Month: May 2024

Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

The response of anger to a little thing can multiply into a big and terrible thing. Mordecai the Jew did not reverence or bow down to Haman, the second in command under King Ahasuerus of Persia. Haman took offense at this disrespect and became angry. Then it grew stronger until he plotted to kill all the Jews in the realm. One spark of anger can start a forest fire of trouble.

Why did Haman want to destroy all Jews because of one man’s action? He was an Agagite of the Amalekites, an ancient enemy of the Jews. Or more likely, Haman liked his position of power and authority, but the Jews looked to God. He thought the only way to fulfill his self-centered desires was to kill those who disregarded his authority. It was anti-Semitism and pride. His quest for personal power and his hatred of the Jewish race consumed him.

Uncontrolled anger can cause great damage. For this reason, we ask the Lord for the power of love and forgiveness to rule over the demon of anger.

Nehemiah 12:43 Also that day they offered sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced; so that joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

On the day of dedication of the wall, the people gathered together for a celebration of thanksgiving and great joy. It was God who made them rejoice with great joy. God is the source of joy, and we respond with great joy in our worship life of praise and thanksgiving when we hear and see what great things He has done for us. He has freely given forgiveness, life, and salvation, and that Gospel Word brings His Joy to our hearts, and lips, and actions.

His joy with which He graces us is deep and abiding, and cannot be easily taken away, no matter how hard the devil tries. His internal and eternal joy is stronger than the temporary troubles and sorrows we suffer in this world. By faith we rejoice in the Lord always. Whether we always feel it or not, the joy is always there.

Such joy causes us to offer sacrifices in joyful response. We are so joyful in the love of God that we are willing to offer up what is even most precious to us, our possessions and even ourselves for the good of others. Sacrificing ourselves, which is painful, becomes a great joy and privilege.

Nehemiah 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

At the dedication of the wall the people gathered together to celebrate a great Feast with great joy and gladness. They pulled out all the stops to worship God and thank Him with singing and musical instruments. He had done a great work through the people; and they recognized that God did what at first looked impossible. Unbounded praise was the fitting response to what God had done. Praising gives God the credit, instead of taking it for ourselves.

Singing, worship, music, and celebration is a fitting response to every great work He has done for us. We can always respond with singing and music to the great work of Salvation He worked out for us in Christ. And as the Holy Spirit works that great salvation into us we thank Him with worship.

Every Sunday we have the opportunity to thank Him with singing. Our Sunday worship service includes our response in singing and thanksgiving Through the Gospel the Lord has built a wall in the heart to keep the enemy out and peace and joy within. And the believer takes out moments during the day to make melody in the heart to the Lord. In fact, life becomes worship and thanks. We are praise. The Psalm even says, “I am prayer.”

Nehemiah 10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding.

Many of the returning Israelites had intermarried with the people of the land. Physical union mixed the purity of the Jewish people, but more importantly, the mixing of faith with false religious worship of demons diluted and polluted the spiritual union with a holy God. The influence of pagan wives would destroy the faith and devotion of the true believer in Yahweh. Nothing could be done to maintain the purity of faith except to separate the pagan wives from their midst. This drastic action of separation was undertaken under Nehemiah. This action helped to preserve faith in the one true God.

The issue for us NT Christians is to realize the necessity of separation from the world. It is not easy to be in the world but not of the world. We desire to be separated from the world around us so that worldly influences don’t seep away at our faith in Jesus for salvation, but it is hard to make those decisions in the real world. The problem is not solved by becoming Amish or something, but the issue of separation must be dealt with in the heart, internally not externally.

It is so complicated that human reason cannot discern and human effort cannot do. We desperately need to hear the Gospel regularly so that the Holy Spirit can work in our hearts “to will and to do,” and “to bring every thought captive to Christ.” The Spirit is our Helper in this regard, and it is He who separates the soul with its worldly desires from the spirit with its godly desires.

Nehemiah 9:29 And testified against them, that thou mghtest bring them unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man do, he shall live in them) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Again and again when Israel had rest they did evil, they were judged through their enemies, and then God raised up a Deliverer. This cycle repeated itself over and over, and yet their proud and hard hearts would not hear the Commandments and do them. They themselves were the cause and the reason for the troubles they found themselves in.

Their response should have been to listen to the Word with softened hearts and begin to do what it says. But the stubborn, selfish heart stops the ears and refuses to listen. We also go through life repeating the same sins, listening to the Word and repenting, believing Love, and receiving Grace. The key that unlocks the hard heart is the Spirit working through the Gospel.

We are left free to stiffen the neck and resist, but the love of God, seen at the cross, is stronger and overcomes the hardness. Repentance and faith as a response to God’s moving always works. Denying, blaming, making excuses does not work.

Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

After rehearsing all the things God did for Israel, from the Exodus, through the wilderness, to the conquest of the land, then he says nevertheless. Their response to God’s great acts of deliverance, provision, and protection was disobedience, rebellion against God, and casting the law out of sight. God tolerates much, but ignoring Him may hurt the most.

We may love the Lord and thank Him for what He has done for us, but we still provoke Him to wrath, ignore His Word, and grieve His Spirit every time we sin. It may seem inexplicable: why would they treat God like this after all He has done for them? But we are the same. It shows we are corrupt sinners at the core. We are no different than they were.

Our sin and rebellion is so thoroughgoing that we can do nothing but throw ourselves upon God’s mercy. We kneel at the cross and beg for mercy. And for Christ’s sake He forgives, pardons, cleanses, and takes away our sin and guilt and replaces it with righteousness, peace, and joy. After we are convicted of our own guilt and sin, we rise up out of the waters of baptism forgiven, cleansed, righteous, and new.

I, by nature, reject Him; He, by nature accepts us in Christ.

Nehemiah 9:16-17 But they and their fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

At the celebration of the returnees for the rebuilding of the wall, the leaders of the people rehearsed the history of Israel: they were bad, but God is good. After all that God had done for them, they responded by hardening their necks in stubborn rebellion against God, not listening, and refusing to obey. Therefore, they suffered the consequences by coming under the control of their enemies. Now they are confessing their sin, disobedience, and rebellion. Their troubles have brought them to the point of repentance and faith, confessing sin, seeking forgiveness, and turning back to God.

The confession of faith here includes believing and affirming that God is gracious and merciful, ready to forgive, and of great kindness. This gospel response is God’s response to their pain and suffering caused by their own sinfulness. This is the character and the essential nature of the Lord: grace and mercy.

We also confess our hard heart of sin, trusting in the character of God to have mercy and forgive because of Christ. The Lord shows us His essential nature is love by sending his Son to die for us, forgive our sins, and give us life. Upon hearing this Gospel the Spirit softens our hard hearts to receive the imprint of His life and love.

Nehemiah 8:17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booth: for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And their was very great gladness.

During the seven-day Festival of Booths the people lived in temporary shelters made of branches to remind them of their flight from Egypt and the time living in tents in the wilderness. They were to remember God’s protection and guidance during those years and the fact that God would still protect and guide them today.

It is helpful for us to remember our Baptism and Jesus’ salvation from captivity to sin, death, and the devil. We think back to our beginnings at the Cross and the Tomb, our continued walk with God, and where He has led us. Then we thank God for His continuing work to protect us and provide for needs.

We are privileged to do just this on Festival Holy Days, and every Sunday in Divine Worship, and especially every morning in our private devotions. Thanks, praise, and appreciation goes a long way toward gracing us with joy, peace, and hope. Great gladness is our response to God’s grace and goodness. Remembering helps.

Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

The response of the people to hearing and understanding the words of God that were read aloud unto them was to have a Christmas party with food, drink, gift-giving, and great joy. Why did they celebrate so? Because they understood the words. The return to Jerusalem was complete, fulfilling the promise, and satisfying to the soul. Now they could have a party and enjoy the blessing of God.

This event reminds us of our Christmas celebration. We sing, “Joy to the world,” and “O tidings of comfort and joy.” The reason for the joyful time is that “ln these last days he has spoken to us by his son [Hebrews 1:2].” “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God expressed His love for us in the greatest possible way: He became one of us to die for us. When we understand that Word and believe Him, we are filled with overflowing joy that wants to celebrate with a joyful feast and a spirit of giving.

And we are blessed to understand the same Gospel of Joy every Sunday in God’s Service to us. We respond with joyful hearts and lives. And not only that, we are privileged to hear and understand the Gospel in our hearts in our quiet time with God every morning. Therefore, the believer is filled with party joy all the time. Why would we not spend some time with God every day so we do not miss the joy of the Word of Gospel?

Nehemiah 8:8-10 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God, mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Reading and understanding the sense of the Word of God causes a day to be holy. They wept when they heard the Law, for they were penitent and sorrowful for their sins. Nehemiah said, don’t be sorry, for the day is holy. They responded with a feast of eating and drinking and giving, much like our Christmas. The result of hearing the Word was the joy of the Lord. The Law leads to penitence, the Gospel leads to faith, faith leads to joy and celebration.

The day on which the Word of God is read publicly, with understanding, and making sense of the meaning, is a Holy Day unto the Lord. This happens on the high feast days of the church and on every Sunday And every day that begins with the Word and prayer can be a day set apart for the Lord. Daily prayer makes every day special and the Lord is with us. The joy of the Lord is our response to the Word preached and heard, and His joy gives us strength for the day.