the Corinthians for Christ’s sake. In his first letter to this church, Paul gave numerous indications that he was not interested in personal gain or fame” (1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 9:12–16).
BibleRef.com / 2 Corinthians 4:7-8
The next question then, is what, or who, are the clay jars? To Paul’s original audience, the clay jars would have represented something very fragile, and as Paul explained to the Corinthians – God used the fragile vessel “so that” everyone would understand, “the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” However, metaphorically speaking, Paul, in an effort to answer – or better yet – silence those accusing him and his team of “practicing falseness”, Paul was referencing himself and his team as the clay jars. Paul’s heart was the vessel that God had shown His light in. The same is true of everyone who names the name of Christ today, and according to Scripture, we too, have been given the mission to carry this Gospel message to the world.”
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Mark 16:15
So often it seems we are bombarded with ‘trouble’. Even then – perhaps, especially then – we can, like Paul and his team,, be reflections of Jesus. We must remember though, it wasn’t because of their power or strength but because of God in them; and as we saw in our recent post, it was also the power of God through the prayers of others.
Paul’s illustration of suffering was meant to help the Corinthians see and understand that what others were seeing in and from him was all about God’s power and glory – as the “life of Jesus was made visible in them.” This should have been evident in the way they handled all of their ‘troubles’, for through it all, even in their weakness and struggle, they did not turn away from following Christ and making Him known to others. They knew He had not abandoned them and they endured with hope of the “eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (15-17) to what they were experiencing now.
Application
Do not let today’s trouble crush you or drive you to despair. If you are persecuted or suffering because of following Jesus, remember He has not abandoned you. If your troubles have knocked you down or simply knocked the wind out of your sail, don’t lose hope – for you belong to Jesus and to God the Father, and in them we cannot and will not be destroyed.
While it may not be easy to live for Jesus in this world – we must remember the goal set before us – and that is to make Him known. May all our troubles, and our responses to the troubles, make Him visible to the watching world.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, Paul’s words are challenging. I confess it is sometimes easy to lose hope or to despair. Yet they are equally encouraging to be reminded that You have not and will not abandon us. We belong to You and we will not be destroyed. These are the truths that help me to endure with hope. Guard us Father where we are vulnerable and strengthen us where we are weak – and in all these things grace us with Your protection. Through it all and above it all help us to make Jesus visible to the watching world. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen and amen –
Me From the Inside Out 